Liquid clean fuel engine cold start system and control method

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of engine cold start, in particular to a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, which comprises a total controller, a switch assembly, a water pump, a valve group, a battery assembly, a temperature sensor, a voltage conversion module, a heater and an engine ECU and the like components. The system receives information of the battery management system and the engine ECU through the CAN bus, judges whether to supply power to the engine and the PTC heater according to preset rules, preheats the engine to meet the starting condition. The battery assembly comprises a plurality of voltage conversion modules, charges the battery pack according to different input voltages, and has high-voltage and low-voltage output terminals to supply power to different devices. The control method comprises steps of monitoring and data acquisition, judgment and decision making, and control execution, judges whether the engine and the fuel meet the starting condition by real-time monitoring of temperature and receiving vehicle power system information, and controls the opening and closing of the heater and the opening and closing of the valve group, so as to realize the cold start of the engine.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of engine cold start, in particular to a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, and a control method of the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system. BACKGROUND

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

[0003] Especially for methanol, ethanol and ammonia engines, due to the physical and chemical properties of the fuel, the engine starting becomes particularly difficult under low temperature conditions. The traditional starting method often needs to use auxiliary fuel or preheating device to improve the temperature of the engine, but this method not only increases the complexity of starting, but also may cause incomplete combustion and harmful substance emission problems.

[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 high-capacity intelligent automobile starting lithium storage battery to provide power for PTC heater (Positive Temperature Coefficient Heater) has become an effective way to solve the cold start problem of liquid clean fuel engine. This scheme not only can improve the starting efficiency of the engine, but also can reduce harmful substance emission, which conforms to the development trend of green new energy.

[0005] However, the existing cold start solution still has some deficiencies. For example, some solutions still need to be improved in 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

[0006] One of the purposes of the present application is to provide a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, which aims 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 wide application of liquid clean fuel engine.

[0007] To solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, comprising:

[0008] A general controller and a switch assembly controlled by the general controller for controlling the on-off of the circuit.

[0009] A water pump and a valve group for controlling the circulation of the engine coolant.

[0010] A battery assembly including a general controller, a battery management system, a battery pack and a wireless communication module for high and low voltage power supply.

[0011] An inlet water temperature sensor and an outlet water temperature sensor for detecting the inlet and outlet water temperature of the engine coolant.

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

[0013] A heater including a high-voltage PTC heater and a low-voltage PTC heater powered by the high-voltage output terminal and the low-voltage output terminal of the battery assembly, respectively.

[0014] An engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) for receiving vehicle power system information and a start signal sent by the general controller and controlling the start of the engine.

[0015] The general 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, the starter and the PTC heater according to the information received by the general controller (the message information, the inlet and outlet water temperature, the battery pack capacity) and the preset rules to heat the coolant and the fuel and preheat the engine to meet the start condition.

[0016] In addition to the above technical features, the application also improves 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 battery pack capacity is less than 20%, the general controller determines to select the relay switch of one input channel to charge the battery pack according to the different input voltages; when charging, the priority of 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 battery pack capacity is greater than or equal to 80%, the relay switch is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped.

[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 comprises two groups of voltage output ports, i.e., a high-voltage output port (72VDC to 450-750VDC) and a low-voltage output port (24VDC); the high-voltage output port is connected to a high-voltage PTC heater to supply power to the high-voltage PTC heater; and the low-voltage output port (24VDC) 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℃, whether to start the 24VDC low-voltage output port and / or the 72VDC to 450-750VDC high-voltage output port to output current is determined according to the battery capacity and vehicle power system information; and when the engine is started and the water temperature reaches 65℃, the output current is turned off.

[0022] In some embodiments, the vehicle power system information comprises the battery capacity of the vehicle, the state of the range extender switch, the engine water temperature, the fuel temperature, and the fault alarm and start message of the engine ECU.

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

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

[0025] In some embodiments, the liquid in the heater is anti-freezing liquid, and the working temperature is -50℃ to 140℃.

[0026] Another object of the present application is to provide a control method of a liquid clean fuel engine cold start system, which comprises,

[0027] Monitoring and data acquisition:

[0028] The inlet and outlet water temperatures of the engine coolant are monitored in real time by temperature sensors (inlet and outlet water temperature sensors);

[0029] The vehicle power system information (the vehicle battery capacity, the fuel temperature, the engine water temperature, the engine fault, and the state information of the range extender switch of the engine ECU) is received through the CAN bus;

[0030] Data interaction with the cloud platform through the (GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications) wireless communication module, obtain and update the state information of the battery pack (power, environmental temperature, cell temperature, battery fault information).

