Apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of a battery in a hybrid electric vehicle

• US 8,895,172 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Mouden, Guy, Larsson, Johan, Lennevi, Jerker, Axelsson, Tobias
• Primary Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYLES-IRVING, CARMEN V
• Application Number:
  US13/500,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20120301755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• 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 1/04 fed by the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 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 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• 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 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling the temperature of a traction battery in a hybrid vehicle, where the hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for traction power. The method includes providing a first temperature regulating circuit for the internal combustion engine, providing a second temperature regulating circuit for the traction battery, heating the traction battery by an electrical heater provided in the second temperature regulating circuit in series with a pump, a radiator and the traction battery, transferring power to the electrical heater via a DC/DC converter from the electrical motor, which electrical motor is driven by the internal combustion engine, while the battery is below a predetermined temperature interval.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the temperature of a traction battery in a hybrid vehicle, where the hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for traction power, comprising:

providing a first temperature regulating circuit for the internal combustion engine,

providing a second temperature regulating circuit for the traction battery,

heating the traction battery by an electrical heater provided in the second temperature regulating circuit in series with a pump, a radiator and the traction battery, and

transferring power to the electrical heater via a DC/DC converter from the electrical motor, which electrical motor is driven by the internal combustion engine, while the battery is below a predetermined temperature interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, further using the battery for traction power only when the battery has a temperature within the predetermined temperature interval.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a bypass circuit for the radiator in the second temperature regulating circuit, and regulating a flow of liquid coolant into the radiator or into the bypass circuit by a valve.

4. The method according, to claim 1, further comprising controlling the electric motor by a voltage target value for feeding power to the electrical heater when the batter is below the predetermined temperature interval.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising isolating the second temperature regulating circuit from the first temperature regulating circuit.

6. A system for controlling the temperature of a traction battery in a hybrid vehicle, where the hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for traction power, the system comprising:

a first temperature regulating circuit for the internal combustion engine, a second temperature regulating circuit for the traction battery,

a heater, a pump and a radiator provided in the second temperature regulating circuit, wherein the heater is provided with power via a DC/DC converter from the electric motor, which electric motor is driven by the internal combustion engine.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a bypass circuit for the radiator in the second temperature regulating, circuit, and a valve for regulating a flow of liquid coolant into the radiator or into the bypass circuit.

8. The system according, to claim 6, further comprising a controller for controlling the electric motor by a voltage target value for feeding power to the heater when the battery is below the predetermined temperature interval.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first and second temperature regulating circuits are isolated from each other.