Method and Apparatus for the Operation of a Vehicle

• US 20100025125A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Jeckel, Alfred, Bienert, Reyk
• Application Number:
  US12/184,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32284 comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3266 related to the operation of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• 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 10/6569 Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation heat pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for the operation of a vehicle having a battery with a plurality of series or parallel connected individual cells, a coolant flows through the respective cell housings and/or a battery housing that encloses the entire battery. The coolant is delivered within a coolant circuit by a pump unit, and is thermally coupled with a refrigerant circuit through a heat exchanger. A refrigeration compressor placed in the refrigerant circuit is thermally coupled with the coolant circuit through the heat exchanger, depending on a current ambient temperature and/or a current speed of the vehicle. The speed of the refrigeration compressor may be regulated depending on the current ambient temperature and/or the current speed of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle that includes a battery having a plurality of series or parallel connected individual cells, with a coolant that flows through respective housings of the cells or a housing of the battery, wherein:

the coolant is delivered by a pump unit within a coolant circuit;

the coolant circuit is thermally coupled with a refrigeration circuit through a heat exchanger;

a refrigeration compressor is included in the refrigerant circuit;

the refrigeration compressor is thermally coupled with, or uncoupled from, the coolant circuit through the heat exchanger, depending on at least one of a current ambient temperature and a current speed of the vehicle; and

the speed of the refrigeration compressor is regulated depending on at least one of the current ambient temperature and the current speed of the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is true:

the current ambient temperature is compared with a present ambient temperature threshold; and

the current vehicle speed is compared with a preset speed threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant circuit is then coupled with the coolant circuit if at least one of the following is true:

the current ambient temperature falls below an ambient temperature threshold; and

the current vehicle speed falls below a speed threshold.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein speed of the refrigeration compressor is increased if at least one of the following is true:

the current ambient temperature falls below an ambient temperature threshold; and

the current vehicle speed falls below a speed threshold.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the refrigeration compressor is regulated in a pulsating manner.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled with the refrigerant circuit through a shutoff valve situated upstream of the heat exchanger relative to a direction of flow.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein an evaporator in the refrigerant circuit is uncoupled from the refrigerant circuit via another shutoff valve situated upstream of the evaporator relative to a direction of flow if the heat exchanger is coupled with the refrigerant circuit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a pressure of the refrigerant is captured by a pressure sensor in the refrigerant circuit, downstream of the condenser relative to a direction of flow; and

a plausibility test is carried out with the detected pressure.

9. Apparatus for operation of a vehicle that includes a battery having a plurality of series or parallel connected individual cells, with a coolant that flows through respective housings of the cells or a housing of the battery, wherein:

a pump unit delivers the coolant within a coolant circuit that is connectable with a refrigerant circuit through a heat exchanger;

a refrigeration compressor is provided in the refrigerant circuit;

the refrigeration compressor is thermally coupled with, or uncoupled from, the coolant circuit through the heat exchanger, depending on one of a current ambient temperature and a current speed of the vehicle; and

a controller controls the speed of the refrigeration compressor depending on at least one of the current ambient temperature and the current speed of the vehicle is provided.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the heat exchanger is a chiller or an evaporator.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the battery, the pump unit, and the heat exchanger are disposed in the coolant circuit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a refrigeration compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, a shutoff valve, and an evaporator are provided in the refrigerant circuit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the shutoff valve is provided for an uncoupling of the evaporator from the refrigerant circuit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a shutoff valve are provided in a heat exchanger circuit; and

the shutoff valve is provided for the coupling of the cooling circuit and the refrigerant circuit through the heat exchanger.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

a pressure sensor is provided in the refrigeration circuit, downstream of the condenser relative to the direction of flow; and

a pressure of the refrigerant is ascertainable with said pressure sensor.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the refrigerant and the coolant comprise the same heat conducting medium.