METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN ENERGY STORAGE UNIT IN A VEHICLE MICRO-HYBRID SYSTEM

• US 20120062186A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• 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, Masson, Philippe, Sardat, Pierre, Chemin, Michaël, Matt, Jean-Claude, Soucazeguillous, Benoit
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/167
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

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 maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) with a first voltage threshold (Vmax1); 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 (Vmax) information reaches threshold (Vmax1) for a predetermined duration (T) and/or when the (Temp) information reaches the temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.).

Claims

1. Method of controlling a supercapacitor energy storage unit (12) included in a motor vehicle micro-hybrid system suitable for performing functions of an alternator, starter and automatic stop-restart of the vehicle heat engine, regenerative braking and torque assistance, said enemy storage unit (12) comprising a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status, characterised in that, said information delivered by the said energy storage unit (12) including maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information from the most charged elementary cell (C2) and temperature (Temp) information on the temperature of the said energy storage unit (12), the method comprises the steps of:

comparing said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information with a first voltage threshold (Vmax1),

comparing said temperature (Temp) information with at least one temperature threshold and

deciding on a limitation of the availability of said functions when said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information reaches said first voltage threshold (Vmax1) for a predetermined duration (T) and/or when said temperature (Temp) information reaches said at least one temperature threshold.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that it also comprises the stage of interrupting said limitation when said maximum elementary voltage (Vmax) information falls and reaches a second voltage threshold (Vmax2) lower than said first voltage threshold (Vmax1).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that said limitation (mode 2) comprises a prohibition of said regenerative braking function and/or of said torque assistance function when said temperature (Temp) information reaches a first temperature threshold.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that said limitation (mode 3) also comprises a prohibition of said heat engine automatic stop-restart function when said temperature (Temp) information reaches a second temperature threshold higher than said first temperature threshold.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the said limitation (mode 3) also comprises regulation at a predetermined fixed value of a voltage supplied by the alternator function.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that said limitation (mode 4) also comprises a warning given to a user of the vehicle about a possible prohibition of all of said functions when the said temperature (Temp) information reaches a third temperature threshold higher than said second temperature threshold.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the said first temperature threshold (ST1) is about 55°

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

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

C.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the said information delivered by said energy storage unit (12) including health status information based on a difference in voltage (DeltaV) between the most charged elementary cell (C2) and the least charged elementary cell (C9) of the said energy storage unit (12), the method further comprises the steps 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 vehicle of the need to replace said energy storage unit (12) and/or to increase said first voltage threshold (Vmax1) and/or said second voltage threshold (Vmax2) and/or said predetermined duration (T).

9. Motor vehicle micro-hybrid system comprising:

an energy storage unit (12) providing the functionality of an alternator, starter and automatic stop-restart of a vehicle heat engine, regenerative braking and torque assistance and having a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status, characterised in that

said energy storage unit (12) comprises means (141) suitable for;

comparing means for comparing said (Vmax) information with a first voltage threshold (Vmax1),

second comparing means for comparing (Temp) information with at least one temperature threshold, and

deciding means for deciding on a limitation of the availability of functionality of the energy storage unit when said (Vmax) information reaches said first voltage threshold (Vmax1) for a predetermined duration (T) and/or when said temperature (Temp) information reaches said at least one temperature threshold.