Battery thermal system for vehicle

• US 8,215,432 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Nemesh, Mark D., Ibri, Wissam
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/117,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20090280395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 180 681- 682, 180/65.1, 180 6521- 6522, 180/65.265, 180/65.275, 180 684- 685, 180/69.6, 621/85, 622/01, 622/39, 622/592, 236/34.5, 429/62, 429/120
• US Class Current: 180/68.2
• 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 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• 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 10/6562 with free flow by convection only
• 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 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A battery thermal system for use in a vehicle having a power plant, an air conditioning system and a battery pack, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The battery thermal system may include a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger that selectively receives a refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system; a battery radiator located adjacent to a cooling fan; a valve that receives a liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirects the liquid coolant to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator; and an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the valve, the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator. The battery thermal system may also include a battery coolant heater for selectively heating the coolant that flows into the battery pack.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power plant;

a radiator configured to cool the power plant;

a cooling fan located adjacent to the radiator and configured to draw air through the radiator;

an air conditioning system;

a battery pack; and

a battery thermal system including a battery radiator located adjacent to the radiator and in fluid communication with the battery pack;

a battery coolant heater located upstream of the battery pack and configured to receive a flow of a liquid coolant therethrough, whereby the battery coolant heater is activatable to heat the coolant flowing therethrough; and

an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the battery radiator, and the battery coolant heater; and

wherein the battery thermal system includes a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger configured to selectively receive a refrigerant from the air conditioning system, and a valve configured to receive the liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirect the liquid coolant to one of the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the battery thermal system includes an air separator configured to receive a flow of liquid coolant therethrough and separate air bubbles from the liquid in the liquid coolant.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power plant is an internal combustion engine.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power plant is a fuel cell.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 including an electric motor drivingly engaging the cooling fan.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 including a plug-in charger operatively engaging the battery pack.

7. A vehicle comprising:

an air conditioning system;

a battery pack; and

a battery thermal system including a coolant-to-air battery radiator in fluid communication with the battery pack;

a battery coolant heater located upstream of the battery pack and configured to receive a flow of a liquid coolant therethrough, whereby the battery coolant heater is activatable to heat the coolant flowing therethrough;

an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the battery radiator, and the battery coolant heater;

a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger configured to selectively receive a refrigerant from the air conditioning system; and

a valve configured to receive the liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirect the liquid coolant to one of the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 comprising:

a power plant; and

A radiator configured to cool the power plant, the radiator located adjacent to the battery radiator.