[0031] Judgment and decision:

[0032] According to the data collected in the above steps (including: engine coolant inlet and outlet water temperature, vehicle power system information, battery pack state information), judge whether the engine and fuel meet the preset starting condition;

[0033] According to the battery pack power and vehicle battery power, and the engine ECU fault alarm information, decide whether to allow the engine to start;

[0034] According to the input voltage situation, select the voltage conversion module to charge the battery according to the priority order.

[0035] Control execution:

[0036] When the starting condition is met, power is supplied to the heater (high-voltage PTC heater and low-voltage PTC heater) 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-voltage PTC heater and low-voltage PTC heater) and the opening and closing of the valve group; (to optimize the heating effect and energy utilization)

[0038] After the engine starts, when the engine water temperature reaches 65℃, the output current is turned off, the power supply is stopped, 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 starting condition includes that the coolant temperature and fuel temperature are both above 30℃.

[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 step further includes: according to the comparison result of the battery pack power and the vehicle battery power, and the engine ECU fault alarm information, judge whether to allow the engine to start; wherein, when the battery pack power is >20% and / or the vehicle battery power is ≤50%, the engine is allowed to start.

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

[0043] In some embodiments, the safety protection and fault handling step further includes: when the battery pack's power is <20% or the vehicle's battery power is ≥80%, the range extender switch is off, the emergency switch is on, the engine ECU has a fault alarm, or a start-inhibited message is received from the engine ECU, the current output of the battery pack is turned off.

[0044] In some embodiments, the safety protection and fault handling step further includes: when a fault is detected in the battery pack, engine ECU, or other critical components, a start-inhibited message is sent and the relevant output is turned off, and the fault information is sent to the cloud platform through the wireless communication module. This allows for remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

[0045] In some embodiments, the system can be split into an independent fuel heating system, which uses a direct-current heater to heat the cooling liquid in the engine's small circulation waterway for engine preheating purposes, while also heating the cooling liquid in the water tank with an external heating device.

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

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

[0048] The present application integrates a high-capacity intelligent automobile starting lithium storage battery, a PTC heater, a temperature sensor, a voltage conversion module, and an intelligent control system to form a complete cold start system.

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

[0050] 2. Improves energy utilization efficiency:

[0051] The system can accurately adjust the power of the heater and the circulation path of the cooling liquid according to the actual state of the engine and the 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 assembly in the application is provided with a general controller and a battery management system, which can monitor key parameters such as battery power, ambient temperature and 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, so as to ensure the efficient charging and long-term use stability of the battery pack. In addition, the general controller can intelligently judge whether to start the engine or output current, so as to realize intelligent power management.

[0054] 4. Enhancing system flexibility and adaptability:

[0055] The cold start system has multiple voltage input and output ports, which can adapt to power supplies and devices of different voltage grades. The valves and sensors and other components in the system are precisely controlled by the 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 applied to various devices requiring cold start or new energy power systems.

[0056] 5. Improving safety and reliability:

[0057] The application has perfect safety protection and fault handling mechanism. When the battery pack is low in power, the vehicle power system fails or receives a start prohibition message, the system will immediately shut down the current output and issue an alarm. The system can 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 application 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, which helps to promote the widespread application of such engines in the automotive industry, accelerates the popularization and promotion of green new energy, and meets the trend of global energy demand growth and environmental awareness enhancement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0059] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the application, and form a part of the application. The schematic embodiments of the application and their descriptions are used to explain the application, and do not constitute an improper limitation on the application.

[0060] Figure 1 The electrical control principle diagram of the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of the application;

[0061] Figure 2 The fuel and oil heating working principle diagram of the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of the application;

[0062] Figure 3 The water flow direction and sensor and valve group arrangement schematic diagram of the liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description of the exemplary embodiments is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the application, its application, or its uses. The application can be embodied in a variety of different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0064] It should be noted that those of ordinary skill in the art explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described in the present application can be combined with other embodiments without conflict. Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms involved in the present application should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art as their usual meanings.

[0065] The terms "a", "an", "one", "the", and similar terms as used herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of one or more. The terms "include", "comprise", "have", and any variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; the terms "first", "second", "third", and the like are merely used to distinguish similar objects from each other, and do not represent a specific order of the objects.

[0066] The main problem of the prior art is that it is difficult to start a clean liquid fuel engine, especially a methanol engine, in a low temperature environment. The traditional starting method relies on auxiliary fuel or preheating devices, which not only increases the complexity of starting, but also may cause incomplete combustion and emission of harmful substances. While the existing cold start scheme has made some progress in providing power to the PTC heater using a high-capacity intelligent automotive starting lithium battery, there are still deficiencies in power management, heating efficiency, and system flexibility, which limit its widespread application and effectiveness.

