Method and apparatus to determine an effective temperature of coolant fluid for a heat generating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178548-A1
Application number	US-201414574469-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for dynamically monitoring temperature of a fluid at a heat generating device includes monitoring, using a temperature sensor, temperature of the fluid held in a fluidic sump. A first fluidic flow rate and a second fluidic flow rate are determined. A third fluidic flow rate and a temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit are determined based upon the temperature of the fluid and the third fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit. A fluid temperature supplied to the electric machine through the active coolant circuit is determined based upon the third fluidic flow rate and the temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger. An effective temperature of the fluid is determined based upon the temperature of the fluid in the sump and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the electric machine through the active coolant circuit.

First claim

1 . A method for dynamically monitoring temperature of fluid employed in a cooling system for a heat generating device, the cooling system including a fluidic pump fluidly connected to a passive coolant circuit and an active coolant circuit each in fluidic communication with the heat generating device, wherein the active coolant circuit includes a heat exchanger, a passive bypass control valve and a bypass circuit, the method comprising:
monitoring, using a temperature sensor, temperature of the fluid held in a fluidic sump supplying the fluid to the fluidic pump; determining a first fluidic flow rate through the passive coolant circuit and a second fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit; determining a third fluidic flow rate and a temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit based upon the temperature of the fluid and the third fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit; determining a fluid temperature supplied to the heat generating device through the active coolant circuit based upon the third fluidic flow rate and the temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger; and determining an effective temperature of the fluid based upon the temperature of the fluid in the sump and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the heat generating device through the active coolant circuit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a third fluidic flow rate across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit based upon the temperature of the fluid and the second fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit comprises determining a magnitude of opening of the passive bypass control valve based upon the temperature of the fluid, and determining a third fluidic flow rate across the heat exchanger based upon the magnitude of opening of the passive bypass control valve.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the third fluidic flow rate is zero when the temperature of the fluid is less than a minimum threshold temperature for activating the passive bypass control valve.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the third fluidic flow rate is equal to the second fluidic flow rate when the temperature of the fluid is greater than an upper threshold temperature for activating the passive bypass control valve.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an air-cooled heat exchanger, and wherein determining a temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit based upon the temperature of the fluid and the third fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit further comprises determining the temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger based upon the temperature of the fluid, the third fluidic flow rate and an ambient air temperature.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the effective temperature of the fluid based upon the temperature of the fluid in the sump and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the heat generating device through the active coolant circuit comprises aggregating the first flow rate and the temperature of the fluid in the sump and aggregating the second flow rate and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the heat generating device through the active coolant circuit.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the effective temperature of the fluid comprises determining the effective temperature of the fluid at the heat generating device.

8 . A method for dynamically monitoring temperature of fluid employed in a cooling system for an electric machine, the cooling system including a fluidic pump fluidly connected to a passive coolant circuit and an active coolant circuit each in fluidic communication with the electric machine, wherein the active coolant circuit includes an air-cooled heat exchanger and a passive bypass control valve and a bypass circuit, the method comprising:
monitoring, using a temperature sensor, temperature of the fluid held in a fluidic sump supplying the fluid to the fluidic pump; determining a first fluidic flow rate through the passive coolant circuit and a second fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit; determining a third fluidic flow rate and a temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit based upon the temperature of the fluid and the third fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit; determining a fluid temperature supplied to the electric machine through the active coolant circuit based upon the third fluidic flow rate and the temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger; and determining an effective fluid temperature at the electric machine based upon the temperature of the fluid in the sump and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the electric machine through the active coolant circuit.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining a third fluidic flow rate across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit based upon the temperature of the fluid and the second fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit comprises determining a magnitude of opening of the passive bypass control valve based upon the temperature of the fluid, and determining a third fluidic flow rate across the heat exchanger based upon the magnitude of opening of the passive bypass control valve.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third fluidic flow rate is zero when the temperature of the fluid is less than a minimum threshold temperature for activating the passive bypass control valve.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third fluidic flow rate is equal to the second fluidic flow rate when the temperature of the fluid is greater than an upper threshold temperature for activating the passive bypass control valve.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an air-cooled heat exchanger, and wherein determining a temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger in the active coolant circuit based upon the temperature of the fluid and the third fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit further comprises determining the temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger based upon the temperature of the fluid, the third fluidic flow rate and an ambient air temperature.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the effective fluid temperature based upon the temperature of the fluid in the sump and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the electric machine through the active coolant circuit comprises aggregating the first flow rate and the temperature of the fluid in the sump and aggregating the second flow rate and the temperature of the fluid supplied to the electric machine through the active coolant circuit.

14 . A cooling system for an electric machine, comprising:
a fluidic pump fluidly connected to a passive coolant circuit in fluidic communication with the electric machine, fluidly connected to an active coolant circuit in fluidic communication with the electric machine, and fluidly connected to a fluidic sump; the active coolant circuit including a heat exchanger, a passive bypass control valve and a heat exchanger bypass circuit; and a controller periodically executing a control routine, the control routine including:
monitoring, using a temperature sensor, temperature of the fluid held in the fluidic sump supplied to the fluidic pump;
determining a first fluidic flow rate through the passive coolant circuit and a second fluidic flow rate through the active coolant circuit;
determining a third fluidic flow rate and a temperature drop of the fluid across the heat exchanger in the active coolant cir

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Berry Daniel J

Classifications

• H02K9/19

  for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil · CPC title

• F28F27/00 Primary

  Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus (control arrangements in general G05) · CPC title

• G01N25/00 Primary

  Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means (G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01K13/02

  for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow · CPC title

• F28D15/00

  Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls {; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies (F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence)} · CPC title