System and method for temperature control of multi-battery systems

• US 9,960,461 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: King, Robert Dean, Hofstetter, Lorne Wyatt
• Primary Examiner(s): Laios, Maria J
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTIN, ANGELA J
• Application Number:
  US12/251,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,485 Days
• Field of Search: 429 62, 429120, 429 61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0053 relating to fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• 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 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

An system includes a first battery having a first desired operating temperature range between a first lower threshold temperature and a first upper threshold temperature and a second battery having a second desired operating temperature range between a second lower threshold temperature and a second upper threshold temperature. The system further includes a temperature control system coupled to the first and second batteries and configured to convey heat energy from the first battery to the second battery when the temperature of the second battery is less than the second lower threshold temperature to increase the temperature of the second battery toward the second desired operating temperature range and to convey heat energy away from the second battery when the temperature of the second battery is greater than the second upper threshold temperature to decrease the temperature of the second battery toward the second desired operating temperature range.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a high-specific energy battery having a first operating temperature range between a first lower threshold temperature and a first upper threshold temperature;

a high-specific power battery having a second operating temperature range between a second lower threshold temperature and a second upper threshold temperature, wherein the second upper threshold temperature of the high-specific power battery is less than the first lower threshold temperature of the high-specific energy battery; and

a temperature control system comprising a heat exchanger system, the heat exchanger system coupled to the high-specific energy and high-specific power batteries, wherein the temperature control system is programmed to;

convey heat energy from the high-specific energy battery to the high-specific power battery through the heat exchanger system when the temperature of the high-specific power battery is less than the second lower threshold temperature to increase the temperature of the high-specific power battery toward the second operating temperature range; and

convey heat energy away from the high-specific power battery through the heat exchanger system when the temperature of the high-specific power battery is greater than the second upper threshold temperature to decrease the temperature of the high-specific power battery toward the second operating temperature range.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electric hybrid engine coupled to the temperature control system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger system comprises an air-liquid heat exchanger programmed to output cooling air to the high-specific energy battery and the high-specific power battery.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the air-liquid heat exchanger is programmed to intake air from ambient air.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the temperature control system further comprises a heat source, the heat source comprising one of a resistive heater, an exhaust system, an engine, a radiator, and an independent heating unit, and the temperature control system is further programmed to convey heat energy from the heat source to the high-specific energy battery when the high-specific energy battery is below the first lower threshold temperature.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the temperature control system, in being programmed to convey heat energy from the high-specific energy battery to the high-specific power battery, is configured to:

transfer heat energy from the high-specific energy battery to a first stream;

transfer heat energy from the first stream to a second stream, the second stream comprising air supplied from one of a cabin and an outside ambient environment; and

transfer heat energy from the second stream to the high-specific power battery.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the heat exchanger system comprises an air/air exchanger programmed to transfer the heat energy from the first stream to the second stream.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the temperature control system is further programmed to increase a temperature of an operator cabin with the heat energy conveyed away from the high-specific power battery, wherein the operator cabin is a cabin where an operator controls a transportation device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the high-specific energy battery operates in a temperature range from about 270 to 350 degrees Celsius, and wherein the high-specific power battery operates in a temperature range from about 0 to 35 degrees Celsius.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the high-specific energy battery is one of a Sodium Metal Halide battery, a Sodium Sulphur battery, a Sodium-Nickel Chloride battery, and wherein the high-specific power battery is one of a Lithium Ion battery, a Lithium Polymer battery, a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery, a Nickel-Cadmin battery, and a Lead-Acid battery.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a heat exchange system comprising a first heat exchanger positioned along a first portion of a heat transfer path and a second heat exchanger positioned along a second portion of the heat transfer path; and

a controller programmed to;

transfer heat energy from a high-specific energy battery to a high-specific power battery through the first heat exchanger along the first portion of the heat transfer path when a temperature of the high-specific power battery is operating at a first temperature such that an operating temperature of the high-specific power battery increases; and

transfer heat energy away from the high-specific power battery through the second heat exchanger along the second portion of the heat transfer path when the high-specific power battery is operating at a second temperature such that the operating temperature of the high-specific power battery decreases.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a hybrid-electric propulsion system comprising the high-specific energy and high-specific power batteries.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is further programmed to:

cause the heat energy from the high-specific energy battery to pass through the first heat exchanger;

cause heat transfer air to pass through the first heat exchanger such that a portion of the heat energy from the high-specific energy battery is transmitted into an operator cabin air; and

cause the operator cabin air to transfer a portion of the heat energy to the high-specific power battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heat exchange system further comprises:

a first temperature regulating circuit thermally coupled to the high-specific energy battery and programmed to increase and decrease the operating temperature of the high-specific energy battery; and

a second temperature regulating circuit thermally coupled to the high-specific power battery and programmed to increase and decrease the operating temperature of the high-specific power battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heat exchange system further comprises:

a first fan programmed to convey air to heat the high-specific energy battery and to convey air to cool the high-specific energy battery through the first temperature regulating circuit; and

a second fan programmed to convey air to heat the high-specific power battery and to convey air to cool the high-specific power battery through the second temperature regulating circuit.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heat exchange system further comprises a heat source, the heat source comprising one of an engine exhaust system, an engine, an alternator, and a radiator, and the controller is further programmed to transfer heat energy from a heat source to the high-specific energy battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the high-specific energy battery operates in a temperature range from about 270 to 350 degrees Celsius, and wherein the high-specific power battery operates in a temperature range from about 0 to 35 degrees Celsius.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the high-specific energy battery is one of a Sodium Metal Halide battery, a Sodium Sulphur battery, a Sodium-Nickel Chloride battery, and wherein the high-specific power battery is one of a Lithium Ion battery, a Lithium Polymer battery, a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery, a Nickel-Cadmin battery, and a Lead-Acid battery.