Environmental control system and method for a battery in a vehicle

• US 8,241,097 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zhu, Douglas, Maguire, Patrick, Taenaka, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister, Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Samantha
• Application Number:
  US10/906,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,723 Days
• Field of Search: 454/69, 180/68.5, 429/99
• US Class Current: 454/139
• 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: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/28 Door position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• 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 10/635 based on ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6565 with recirculation or U-turn in the flow path, i.e. back and forth
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5038 Heating or cooling of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 : Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle includes an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle. A duct system provides communication between the air intake and the battery. The duct system includes a movable door which can facilitate or inhibit movement of air between the air intake and the battery. An air outlet facilitates air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. A fan cooperates with the duct system for moving the air through a heat exchanger in the duct system and across the battery. A control system controls operation of the fan and the movable door, and is configured to determine whether the battery environment requires fresh air or recirculated air.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an environment for a battery in a vehicle, the vehicle including a transmission and an air conditioning system for the battery, the method comprising:

executing a first battery environment control strategy, including determining at least one vehicle operating condition;

ventilating the battery environment with air from an ambient environment outside the vehicle when the execution of the first battery environment control strategy indicates that the battery environment requires ventilation;

executing a second battery environment control strategy when the first battery environment control strategy does not indicate that the battery environment requires ventilation, the second battery environment control strategy including at least one of determining a transmission gear and determining whether the battery air conditioning system is operating;

recirculating air around the battery when the second battery control strategy indicates that exchange of air from around the battery with air from the ambient environment outside the vehicle should be inhibited; and

executing a third battery environment control strategy when the second battery environment control strategy does not indicate that the exchange of air from around the battery with air from the ambient environment outside the vehicle should be inhibited, the execution of the third battery environment control strategy including determining a temperature of the battery and a temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and effecting a battery environment control based at least in part on the temperature of the battery and the temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third battery environment control strategy further includes:

determining a temperature difference between the temperature of the battery and the temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle; and

cooling the battery environment with air from the ambient environment outside the vehicle when the temperature of the battery is greater than a first predetermined temperature and the temperature difference is greater than a second predetermined temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one vehicle operating condition includes at least one of determining whether the battery is in a reconditioning state, whether one or more anomalies exist in the battery, and whether the battery state of charge is greater than a first predetermined charge level.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein execution of the first battery environment control strategy indicates that the battery environment requires ventilation when the battery state of charge is greater than a first predetermined charge level.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein execution of the second battery environment control strategy further includes determining a current transmission gear, and recirculating air around the battery when it is determined that the transmission is in a park or neutral gear.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein execution of the second battery environment control strategy further includes determining whether the battery air conditioning system is operating to cool the battery, and recirculating air around the battery when it is determined that the battery air conditioning system is operating to cool the battery.

7. An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle including a transmission, the system comprising:

an air intake for receiving air from an ambient environment outside the vehicle;

a duct system capable of providing communication between the air intake and the battery, the duct system including a first door movable between a first position for facilitating movement of air between the air intake and the battery, and a second position for inhibiting movement of air between the air intake and the battery;

an air outlet configured to facilitate air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle, the duct system further including a second door movable between a first position for facilitating movement of air between the battery and the air outlet, and a second position for inhibiting movement of air between the battery and the air outlet;

a fan cooperating with the duct system for moving air through at least a portion of the duct system and across the battery; and

a control system including at least one controller and configured to control operation of the fan and the first door, and to determine independently of temperature whether the battery environment requires ventilation, the control system being further configured to;

command the first door into the first position and to operate the fan, thereby moving air in through the air intake, across the battery, and out through the air outlet when it is determined that the battery environment requires ventilation, and

receive at least one signal related to the transmission gear, and to command the second door into the second position when the transmission is in a park or neutral gear and the battery environment does not require ventilation.

8. The environmental control system of claim 7, wherein the control system determination of whether the battery environment requires ventilation includes at least one of the control system determining whether the battery is in a reconditioning state, whether one or more anomalies exist in the battery, and whether the battery state of charge is greater than a first predetermined charge level.

9. The environmental control system of claim 7, the vehicle further including a battery air conditioning system, wherein the control system is further configured to determine whether the battery air conditioning system is operating to cool the battery, and to command the first and second doors into their respective second positions when the transmission is in a forward or reverse gear, the battery air conditioning system is operating to cool the battery, and the battery environment does not require ventilation.

10. The environmental control system of claim 9, further comprising:

a sensor for determining a temperature of the battery and for sending a signal to the control system related to the battery temperature; and

a sensor for determining a temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle and for sending a signal to the control system related to the temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and

wherein the control system is further configured to;

a) determine a first temperature difference defined as the difference between the battery temperature and the temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle,

b) command the first and second doors into their respective first positions, and

c) operate the fan, thereby moving air in through the air intake, across the battery, and out through the air outlet,

when the temperature of the battery is greater than a first predetermined temperature, the first temperature difference is greater than a second predetermined temperature, the transmission is in a forward or reverse gear, and the battery air conditioning system is not operating to cool the battery.

11. The environmental control system of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to inhibit operation of the fan when the temperature of the battery is within a first predetermined temperature range, and the battery environment does not require ventilation.

12. The environmental control system of claim 7, wherein the duct system further includes a second door movable between a first position for facilitating movement of air between the battery and the air outlet, and a second position for inhibiting movement of air between the battery and the air outlet, wherein the control system is further configured to:

a) receive at least one signal indicating whether the vehicle is in a key-off mode,

b) command the first and second doors into their respective first positions and operate the fan for a predetermined time, thereby moving air in through the air intake, across the battery, and out through the air outlet, when it is determined that the battery environment requires ventilation and the vehicle is in the key-off mode, and

c) command the first and second doors into their respective second positions and stop operation of the fan when the predetermined time has elapsed.