Liquid clean fuel engine cold start system and control method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of engine cold starting, in particular to a liquid clean fuel engine cold starting system which comprises a master controller, a switch assembly, a water pump, a valve set, a storage battery assembly, a temperature sensor, a voltage conversion module, a heater, an engine ECU and the like. The system receives information of the battery management system and the engine ECU through the CAN bus, and judges whether to supply power to the engine and the PTC heater or not according to a preset rule so as to preheat the engine to meet the starting condition. The storage battery assembly comprises a plurality of voltage conversion modules, charges the battery pack according to different input voltages, and is provided with a high-voltage output end and a low-voltage output end to supply power to different devices. The control method comprises the steps of monitoring and data collection, judgment and decision making, control execution and the like, and cold start of the engine is achieved by monitoring the temperature in real time, receiving information of a vehicle power system, judging whether the engine and fuel meet starting conditions or not and controlling opening and closing of the heater and opening and closing of the valve set.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of engine cold start, in particular to a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, and also to a control method for the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system. Background Art

[0002] As global energy demand continues to grow, traditional fossil energy resources are gradually decreasing and energy supply is tight. In order to effectively alleviate the energy crisis and ensure energy supply security, the development of green new energy is particularly important. In the automotive industry, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, ethanol, natural gas, etc. are regarded as the main green new energy. However, the problem of starting these clean liquid fuel engines in low temperature environments has always been a technical problem.

[0003] Especially for methanol, ethanol and ammonia engines, it is particularly difficult to start the engine under low temperature conditions due to the physical and chemical characteristics of the fuel. Traditional starting methods often require the use of auxiliary fuel or preheating devices to increase the temperature of the engine, but this method not only increases the complexity of starting, but may also cause problems such as incomplete combustion and harmful emissions.

[0004] In order to solve this problem, the industry has been exploring more efficient and environmentally friendly cold start solutions. At present, with the increasing maturity of battery cell technology and battery management technology, using rechargeable high-capacity smart car starting lithium batteries to provide power for PTC heaters (Positive Temperature Coefficient Heaters) has become an effective way to solve the cold start problem of liquid clean fuel engines. This solution can not only improve the starting efficiency of the engine, but also reduce the emission of harmful substances, which is in line with the development trend of green new energy.

[0005] Nevertheless, the existing cold start solutions still have some shortcomings. For example, some solutions still need to be improved in terms of power management, heating efficiency and system flexibility. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop a more efficient, intelligent and adaptable liquid clean fuel engine cold start system. Summary of the invention

[0006] One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, aiming to solve the problems existing in the prior art, improve energy utilization efficiency, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of the system, improve safety and reliability, and provide an effective cold start solution for the widespread application of liquid clean fuel engines.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, comprising:

[0008] The main controller and the switch assembly are controlled by the main controller to control the on and off of the circuit.

[0009] A water pump and valve assembly that controls the circulation of the engine's coolant.

[0010] The battery assembly includes a main controller, a battery management system, a battery pack and a wireless communication module, which are used to provide high and low voltage power supply.

[0011] The water inlet temperature sensor and the water outlet temperature sensor are used to detect the inlet and outlet temperatures of the engine coolant.

[0012] A plurality of voltage conversion modules are used to convert different voltage inputs into 72VDC to charge the battery pack.

[0013] The heater includes a high-voltage PTC heater and a low-voltage PTC heater, which are powered by the high-voltage output end and the low-voltage output end of the battery assembly respectively.

[0014] The engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) is used to receive vehicle power system information and the start signal sent by the main controller and control the start of the engine.

[0015] Among them, the main controller receives the message information sent by the battery management system and the engine ECU through the CAN bus, and determines whether to supply power to the engine, starter and PTC heater based on the information received by the main controller (the message information, inlet and outlet water temperatures, and the power of the battery pack) and preset rules to heat the coolant and fuel and preheat the engine to meet the starting conditions.

[0016] In addition to the above technical features, this application also makes improvements in the following aspects:

[0017] In some embodiments, the battery assembly further includes three groups of voltage conversion modules connected to different input voltages, namely a first voltage conversion module, a second voltage conversion module, and a third voltage conversion module.

