Vehicular combination chiller bypass system and method

• US 8,448,460 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dogariu, Michael J., Nyeholt, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRPISOVSKY, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US12/144,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20090317697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 621/85, 622/01, 62178-179, 621/961, 622/592
• US Class Current: 62/179
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32281 comprising a single secondary circuit, e.g. at evaporator or condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00949 comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0409 for the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2501 Bypass valves
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• 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 10/635 based on ambient temperature
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A chiller bypass system is provided for deployment onboard a vehicle that includes a battery pack through which a first coolant is circulated. In one embodiment, the chiller bypass system comprises a chiller, a chiller bypass duct fluidly coupled to the battery pack and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, and a chiller bypass valve. The chiller bypass valve includes: (i) a valve inlet fluidly coupled to the battery pack and configured to receive the first coolant therefrom, (ii) a first valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, and (iii) a second valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller bypass duct and configured to supply the first coolant thereto. The chiller bypass valve selectively directs coolant flow between the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet to adjust the volume of the first coolant cooled by the chiller.

Claims

1. A chiller bypass system for deployment onboard a vehicle that includes a battery pack configured to have a first coolant circulated therethrough, an air conditioning (A/C) module configured to have a second coolant circulated therethrough, and a refrigeration assembly configured to have a refrigerant circulated therethrough, the chiller bypass system comprising:

a chiller;

a chiller bypass duct configured to be fluidly coupled to the battery pack and to supply the first coolant thereto;

a chiller bypass valve, comprising;

a valve inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the battery pack and to receive the first coolant therefrom;

a first valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller and configured to supply the first coolant thereto; and

a second valve outlet fluidly coupled to the chiller bypass duct and configured to supply the first coolant thereto, the chiller bypass valve configured to selectively direct coolant flow between the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet to adjust the volume of the first coolant cooled by the chiller;

a third valve outlet;

a first flow passage formed through the chiller and fluidly coupled to the refrigeration assembly;

a second flow passage formed through the chiller and fluidly coupled to the A/C module, the volumetric capacity of the second flow passage less than the volumetric capacity of the first flow passage;

a third flow passage formed through the chiller and fluidly coupled between the battery pack and the first valve outlet, the volumetric capacity of the third flow passage less than the volumetric capacity of the second flow passage; and

a secondary cooling source fluidly coupled between the third valve outlet and the battery pack.

2. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 wherein the secondary cooling source comprises a low temperature radiator.

3. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the chiller bypass valve.

4. A chiller bypass system according to claim 3 further comprising a battery pack temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the controller configured to adjust the position of the chiller bypass valve based, at least in part, upon the temperature of the battery pack as indicated by the battery pack temperature sensor.

5. A chiller bypass system according to claim 3 further comprising a coolant temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the controller configured to adjust the position of the chiller bypass valve based, at least in part, on the temperature of the first coolant as indicated by the coolant temperature sensor.

6. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a controller operatively coupled to the chiller bypass valve; and

an ambient temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the controller configured to adjust the position of the chiller bypass valve based, at least in part, upon the ambient temperature as indicated by the ambient temperature sensor.

7. A chiller bypass system according to claim 1 wherein the chiller comprises a plurality of plates fixedly coupled together in a stacked formation;

wherein the first, second, and third flow passages each comprise a number of lateral segments formed in the plurality of plates; and

wherein the number of lateral segments included in the first flow passage comprises is greater than the number of lateral segments included in the second flow passage and greater than the number of lateral segments included in the third flow passage.