AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY OF VEHICLE

• US 20150101354A1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: OH, Man Ju, KIM, Jae Woong, KIM, Jae Hoon, PARK, Jae Woo
• Application Number:
  US14/104,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20150101354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/021 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0251 by a gas
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• 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 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Air conditioning system and method for a high-voltage battery of a vehicle includes a first heat exchanger provided in a battery housing, and a first blower for supplying air to the first heat exchanger. A second heat exchanger is provided in an air extractor of a trunk room, and a second blower supplies air to the second heat exchanger, thereby discharging air inside the trunk room to the outside after performing heat exchange. A peltier element is combined with the second heat exchanger such that a first surface thereof is in contact with the second heat exchanger. A cooling line arranged in such a way that a first end is in contact with a second surface of the peltier element, and a second end thereof exchanges heat between the second end and the first heat exchanger.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first heat exchanger provided in a battery housing, and a first blower for supplying air to the first heat exchanger at a position adjacent to the first heat exchanger;

a second heat exchanger provided in an air extractor of a trunk room, and a second blower for supplying air to the second heat exchanger at a position adjacent to the second heat exchanger, thereby discharging air inside the trunk room to an outside after exchanging heat between the air inside the trunk room and the second heat exchanger;

a peltier element combined with the second heat exchanger in such a way that a first surface of the peltier element is in contact with the second heat exchanger;

a cooling line, through which a coolant circulates, is arranged in such a way that a first end thereof is in contact with a second surface of the peltier element and a second end thereof exchanges heat between the second end and the first heat exchanger.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the battery housing has a sealed structure, and the first heat exchanger and the first blower are disposed inside the battery housing so as to control air inside the battery housing, wherein the second end of the cooling line is inserted into the battery housing and combined with the first heat exchanger inside the battery housing.

3. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed inside the trunk room at a location adjacent to the air extractor, and the second blower is disposed at a back side of the second heat exchanger and blows the air inside the trunk room to the second heat exchanger.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the cooling line has a hydraulic pump so as to circulate a coolant through the cooling line.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the battery housing is installed in a front part inside the trunk room, and the air extractor is installed in a side part of the trunk room.

6. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein each of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger has a plurality of heat dissipating fins, thus exchanging heat between the fins and air.

7. The air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller for controlling operation of the first blower, the second blower, the peltier element, and the cooling line.

8. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein, when the high-voltage battery needs to be cooled using a low stage cooling mode, the controller operates the cooling line and the first blower.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein, when the high-voltage battery needs to be cooled using a high stage cooling mode, the controller operates the first blower, the second blower, the peltier element, and the cooling line.

10. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein, when the high-voltage battery needs to be heated, the peltier element emits heat from the first surface of the peltier element, and the cooling line and the first blower are operated by the controller.

11. An air conditioning method for a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, the method being performed using the air conditioning system of claim 7, the method comprising:

selecting an operational mode required by the high-voltage battery; and

performing a high stage cooling operation when a high stage cooling mode has been selected, in which both the first blower and the second blower are activated, the peltier element cools the first surface of the peltier element, and the coolant is circulated through the cooling line.

12. The air conditioning method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing a low stage cooling operation, in which the coolant is circulated through the cooling line and the first blower is activated, when a low stage cooling mode has been selected in the selecting the operational mode.

13. The air conditioning method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing a heating operation, in which the peltier element emits heat from the first surface of the peltier element, and the first blower and the cooling line are activated, when a heating mode has been selected in the selecting the operational mode.