Cooling system of hybrid electric vehicle and cooling cycle control method

Abstract

The invention provides a cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle and a cooling circulation control method, and relates to the technical field of automobiles. The cooling system comprises an engine circulation device, an electric drive circulation device and a coupling heat exchanger. In the engine circulating device, an engine radiator, a first electric water pump and an engine are sequentially connected, the engine, a second electric water pump, a first three-way valve, a second loop of the coupling heat exchanger and a second three-way valve are sequentially connected, one end of a heating ventilation air conditioner is connected to the third end of the first three-way valve, and the heating ventilation air conditioner is connected with the second loop of the coupling heat exchanger in parallel. The third end of the second three-way valve is connected between the engine and the second electric water pump; in the electric driving circulating device, a motor radiator, a first loop of a coupling heat exchanger, an electric control mechanism, an electric driving mechanism and a third electric water pump are sequentially connected; the first loop and the second loop of the coupling heat exchanger are mutually independent. According to the cooling system, the technical effects of improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid electric vehicle and reducing the heat dissipation power are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of automobile technology, and in particular to a cooling system and a cooling cycle control method for a hybrid electric vehicle. Background Art

[0002] As the automotive industry develops towards electrification, existing automobile models are generally divided into pure electric models, hybrid models and fuel models; among them, hybrid models all have electric drive structures. Since the electric drive system contains electrical components inside, it has relatively high temperature requirements and generally requires the water inlet temperature to be ≤65°C. Otherwise, it may cause overheating, thereby limiting torque, affecting the output of the entire vehicle, and affecting the customer experience.

[0003] Since the entire vehicle thermal management system currently uses water cooling to cool the electric drive system, a reliable cooling system is necessary. For users with a wide driving range, the temperature in each area varies greatly, and the system may face performance risks in high temperatures, such as temperatures exceeding 45°C in the summer. Considering the actual use environment and the current premise of vehicle intelligence, the vehicle strategy can be optimized through big data and actual vehicle needs to ensure that the electric drive system operates in a more stable and reliable environment. However, with the current development trend of hybrid vehicles, their matching battery capacity is getting larger and larger, and they tend to use less oil, making electric drive the most common vehicle use scenarios. How to improve the heat exchange capacity of hybrid vehicles and reduce heat dissipation power has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a cooling system and cooling cycle control method for a hybrid vehicle, which can achieve the technical effect of improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle and reducing the heat dissipation power.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising an engine circulation device, an electric drive circulation device, and a coupled heat exchanger; The engine circulation device includes an engine radiator, an engine, a first three-way valve, a second three-way valve, a first electric water pump, a second electric water pump, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit. The engine radiator, the first electric water pump, and the engine are connected in sequence. The engine, the second electric water pump, the first three-way valve, the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger, and the second three-way valve are connected in sequence. One end of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit is connected to the third end of the first three-way valve, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit is connected in parallel with the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger. The third end of the second three-way valve is connected between the engine and the second electric water pump. The electric drive circulation device includes a motor radiator, an electric control mechanism, an electric drive mechanism and a third electric water pump, wherein the motor radiator, the first circuit of the coupled heat exchanger, the electric control mechanism, the electric drive mechanism and the third electric water pump are connected in sequence; The first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger are independent of each other, and the first circuit and the second circuit can exchange heat.

[0006] In the above implementation process, by adding a coupling heat exchanger, the engine cycle and the electric drive cycle are coupled, thereby increasing the heat exchange capacity of the system. When the engine has no heat dissipation demand, the engine cycle can be turned on to dissipate heat for the electric drive cycle, which is equivalent to the electric drive cycle having two radiators. In addition, after the heat dissipation capacity is increased, the fan speed of the motor radiator can be reduced due to the enhanced heat dissipation capacity, which is equivalent to replacing the power of a high-power fan with the power of a low-power water pump to reduce the heat dissipation power. Therefore, the cooling system of the hybrid vehicle can achieve the technical effect of improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle and reducing the heat dissipation power.

[0007] Furthermore, the cooling system also includes a front-end cooling module, which includes a low-temperature radiator and a condenser. The low-temperature radiator, the condenser, and the engine radiator are arranged in sequence along the air duct direction, or the condenser, the low-temperature radiator, and the engine radiator are arranged in sequence along the air duct direction.

[0008] In the above implementation process, take the air duct direction of the low-temperature radiator, condenser, and engine radiator as an example: after the cold air enters the vehicle from the grille, it first passes through the low-temperature radiator. After dissipating the heat to the coolant in the low-temperature radiator, the heat air will have a certain temperature rise. After passing through the condenser, there will be a certain temperature rise, and finally pass through the engine radiator. Due to the actual working conditions of plug-in hybrid vehicles, the engine is often not started, and the driving and usage scenarios are more inclined to pure electric. At this time, the engine radiator has no heat load, and the wind passing through the engine radiator later only acts as resistance and does not play a heat dissipation role. At this time, after the two cycles of the cooling system are coupled through the coupling heat exchanger, the heat of the electric drive mechanism is transferred to the engine cycle through the coupling heat exchanger, and then cooled through the engine radiator at the front end, thereby maximizing the front-end heat dissipation performance and effectively improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, the cooling system also includes a first expansion water tank and a second expansion water tank, the first expansion water tank is connected to the engine circulation device, and the second expansion water tank is connected to the electric drive circulation device.

