CENTRALIZED MULTI-ZONE COOLING FOR INCREASED BATTERY EFFICIENCY

• US 20090024256A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Daniel Thomas, Luk, Philip Wayne, Lyons, David Frederick, Straubel, Jeffrey Brian, Berdichevsky, Eugene Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• 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 10/656 characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• 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 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A system for managing battery temperature is described. The system may include a cooling system which may include a fluid. A cabin circulation subsystem may be coupled to the cooling subsystem and may utilize the fluid for cabin cooling. A separate battery circulation subsystem may also may also be coupled to the cooling subsystem so that it may additionally utilize the fluid for battery cooling. A control may be present in order to regulate movement of the fluid to the cabin circulation subsystem and/or to the battery circulation subsystem.

Claims

1. A system for managing battery temperature, comprising:

a cooling subsystem including a fluid;

a cabin circulation subsystem coupled to the cooling subsystem to utilize the fluid for cabin cooling;

a battery circulation subsystem coupled to the cooling subsystem to utilize the fluid for battery cooling; and

a control to regulate movement of the fluid to at least one of the cabin circulation subsystem and the battery circulation subsystem.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control further comprises a processor to analyze battery characteristics, allowing the control to regulate movement of the fluid based on the analysis.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control is operable to regulate the movement of the fluid to the battery circulation subsystem to assure the battery is maintained below a threshold temperature during an estimated remaining time of battery operation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cooling subsystem further includes a compressor to pressurize the fluid.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control is further operable to regulate the operation of the compressor.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to determine the temperature of the battery.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery circulation subsystem includes a further fluid in thermal contact with the battery, and wherein the further fluid receives cooling from the fluid of the cooling subsystem.

8. A method for cooling a battery, comprising:

estimating the remaining operational time before depletion for the battery;

allowing the battery temperature to rise; and

requesting cooling for the battery to control the battery temperature rise to assure the battery is below a maximum allowable operating temperature threshold when it reaches depletion.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein cooling is requested after the battery temperature is above an initial threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of cooling requested is variable based on the battery temperature.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of cooling requested is variable based on the remaining operational time before depletion.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising regulating cooling between the battery and a zone separate from the battery.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising decreasing cooling for the zone separate from the battery in order to provide additional cooling to the battery.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the zone separate from the battery is a cabin in a vehicle.

15. A system for cooling a battery, comprising:

a cooling subsystem to provide cooling to at least two zones, one of the zones including the battery;

a processor to estimate the remaining operational time before depletion for the battery; and

a valve to regulate cooling of the zone including the battery, the valve controlled by the processor to cool the zone including the battery to maintain the battery is below a threshold temperature until the battery reaches depletion.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an evaporator in communication with the cooling subsystem to provide cooling to a first zone, and a fluid to provide cooling to the zone including the battery.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is operable to restrict cooling to one or more zones to further cool the zone including the battery.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one accessory valve controlled by the processor to cool one or more of the zones.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is operable to restrict at least one accessory valve to decrease cooling in one or more zones and increase cooling in the zone including the battery.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the cooling subsystem is powered by the battery.

21. A method for cooling a battery, comprising:

estimating the remaining operational time before depletion for the battery;

allowing the battery temperature to rise;

estimating the time before the battery temperature will rise above a threshold; and

requesting cooling for the battery if the time before the battery temperature will exceed the threshold is less than the remaining operational time before depletion of the battery.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the cooling is requested to control the battery temperature rise to assure the battery remains below a threshold until the battery reaches depletion.