[0018] In some embodiments, when the power of the battery pack is less than 20%, the main controller decides to turn on the relay switch of one of the input channels to charge the battery pack based on the different input voltages; when charging, the priority of selecting the three groups of voltage conversion modules is: the first voltage conversion module, the second voltage conversion module, and the third voltage conversion module; when the power of the battery pack is ≥80%, the relay switch is turned off to stop charging the battery pack.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first voltage conversion module is 220VAC to 72VDC; the second voltage conversion module is 24VDC to 72VDC, and the third voltage conversion module is 450-800VDC to 72VDC.

[0020] In some embodiments, the battery assembly includes two groups of voltage output ports, namely a (72VDC to 450-750VDC) high-voltage output end and a (24VDC) low-voltage output end; the high-voltage output end is connected to a high-voltage PTC heater to power the high-voltage PTC heater; the (24VDC) low-voltage output end is connected to a water pump, an engine ECU, a starter, a low-voltage PTC heater and other electrical equipment to supply power.

[0021] In some embodiments, when the (engine) ambient temperature is lower than 30°C, the 24VDC low-voltage output terminal and / or the 72VDC to 450-750VDC high-voltage output terminal are determined based on the battery pack power and vehicle power system information to output current to the outside; when the engine is started and the water temperature reaches 65°C, the external output current is turned off.

[0022] In some embodiments, the vehicle power system information includes the vehicle's battery power, range extender switch status, engine water temperature, fuel temperature, and engine ECU fault alarm and startup message.

[0023] In some embodiments, an external heating device (heating water tank) is also included, and the heater heats the coolant in the external heating device to heat the fuel in the fuel line and the oil in the oil line.

[0024] In some embodiments, the outer shell of the battery pack is a composite thermal insulation shell.

[0025] In some embodiments, the liquid in the heater is antifreeze liquid, and the operating temperature is -50°C to 140°C.

[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, comprising:

[0027] Monitoring and data collection:

[0028] Monitor the inlet and outlet water temperatures of the engine coolant in real time through temperature sensors (inlet water temperature sensor and outlet water temperature sensor);

[0029] Receive vehicle power system information (vehicle battery power, fuel temperature, engine water temperature, engine fault, range extender switch status information of engine ECU) through CAN bus;

[0030] Data is exchanged with the cloud platform through the (GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications) wireless communication module to obtain and update the battery pack status information (power, ambient temperature, battery cell temperature, battery fault information).

[0031] Judgment and Decision Making:

[0032] Based on the data collected in the above steps (including: engine coolant inlet and outlet water temperature, vehicle power system information, battery pack status information), determine whether the engine and fuel meet the preset starting conditions;

[0033] Determine whether to allow the engine to start based on the power of the battery pack and the vehicle battery, as well as the fault alarm information of the engine ECU;

[0034] According to the input voltage, the voltage conversion module is selected in order of priority to charge the battery.

[0035] Control execution:

[0036] When the starting conditions are met, the heaters (high-pressure PTC heater and low-pressure PTC heater) are powered through the control switch to heat the coolant and fuel and preheat the engine;

[0037] According to the engine water temperature, fuel temperature and battery pack power information, control the opening and closing of the heater (high-pressure PTC heater and low-pressure PTC heater) and the opening and closing of the valve group; (to optimize the heating effect and energy utilization)

[0038] After the engine is started, when the engine water temperature reaches 65°C, the external output current is turned off, the power supply stops, and the battery pack is charged. At this time, only charging is allowed to protect the battery pack and the engine.

[0039] In some embodiments, the preset start-up condition includes that the coolant temperature and the fuel temperature both reach above 30°C.

[0040] In some embodiments, in the control execution step: when the battery pack power is ≥80%, the input channel is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped; when the battery pack power is <20%, the battery pack charging is started and the external current output is stopped.

