Battery pack temperature optimization control system
First Claim
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1. A thermal management system for an electric vehicle comprising:
- an electrical energy storage system (ESS) coupled to an electric vehicle powertrain, said electrical ESS supplying power to an electric motor of said electric vehicle powertrain;
a cooling system comprised of a coolant within a coolant loop, said coolant loop in thermal communication with said electrical ESS, said coolant system further comprised of a coolant pump for pumping said coolant through said coolant loop, said coolant system further comprised of a radiator coupled to said coolant loop, wherein said coolant passes through said radiator as said coolant is pumped through said coolant loop with said coolant pump;
a temperature control system coupled to said cooling system, wherein said cooling system is under the control of said temperature control system, wherein said temperature control system further comprises;
a vehicle condition monitor, wherein said vehicle condition monitor outputs a first condition signal when said electric vehicle is on and outputs a second condition signal when said electric vehicle is off;
an ambient temperature monitor for determining ambient temperature;
a comparator circuit for comparing said ambient temperature with a preset temperature, wherein said comparator circuit outputs a first signal when said ambient temperature is less than said preset temperature and outputs a second signal when said ambient temperature is greater than said preset temperature; and
a cooling system controller coupled to said cooling system, said cooling system controller configured to output a control signal to said cooling system when said vehicle condition monitor outputs said second condition signal, said cooling system controller further configured to receive said first and second signals from said comparator circuit, wherein said control signal activates said coolant pump when said cooling system controller receives said first signal from said comparator circuit, and wherein said control signal deactivates said coolant pump when said cooling system controller receives said second signal from said comparator circuit.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for limiting the adverse effects of temperature on the electrical energy storage system (ESS) of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off are provided. In general, whether or not coolant is circulated through a coolant loop coupled to the ESS depends on the difference between the ambient temperature and a preset temperature, the preset temperature typically corresponding to the temperature of the ESS.
49 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A thermal management system for an electric vehicle comprising:
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an electrical energy storage system (ESS) coupled to an electric vehicle powertrain, said electrical ESS supplying power to an electric motor of said electric vehicle powertrain; a cooling system comprised of a coolant within a coolant loop, said coolant loop in thermal communication with said electrical ESS, said coolant system further comprised of a coolant pump for pumping said coolant through said coolant loop, said coolant system further comprised of a radiator coupled to said coolant loop, wherein said coolant passes through said radiator as said coolant is pumped through said coolant loop with said coolant pump; a temperature control system coupled to said cooling system, wherein said cooling system is under the control of said temperature control system, wherein said temperature control system further comprises; a vehicle condition monitor, wherein said vehicle condition monitor outputs a first condition signal when said electric vehicle is on and outputs a second condition signal when said electric vehicle is off; an ambient temperature monitor for determining ambient temperature; a comparator circuit for comparing said ambient temperature with a preset temperature, wherein said comparator circuit outputs a first signal when said ambient temperature is less than said preset temperature and outputs a second signal when said ambient temperature is greater than said preset temperature; and a cooling system controller coupled to said cooling system, said cooling system controller configured to output a control signal to said cooling system when said vehicle condition monitor outputs said second condition signal, said cooling system controller further configured to receive said first and second signals from said comparator circuit, wherein said control signal activates said coolant pump when said cooling system controller receives said first signal from said comparator circuit, and wherein said control signal deactivates said coolant pump when said cooling system controller receives said second signal from said comparator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A thermal management system for an electric vehicle comprising:
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an electrical energy storage system (ESS) coupled to an electric vehicle powertrain, said electrical ESS supplying power to an electric motor of said electric vehicle powertrain; a cooling system comprising; a coolant within a coolant loop, wherein a first portion of said coolant loop is in thermal communication with a first section of said electrical ESS and a second portion of said coolant loop is in thermal communication with a second section of said electrical ESS; a coolant pump for pumping said coolant through said coolant loop; a first valve for controlling flow through said first portion of said coolant loop; a second valve for controlling flow through said second portion of said coolant loop; and a radiator coupled to said coolant loop, wherein said coolant passes through said radiator as said coolant is pumped through said coolant loop with said coolant pump; at least one temperature sensor in thermal communication with said first section of said electrical ESS and monitoring a first section ESS temperature; at least one temperature sensor in thermal communication with said second section of said electrical ESS and monitoring a second section ESS temperature; a temperature control system coupled to said cooling system, wherein said cooling system is under the control of said temperature control system, wherein said temperature control system further comprises; a vehicle condition monitor, wherein said vehicle condition monitor outputs a first condition signal when said electric vehicle is on and outputs a second condition signal when said electric vehicle is off; an ambient temperature monitor for determining ambient temperature; a first comparator circuit for comparing said ambient temperature with said first section ESS temperature, wherein said first comparator circuit outputs a first signal when said ambient temperature is less than said first section ESS temperature and outputs a second signal when said ambient temperature is greater than said first section ESS temperature; a second comparator circuit for comparing said ambient temperature with said second section ESS temperature, wherein said second comparator circuit outputs a third signal when said ambient temperature is less than said second section ESS temperature and outputs a fourth signal when said ambient temperature is greater than said second section ESS temperature; and a cooling system controller coupled to said cooling system, said cooling system controller configured to output a control signal to said cooling system when said vehicle condition monitor outputs said second condition signal, said cooling system controller further configured to receive said first and second signals from said first comparator circuit and said third and fourth signals from said second comparator circuit, wherein said control signal activates said coolant pump and opens said first valve when said cooling system controller receives said first signal from said first comparator circuit, wherein said control signal activates said coolant pump and opens said second valve when said cooling system controller receives said third signal from said second comparator circuit, wherein said control signal deactivates said coolant pump when said cooling system controller receives said second signal from said first comparator circuit, and wherein said control signal deactivates said coolant pump when said cooling system controller receives said fourth signal from said second comparator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification