METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF A HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20130166119A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Grimes, Jeffery R., King, Kimberley, Burrows, Neil Robert, Kummer, Andy, Wojtkowicz, Scott, Gillespey, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• 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 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for thermal management of an electric vehicle and the vehicle are provided. A controller is configured to regulate the temperature of a traction battery to within an operating temperature range when the vehicle is operating. The temperature of the battery is regulated to within a charging temperature range when the battery is connected to the charger and power source and the ambient temperature is outside an environmental temperature range. The battery is preconditioned to a battery drive temperature when the ambient temperature is outside the environmental temperature range and the battery is connected to the charger and power source. The cabin in the vehicle is preconditioned to a cabin temperature when the vehicle is connected to the charger and power source and the ambient temperature is outside the environmental temperature range.

Claims

5-1. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a temperature of each cell in the traction battery.

12. A method for thermal management of an electric vehicle connected to a charger and power source comprising:

regulating a temperature of a traction battery to be within a charging range;

preconditioning the traction battery to a traction battery drive temperature when ambient temperature is outside an environmental temperature range; and

preconditioning a cabin to a cabin temperature at a predetermined time before vehicle operation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein preconditioning the traction battery occurs within a predetermined time before the vehicle is operated.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined time is calculated from a vehicle operating time.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein preconditioning the cabin occurs when the ambient temperature is outside the environmental temperature range.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising charging the traction battery when a state of charge is less than a threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein charging begins after regulating the traction battery temperature to within the charging range when the temperature of the traction battery is outside the environmental range when a charging cycle is initiated.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising detecting a charging voltage input.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein charging the traction battery is prioritized over regulating the temperature at a first charging voltage input.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein regulating the temperature is prioritized over charging the traction battery at a second charging voltage input.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first charging voltage input is less than the second charging voltage input.

22. An electric vehicle comprising:

a traction battery;

a temperature sensor for the traction battery;

a thermal cycle connected to the traction battery and having a thermal source and a thermal sink; and

a controller connected to the traction battery, the sensor, and the thermal cycle, the controller configured to (i) measure a traction battery temperature using the sensor, (ii) detect if the traction battery is connected to a charger and power source, (iii) charge the traction battery when the traction battery is connected to the charger and power source and a state of charge is less than a threshold, (iv) regulate the temperature of the traction battery to within a charging temperature range when the traction battery is connected to the charger and power source, and (v) precondition the traction battery to a battery drive temperature when the ambient temperature is outside the environmental temperature range.

23. The electric vehicle of claim 22 further comprising a cabin climate control system in communication with the thermal cycle;

and

wherein the controller is configured to precondition a cabin in the vehicle to a cabin temperature when the vehicle is connected to the charger and power source.

24. The electric vehicle of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to regulate the temperature of the traction battery to within an operating temperature range when the vehicle is operating.

25. The electric vehicle of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to limit a vehicle power output when the traction battery temperature is outside the operating temperature range and the vehicle is operating.