METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COOLING OF POWER CONVERTER FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20110118917A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Ki Jong, Chun, Shin Hye, Song, Hong Seok, Park, Hyong Joon, Choi, Won Kyoung, Lim, Jong Kyung, Kim, Joon Hwan, Song, Byeong Seob
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a cooling system for controlling a power converter of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: estimating the temperature of a power converter at the time of a CAN communication error as a current temperature of the power converter and controlling a cooling system at a cooling rate based on the estimated temperature; and controlling the cooling rate of the cooling system depending on whether an output of the power converter is greater than a reference value. According to the method, the cooling system can be more effectively controlled.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a cooling system for cooling a power converter of a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising:

estimating the temperature of a power converter at the time of a CAN communication error as a current temperature of the power converter and controlling a cooling system at a cooling rate based on the estimated temperature;

determining whether the power converter generates an output greater than a minimum operating output level as a reference value at which an over-temperature protection logic is executed,

controlling the cooling rate of the cooling system to a one-step lower level if it is determined that the power converter generates an output greater than the minimum operating output level, and;

controlling the cooling rate of the cooling system to a one-step higher level if it is determined that the power converter generates an output not greater than the minimum operating output level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the over-temperature protection logic performs detecting, at an internal temperature sensor of the power converter, an over-temperature and reducing, when the over-temperature is detected, the temperature of the power converter by limiting the output of the power converter below the minimum operating output value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the cooling rate of the cooling system when the over-temperature protection logic is completed as the temperature of the power converter is returned to a normal operating level.