[0010] In the above implementation process, the engine circulation device and the electric drive circulation device are each provided with an expansion water tank, which can accommodate the expansion amount of the system water in their respective coolant circulation loops, and can also play a role in maintaining pressure and replenishing water for the system.

[0011] Furthermore, the cooling system further includes a thermostat, one end of the thermostat is connected to the engine, and the other end of the thermostat is connected to the engine radiator and the second electric water pump.

[0012] In the above implementation process, by setting a thermostat, the temperature change of the coolant can be sensed by a temperature sensitive element, and the operating temperature of the engine can be adjusted by controlling the flow of the coolant in the engine circulation device.

[0013] Furthermore, the cooling system also includes a thermostat, and the thermostat is matched with the engine.

[0014] In the above implementation process, the temperature change of the coolant is sensed by the thermostat, and the operating temperature of the engine is adjusted by controlling the flow rate of the coolant in the engine circulation device.

[0015] Furthermore, the cooling system further includes a heating mechanism, which is disposed between the second electric water pump and the first three-way valve.

[0016] In the above implementation process, by setting up a heating mechanism, heat can be provided to the coolant of the HVAC and / or electric drive circulation device without starting the engine, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the HVAC and electric drive circulation device.

[0017] In a second aspect, the present application provides a cooling cycle control method, which is applied to the cooling system of the hybrid vehicle according to any one of the first aspects. The cooling cycle control method includes: Get ambient temperature data; determining an operating mode of the hybrid vehicle according to the ambient temperature data, the operating mode including a summer strategy mode and a winter strategy mode; If the operating mode is the summer strategy mode, obtaining vehicle drive target data, battery power data, and electric drive water temperature data, and controlling the cooling system circulation path and engine start and stop according to the vehicle drive target data, the battery power data, and the electric drive water temperature data; If the operating mode is the winter strategy mode, the heated passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data are obtained, and the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine are controlled according to the heated passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data.

[0018] In the above implementation process, combined with the ambient temperature data, it can be determined whether the current environment is suitable for running the winter strategy mode or the summer strategy mode; if it is suitable for running the winter strategy mode, it means that the ambient temperature is relatively low at this time, and the HVAC may be required to heat the passenger cabin, and the engine needs to be started to provide a heat source for the coolant of the electric drive circulation device to ensure the normal operating temperature of the electric drive mechanism; if it is suitable for running the summer strategy mode, it is necessary to combine the vehicle drive target data, battery power data and electric drive water temperature data for comprehensive regulation to ensure the optimal operating state of the hybrid vehicle's cooling system; thus, the cooling cycle control method uses different strategy controls to enable the hybrid vehicle's cooling system to operate in the optimal mode, thereby achieving the technical effect of improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle and reducing the heat dissipation power.

[0019] Furthermore, the step of controlling the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine according to the warm air passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and the heating mechanism can meet the warm air passenger compartment demand data, the flow ratio of the first three-way valve to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC is adjusted according to the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, and the engine is stopped; If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and there is no demand for heated passenger compartment, the first three-way valve closes the flow to the HVAC; If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and the heating mechanism does not meet the warm air passenger compartment demand data, the flow ratio of the first three-way valve to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC is adjusted according to the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, and the engine is started; If the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the temperature threshold, the first three-way valve closes the flow of the second circuit leading to the coupled heat exchanger.

[0020] In the above implementation process, if the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the temperature threshold, it means that the electric drive mechanism is at a normal operating temperature and no longer needs to be heated. To prevent overheating of the electric drive mechanism, the flow of the second circuit leading to the coupled heat exchanger is disconnected, thereby disconnecting the heat exchange function of the coupled heat exchanger; if the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold, the need to start the engine is determined based on the warm air passenger compartment demand data and the heating capacity of the heating mechanism, and the flow ratio of the first three-way valve leading to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC is adjusted according to the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, so that the cooling system operates in the optimal range.

[0021] Furthermore, the step of controlling the circulation path of the cooling system and the start and stop of the engine according to the vehicle drive target data, the battery power data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: Determine the remaining mileage of pure electric driving based on the vehicle's driving target data and battery power data; The cooling system's circulation path and the engine's start and stop are controlled based on the remaining pure electric driving mileage data and the electric drive water temperature.

[0022] In the above implementation process, in the summer strategy mode, the remaining pure electric driving mileage data is determined based on the vehicle driving target data and battery power data, and then the cooling system's circulation path and the engine start and stop are controlled based on the remaining pure electric driving mileage data and the electric drive water temperature, thereby ensuring that the cooling system's heat dissipation capacity is maximized in the priority pure electric driving mode.