[0041] In some embodiments, the judgment and decision-making steps also include: judging whether to allow the engine to be started based on the comparison result of the battery pack power and the vehicle battery power, and the fault alarm information of the engine ECU; wherein, when the battery pack power is greater than 20% and / or the vehicle battery power is less than or equal to 50%, the engine is allowed to be started.

[0042] In some embodiments, the control execution step further includes: controlling the opening and closing of valves (valve 1, valve 2, valve 3 and valve 4) according to signals from the outlet water temperature sensor and the inlet water temperature sensor to adjust the flow path of the coolant, thereby optimizing the heating effect.

[0043] In some embodiments, safety protection and fault handling steps are also included: when the battery pack power is less than 20% or the vehicle's battery power is ≥80%, the range extender switch is turned off, the emergency switch is turned on, the engine ECU has a fault alarm or receives a message prohibiting startup from the engine ECU, the current output of the battery pack is turned off.

[0044] In some embodiments, the safety protection and fault handling steps also include: when a key component such as a battery pack or an engine ECU is detected to have a fault, a startup prohibition message is sent and related outputs are turned off, and the fault information is sent to a cloud platform via a wireless communication module, so as to facilitate remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

[0045] In some embodiments, the system can be split into an independent fuel heating system, in which the DC heater heats the coolant in the engine's small circulation water channel to achieve the purpose of engine preheating, and at the same time heats the coolant in the water tank containing an external heating device.

[0046] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0047] 1. Effectively solve the cold start problem:

[0048] The present invention forms a complete cold start system by integrating a high-capacity intelligent automobile starting lithium storage battery, a PTC heater, a temperature sensor, a voltage conversion module and an intelligent control system.

[0049] The system can monitor the engine coolant temperature and battery pack status in real time, intelligently control the power supply of the heater and the circulation of the coolant, effectively preheat the engine and fuel, and enable the liquid clean fuel engine to start quickly and stably even in low temperature environments.

[0050] 2. Improve energy efficiency:

[0051] The system can accurately adjust the power of the heater and the circulation path of the coolant according to the actual state of the engine and preset rules, optimize the heating effect and energy utilization, reduce unnecessary energy consumption, and improve the energy utilization efficiency of the entire system.

[0052] 3. Intelligent power management and efficient charging strategy:

[0053] The battery pack of the present invention has a built-in master controller and a battery management system to monitor key parameters such as battery power, ambient temperature, and battery cell temperature in real time. At the same time, the optimal voltage conversion module can be automatically selected for charging according to the input voltage to ensure efficient charging and long-term stability of the battery pack. In addition, the master controller intelligently determines whether to allow the engine to be started or output current to the outside, realizing intelligent power management.

[0054] 4. Enhance system flexibility and adaptability:

[0055] The cold start system of the present invention has multiple voltage input and output ports, and can adapt to power supplies and devices of different voltage levels. The valves, sensors and other components in the system are precisely controlled by an intelligent controller, and the working state can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs, thereby improving the flexibility and adaptability of the system, so that it can be widely used in various devices requiring cold start or new energy power systems.

[0056] 5. Improve safety and reliability:

[0057] The present invention has a built-in perfect safety protection and fault handling mechanism. When the battery pack is too low, the vehicle power system fails, or a start-prohibition message is received, the system will immediately shut down the current output and sound an alarm. The system can also send fault information to the cloud platform in real time through the wireless communication module, which is convenient for remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

[0058] In summary, the present invention provides an effective cold start solution for liquid clean fuel engines, improves energy utilization efficiency, enhances system flexibility and adaptability, improves safety and reliability, and promotes the development of green new energy. It helps to promote the widespread application of such engines in the automotive industry, accelerates the promotion and popularization of green new energy, and is in line with the trend of growing global energy demand and increasing environmental awareness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The drawings described herein are used to provide further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute improper limitations on the present invention.

