Systems and methods for determining the target thermal conditioning value to control a rechargeable energy storage system

• US 8,781,658 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Simonini, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US13/108,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.2, 180/68.1
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• 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 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6569 : Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation heat pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6571 : Resistive heaters arrangements for heating the battery by its resistance to the internal current H01M10/637
• 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 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining the target thermal conditioning value to control a rechargeable energy storage system. Target thermal conditioning values are determined using a required thermal power value and a heat generation value in order to appropriately condition the RESS for heating and cooling.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the thermal conditioning of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), the method comprising:

configuring a controller with a processor and memory to receive electrical sensor data, pump sensor data, ambient temperature data, and temperature sensor data;

providing to the processor, electrical sensor data indicative of a current and resistance of the RESS;

calculating a heat generation value using the electrical sensor data;

providing to the processor, pump sensor data indicative of an inlet temperature for the pump, outlet temperature for the pump, speed of the pump, and density of coolant within the pump;

determining a mass flow rate and coolant specific heat using the pump sensor data;

providing to the processor, ambient temperature data;

determining a target temperature for the inlet of the pump using timestamp data, the ambient temperature, and a vehicle mode parameter;

providing to the processor, temperature sensor data indicative of a measured outlet coolant temperature;

calculating a required thermal power value using the target temperature, mass flow rate, coolant specific heat, and the measured outlet coolant temperature; and

calculating a target thermal conditioning value for the RESS using the required thermal power value and the heat generation value wherein the target thermal conditioning value is calculated from the difference between the required thermal power value and the heat generation value to change a power demand to drive a high voltage battery heater to heat the RESS or the target thermal condition value is calculated from the accumulation of the required thermal power value and the heat generation value to change the power demand to an air conditioning compressor to cool the RESS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target thermal conditioning value is used for feed forward control of the RESS.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the thermal condition value on a display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the display is a meter, a gauge, or text display.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference and the accumulation are calculated concurrently.

3. A system for determining a target thermal conditioning value for a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) for a vehicle having a coolant pump, the system comprising:

an interface configured to receive electrical sensor data from a current sensor and a resistance sensor connected to the RESS;

a heat generation calculator configured to calculate a heat generation value using a power-based strategy on the electrical sensor data;

an interface configured to receive pump sensor data from an inlet temperature for the pump, outlet temperature for the pump, speed of the pump, and density of coolant within the pump;

a coolant-based engine configured to determine a mass flow rate and coolant specific heat using the pump sensor data;

an interface configured to receive ambient temperature data from an external sensor to the RESS;

a temperature-based device configured to determine a target temperature for the inlet of the pump using a temperature-based strategy on the external sensor data;

an interface configured to receive a measured outlet coolant temperature from a temperature sensor;

a thermal power evaluator configured to calculate the required thermal power value using the target temperature, the mass flow rate, the coolant specific heat, and the measured outlet coolant temperature; and

a target thermal conditioning evaluator configured to determine a target thermal conditioning value from the required thermal power value and the heat generation value wherein the target thermal conditioning value is calculated from the difference between the required thermal power value and the heat generation value to change a power demand to drive a high voltage battery heater to heat the RESS or the target thermal condition value is calculated from the accumulation of the required thermal power value and the heat generation value to change the power demand to an air conditioning compressor to cool the RESS.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the target thermal conditioning value is used for feed forward control of the RESS.

10. The system of claim 3, further comprising displaying the thermal condition value on a display.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display is a meter, a gauge, or text display.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein the difference and the accumulation are calculated concurrently.

5. A system for controlling the thermal conditioning of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) for a vehicle having a coolant pump, the system comprising:

a current sensor configured to measure a current of the RESS;

a resistance sensor configured to measure a resistance of the RESS;

a pump sensor configured to measure an inlet temperature for the pump, outlet temperature for the pump, speed of the pump, and density of coolant within the pump;

an external sensor to the RESS configured to measure ambient temperature data, timestamp data, and a vehicle mode parameter;

a temperature sensor configured to measure an outlet coolant temperature; and

a processor coupled to a memory and configured to;

receive electrical sensor data indicative of a current and resistance of the RESS;

determine a heat generation value using the electrical sensor data;

receive pump sensor data indicative of an inlet temperature for the pump, outlet temperature for the pump, speed of the pump, and density of coolant within the pump;

determine a mass flow rate and coolant specific heat using the pump sensor data;

receive ambient temperature data;

determine a target temperature for the inlet of the pump using the ambient temperature, timestamp data, and a vehicle mode parameter;

receive temperature sensor data indicative of the measured outlet coolant temperature;

control the thermal condition of the RESS using a target thermal conditioning value wherein the target thermal conditioning value is calculated from the difference between the required thermal power value and the heat generation value to change a power demand to drive a high voltage battery heater to heat the RESS or the target thermal condition value is calculated from the accumulation of the required thermal power value and the heat generation value to change the power demand to an air conditioning compressor to cool the RESS.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the target thermal conditioning value is used for feed forward control of the RESS.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the target thermal conditioning value is stored in the memory.

12. The system of claim 5, further comprising displaying the thermal condition value on a display.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the display is a meter, a gauge, or text display.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the difference and the accumulation are calculated concurrently.