Energy management system for a hybrid-electric vehicle

• US 20070017666A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Crane, Douglas, Bell, Lon, Goenka, Lakhi
• Granted Patent: US 8,783,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00492 comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A system for optimizing electrical power management in a vehicle. The system includes a HVAC device and a thermal storage device, both configured to provide heating and cooling to an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The system further includes a controller connected to an electrical storage device and an electrical generating device. The controller receives electrical power generated by the electrical generating device and directs the electrical power to satisfy the vehicle'"'"'s power requirements and/or stores the electrical power in at least one of the electrical storage device and the thermal storage device. Furthermore, the controller directs at least one of the HVAC device and the thermal storage device to provide heating and cooling to the occupant compartment of the vehicle, depending on the available storage of the thermal storage unit or occupant compartment demands.

Claims

1. An energy management system for a vehicle comprising:

a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“

HVAC”

) device to provide heating and cooling to an occupant compartment of the vehicle;

a thermal storage device configured to provide heating and cooling to the occupant compartment of the vehicle;

an electrical storage device; and

a controller configured to receive electrical power from an electrical generating device, the controller connected to the electrical storage device and the HVAC device and configured to store the electrical power in at least one selected from the group of the electrical storage device and the thermal storage device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical generating device is at least one selected from the group of an alternator, a regenerative braking generator and a waste recovery power generator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller directs at least one of the HVAC device and the thermal storage device to provide heating and cooling to the occupant compartment of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the thermal storage device provides heating and cooling to the occupant compartment of the vehicle via a duct coupled to the HVAC device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an occupant compartment temperature sensor connected to the controller for monitoring at least a portion of the occupant compartment of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical storage level sensor connected to the controller for monitoring the available storage of the electrical storage device.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a thermal storage temperature sensor connected to the controller for monitoring the available storage of the thermal storage device.

8. A method for managing thermal power flow in a vehicle having an electrical storage device and a thermal storage device and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“

HVAC”

) device, the method comprising the steps of;

receiving electrical power from an electrical power generating device;

monitoring the available storage of the electrical storage device;

monitoring the available storage of the thermal storage device;

converting the electrical power to thermal power; and

storing the thermal power in the thermal storage device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing the electrical power in the electrical storage device when the thermal storage device has inadequate available storage.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing the electrical power in the electrical storage device when the occupant compartment thermal needs have been met.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing the electrical power in the thermal storage device when the thermal storage device has adequate available storage.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing a first portion of electrical power in the thermal storage device and storing a second portion of electrical power in the electrical storage device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of monitoring the thermal requirements of an occupant compartment of the vehicle and providing heating and cooling to the occupant compartment from at least one of the thermal storage device and the HVAC device based upon the thermal requirements of the occupant compartment.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of providing heating and cooling to the occupant compartment from the thermal storage device when the thermal power stored in the thermal storage device is at least equal to the thermal requirements of an occupant compartment of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing heating and cooling to the occupant compartment from the HVAC device when thermal power stored in the thermal storage device is less than the thermal requirements of an occupant compartment of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing heating and cooling to the occupant compartment is provided solely from the HVAC unit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing heating and cooling to the occupant compartment is provided from both from the HVAC unit and the thermal storage device.