Battery temperature regulating apparatus

• US 5,834,132 A
• Filed: 11/03/1995
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ozawa, Koichiro, Sato, Hiromitsu, Hasegawa, Osamu, Kitami, Yasuo, Sando, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/552,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• 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 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• 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 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 : Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 : Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 : Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 : characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 : arranged between the 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 10/657 : by electric or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 : by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 : the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• 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 10/7072 : 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery temperature regulating apparatus efficiently controls the charging temperature of a battery assembly which serves as a power source to energize a propulsive motor on an electric vehicle to run on a road. A fluid jacket is disposed in heat exchange relationship with the battery assembly and supplied with a coolant to regulate the temperature of the battery assembly with a radiator or an electric heater for allowing the battery assembly to be charged in a temperature range from 20° C. to 35° C., for example, which is optimum for the charging of the battery assembly. The battery temperature regulating apparatus can maintain the optimum temperature range more reliably than a conventional apparatus which regulates the temperature of the battery assembly as it is charged with a forced flow of hot air or cool air, and can reduce the electric energy consumption to 1/3 of that of the conventional apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for regulating the temperature of a battery assembly mounted as a power source on an electric vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor on the electric vehicle for being powered by the battery assembly and driving the electric vehicle;

a battery box housing a plurality of battery casings of a battery assembly;

a heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box in contact with said battery casings and disposed in heat-exchange contact with the electric motor;

a heater disposed outside of said battery box for heating a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path; and

a radiator disposed outside of said battery box for cooling a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

whereby the electric motor and the battery assembly can be cooled by said radiator through the heat-exchange fluid, and said battery assembly can be heated by said heater through the heat-exchange fluid.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a solenoid-operated valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator, for bringing said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said heater when said solenoid-operated valve is not supplied with an electric current.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and operating said radiator fan when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and controlling said radiator fan to rotate selectively in a succession of different speeds depending on said battery temperature when said battery temperature is above predetermined temperature (35°

C).

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature; and

heating control means for operating said heater when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator; and

heating control means for operating said heater and controlling said directional control valve to bring said heater into communication with said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature; and

heating control means for operating said heater for a predetermined period of time when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator; and

heating control means for operating said heater for a predetermined period of time and controlling said directional control valve to bring said heater into communication with said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

heating control means for operating said heater for a predetermined period of time when said battery temperature is below a first predetermined temperature;

a heated-fluid temperature detector disposed downstream of said heater for detecting a temperature of said heatexchange fluid; and

heater inactivating means in said heating control means, for inactivating said heater when the temperature of said heat-exchange fluid exceeds a second predetermined temperature.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator; and

heating control means for operating said heater for a predetermined period of time and controlling said directional control valve to bring said heater into communication with said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box when said battery temperature is below a first predetermined temperature;

a heated-fluid temperature detector disposed downstream of said heater for detecting a temperature of said heatexchange fluid; and

heater inactivating means in said heating control means, for inactivating said heater when the temperature of said heat-exchange fluid exceeds a second predetermined temperature.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means, having operation limiting means operable only while said battery assembly is being charged, for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and operating said radiator fan when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature; and

heating control means, having operation limiting means operable only while said battery assembly is being charged, for operating said heater when said battery temperature is at most a second predetermined temperature.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator; and

heating control means, having operation limiting means operable only while said battery assembly is being charged, for operating said heater and controlling said directional control valve to bring said heater into communication with said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator;

a fluid temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the heat-exchange fluid proximate said radiator;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and operating said radiator fan when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator;

a fluid temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the heat-exchange fluid proximate said radiator;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and controlling said radiator fan to rotate selectively in a succession of different speeds depending on said temperature of the heat-exchange fluid when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

16. An apparatus for regulating the temperature of a battery assembly mounted as a power source on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery box housing a plurality of battery casings of a battery assembly;

a heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box in contact with said battery casings;

a heater disposed outside of said battery box for heating a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a radiator disposed outside of said battery box for cooling a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

heating control means for operating said heater for a predetermined period of time when said battery temperature is below a first predetermined temperature;

a heated-fluid temperature detector disposed downstream of said heater for detecting a temperature of said heat-exchange fluid; and

heater deactivating means in said heating control means, for deactivating said heater when the temperature of said heat-exchange fluid exceeds a second predetermined temperature.

17. An apparatus for regulating the temperature of a battery assembly mounted as a power source on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery box housing a plurality of battery casings of a battery assembly;

a heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box in contact with said battery casings;

a heater disposed outside of said battery box for heating a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a radiator disposed outside of said battery box for cooling a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature; and

heating control means, having operation limiting means operable only while said battery assembly is being charged, for operating said heater when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater, and said radiator, wherein said operation limiting means is operable only while said battery assembly is being charged, thereby further controlling said directional control valve to bring said heater into communication with said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box when said battery temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater and said radiator;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and operating said radiator fan when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

20. An apparatus for regulating the temperature of a battery assembly mounted as a power source on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery box housing a plurality of battery casings of a battery assembly;

a heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box in contact with said battery casings;

a heater disposed outside of said battery box for heating a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a radiator disposed outside of said battery box for cooling the heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box, said heater and said radiator;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator;

a fluid temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the heat-exchange fluid proximate said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in aid battery box into communication with said radiator and operating said radiator fan when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature, wherein said cooling control means further controls said radiator fan to rotate selectively in a succession of different speeds depending on said temperature of the heat-exchange fluid when said battery is above said predetermined temperature.

21. An apparatus for regulating the temperature of a batter assembly mounted as a power source on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery box housing a plurality of battery casings of a battery assembly;

a heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box in contact with said battery casings;

a heater disposed outside of said battery box for heating a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a radiator disposed outside of said batter box for cooling a heat-exchange fluid flowing through said heat-exchange fluid path;

a directional control valve connected between said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in aid battery box, said heater and said radiator;

a battery temperature sensor disposed in said battery box for detecting a battery temperature;

a radiator fan disposed in facing relation to said radiator; and

cooling control means for controlling said directional control valve to bring said heat-exchange fluid path disposed in said battery box into communication with said radiator and operating said radiator fan when said battery temperature is above a predetermined temperature, wherein said cooling control means further controls said radiator fan to rotate selectively in a succession of different speeds depending on said battery temperature when said battery temperature is above said predetermined temperature.