[0067] Based on the above problems, the present application provides a technical solution to solve the above problems, and the technical solution and working principle and technical effect of the present application will be described in detail below with specific embodiments.

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

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

[0070] I. System composition

[0071] General controller and switch assembly: The system includes a general controller for controlling the operation logic of the entire system. The switch assembly is controlled by the general controller to control the on-off of the circuit, ensuring 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 circulation of the cooling liquid of the engine, ensuring the effective flow of the cooling liquid inside the engine. The valve group is used to control the flow direction and flow of the cooling liquid to meet the cooling needs under different working conditions.

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

[0074] The battery management system is used to monitor the state of the battery pack, including the power, temperature, etc., and interacts 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 temperature of the engine cooling liquid in real time, providing temperature data for the general controller to make subsequent judgments and controls.

[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 voltage PTC heater and low voltage PTC heater. The heater is used to heat the cooling liquid and fuel, and preheat the engine to meet the starting conditions.

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

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

[0080] II. System improvement points and specific implementation

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

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

[0083] When the battery pack has less than 20% of its charge, the total controller determines whether to turn on the relay switch of one of the input channels to charge the battery pack according to the input voltage. When charging, the priority of the three 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 has more than 80% of its charge, the relay switch is turned off to stop charging the battery pack, thereby protecting the battery pack and prolonging its service life.

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

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

[0087] Control of output current:

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

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

[0090] In some embodiments, the system further includes an external heating device (heating water tank). 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 to improve the starting performance of the engine.

[0091] The housing of the battery pack: The housing of the battery pack uses a composite thermal insulation shell to improve the thermal insulation performance of the battery pack, reduce the loss of electric charge, and prolong the service life of the battery pack.

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

[0093] III. Working principle

[0094] 1. System start and monitoring

[0095] When the engine needs to be started, the total 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 total controller determines whether the conditions for starting the engine are met according to the received information (including message information, water temperature, battery pack power, etc.) and preset rules.

[0097] 2. Cooling liquid circulation and heating

[0098] The water pump is started under the control of the total controller to drive the cooling liquid to circulate inside the engine.

[0099] According to the temperature of the cooling liquid and the start-up requirements of the engine, the total controller controls the high-voltage PTC heater and the low-voltage PTC heater to work and heats the cooling liquid.

[0100] The heated cooling liquid flows through the engine interior, preheats the engine components, and improves the engine start-up conditions.

[0101] 3. Battery pack charging and management

[0102] When the battery pack power is below the preset threshold (such as 20%), the total controller selects the corresponding voltage conversion module to charge the battery pack according to the input voltage.

[0103] The battery management system monitors the state of the battery pack, including power, temperature, etc., and exchanges data with the external environment through the wireless communication module. When the battery pack power reaches the preset threshold (such as 80%), the total controller closes the relay switch to stop charging the battery pack.

[0104] 4. Fuel and oil preheating

[0105] In some embodiments, the system also includes an external heating device (such as a heated water tank). The heater heats the cooling liquid in the external heating device, and the heated cooling liquid is used to heat the fuel in the fuel pipeline and the oil in the oil pipeline to improve the start-up performance of the engine.

[0106] II. Specific working process

[0107] 1. System initialization

[0108] When the vehicle is powered on or the system is started, the total controller performs initialization operations, including communication tests with each subsystem, state checks, etc.

[0109] 2. Start condition judgment

[0110] The total controller judges whether the engine cold start conditions are met according to the received information (including the battery pack power, ambient temperature, coolant temperature, engine ECU start message, etc.) and the preset rules.

[0111] 3. Coolant circulation and heating

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

[0113] 4. Battery pack charging

[0114] If the battery pack power is lower than the preset threshold (such as 20%), the total controller selects to 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 state of the battery pack to ensure the safety and efficiency of the charging process.

[0115] 5. Fuel and oil preheating

[0116] If the system includes external heating devices, the total 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 power is sufficient, the total 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 total controller shuts down the heater, water pump and other components, and the system enters standby state.

[0121] III. Key components and working principles

[0122] 1. Total controller

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

[0124] 2. Water pump and valve group

[0125] The water pump is responsible for driving the circulation of coolant inside the engine, ensuring that the coolant can uniformly flow through various components of the engine.

[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, whose resistance increases with temperature. The liquid in the heater is antifreeze, and the working temperature is -50℃ to 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, for heating coolant and fuel, etc.

