Charging station with climate control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023158906-A1
Application number	US-202318095628-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2023
Priority date	Dec 1, 2020
Publication date	May 25, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A charging station assembly capable of generating and delivering a conditioned airflow while charging a battery of a vehicle. The temperature and flow rate of this conditioned airflow may be controlled based on the ambient conditions and battery status. The conditioned airflow may be directed toward an outside heat exchanger of a refrigerant system of the vehicle to enhance capacity. The conditioned airflow may also be routed to a battery pack for direct cooling or heating through additional ventilation system. In hot ambient conditions, the charging station provides cool air to facilitate battery cooling. In cold ambient conditions, the charging station provides hot air to facilitate battery heating. This charging station assembly shifts the load from the vehicle refrigerant system to the charging system, thereby improving battery thermal management capability, while eliminating the need for an oversized refrigerant system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A charging station assembly, comprising:
a charging assembly to charge a battery of a vehicle; and a climate control assembly to generate a conditioned airflow that is delivered to the vehicle.

2 . The charging station assembly of claim 1 , wherein the climate control assembly comprises:
a remote station generating the conditioned airflow; and a fluid transport system delivering the conditioned airflow from the remote station to the vehicle.

3 . The charging station assembly of claim 1 , wherein the climate control assembly comprises:
a remote station generating a conditioned coolant flow; a coolant-to-air heat exchanger; a fan assembly coupled to the coolant-to-air heat exchanger; and a fluid transport system delivering the conditioned coolant flow from the remote station to the coolant-to-air heat exchanger and back to the remote station.

4 . The charging station assembly of claim 1 , wherein the climate control assembly comprises a local refrigerant unit generating the conditioned airflow.

5 . The charging station assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conditioned airflow is directed toward an outside heat exchanger of a refrigerant system of the vehicle.

6 . The charging station assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conditioned airflow is routed to a battery pack of the vehicle for direct cooling or heating through additional ventilation system.

7 . The charging station assembly of claim 1 , further comprises a control unit operable for controlling a temperature and flow rate of the conditioned airflow.

8 . The charging station assembly of claim 7 , further comprises a sensor assembly measuring an ambient temperature and conditioned airflow temperature.

9 . The charging station assembly of claim 8 , wherein the control unit controls the temperature and flow rate of the conditioned airflow responsive to at least an ambient temperature.

10 . The charging station assembly of claim 8 , further comprises a data transmittal device reading signals from the vehicle on at least battery pack temperature.

11 . The charging station assembly of claim 10 , wherein the control unit controls the temperature and flow rate of the conditioned airflow responsive to at least an ambient temperature and battery pack temperature.

12 . A charging method, comprising:
charging a battery of a vehicle using a charging assembly; generating a conditioned airflow from a climate control assembly; and delivering the conditioned airflow to the vehicle.

13 . The charging method of claim 12 , wherein the climate control assembly comprises:
a remote station generating the conditioned airflow; and a fluid transport system delivering the conditioned airflow from the remote station to the vehicle.

14 . The charging method of claim 12 , wherein the climate control assembly comprises:
a remote station generating a conditioned coolant flow; a coolant-to-air heat exchanger; a fan assembly coupled to the coolant-to-air heat exchanger; and a fluid transport system delivering the conditioned coolant flow from the remote station to the coolant-to-air heat exchanger and back to the remote station.

15 . The charging method of claim 12 , wherein the climate control assembly comprises a local refrigerant unit generating the conditioned airflow.

16 . The charging method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling a temperature and flow rate of the conditioned airflow using a control unit.

17 . The charging method of claim 16 , further comprising measuring an ambient temperature and conditioned airflow temperature using a sensor assembly.

18 . The charging method of claim 17 , further comprising controlling the temperature and flow rate of the conditioned airflow responsive to at least an ambient temperature.

19 . The charging method of claim 17 , further comprising reading signals from the vehicle on at least battery pack temperature using a data transmittal device.

20 . The charging method of claim 19 , further comprising controlling the temperature and flow rate of the conditioned airflow responsive to at least an ambient temperature and battery pack temperature.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• He Jing
• Huang Henry

Classifications

• H01M10/627

  Stationary installations, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies · CPC title

• B60L53/30 Primary

  Constructional details of charging stations · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• B60L53/68

  Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control · CPC title

• B60L53/66

  Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles · CPC title