BATTERY TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE USING THERMOELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR

• US 20100112419A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SK Innovation Company Limited
• Original Assignee: SK Innovation Company Limited
• Inventors: Jang, Soo Yeup, Lee, Joong Hui
• Application Number:
  US12/532,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20100112419A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for controlling the temperature of batteries for electric vehicles. The device includes a thermoelectric semiconductor unit, a thermoelectric semiconductor unit, a temperature sensor, and a battery controller. The thermoelectric semiconductor unit is configured such that a portion thereof is exposed in a battery tray. The thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller causes the thermoelectric semiconductor unit to radiate heat, and causes the thermoelectric semiconductor unit to absorb heat. The temperature sensor detects and outputs the temperature of the battery tray. The battery controller outputs the heat radiating control signal to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined value, and outputting the heat absorbing control signal to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller when the temperature detected by the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a temperature of batteries for electric vehicles, comprising:

a thermoelectric semiconductor unit configured such that a portion thereof is exposed in a battery tray, thus radiating heat into a battery tray when input current flows in a first direction and absorbing heat inside the battery tray when the input current flows in a second direction;

a thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller for causing the thermoelectric semiconductor unit to radiate heat by supplying the current, which flows in the first direction, to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit when a heat radiating control signal is input thereto, and causing the thermoelectric semiconductor unit to absorb heat by supplying the current, which flows in the second direction, to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit when a heat absorbing control signal is input thereto;

a temperature sensor for detecting and outputting a temperature of the battery tray; and

a battery controller for outputting the heat radiating control signal to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined value, and outputting the heat absorbing control signal to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller when the temperature detected by the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric semiconductor unit comprises:

thermoelectric semiconductor elements, which are connected to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit controller, and are configured to radiate heat when the input current flows in the first direction and to absorb heat when the input current flows in the second direction; and

heat radiating fins, which are configured such that first ends thereof are exposed in the battery tray and such that second ends are connected to the thermoelectric semiconductor elements, thus transmitting the heat, radiated by the thermoelectric semiconductor elements, to the battery tray, and absorbing the heat inside the battery tray so as to be transmitted to the thermoelectric semiconductor elements.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling fan that is located in an intake port or an exhaust port of the battery tray to radiate the heat inside the battery tray,

wherein the battery controller operates the cooling fan when a detection temperature of the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the thermoelectric semiconductor unit is configured such that a portion thereof is located so as to be exposed in the exhaust port of the battery tray.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a heater that is located in an intake port of the battery tray to supply heat to the battery tray,

wherein the battery controller operates the heater when a detection temperature of the temperature sensor is lower than the predetermined value.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary battery for supplying power to the thermoelectric semiconductor unit via the battery controller; and

a switch for controlling connection between the auxiliary battery and the battery controller.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inlet three-way valve, which is located in an intake port of the battery tray, and is configured to isolate air inside the battery tray from external air and to recirculate the air inside the battery tray;

an outlet three-way valve, which is located in an exhaust port of the battery tray, and is configured to isolate the air inside the battery tray from the external air and to recirculate the air inside the battery tray; and

a recirculation air pipe, which is configured such that one end thereof is connected to the inlet three-way valve and such that a remaining end thereof is connected to the outlet three-way valve, thus enabling the internal air to be recirculated by causing air, which is discharged from the exhaust port, to be provided to the intake port.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating material, which is mounted outside the battery tray to isolate air inside the battery tray from air outside the battery tray.