[0130] 4. Battery management system

[0131] The battery management system is responsible for monitoring the state of the battery pack, including power, temperature, voltage, etc. It calculates the remaining power, health status, etc. of the battery pack through algorithms, and interacts with the external environment through a wireless communication module.

[0132] 5. Temperature sensor

[0133] The water inlet temperature sensor and the water outlet temperature sensor are used to detect the inlet and outlet water 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 liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of the present application realizes fast and reliable start of the engine in cold environment through accurate temperature monitoring, intelligent voltage conversion and output control, and efficient heating device and insulation measures. The system not only solves the problem of cold start of liquid clean fuel engine, but also improves the energy utilization efficiency, enhances the flexibility and adaptability of the system, improves the safety and reliability, and promotes the development of green new energy.

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

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

[0137] I. Monitoring and Data Collection

[0138] Temperature Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of engine coolant's inlet and outlet temperatures through inlet and outlet temperature sensors. These data will be used to determine if the engine needs to be preheated and the extent of preheating.

[0139] Vehicle Power System Information Reception: Utilizing CAN bus to receive vehicle power system information from the engine ECU, including vehicle battery charge level, fuel temperature, engine water temperature, engine fault status, and range extender switch status. These information is crucial for determining if the engine has the starting conditions.

[0140] Battery Pack Status Information Acquisition: Through GSM wireless communication module, data interaction with the cloud platform is conducted to acquire and update the battery pack's status information, including charge level, ambient temperature, cell temperature, and battery fault information. This helps ensure that the battery pack can provide stable power support during engine starting.

[0141] II. Judgment and Decision

[0142] Starting Condition Judgment: Based on the collected data (including engine coolant's inlet and outlet temperatures, vehicle power system information, and battery pack's status information), determine if the engine and fuel meet the preset starting conditions. For example, in some embodiments, the preset starting conditions include coolant and fuel temperatures reaching above 30°C.

[0143] Starting Decision: Based on the battery pack's charge level and vehicle battery's charge level, as well as engine ECU's fault alarm information, decide whether to allow the engine to start. Specifically, when the battery pack's charge level is >20% and / or the vehicle's battery charge level is ≤50%, allow the engine to start.

[0144] Voltage Conversion Module Selection: According to the input voltage situation, select the voltage conversion module to charge the battery in priority order to ensure the stability of power supply during engine starting.

[0145] III. Control Execution

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

[0147] Heater and Valve Control: Based on the engine water temperature, fuel temperature, and battery pack's charge level information, control 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). By adjusting the flow path of the coolant, optimize the heating effect and energy utilization.

[0148] Engine start-up control: After the engine starts, when the engine water temperature reaches 65℃, the external output current is turned off, the power supply is stopped, and the battery pack is charged. At this time, only charging is allowed to protect the battery pack and the engine.

[0149] Battery charging control: When the battery pack's power is greater than or equal to 80%, the input channel is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped; when the battery pack's power is less than 20%, the battery pack charging is started and the external current output is stopped.

[0150] Four, safety protection and fault handling

[0151] Current output control: When the battery pack's power is less than 20% or the vehicle's battery power is greater than or equal to 80%, the range extender switch is closed, the emergency switch is opened, the engine ECU has a fault alarm or receives an engine ECU start-up prohibition message, the battery pack's current output is turned off to ensure system safety.

[0152] Fault information sending: When a fault is detected in key components such as the battery pack and engine ECU, a start-up prohibition message is sent and the relevant output is turned off, and the fault information is sent to the cloud platform through the wireless communication module for remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

[0153] Five, independent fuel heating system

[0154] The system can also be split into an independent fuel heating system, which heats the coolant in the engine's small circulation waterway through a direct current heater to achieve engine preheating. At the same time, this system can also heat the coolant in the water tank with an external heating device, further improving the engine's preheating effect.

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

[0156] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0157] In addition, the technical solutions of each embodiment can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the realization of ordinary skilled personnel in the art; when the combination of technical solutions appears contradictory or unachievable, it should be considered that the combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by the present application.