[0060] Figure 1 This is the electrical control principle diagram of the cold start system of the liquid clean fuel engine of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 2 This is a working principle diagram of fuel and oil heating in the cold start system of the liquid clean fuel engine of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 3 The figure is a schematic diagram of the water flow direction and the arrangement of sensors and valve groups in the cold start system of the liquid clean fuel engine of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description of the exemplary embodiments is merely illustrative and is by no means intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. The present invention can be implemented in other different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0064] It should be noted that those skilled in the art explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described in the present invention can be combined with other embodiments without conflict. Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms involved in the present invention should have the common meanings understood by people with ordinary skills in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

[0065] The words "a", "an", "a", "the" and the like involved in the present invention do not indicate quantity limitation and may indicate singular or plural. The terms "include", "comprises", "has" and any variations thereof involved in the present invention are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions; the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like involved in the present invention are merely used to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of the objects.

[0066] The main problem with the existing technology is that clean liquid fuel engines, especially methanol engines, are difficult to start in low temperature environments. Traditional starting methods rely on auxiliary fuels or preheating devices, which not only increase the complexity of starting, but may also cause problems such as incomplete combustion and harmful emissions. Although the existing cold start solution has made some progress in using rechargeable high-capacity smart car starting lithium batteries to provide power for PTC heaters, it still has deficiencies in power management, heating efficiency and system flexibility, which limits its wide application and effectiveness.

[0067] Based on the above problems, the present invention particularly provides a technical solution to solve the above problems. The technical solution, working principle and technical effects of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0068] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides an innovative cold start system for a liquid clean fuel engine, which integrates a high-capacity intelligent automobile starting lithium battery, a PTC heater, a temperature sensor, a voltage conversion module and an intelligent control system, aiming to solve the problem of difficulty in starting a liquid clean fuel engine in a low temperature environment. The composition and improvements of the system will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0069] A liquid clean fuel engine cold start system mainly comprises a master controller, a switch assembly, a water pump, a valve group, a battery assembly, a water inlet temperature sensor, a water outlet temperature sensor, a voltage conversion module and a heater.

[0070] 1. System composition

[0071] Master controller and switch assembly: The system includes a master controller, which is used to control the operation logic of the entire system. The switch assembly is controlled by the master controller to control the on and off of the circuit to ensure that each part of the system can work normally when needed.

[0072] Water pump and valve group: The water pump is used to drive the coolant circulation of the engine to ensure the effective flow of coolant inside the engine. The valve group is used to control the flow direction and flow of coolant to meet the cooling needs under different working conditions.

[0073] Battery components: including battery management system, battery pack and wireless communication module.

[0074] The battery management system is used to monitor the status of the battery pack, including power, temperature, etc., and to exchange data with the external environment through the wireless communication module. The battery pack is used to provide high and low voltage power supply to support the normal operation of the system.

[0075] Inlet water temperature sensor and outlet water temperature sensor: These two sensors are used to detect the inlet and outlet water temperatures of the engine coolant in real time and provide temperature data to the main controller for subsequent judgment and control.

[0076] Multiple voltage conversion modules: The system includes multiple voltage conversion modules for converting different voltage inputs to 72VDC to charge the battery pack.

[0077] Heater: including high-pressure PTC heater and low-pressure PTC heater. The heater is used to heat the coolant and fuel and preheat the engine to meet the starting conditions.

[0078] The high-voltage PTC heater is powered by the high-voltage output terminal of the battery assembly, and the low-voltage PTC heater is powered by the low-voltage output terminal.

[0079] Engine ECU: The engine ECU is used to receive the start signal sent by the main controller and control the engine starting process.

[0080] 2. System Improvements and Specific Implementation Methods

[0081] In some embodiments, the battery assembly further includes three groups of voltage conversion modules connected to different input voltages, namely a first voltage conversion module, a second voltage conversion module, and a third voltage conversion module.

[0082] The first voltage conversion module is 220VAC to 72VDC, the second voltage conversion module is 24VDC to 72VDC, and the third voltage conversion module is 450-800VDC to 72VDC.

[0083] When the battery pack is less than 20%, the main controller decides to open the relay switch of one of the input channels to charge the battery pack according to the input voltage. When charging, the priority of selecting the three groups of voltage conversion modules is: the first voltage conversion module, the second voltage conversion module, and the third voltage conversion module.

