THERMAL CONTROL OF MULTIPLE DEVICES

• US 20120283898A1
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: SHEN, Stephen L., BUFORD, Keith D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/08 Methods and devices for control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for thermally controlling a plurality of devices of a system using an element. The element is controlled in accordance with a first control strategy via a processor if a temperature of a first device of the plurality of devices is within a first range, a temperature of a second device of the plurality of devices is within a second range, and an inlet temperature of the system is within a third range. The element is controlled via the processor in accordance with a second control strategy via the processor if the temperature of the first device is not within the first range, the temperature of the second device is not within the second range, or the inlet temperature is not within the third range.

Claims

1. A method for thermally controlling a plurality of devices of a system using an element, the method comprising the steps of:

controlling the element with a processor in accordance with a first control strategy if a temperature of a first device of the plurality of devices is within a first range, a temperature of a second device of the plurality of devices is within a second range, and an inlet temperature of the system is within a third range; and

controlling the element via the processor in accordance with a second control strategy via the processor if the temperature of the first device is not within the first range, the temperature of the second device is not within the second range, or the inlet temperature is not within the third range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of controlling the element in accordance with the first control strategy comprises the step of controlling the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions is satisfied;

namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is greater than a first predetermined threshold, (b) the inlet temperature is greater than a second predetermined threshold, (c) the inlet temperature is greater than the temperature of the first device, (d) the temperature of the second device is greater than a third predetermined threshold, and (e) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the second device; and

the step of controlling the element in accordance with the second control strategy comprises the step of controlling the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(e) are not satisfied.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of controlling the element in accordance with the first control strategy comprises the step of controlling the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions (a)-(e) are satisfied;

namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is less than a first predetermined threshold, (b) the inlet temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, (c) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the first device, (d) the temperature of the second device is greater than a third predetermined threshold, and (e) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the second device; and

the step of controlling the element in accordance with the second control strategy comprises the step of controlling the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(e) are not satisfied.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the element comprises a fan;

the first control strategy adjusts a speed of the fan at a first rate; and

the second control strategy adjusts the speed of the fan at a second rate that is greater than the first rate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the system is disposed within a hybrid vehicle;

the first device comprises a battery of the hybrid vehicle; and

the second device comprises a power electronic device of the hybrid vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of devices further comprises a third device;

the step of controlling the element in accordance with the first control strategy comprises the step of controlling the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions (a)-(c) are satisfied, namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is within the first range, (b) the temperature of the second device is within the second range or the temperature of the third device is within a fourth range, and (c) the inlet temperature of the system is within the third range; and

the step of controlling the element in accordance with the second control strategy comprises the step of the step of controlling the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(c) are not satisfied.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the system is disposed within a hybrid vehicle;

the element comprises a fan;

the first device comprises a battery of the hybrid vehicle;

the second device comprises an inverter of the hybrid vehicle; and

the third device comprises an accessory power module of the hybrid vehicle.

8. A program product for thermally controlling a plurality of devices of a system using an element, the program product comprising:

a program configured to;

control the element in accordance with a first control strategy if a temperature of a first device of the plurality of devices is within a first range, a temperature of a second device of the plurality of devices is within a second range, and an inlet temperature of the system is within a third range; and

control the element in accordance with a second control strategy if the temperature of the first device is not within the first range, the temperature of the second device is not within the second range, or the inlet temperature is not within the third range; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the program.

9. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to:

control the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions is satisfied;

namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is greater than a first predetermined threshold, (b) the inlet temperature is greater than a second predetermined threshold, (c) the inlet temperature is greater than the temperature of the first device, (d) the temperature of the second device is greater than a third predetermined threshold, and (e) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the second device; and

control the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(e) are not satisfied.

10. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to:

control the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions (a)-(e) are satisfied;

namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is less than a first predetermined threshold, (b) the inlet temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, (c) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the first device, (d) the temperature of the second device is greater than a third predetermined threshold, and (e) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the second device; and

control the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(e) are not satisfied.

11. The program product of claim 8, wherein:

the element comprises a fan;

the first control strategy adjusts a speed of the fan at a first rate; and

the second control strategy adjusts the speed of the fan at a second rate that is greater than the first rate.

12. The program product of claim 8, wherein:

the system is disposed within a hybrid vehicle;

the first device comprises a battery of the hybrid vehicle; and

the second device comprises a power electronic device of the hybrid vehicle.

13. The program product of claim 8, wherein the plurality of devices further comprises a third device, and the program is further configured to:

control the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions (a)-(c) are satisfied, namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is within the first range, (b) the temperature of the second device is within the second range or the temperature of the third device is within a fourth range, and (c) the inlet temperature of the system is within the third range; and

control the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(c) are not satisfied.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein:

the system is disposed within a hybrid vehicle;

the element comprises a fan;

the first device comprises a battery of the hybrid vehicle;

the second device comprises an inverter of the hybrid vehicle; and

the third device comprises an accessory power module of the hybrid vehicle.

15. A system for thermally controlling a plurality of devices of a second system using an element, the system comprising:

a first sensor configured to measure a temperature of a first device of the plurality of devices;

a second sensor configured to measure a temperature of a second device of the plurality of devices;

a third sensor configured to measure an inlet temperature of the second system; and

a processor coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor, the processor configured to;

control the element in accordance with a first control strategy if the temperature of the first device is within a first range, the temperature of the second device is within a second range, and the inlet temperature is within a third range; and

control the element in accordance with a second control strategy if the temperature of the first device is not within the first range, the temperature of the second device is not within the second range, or the inlet temperature is not within the third range.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

control the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions is satisfied;

namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is greater than a first predetermined threshold, (b) the inlet temperature is greater than a second predetermined threshold, (c) the inlet temperature is greater than the temperature of the first device, (d) the temperature of the second device is greater than a third predetermined threshold, and (e) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the second device; and

control the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(e) are not satisfied.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

control the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions (a)-(e) are satisfied;

namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is less than a first predetermined threshold, (b) the inlet temperature is less than a second predetermined threshold, (c) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the first device, (d) the temperature of the second device is greater than a third predetermined threshold, and (e) the inlet temperature is less than the temperature of the second device; and

control the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(e) are not satisfied.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the element comprises a fan;

the first control strategy adjusts a speed of the fan at a first rate; and

the second control strategy adjusts the speed of the fan at a second rate that is greater than the first rate.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of devices further comprises a third device, and the processor is further configured to:

control the element in accordance with the first control strategy if each of the following conditions (a)-(c) are satisfied, namely;

(a) the temperature of the first device is within the first range, (b) the temperature of the second device is within the second range or the temperature of the third device is within a fourth range, and (c) the inlet temperature of the second system is within the third range; and

control the element in accordance with the second control strategy if any of conditions (a)-(c) are not satisfied.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the second system is disposed within a hybrid vehicle;

the element comprises a fan;

the first device comprises a battery of the hybrid vehicle;

the second device comprises an inverter of the hybrid vehicle; and

the third device comprises an accessory power module of the hybrid vehicle.