Electric vehicle multi-loop thermal management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10046617-B2
Application number	US-201313757291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2013
Priority date	Feb 1, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A traction battery thermal management system is provided. The thermal management system includes a battery loop for regulating the traction battery temperature. A motor loop is provided for regulating a motor temperature. The thermal management system also includes a radiator. A radiator valve selectively controls fluid flow through the radiator. A battery valve selectively couples the battery loop and the motor loops. The battery loop, the motor loop are in fluid communication and arranged in parallel to be cooled by the radiator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric vehicle thermal management system comprising:
a battery loop for regulating temperature of a traction battery, the battery loop including a chiller adapted to cool fluid in the battery loop and a battery pump for circulating fluid in the battery loop;
a motor loop for regulating temperature of a traction motor and being in fluid communication with the battery loop, the motor loop including a motor pump for circulating fluid in the motor loop, the motor pump and the battery pump arranged in parallel;
a radiator in fluid communication with the battery loop and motor loop;
a radiator valve for selectively controlling fluid flow through the radiator, wherein in a first position fluid flows through the radiator and in a second position fluid bypasses the radiator; and
a battery valve for selectively coupling the battery loop and the motor loop, wherein in a first position fluid flows in parallel through the battery loop and the motor loop,
wherein the traction battery is cooled by the radiator without the chiller when both the radiator valve and the battery valve are set to the first position, respectively.

2. The electric vehicle thermal management system of claim 1 wherein when the battery valve is in a second position, the battery loop is fluidly isolated from the motor loop and the radiator.

3. The electric vehicle thermal management system of claim 1 further comprising a controller operatively connected to the radiator valve and battery valve,
wherein the controller is configured command the radiator valve and battery valve to the first positions, respectively to cool the traction battery without the chiller, and if a battery temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, the controller is configured to command the battery valve to the second position and activate the chiller.

4. The electric vehicle thermal management system of claim 3 wherein if a battery temperature is below the threshold temperature the controller commands the radiator valve to a second position to bypass the radiator and warms the traction battery through the motor loop.

5. The electric vehicle thermal management system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cabin loop for regulating a passenger cabin temperature; and
a cabin valve for selectively coupling the cabin loop to the thermal management system,
wherein the cabin loop is connected in series with the motor loop.

6. A traction battery thermal management system comprising:
a battery loop for regulating a battery temperature;
a motor loop for regulating a motor temperature;
a radiator;
a radiator valve for selectively controlling fluid flow through the radiator; and
a battery valve for selectively coupling the battery and motor loops,
wherein the battery and the motor loops are in parallel fluid communication to be cooled by the radiator.

7. The thermal management system of claim 6 wherein when the radiator valve is in a first position, fluid flows through the radiator and when the battery valve is a first position fluid flows in parallel through the battery loop and the motor loop, the radiator thereby cooling a battery and a traction motor in parallel.

8. The thermal management system of claim 7 further comprising a chiller adapted to cool fluid in the battery loop, wherein the battery is cooled by the radiator without the chiller when the radiator valve is in the first position and the battery valve is in the first position.

9. The thermal management system of claim 6 wherein when the battery valve is in a second position, the battery loop is isolated from the motor loop and the radiator.

10. The thermal management system of claim 6 further comprising:
a motor loop pump positioned to selectively circulate fluid through the motor loop; and
a battery loop pump position to selectively circulate fluid through the battery loop,
wherein the motor loop pump and battery loop pump are arranged in parallel.

11. The thermal management system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a cabin loop for regulating a passenger cabin temperature; and
a third valve for selectively coupling the cabin loop to the thermal management system.

12. The thermal management system of claim 9 further comprising a controller operatively connected to the radiator valve and battery valve,
wherein the controller is configured command the radiator valve and battery valve to the first positions, respectively to cool the traction battery without the chiller, and if the battery temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, the controller is configured to command the battery valve to the second position and activate the chiller.

13. The thermal management system of claim 12 wherein if the battery temperature is below the threshold temperature the controller commands the radiator valve to the second position to bypass the radiator and warms the battery through the motor loop.

14. A thermal management system comprising:
a traction battery cooling loop with a chiller;
a traction motor cooling loop selectively coupled to the battery cooling loop;
a radiator selectively coupled to the battery and motor cooling loops, to cool the battery and motor cooling loops in parallel when coupled,
wherein the traction battery is cooled by the chiller when the battery cooling loop is isolated from the motor cooling loop.

15. The thermal management system of claim 14 further comprising:
a battery valve for selectively coupling the battery loop and the motor loop, wherein when the battery valve is in a first position, the battery and motor cooling loop are arranged in parallel fluid communication with the radiator, and when the battery valve is in a second position, the battery loop is fluidly isolated from the motor loop and the radiator.

16. The thermal management system of claim 14 , wherein if a battery temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, the battery valve is moved to the second position and the chiller is activated.

17. The thermal management system of claim 14 wherein if a battery temperature is below a threshold temperature the radiator is bypassed with a radiator valve so the battery is warmed through the motor cooling loop.

18. The thermal management system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a cabin thermal loop selectively coupled to the battery and motor loops.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Smith Mark G
• Schwartz William Samuel
• Jackson Kenneth J
• Fabricatore David

Classifications

• B60H1/143

  the heat being derived from cooling an electric component, e.g. electric motors, electric circuits, fuel cells or batteries · CPC title

• B60H1/00392

  for electric vehicles having only electric drive means · CPC title

• B60H2001/00307

  Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow · CPC title

• B60H1/00278 Primary

  for the battery · CPC title

• B60H1/00642 Primary

  Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices (B60H1/3201 - B60H1/3208, B60H1/3225 take precedence) · CPC title