[0084] When the battery pack's charge is ≥80%, the relay switch is turned off to stop charging the battery pack to protect the battery pack and extend its service life.

[0085] Voltage output port of the battery assembly: The battery assembly includes two groups of voltage output ports, namely (72VDC to 450-750VDC) high voltage output port and (24VDC) low voltage output port.

[0086] The high-voltage output end is connected to the high-voltage PTC heater to supply power to the high-voltage PTC heater. (24VDC) The low-voltage output end is connected to the water pump, engine ECU, starter, low-voltage PTC heater and other electrical equipment to supply power.

[0087] Output current control:

[0088] When the (engine) ambient temperature is lower than 30°C, based on the battery pack power, vehicle power system information (including the vehicle's battery power, range extender switch status, engine water temperature, fuel temperature, and engine ECU fault alarm and startup message), determine whether to turn on the 24VDC low-voltage output terminal and / or the 72VDC to 450-750VDC high-voltage output terminal to output current to the outside.

[0089] When the engine is started and the water temperature reaches 65°C, the external output current is shut down to protect the system and the engine.

[0090] In some embodiments, the system further comprises an external heating device (heating water tank). The heater heats the coolant in the external heating device, and is used to heat the fuel in the fuel line and the oil in the oil line to improve the starting performance of the engine.

[0091] Battery pack shell: The battery pack shell adopts a composite thermal insulation shell to improve the thermal insulation performance of the battery pack, reduce power loss, and extend the service life of the battery pack.

[0092] In summary, the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of the present invention achieves fast and reliable starting of the engine in cold environments through precise temperature monitoring, intelligent voltage conversion and output control, as well as efficient heating devices and insulation measures, and effectively protects key components such as the battery pack and the engine.

[0093] 3. Working Principle

[0094] 1. System startup and monitoring

[0095] When the engine needs to be started, the main controller receives the start signal and begins to monitor the message information and data sent by the battery management system, engine ECU, temperature sensor, etc.

[0096] The main controller determines whether the conditions for cold starting the engine are met based on the received information (including message information, inlet and outlet water temperatures, battery pack power, etc.) and preset rules.

[0097] 2. Coolant circulation and heating

[0098] The water pump is started under the control of the main controller to drive the coolant to circulate inside the engine.

[0099] According to the temperature of the coolant and the starting requirements of the engine, the main controller controls the operation of the high-pressure PTC heater and the low-pressure PTC heater to heat the coolant.

[0100] The heated coolant flows through the engine, preheating the engine components and improving the engine starting conditions.

[0101] 3. Battery charging and management

[0102] When the power level of the battery pack is lower than a preset threshold (such as 20%), the main controller selects to start the corresponding voltage conversion module to charge the battery pack according to the input voltage.

[0103] The battery management system monitors the status of the battery pack, including power, temperature, etc., and exchanges data with the external environment through the wireless communication module. When the power of the battery pack reaches a preset threshold (such as 80%), the main controller turns off the relay switch and stops charging the battery pack.

[0104] 4. Preheating fuel and oil

[0105] In some embodiments, the system further comprises an external heating device (such as a heating water tank). The heater heats the coolant in the external heating device, and the heated coolant is then used to heat the fuel in the fuel line and the oil in the oil line to improve the starting performance of the engine.

[0106] 2. Specific Workflow

[0107] 1. System initialization

[0108] When the vehicle is powered on or the system is started, the main controller performs initialization operations, including communication testing and status checking with each subsystem.

[0109] 2. Start condition judgment

[0110] The main controller determines whether the conditions for cold starting the engine are met based on the received information (including the battery pack power, ambient temperature, coolant temperature, engine ECU startup message, etc.) and preset rules.

[0111] 3. Coolant circulation and heating

[0112] If the start-up conditions are met, the master controller controls the water pump to start and drives the coolant to circulate inside the engine. At the same time, the master controller controls the high-pressure PTC heater and / or the low-pressure PTC heater to work and heat the coolant according to the coolant temperature and the engine start-up requirements.

[0113] 4. Battery pack charging

[0114] If the battery pack's charge level is lower than a preset threshold (such as 20%), the master controller will select and start the corresponding voltage conversion module to charge the battery pack according to the input voltage. During the charging process, the battery management system monitors the status of the battery pack to ensure the safety and efficiency of the charging process.

[0115] 5. Preheating fuel and oil

[0116] If the system includes an external heating device, the main controller controls the heater to work to preheat the fuel in the fuel line and the oil in the oil line.

[0117] 6. Engine start

[0118] When the coolant temperature reaches the preset value and the battery pack is fully charged, the main controller sends a start signal to the engine ECU to control the engine to start.

[0119] 7. System shutdown

[0120] When the engine starts successfully and the water temperature reaches the preset value (such as 65°C), the main controller turns off the heater, water pump and other components, and the system enters standby mode.

[0121] 3. Key components and working principles

[0122] 1. Master controller

[0123] The main controller is the core component of the entire system. It is responsible for receiving and processing information from each subsystem, making decisions based on preset rules, and communicating with each subsystem through the CAN bus to ensure the real-time and accuracy of the information.

[0124] 2. Water pump and valve assembly

[0125] The water pump is responsible for driving the coolant to circulate inside the engine, ensuring that the coolant can flow evenly through all engine components.

[0126] The valve group is used to control the flow direction and flow rate of the coolant to meet the cooling needs under different working conditions.

[0127] 3.PTC heater

[0128] The PTC heater is a heater with a positive temperature coefficient, and its resistance increases with the increase of temperature. The liquid in the heater is antifreeze, and the operating temperature is -50℃~140℃.

[0129] The high-voltage PTC heater and the low-voltage PTC heater are powered by the high-voltage output terminal and the low-voltage output terminal of the battery assembly respectively, and are used to heat coolant and fuel, etc.

[0130] 4. Battery Management System

[0131] The battery management system is responsible for monitoring the status of the battery pack, including power, temperature, voltage, etc. It calculates the remaining power, health status and other information of the battery pack through algorithms, and exchanges data with the external environment through wireless communication modules.

[0132] 5. Temperature sensor

[0133] The water inlet temperature sensor and the water outlet temperature sensor are used to detect the inlet and outlet temperatures of the engine coolant in real time, convert the temperature signals into electrical signals, and send them to the main controller for processing.

[0134] In summary, the cold start system of the liquid clean fuel engine of the present invention realizes the rapid and reliable start of the engine in a cold environment through accurate temperature monitoring, intelligent voltage conversion and output control, and efficient heating devices and insulation measures. The system not only solves the problem of the difficulty of cold start of the liquid clean fuel engine, but also improves the energy utilization efficiency, enhances the flexibility and adaptability of the system, improves safety and reliability, and promotes the development of green new energy.

[0135] As a further expansion of the application scope of the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of the present invention, the cold start system is not only suitable for methanol engines, but can also be widely used in other types of liquid clean fuel engines, such as ethanol, hydrogen, ammonia, etc., and has wide applicability.

[0136] The present invention also describes a control method for a cold start system of a liquid clean fuel engine, which will be described in detail below in conjunction with a specific embodiment.

[0137] 1. Monitoring and data collection

[0138] Temperature monitoring: The inlet and outlet temperatures of the engine coolant are monitored in real time through the inlet and outlet temperature sensors. These data will be used to determine whether the engine needs to be preheated and the degree of preheating.

[0139] Vehicle power system information reception: Receive vehicle power system information from the engine ECU using the CAN bus, including vehicle battery power, fuel temperature, engine water temperature, engine fault status, range extender switch status, etc. This information is crucial to determine whether the engine has the conditions to start.

[0140] Battery pack status information acquisition: Data is exchanged with the cloud platform through the GSM wireless communication module to obtain and update the battery pack status information, including power, ambient temperature, battery cell temperature, and battery fault information, etc. This helps ensure that the battery pack can provide stable power support during the engine start process.

