BATTERY PACK WITH DUAL MODE COOLING SCHEME

• US 20100236846A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Kramer, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/408,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20100236846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.210
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• 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 10/6568 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: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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

Abstract

A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules mounted within a casing. A heat exchanger receives a fluid and a valve selectively connects one of two sources of fluid to the heat exchanger. One of the two sources is at a higher temperature for providing heating fluid to the heat exchanger, and a second of the sources is at a lower temperature to provide cooling fluid to the heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a plurality of battery modules mounted within a casing; and

a heat exchanger for receiving a fluid, and at least one fan, said heat exchanger and said at least one fan being at an intermediate position between groups of battery modules that make up said plurality of battery modules, and a valve to selectively connect one of two sources of fluid to said heat exchanger, one of said two sources being at a higher temperature for providing heating fluid to said heat exchanger, and a second of said sources being at a lower temperature to provide cooling fluid to said heat exchanger.

2. The battery pack as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one fan is mounted such that airflow to said fan and then downstream of said fan passes over some of said battery modules and said heat exchanger.

3. The battery pack as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one fan is a reversible fan such that said fan pulls air in a first direction for a first period of time, and then reverses flow and pulls air in an opposed direction for a second period of time.

4. The battery pack as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one fan and said at least one liquid heat exchanger are both mounted within said casing, and at a central location, with a plurality of battery modules both upstream of said fan, and downstream of said fan.

5. The battery pack as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said sources of fluid is an engine cooling loop and provides said heating fluid, and the other of said sources of fluid is an engine drive cooling loop and provides said cooling fluid.

6. An electronic driveline for a vehicle comprising:

at least one electric motor, said at least one electric motor drawing power from a battery pack; and

a heat exchanger for receiving a fluid, and a valve to selectively connect one of two sources of fluid to said heat exchanger, one of said two sources being at a higher temperature for providing heating fluid to said heat exchanger, and a second of said sources being at a lower temperature to provide cooling fluid to said heat exchanger.

7. The electronic driveline as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one fan is mounted such that airflow to said fan and then downstream of said fan passes over some of said battery modules and said heat exchanger.

8. The electronic driveline as set forth in claim 7, wherein said at least one fan is a reversible fan such that said fan pulls air in a first direction for a first period of time, and then reverses flow and pulls air in an opposed direction for a second period of time.

9. The electronic driveline as set forth in claim 7, wherein said at least one fan and said at least one liquid heat exchanger are both mounted within said casing, and at an intermediate location, with a plurality of battery modules both upstream of said fan, and downstream of said fan.

10. The electronic driveline as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of said sources of fluid is an engine cooling loop and provides said heating fluid, and the other of said sources of fluid is an engine drive cooling loop and provides said cooling fluid.

11. The electronic driveline as set forth in claim 6, wherein said at least electric motor is for driving a vehicle axle.

12. A method of maintaining a battery pack, said battery pack including a plurality of battery modules, and a liquid heat exchanger comprising the steps of:

determining whether said battery modules need heating or cooling;

communicating a first source of fluid to said heat exchanger that will tend to be at a higher temperature when it is determined that said battery modules need heating; and

communicating a second source of fluid that will tend to be at a lower temperature to said heat exchanger when it is determined that said battery modules need cooling.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a fan moves air over said heat exchanger and said plurality of battery modules.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said fan is a reversible fan, and pulls air in a first direction for a first period of time over some of said battery modules upstream of said heat exchanger, and then over others of said battery modules downstream of said heat exchanger, and then said fan reverses flow and pulls air in an opposite direction for a second period of time.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein periods of time for fan reversal are selected to be less than one minute.