Method and System for Conditioning an Energy Storage System (ESS) for a Vehicle

• US 20120158228A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Biondo, William A., Proefke, David T., McCall, Clark E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/667 Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A method and system for conditioning an energy storage system (ESS) for a vehicle, like a high-voltage battery or a fuel cell used for vehicle propulsion. It may be detrimental for a high-voltage battery in a parked vehicle to be exposed to extreme temperatures for an extended period of time. Thus, the method and system may be used to condition such a battery—for example, by heating it up if it is too cold or by cooling it down if it is too hot—so that the performance, durability, lifespan and/or other aspects of the battery are improved. In an exemplary embodiment, the method predicts if the battery will need conditioning the next time the vehicle is parked and, if such conditioning is needed, then the method predicts if the battery has sufficient charge to perform this conditioning. If the charge appears insufficient, then the method operates an energy generator that provides additional charge to the battery in anticipation of the needed conditioning.

Claims

1. A method of conditioning an energy storage system (ESS) for a vehicle, the method is at least partially performed while the vehicle is being driven and comprises the steps of:

(a) determining if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to need conditioning the next time that the vehicle is parked;

(b) determining if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to have enough charge to perform the conditioning the next time that the vehicle is parked;

(c) if step (b) determines that the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to have enough charge to perform the conditioning, then enabling the conditioning for the next time that the vehicle is parked; and

(d) if step (b) determines that the energy storage system (ESS) is not likely to have enough charge to perform the conditioning, then operating an energy generator that provides the energy storage system (ESS) with additional charge.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises determining if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to need conditioning by generating a heat exposure prediction that is generally representative of the predicted or estimated amount of heat energy that the ESS will be exposed to the next time that the vehicle is parked.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (a) further comprises generating the heat exposure prediction by receiving and using at least one piece of external data selected from the group consisting of:

an actual outside temperature, a forecasted outside temperature, or a position reading.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein step (a) further comprises generating the heat exposure prediction by receiving and using at least one piece of historical data selected from the group consisting of:

past parking behavior, past driving behavior, or a prediction error value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (a) further comprises generating the heat exposure prediction by using a prediction error value in a closed-loop feedback system.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein step (a) further comprises comparing the heat exposure prediction to a heat exposure threshold, and if the heat exposure prediction exceeds the heat exposure threshold then determining that the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to need conditioning the next time that the vehicle is parked.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises determining if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to have enough charge by generating a charge capacity prediction that is generally representative of the predicted or estimated amount of charge that the ESS will have the next time that the vehicle is parked.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) further comprises generating the charge capacity prediction by using a route matching technique to match a current route of the vehicle with one or more stored routes that are part of a past driving behavior.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) further comprises generating the charge capacity prediction by using a route that is provided by a navigation unit within the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) further comprises generating the charge capacity prediction by using a prediction error value in a closed-loop feedback system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises checking if there are any other scheduled events that turn on the energy generator before operating the energy generator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein if there are other scheduled events then operating the energy generator, and if there are not other scheduled events then evaluating a threat level to the energy storage system (ESS) and only operating the energy generator if the threat level is above a threat threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one scheduled event that turns on the energy generator is selected from the group consisting of:

a fuel freshness cycle or an engine maintenance cycle.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

conditioning the energy storage system (ESS) with a cooling unit or a heating unit so that an energy storage system (ESS) temperature is influenced.

15. A method of conditioning an energy storage system (ESS) for a vehicle, the method is at least partially performed while the vehicle is parked and comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving an energy storage system (ESS) temperature;

(b) predicting if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to be exposed to extreme temperatures for an extended period of time while the vehicle is parked; and

(c) if the energy storage system (ESS) temperature exceeds a temperature threshold and step (b) predicts that the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to be exposed to extreme temperatures for an extended period of time, then operating a cooling unit or a heating unit that influences the energy storage system (ESS) temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (b) further comprises predicting if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to be exposed to extreme temperatures for an extended period of time by using at least one piece of external data selected from the group consisting of:

an actual outside temperature, a forecasted outside temperature, or a position reading.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein step (b) further comprises predicting if the energy storage system (ESS) is likely to be exposed to extreme temperatures for an extended period of time by using at least one piece of historical data selected from the group consisting of:

past parking behavior, past driving behavior, or a prediction error value.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

determining if there is enough fuel to start an energy generator, and if there is enough fuel then starting the energy generator and providing charge to the energy storage system (ESS) before step (c) operates the cooling unit or the heating unit.

19. A conditioning system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a control module;

a high-voltage battery for vehicle propulsion;

an energy generator being coupled to the control module and the high-voltage battery; and

at least one of a cooling unit or a heating unit being thermally coupled to the high-voltage battery and influencing a battery temperature;

wherein the control module predicts if additional charge will be needed for the cooling unit or the heating unit to influence the battery temperature during a future park cycle, and the control module controls the energy generator based on the prediction.