VEHICULAR COMBINATION CHILLER BYPASS SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090317697A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: DOGARIU, Michael J., NYEHOLT, Christopher C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,448,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32281 comprising a single secondary circuit, e.g. at evaporator or condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00949 comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0409 for the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2501 Bypass valves
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• 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 10/635 based on ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A chiller bypass system is provided for deployment onboard a vehicle that includes a battery pack through which a first coolant is circulated. In one embodiment, the chiller bypass system comprises a chiller, a chiller bypass duct fluidly coupled to the battery pack and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, and a chiller bypass valve. The chiller bypass valve includes: (i) a valve inlet fluidly coupled to the battery pack and configured to receive the first coolant therefrom, (ii) a first valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, and (iii) a second valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller bypass duct and configured to supply the first coolant thereto. The chiller bypass valve selectively directs coolant flow between the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet to adjust the volume of the first coolant cooled by the chiller.

Claims

1. A chiller bypass system for deployment onboard a vehicle that includes a battery pack configured to have a first coolant circulated therethrough, the chiller bypass system comprising:

a chiller;

a chiller bypass duct configured to be fluidly coupled to the battery pack and to supply the first coolant thereto; and

a chiller bypass valve, comprising;

a valve inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the battery pack and to receive the first coolant therefrom;

a first valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller and configured to supply the first coolant thereto; and

a second valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller bypass duct and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, the chiller bypass valve configured to selectively direct coolant flow between the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet to adjust the volume of the first coolant cooled by the chiller.

2. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle further includes an air conditioning (A/C) module configured to have a second coolant circulated therethrough, the chiller fluidly coupled to the A/C module and configured to exchange the second coolant therewith.

3. A chiller bypass system according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle further includes a refrigeration assembly configured to have a refrigerant circulated therethrough, the chiller fluidly coupled to the refrigeration assembly and configured to exchange the refrigerant therewith.

4. A chiller bypass system according to claim 3, comprising:

a first flow passage formed through the chiller and fluidly coupled to the refrigeration assembly;

a second flow passage formed through the chiller and fluidly coupled to the A/C module; and

a third flow passage formed through the chiller and fluidly coupled between the battery pack and the first valve outlet.

5. A chiller bypass system according to claim 4 wherein volumetric capacity of the first flow passage is greater than the volumetric capacity of the second flow passage.

6. A chiller bypass system according to claim 5 wherein the volumetric capacity of the second flow passage is greater than the volumetric capacity of the third flow passage.

7. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 wherein the chiller bypass valve further comprises a third valve outlet, and wherein the chiller bypass system further comprises a secondary cooling source fluidly coupled between the third valve outlet and the battery pack.

8. A chiller bypass system according to claim 7 wherein the secondary cooling source comprises a low temperature radiator.

9. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the chiller bypass valve.

10. A chiller bypass system according to claim 9 further comprising a battery pack temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the controller configured to adjust the position of the chiller bypass valve based, at least in part, upon the temperature of the battery pack as indicated by the battery pack temperature sensor.

11. A chiller bypass system according to claim 9 further comprising a coolant temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the controller configured to adjust the position of the chiller bypass valve based, at least in part, on the temperature of the first coolant as indicated by the coolant temperature sensor.

12. A chiller bypass system according to claim 7 further comprising:

a controller operatively coupled to the chiller bypass valve; and

an ambient temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the controller configured to adjust the position of the chiller bypass valve based, at least in part, upon the ambient temperature as indicated by the ambient temperature sensor.

13. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 wherein the chiller comprises a plurality of plates fixedly coupled together in a stacked formation.

14. A chiller bypass system for deployment onboard a vehicle including a battery pack having an inlet configured to receive a first coolant and an outlet configured to supply the first coolant, the chiller bypass system comprising:

a chiller;

a first flow passage formed through the chiller and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the first flow passage fluidly coupled to the inlet of the battery pack;

a chiller bypass duct having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the chiller bypass duct fluidly coupled to the inlet of the battery pack;

a chiller bypass valve, comprising;

a valve inlet fluidly coupled to the outlet of the battery pack;

a first valve outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the first flow passage; and

a second valve outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the chiller bypass duct; and

a controller operatively coupled to the chiller bypass valve, the controller selectively modulating the chiller bypass valve to apportion coolant flow between the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet to regulate the temperature of the first coolant.

15. A chiller bypass system according to claim 14 wherein the vehicle further includes an air conditioning (A/C) module having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the chiller bypass system further comprises a second flow passage formed through the chiller having an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the outlet and the inlet, respectively, of the A/C module.

16. A chiller bypass system according to claim 15 wherein the vehicle further comprises a refrigeration assembly having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the chiller bypass system further comprises a third flow passage formed through the chiller having an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the outlet and the inlet, respectively, of the refrigeration assembly.

17. A chiller bypass system according to claim 15 further comprising a low temperature radiator having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the low temperature radiator fluidly coupled to the inlet of the battery pack.

18. A chiller bypass system according to claim 17 wherein the chiller bypass valve further comprises a third valve outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the low temperature radiator.

19. A method for regulating the temperature of a battery pack coolant circulated through a battery pack, the method carried out by a chiller bypass system including a chiller and a chiller bypass duct bypassing the chiller, the chiller bypass system conducting the battery pack coolant between the chiller and the battery pack, the method comprising:

monitoring the temperature of the battery pack; and

diverting a portion of the battery pack coolant through the chiller bypass duct when the temperature of the battery pack is less than a predetermined upper temperature threshold.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the chiller bypass system further comprises a low temperature radiator, and wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring the ambient temperature; and

diverting a portion of the battery pack coolant through the low temperature radiator when difference between the temperature of the battery pack and the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature differential.