THERMAL CONTROL OF ELECTRIC STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20080012535A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Sadahira, Seiji, Takatsuji, Hideyasu, Yoshino, Michio
• Granted Patent: US 8,786,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00 Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices heating, cooling or ventilating devices providing other air treatment, the other treatment being relevant, B60H3/00; ventilating solely by opening windows, doors, roof parts, or the like B60J; heating or ventilating devices for vehicle seats B60N2/56; vehicle window or windscreen cleaners using air, e.g. defrosters, B60S1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/60 Heating or cooling; Temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/651 characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

There is provided a method of thermally controlling an electric storage device. The method comprises increasing cooling medium supplied to the electric storage as an electric charge stored in the electric storage device increases. According to the method, by increasing the cooling medium supplied to the electric storage device as an electric charge stored in the electric storage device increases, the electric storage device may be kept at a temperature that increases the efficiency of charging or discharging the electric storage device. It is asserted to be more efficient to lower the temperature of the electric storage device when more electric charge is stored in the electric storage device. Also, an adequate amount of the cooling medium may be supplied to the electric storage. As a result, the overall efficiency of the electric system may be improved.

Claims

1. A method of thermally controlling an electric storage device, comprising:

increasing an amount of cooling medium supplied to said electric storage as an electric charge stored in said electric storage device increases.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising increasing the amount of cooling medium supplied to said electric storage device as a temperature of said electric storage device increases.

3. The method as described in claim 2, further comprising:

increasing the amount of cooling medium supplied to said electric storage device as a rate of temperature rise of said electric storage device increases.

4. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a temperature of said electric storage device at a first temperature; and

decreasing the temperature of said threshold temperature to a second temperature as the electric charge stored in said electric storage device increases.

5. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

increasing the cooling medium supplied to said electric storage device as a temperature rise of said electric storage device is anticipated.

6. The method as described claim 5, wherein the temperature rise of said electric storage device is anticipated when charging of said electric storage device is expected.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein said electric storage device stores power recovered from a land vehicle, and the method further comprising determining if the charging of said electric storage device is expected based on a travel route of said land vehicle.

8. The method as described in claim 5, wherein the temperature rise of said electric storage device is anticipated when discharging of said electric storage device is expected.

9. The method as described in claim 8, wherein said electric storage device stores power to propel a land vehicle, and the method further comprising determining if the discharging of said electric storage device is expected based on a travel route of said land vehicle.

10. A method of thermally controlling an electric storage device, comprising:

maintaining a temperature of said electric storage device at a first temperature; and

decreasing the temperature of said electric storage device to a second temperature as electric charge stored in said electric storage device increases.

11. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

decreasing said first and second temperatures as a temperature rise of said electric storage device increases.

12. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

estimating a future rise of temperature of said electric storage device; and

decreasing said first and second temperatures as said estimated rise of temperature is greater.

13. A system comprising:

an electric storage device capable of charging and discharging electricity;

a cooling device capable of supplying cooling medium to said electric storage device;

a controller configured to;

control said cooling device to increase an amount of the cooling medium supplied to said electric storage device as an electric charge stored in said electric storage device increases.

14. The system as described in claim 13, further comprising:

a voltage sensor detecting a voltage across said electric storage device, and wherein said controller is further configured to estimate said electric charge stored in said electric storage device based on said detected voltage.

15. The system as described in claim 13, further comprising:

a voltage sensor detecting a voltage across said electric storage device; and

a current sensor detecting current through said electric storage device, and wherein said controller is further configured to estimate said electric charge stored in said electric storage device based on said detected voltage and said detected current.

16. The system as described in claim 13, further comprising a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of said electric storage device, and wherein said controller is further configured to control said cooling device to increase the cooling medium supplied to said electric storage device as said detected temperature is higher.

17. The system as described in claim 13, further comprising a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of said electric storage device, and wherein said controller is further configured to:

control said cooling device to supply the cooling medium to said electric device when said detected temperature is higher than a threshold temperature; and

decrease said threshold temperature as electric charge stored in said electric storage device increases.

18. The system as described in claim 17, wherein said controller is further configured to:

determine a temperature rise of said electric storage device from the temperature of said electric storage device detected by said temperature sensor; and

decrease said threshold temperature as said determined temperature rise of said electric storage device increases.

19. The system as described in claim 18, wherein said controller is further configured to decrease said threshold temperature when said determined temperature rise of said electric storage device is greater than a threshold rising rate.

20. The system as described in claim 19, further comprising:

a vehicle power-train system configured to drive a land vehicle at least with electricity discharged from said electric storage device and charge said electric storage device; and

a vehicle navigation system configured to identify a current position of said vehicle and a grade that said vehicle will encounter, and

wherein said controller is further configured to decrease said threshold temperature as said identified grade is greater.