Electrical power train for a vehicle, comprising an electrical dissipation element cooled by cooling liquid

• US 20050244691A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conception ET Developpement Michelin S.A., Paul Scherrer-Institut (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Original Assignee: Conception ET Developpement Michelin S.A., Paul Scherrer-Institut (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Inventors: Varenne, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.310
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

An electric power train for a vehicle, the power train comprising an electrical line (61), an installation for producing electrical energy, the installation being connected to the electrical line (61), the installation having a first cooling circuit (1) using a cooling liquid, an electrical energy management unit (6), at least one electrical machine (4) connected to at least one driving wheel (40), connected to the electrical line (61) by means of an electronic control module for the electrical machine, the electrical machine (4) being connected to a second cooling circuit (2) in which a cooling liquid circulates, independent of the first cooling circuit (1), and an electrical dissipation element (8) being able to be electrically connected to the electrical line, wherein the electrical dissipation element (8) being immersed in the first cooling circuit (1).

Claims

1. An electrical power train for a vehicle, the power train comprising:

an electrical line;

an installation for producing electrical energy on board, the installation being connected to the electrical line, the installation having a first cooling circuit providing the cooling of the installation by means of a first heat-transfer liquid charge, the first cooling circuit comprising

a first radiator for dissipating heat to an ambient atmosphere;

an electrical energy management unit;

at least one electrical machine connected to at least one driving wheel, connected to the electrical line by means of an electronic module controlling the electrical machine,

the electrical machine being connected to a second cooling circuit comprising a second radiator for dissipating heat to the ambient atmosphere, the second cooling circuit using a second heat-transfer liquid charge independent of the first charge used in the first cooling circuit, the second cooling circuit also being thermally decoupled from the first cooling circuit; and

an electrical dissipation element able to be connected electrically to the electrical line, wherein the electrical dissipation element is immersed in the first cooling circuit.

2. The power train according to claim 1, wherein the installation comprises a fuel cell supplied with pure oxygen.

3. The power train according to claim 1, wherein the installation comprises a fuel cell supplied with oxygen by compression of ambient air.

4. The power train according to claim 2, wherein the fuel cell is selected from the group consisting of cells with a polymer membrane and alkaline cells.

5. The power train according to claim 3, wherein the fuel cell is selected from the group consisting of cells with a polymer membrane and alkaline cells.

6. The power train according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control module for the electrical machine is an inverter.

7. The power train according to claim 1, comprising various electronic management modules, wherein the second cooling circuit establishes a circulation of cooling liquid in several electronic management modules.

8. The power train according to claim 7, wherein all the electronic management modules cooled by means of a cooling liquid are connected to the second cooling circuit.

9. The power train according to claim 1, wherein an electrical energy storage device is connected to the electrical line via the electrical energy management unit.