Method of controlling an energy storage unit in a vehicle micro-hybrid system

• US 8,818,592 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Dessirier, Bruno, Ranier, Marc, Newiadomy, Serge, Soucaze-Guillous, Benoit, Masson, Philippe, Sardat, Pierre, Chemin, Michal, Matt, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US13/143,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/36, 701/99, 701/29.1, 340/636.1, 340/636.11, 340/636.12, 340/636.15, 340/636.16, 340/636.18, 340/636.19, 180/65.29, 320/152, 320/153, 320/167
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• 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

Abstract

A method of controlling a supercapacitor energy storage unit (12), included in a motor vehicle micro-hybrid system, is disclosed. The storage unit is suitable for performing the functions of an alternator, starter and automatic stop-restart of the vehicle heat engine, regenerative braking and torque assistance. The energy storage unit (12) is a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and capable of delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status. The method includes various stages of: comparing a temperature (Temp) with at least one temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.); and, deciding on limitations of the availability of functions of the unit when the (Temp) information reaches the temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.).

Claims

1. A method of controlling a supercapacitor energy storage unit (12) in a motor vehicle having a heat engine and a micro-hybrid system comprising an electrical rotating machine configured to operate in modes of operation including an alternator mode, a starter mode allowing an automatic stop-restart function of the vehicle heat engine, a regenerative braking mode and a torque assistance mode, said energy storage unit (12) comprising a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and delivering information on an internal status thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a temperature (Temp) of said energy storage unit (12);

comparing said temperature (Temp) of said energy storage unit (12) with at least one temperature threshold; and

prohibiting at least one of said modes of operation of said electrical rotating machine when said temperature (Temp) reaches said at least one temperature threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of prohibiting at least one of said modes of operation comprises the step of prohibiting at least one of said regenerative braking mode of operation and said torque assistance mode of operation function when the said temperature (Temp) reaches a first temperature threshold (ST1).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of prohibiting at least one of said modes of operation also comprises the step of prohibiting said starter mode of operation and said heat engine automatic stop-restart function when said temperature (Temp) reaches a second temperature threshold (ST2) higher than said first temperature threshold (ST1).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of prohibiting at least one of said modes of operation also comprises the step of regulating a voltage supplied by said electrical rotating machine operating in said alternator mode at a predetermined fixed value.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of prohibiting at least one of said modes of operation also comprises the step of giving a warning to a user of said motor vehicle about a possible prohibition of all of said modes of operation when said temperature (Temp) reaches a third temperature threshold (ST3) higher than said second temperature threshold (ST2).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first temperature threshold (ST1) is about 55°

C. and/or said second temperature threshold (ST2) is about 65°

C. and/or said third temperature threshold (ST3) is about 70°

C.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said energy storage unit (12) includes a most charged elementary cell (C2) and a least charged elementary cell (C9);

and wherein said information delivered by said energy storage unit (12) includes maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) from said most charged elementary cell (C2), said method also comprises the steps of;

comparing said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) with a first voltage threshold (Vmax1); and

interrupting at least one of said modes of operation when said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information reaches said first voltage threshold (Vmax1) for a predetermined duration (T).

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of interrupting at least one of said modes of operation when said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) falls and reaches a second voltage threshold (Vmax2) lower than said first voltage threshold (Vmax1).

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said information delivered by said energy storage unit (12) includes health status information based on a difference in voltage (DeltaV) between said most charged elementary cell (C2) and said least charged elementary cell (C9) of said energy storage unit (12), said method further comprises the steps stages of:

comparing said health status (DeltaV) information with a third voltage threshold; and

when said health status (DeltaV) information reaches said third voltage threshold, informing a user of said motor vehicle of a need to at least one of replacing said energy storage unit (12) and increasing at least one of said first voltage threshold (Vmax1), said second voltage threshold (Vmax2) and said predetermined duration (T).

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of prohibiting at least one of said modes of operation comprises the step of prohibiting all of said functions when said temperature (Temp) reaches a third temperature threshold (ST3) higher than said second temperature threshold (ST2) and when said motor vehicle is at rest.

10. A motor vehicle micro-hybrid system in a motor vehicle having a heat engine, said micro-hybrid system comprising an electrical rotating machine configured to operate in modes of operation including an alternator mode, a starter mode, an automatic stop-restart mode of the vehicle heat engine, a regenerative braking mode and a torque assistance mode, said micro-hybrid system comprising:

an energy storage unit (12) having a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and delivering information on an internal status thereof, in that the said energy storage unit (12) comprising means (141) configured to;

obtain a temperature (Temp) of said energy storage unit (12);

compare the temperature (Temp) of said energy storage unit (12) with at least one temperature threshold; and

prohibit at least one of said modes of operation when said temperature (Temp) information reaches said at least one temperature threshold.