Claims

1. A liquid clean fuel engine cold start system characterized by, Comprise: A general controller and a switch assembly controlled by the general controller for controlling the on-off of the circuit; A water pump and valve group for controlling the circulation of the engine coolant; A battery assembly comprising a general controller, a battery management system, a battery pack and a wireless communication module for high and low voltage power supply; The battery assembly further comprises 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; 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; When charging, the priority of the three groups of voltage conversion modules is: the first voltage conversion module, the second voltage conversion module, and the third voltage conversion module; An inlet water temperature sensor and an outlet water temperature sensor for detecting the inlet and outlet water temperature of the engine coolant; A plurality of voltage conversion modules for converting different voltage inputs to 72VDC to charge the battery pack; A heater comprising a high-voltage PTC heater and a low-voltage PTC heater powered by the high-voltage output and low-voltage output of the battery assembly, respectively; An engine ECU for receiving vehicle power system information and start signal sent by the general controller, and controlling the start of the engine; Wherein, the general controller receives the message information sent by the battery management system and the engine ECU through the CAN bus, and judges whether to supply power to the engine, starter and heater according to the information received by the general controller and the preset rules to heat the coolant and fuel, preheat the engine to meet the starting conditions.

2. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein When the battery pack is less than 20%, the general controller decides to select the relay switch of one input channel to charge the battery pack according to the different input voltages; When the battery pack is greater than or equal to 80%, the relay switch is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped.

3. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein, The battery assembly comprises two groups of voltage output ports, namely high-voltage output and low-voltage output; The high-voltage output is connected to the high-voltage PTC heater to supply power to the high-voltage PTC heater; The low-voltage output is connected to the water pump, engine ECU, starter, low-voltage PTC heater and other electrical equipment for power supply.

4. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein When the ambient temperature is lower than 30℃, according to the battery pack capacity and vehicle power system information, it is judged whether to open the 24VDC low-voltage output and / or 72VDC to 450-750VDC high-voltage output to output current; When the engine starts and the water temperature reaches 65℃, the output current is turned off.

5. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein, The vehicle power system information includes the battery capacity of the vehicle, the state of the range extender switch, the engine water temperature, the fuel temperature, and the fault alarm and start message of the engine ECU.

6. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein, The heater is used to heat the fuel in the fuel pipeline and the engine oil in the engine oil pipeline.

7. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein, The battery pack is provided with a composite heat-insulating shell.

8. The liquid clean fuel engine cold start system of claim 1, wherein, The liquid in the heater is antifreeze, and the working temperature is -50℃ to 140℃.

9. A control method of the liquid fuel engine cold start system according to claim 1, characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: Monitoring and data acquisition: Real-time monitoring of the inlet and outlet water temperature of the engine coolant through a temperature sensor; Receiving vehicle power system information through a CAN bus; Interacting with the cloud platform through a wireless communication module to obtain and update the state information of the battery pack; Judgment and decision: According to the data collected in the above steps, it is judged whether the engine and fuel meet the preset starting condition; According to the battery capacity of the battery pack and the vehicle battery, and the fault alarm information of the engine ECU, it is decided whether to allow the engine to start; According to the input voltage condition, the voltage conversion module is selected to charge the battery according to the priority order; Control execution: When the starting condition is met, the heater is powered through the control switch to heat the coolant and fuel, and the engine is preheated; According to the engine water temperature, fuel temperature and battery capacity information, the opening and closing of the heater and the opening and closing of the valve group are controlled. When the engine water temperature reaches 65℃, the output current is turned off, the power supply is stopped, and the battery pack is charged.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized by, The preset starting condition includes that the coolant temperature and the fuel temperature are both above 30℃.

11. The control method according to claim 9, characterized by, In the control execution step: When the battery capacity is ≥80%, the input channel is closed and the battery pack charging is stopped; when the battery capacity is <20%, the battery pack charging is started and the external current output is stopped.

12. The control method according to claim 9, characterized by The judgment and decision step further comprises: According to the comparison result of the battery capacity and the vehicle battery capacity, and the fault alarm information of the engine ECU, it is judged whether to allow the engine to start; When the battery capacity is >20% and / or the vehicle battery capacity is ≤50%, the engine is allowed to start.

13. The control method according to claim 11, characterized by, The control execution step further comprises: According to the signals of the outlet temperature sensor and the inlet temperature sensor, the opening and closing of the valve are controlled to adjust the flow path of the coolant.

14. The control method according to claim 10, characterized by, Further comprising a safety protection and fault handling step: When the battery capacity is <20% or the vehicle battery capacity is ≥80%, the range extender switch is closed, the emergency switch is opened, the engine ECU has a fault alarm, or the engine ECU receives a start prohibition message, the current output of the battery pack is turned off.

15. The control method according to claim 14, characterized by, The safety protection and fault handling step further comprises: When a fault is detected in the battery pack, engine ECU and other key components, a start prohibition message is sent and the related output is turned off, and the fault information is sent to the cloud platform through the wireless communication module.

Images