[0141] 2. Judgment and Decision-making

[0142] Startup condition judgment: Based on the collected data (including the inlet and outlet water temperature of the engine coolant, vehicle power system information, and battery pack status information), it is judged whether the engine and fuel meet the preset startup conditions. For example, in some embodiments, the preset startup conditions include that the coolant temperature and the fuel temperature are both above 30°C.

[0143] Start decision: Based on the battery pack power and vehicle battery power, as well as the engine ECU fault alarm information, decide whether to allow the engine to start. Specifically, when the battery pack power is greater than 20% and / or the vehicle battery power is less than or equal to 50%, the engine is allowed to start.

[0144] Voltage conversion module selection: Based on the input voltage, select the voltage conversion module in order of priority to charge the battery to ensure stable power supply during engine starting.

[0145] 3. Control Execution

[0146] Heater power supply control: When the starting conditions are met, the high-voltage PTC heater and the low-voltage PTC heater are powered through the control switch to heat the coolant and fuel and preheat the engine.

[0147] Heater and valve control: Controls the opening and closing of the heater and the opening and closing of the valve group (valve 1, valve 2, valve 3 and valve 4) according to the engine water temperature, fuel temperature and battery pack power information. By adjusting the flow path of the coolant, the heating effect and energy utilization are optimized.

[0148] Control after engine start: After the engine is started, when the engine water temperature reaches 65°C, the external output current is turned off, the power supply stops, and the battery pack is charged. At this time, only charging is allowed to protect the battery pack and the engine.

[0149] Battery pack charging control: When the battery pack power is ≥80%, the input channel is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped; when the battery pack power is <20%, the battery pack charging is started and the external current output is stopped.

[0150] 4. Safety protection and troubleshooting

[0151] Current output control: When the battery pack power is less than 20% or the vehicle battery power is ≥80%, the range extender switch is turned off, the emergency switch is turned on, the engine ECU has a fault alarm, or the engine ECU receives a message prohibiting startup, the battery pack current output is turned off to ensure system safety.

[0152] Fault information transmission: When a fault is detected in key components such as the battery pack and engine ECU, a startup prohibition message is issued and related outputs are shut down. At the same time, the fault information is sent to the cloud platform through the wireless communication module for remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

[0153] 5. Independent fuel heating system

[0154] This system can also be split into an independent fuel heating system, which heats the coolant in the engine's small circulation water channel through a DC heater to achieve the purpose of engine preheating. At the same time, the system can also heat the coolant in the water tank with an external heating device to further improve the engine preheating effect.

[0155] In summary, the control method of the cold start system of the liquid clean fuel engine of the present invention realizes comprehensive control and management of the cold start process of the engine through multiple steps such as monitoring and data acquisition, judgment and decision-making, control execution, safety protection and fault handling. This method not only improves the starting efficiency and reliability of the engine, but also effectively protects the safety of key components such as the battery pack and the engine.

[0156] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0157] In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in the field can implement it; when the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, characterized in that: include: A main controller and a switch assembly, which are controlled by the main controller and are used to control the on and off of the circuit; A water pump and valve assembly to control the circulation of the engine's coolant; Battery assembly, including master controller, battery management system, battery pack and wireless communication module, used for high and low voltage power supply; Inlet water temperature sensor and outlet water temperature sensor, used to detect the inlet and outlet water temperatures of the engine coolant; A plurality of voltage conversion modules, used for converting different voltage inputs into 72VDC to charge the battery pack; The heater includes a high-voltage PTC heater and a low-voltage PTC heater, which are powered by the high-voltage output terminal and the low-voltage output terminal of the battery assembly respectively; The engine ECU is used to receive the vehicle power system information and the start signal sent by the master controller, and control the start of the engine; Among them, the main controller receives message information sent by the battery management system and the engine ECU through the CAN bus, and determines whether to supply power to the engine, starter and heater according to the information received by the main controller and preset rules to heat the coolant and fuel and preheat the engine to meet the starting conditions.

2. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery assembly also includes three groups of voltage conversion modules connected to different input voltages, namely a first voltage conversion module, a second voltage conversion module, and a third voltage conversion module.

3. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the power of the battery pack is less than 20%, the master controller decides to open the relay switch of one of the input channels to charge the battery pack according to the different input voltages; When charging, the priorities of selecting three groups of voltage conversion modules are: the first voltage conversion module, the second voltage conversion module, and the third voltage conversion module; When the battery pack's charge is ≥80%, the relay switch is turned off to stop charging the battery pack.

4. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first voltage conversion module is 220VAC to 72VDC; the second voltage conversion module is 24VDC to 72VDC, and the third voltage conversion module is 450-800VDC to 72VDC.

5. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery assembly includes two groups of voltage output ports, namely a high voltage output port and a low voltage output port; The high-voltage output end is connected to the high-voltage PTC heater to supply power to the high-voltage PTC heater; The low-voltage output end is connected to a water pump, an engine ECU, a starter, a low-voltage PTC heater and other electrical equipment for power supply.

6. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the ambient temperature is lower than 30°C, the 24VDC low-voltage output terminal and / or the 72VDC to 450-750VDC high-voltage output terminal are determined based on the battery pack power and vehicle power system information to output current to the outside. When the engine is started and the water temperature reaches 65°C, the external output current is turned off.

7. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vehicle power system information includes the vehicle's battery power, range extender switch status, engine water temperature, fuel temperature, and engine ECU fault alarm and startup message.

8. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an external heating device, wherein the heater heats the coolant in the external heating device and is used to heat the fuel in the fuel pipeline and the engine oil in the engine oil pipeline.

9. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell of the battery pack adopts a composite heat-insulating shell.

10. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid in the heater is antifreeze liquid, and the working temperature is -50°C to 140°C.

11. A control method for a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, characterized in that: The steps include: Monitoring and data collection: Monitor the inlet and outlet water temperatures of the engine coolant in real time through the temperature sensor; Receive vehicle power system information via CAN bus; Data is exchanged with the cloud platform through the wireless communication module to obtain and update the status information of the battery pack; Judgment and Decision Making: Based on the data collected in the above steps, determine whether the engine and fuel meet the preset starting conditions; Determine whether to allow the engine to start based on the power of the battery pack and the vehicle battery, as well as the fault alarm information of the engine ECU; According to the input voltage, the voltage conversion module is selected in order of priority to charge the battery; Control execution: When the starting conditions are met, the heater is powered through the control switch to heat the coolant and fuel and preheat the engine; Control the opening and closing of the heater and the opening and closing of the valve group according to the engine water temperature, fuel temperature and battery pack power information; After the engine is started, when the engine water temperature reaches 65°C, the external output current is turned off, the power supply is stopped, and the battery pack is charged.

12. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The preset start-up conditions include that the coolant temperature and the fuel temperature are both above 30°C.

13. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: In the control execution steps: When the battery pack power is ≥80%, the input channel is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped; when the battery pack power is <20%, the battery pack charging is started and the external current output is stopped.

14. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The judgment and decision-making steps also include: Based on the comparison between the battery pack power and the vehicle battery power, as well as the fault alarm information of the engine ECU, determine whether to allow the engine to start; When the battery pack power level is greater than 20% and / or the vehicle battery power level is less than or equal to 50%, the engine is allowed to start.

15. The control method according to claim 13, characterized in that: The control execution step also includes: According to the signals from the outlet water temperature sensor and the inlet water temperature sensor, the opening and closing of the valve is controlled to adjust the flow path of the coolant.

16. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: It also includes safety protection and troubleshooting steps: When the battery pack's power is less than 20% or the vehicle's battery power is ≥80%, the range extender switch is turned off, the emergency switch is turned on, the engine ECU has a fault alarm, or receives a message prohibiting the engine ECU from starting, the battery pack's current output is turned off.

17. The control method according to claim 16, characterized in that: The safety protection and fault handling steps also include: When a fault is detected in key components such as the battery pack and engine ECU, a startup prohibition message is issued and related outputs are shut down, and the fault information is sent to the cloud platform through the wireless communication module.

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