METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN ENERGY STORAGE UNIT IN A VEHICLE MICRO-HYBRID SYSTEM

• US 20120095644A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Dessirier, Bruno, Ranier, Marc, Newiadomy, Serge, Soucaze-Guillous, Benoit, Masson, Philippe, Sardat, Pierre, Chemin, Michaël, Matt, Jean-Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A method of controlling a supercapacitor energy storage unit (12), included in a motor vehicle micro-hybrid system, is disclosed. The storage unit is suitable for performing the functions of an alternator, starter and automatic stop-restart of the vehicle heat engine, regenerative braking and torque assistance. The energy storage unit (12) is a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and capable of delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status. The method includes various stages of: comparing a temperature (Temp) with at least one temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.); and, deciding on limitations of the availability of functions of the unit when the (Temp) information reaches the temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.).

Claims

1. Method of controlling a supercapacitor energy storage unit (12) included in a motor vehicle micro-hybrid system suitable for performing the functions of an alternator, starter and automatic stop-restart of the vehicle heat engine, regenerative braking and torque assistance, said energy storage unit (12) comprising a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status, characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

comparing temperature (Temp) information, as said information is delivered by said energy storage unit (12), with at least one temperature threshold and

deciding on a limitation of the availability of said functions when said temperature (Temp) information reaches said at least one temperature threshold.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that said limitation (mode 2) comprises a prohibition of at least one of said regenerative braking function or of said torque assistance function when the said temperature (Temp) information reaches a first temperature threshold.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said limitation (mode 3) also comprises a prohibition of said heat engine automatic stop-restart function when said temperature (Temp) information reaches a second temperature threshold higher than said first temperature threshold.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that said limitation (mode 3) also comprises regulation at a predetermined fixed value of a voltage supplied by the alternator function.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that said limitation (mode 4) also comprises a warning given to a user of vehicle about a possible prohibition of all of said functions when said temperature (Temp) information reaches a third temperature threshold higher than the said second temperature threshold.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that said first temperature threshold (ST1) is about 55°

C. and/or the said second temperature threshold (ST2) is about 65°

C. and/or the said third temperature threshold (ST3) is about 70°

C.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that said information delivered by said energy storage unit (12) including maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information from the most charged elementary cell (C2), the method also comprises the steps of:

comparing said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information with a first voltage threshold (Vmax1) and

deciding on a limitation of the availability of said functions when the said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information reaches said first voltage threshold (Vmax1) for a predetermined duration (T).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that it also comprises the stage of interrupting said limitation when said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information falls and reaches a second voltage threshold (Vmax2) lower than the said first voltage threshold (Vmax1).

9. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that said information delivered by said energy storage unit (12) including health status information based on a difference in voltage (DeltaV) between the most charged elementary cell (C2) and the least charged elementary cell (C9) of the said energy storage unit (12), the method comprises the stages of:

comparing the said health status (DeltaV) information with a third voltage threshold and

when said health status (DeltaV) information reaches said third voltage threshold, informing a user of said vehicle of need to at least one of replace said energy storage unit (12) or to increase said first voltage threshold (Vmax1) or said second voltage threshold (Vmax2) or said predetermined duration (T).

10. Motor vehicle micro-hybrid system comprising:

an energy storage unit (12) having a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status, characterised in that

the said energy storage unit (12) comprises means (141) suitable for

comparing temperature (Temp) information, as said information is delivered by said energy storage unit (12), with at least one temperature threshold, and

deciding on a limitation of the availability of said functions when said temperature (Temp) information reaches said at least one temperature threshold.