Battery charging time optimization system
First Claim
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1. A method for optimizing the charging cycle of a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- electrically connecting a power control subsystem of said electric vehicle to an external power source, wherein said power control subsystem may draw up to a maximum power from said external power source;
monitoring a battery pack temperature;
comparing said battery pack temperature to a first preset temperature when said power control subsystem is electrically connected to said external power source, said first preset temperature corresponding to a threshold temperature requirement of said battery pack, wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is greater than said first preset temperature;
enabling operation of a battery pack cooling subsystem; and
charging said battery pack at a suboptimal charge rate, wherein said suboptimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power reduced by a power drain corresponding to said battery pack cooling system; and
wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is less than said first preset temperature;
determining an optimal charge rate for said battery pack, wherein said optimal charge rate determining step is performed by a charging controller, and wherein said optimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power;
charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate;
determining whether surplus power is available from said external power source based on said optimal charge rate;
terminating operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when no surplus power is available; and
enabling operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when surplus power is available.
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Abstract
A system for optimizing battery pack charging is provided. In this system, during charging the coupling of auxiliary systems (e.g., battery cooling systems) to the external power source are delayed so that the battery pack charge rate may be optimized, limited only by the available power. Once surplus power is available, for example as the requirements of the charging system decrease, the auxiliary system or systems may be coupled to the external power source without degrading the performance of the charging system.
36 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing the charging cycle of a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting a power control subsystem of said electric vehicle to an external power source, wherein said power control subsystem may draw up to a maximum power from said external power source; monitoring a battery pack temperature; comparing said battery pack temperature to a first preset temperature when said power control subsystem is electrically connected to said external power source, said first preset temperature corresponding to a threshold temperature requirement of said battery pack, wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is greater than said first preset temperature; enabling operation of a battery pack cooling subsystem; and charging said battery pack at a suboptimal charge rate, wherein said suboptimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power reduced by a power drain corresponding to said battery pack cooling system; and wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is less than said first preset temperature; determining an optimal charge rate for said battery pack, wherein said optimal charge rate determining step is performed by a charging controller, and wherein said optimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power; charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate; determining whether surplus power is available from said external power source based on said optimal charge rate; terminating operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when no surplus power is available; and enabling operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when surplus power is available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for optimizing the charging cycle of a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting a power control subsystem of said electric vehicle to an external power source, wherein said power control subsystem may draw up to a maximum power from said external power source; monitoring a battery pack temperature; comparing said battery pack temperature to a first preset temperature when said power control subsystem is electrically connected to said external power source, wherein said first preset temperature corresponds to a temperature of at least 50°
C., and wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is greater than said first preset temperature;enabling operation of a battery pack cooling subsystem; charging said battery pack at a suboptimal charge rate, wherein said suboptimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power reduced by a power drain corresponding to said battery pack cooling system; comparing said battery pack temperature to a second preset temperature, wherein said second preset temperature corresponds to a temperature of between 40°
C. and 50°
C.; andterminating operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack temperature is less than said second preset temperature, and adjusting a current charge rate for said battery pack from said suboptimal charge rate to said optimal charge rate when operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem is terminated; and wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is less than said first preset temperature; determining an optimal charge rate for said battery pack, wherein said optimal charge rate determining step is performed by a charging controller, and wherein said optimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power; charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate; determining whether surplus power is available from said external power source based on said optimal charge rate; terminating operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when no surplus power is available; and enabling operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when surplus power is available. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification