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Battery thermal system and diagnostic method

  • US 9,415,700 B2
  • Filed: 09/04/2012
  • Issued: 08/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:

  • a battery pack having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a plurality of battery cells;

    a flow device that circulates heat transfer fluid through the battery pack;

    a conduit loop that conducts the heat transfer fluid from the flow device to the fluid inlet of the battery pack, and from the fluid outlet of the battery pack to the flow device, to thereby heat or cool the battery pack;

    an inlet thermocouple that is positioned proximate to the fluid inlet of the battery pack;

    at least one internal thermocouple positioned within the battery pack that is connected to and configured to measure a temperature of a respective one of the battery cells; and

    a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded a thermal model of the battery pack and instructions for diagnosing performance of the flow device;

    wherein the controller, via the processor, periodically executes the instructions to receive and process inlet temperature and battery cell temperature signals from the inlet thermocouple and the at least one internal thermocouple, respectively, using the thermal model, including estimating a temperature of the heat transfer fluid between the battery cells as a function of the measured temperatures of the respective battery cells, a geometry and physical composition of the battery pack, and a mass flow rate of the heat transfer fluid, to thereby diagnose the performance of the flow device, and wherein diagnosing the performance of the flow device includes recording, in memory of the controller, a diagnostic code having a passing or failing status.

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