[0023] Furthermore, the step of controlling the circulation path of the cooling system and the start and stop of the engine according to the pure electric driving remaining mileage data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: If the remaining mileage data of pure electric driving meets the driving requirements, the engine stops; If the remaining mileage data of pure electric driving does not meet the driving requirements, the engine starts; If the engine stops and the electric drive water temperature data is lower than the danger threshold, the cooling system continues to operate according to the current operating mode; If the engine stops and the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the danger threshold, open the engine thermostat; If the engine is started, the heat exchange path between the first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger is disconnected.

[0024] In the above implementation process, when the remaining mileage data of pure electric driving does not meet the requirements, it means that the battery power is low and the engine needs to be started, otherwise the engine is stopped; when the engine is stopped, it is determined whether additional heat dissipation is required based on the electric drive water temperature data. If so, the engine thermostat is opened to use the engine radiator in the engine circulation device for auxiliary heat dissipation, thereby improving the heat dissipation capacity of the cooling system; when the engine is started, the heat exchange path between the first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger needs to be disconnected to avoid the temperature of the electric drive circulation device being too high.

[0025] In a third aspect, the present application provides an electronic device comprising: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the steps of the method described in any one of the second aspects when executing the computer program.

[0026] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon. When the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes the method as described in any one of the second aspects.

[0027] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method as described in any one of the second aspects.

[0028] Other features and advantages disclosed in the present application will be described in the following description, or some features and advantages can be inferred or determined without doubt from the description, or can be learned by implementing the above-mentioned technology disclosed in the present application.

[0029] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, preferred embodiments are given below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a cooling system for a hybrid vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 A schematic flow chart of a cooling cycle control method provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a flow chart for controlling the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine in the winter strategy mode provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a flow chart for controlling the cooling system's circulation path and engine start / stop in the summer strategy mode provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure numerals: engine radiator 110; engine 120; first three-way valve 131; second three-way valve 132; first electric water pump 141; second electric water pump 142; HVAC 150; first expansion water tank 160; thermostat 170; temperature controller 180; heating mechanism 190; motor radiator 210; electronic control mechanism 220; electric drive mechanism 230; third electric water pump 240; second expansion water tank 250; coupling heat exchanger 300. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0034] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings. At the same time, in the description of this application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0035] As the automotive industry moves toward electrification, existing vehicle models are generally categorized as pure electric, hybrid, and fuel-powered. Hybrid models all feature electric drive systems. Electric drive systems, due to the presence of internal electrical components, have relatively high temperature requirements, typically requiring the inlet water temperature to be ≤65°C. Otherwise, overheating may occur, limiting torque, impacting vehicle output, and negatively affecting the customer experience. Since the entire vehicle thermal management system currently uses water cooling to cool the electric drive system, a reliable cooling system is necessary. For users with a wide driving range, the temperature in each area varies greatly, and the system may face performance risks in high temperatures, such as temperatures exceeding 45°C in the summer. Considering the actual use environment and the current premise of vehicle intelligence, the vehicle strategy can be optimized through big data and actual vehicle needs to ensure that the electric drive system operates in a more stable and reliable environment. However, with the current development trend of hybrid vehicles, their matching battery capacity is getting larger and larger, and they tend to use less oil, making electric drive the most common vehicle use scenarios. How to improve the heat exchange capacity of hybrid vehicles and reduce heat dissipation power has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0036] In response to the technical problems raised above, an embodiment of the present application provides a cooling system and a cooling cycle control method for a hybrid vehicle; the cooling system of the hybrid vehicle couples the engine cycle with the electric drive cycle by adding a coupling heat exchanger, and can start the engine cycle to dissipate heat for the electric drive cycle when the engine has no heat dissipation demand, which is equivalent to the electric drive cycle having two radiators; in addition, after the heat dissipation capacity is increased, the fan speed of the motor radiator can be reduced due to the enhanced heat dissipation capacity, which is equivalent to replacing the power of a high-power fan with the power of a low-power water pump to reduce the heat dissipation power; thus, the cooling system of the hybrid vehicle can achieve the technical effect of improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle and reducing the heat dissipation power.

[0037] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a cooling system for a hybrid vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application. The cooling system for the hybrid vehicle includes an engine circulation device, an electric drive circulation device, and a coupled heat exchanger 300; The engine circulation device includes an engine radiator 110, an engine 120, a first three-way valve 131, a second three-way valve 132, a first electric water pump 141, a second electric water pump 142, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit 150. The engine radiator 110, the first electric water pump 141, and the engine 120 are connected in sequence. The engine 120, the second electric water pump 142, the first three-way valve 131, the second circuit of the coupling heat exchanger 300, and the second three-way valve 132 are connected in sequence. One end of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit 150 is connected to the third end of the first three-way valve 131, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit 150 is connected in parallel with the second circuit of the coupling heat exchanger 300. The third end of the second three-way valve 132 is connected between the engine 120 and the second electric water pump 142. The electric drive circulation device includes a motor radiator 210, an electric control mechanism 220, an electric drive mechanism 230 and a third electric water pump 240. The motor radiator 210, the first circuit of the coupling heat exchanger 300, the electric control mechanism 220, the electric drive mechanism 230 and the third electric water pump 240 are connected in sequence; The first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger 300 are independent of each other, and the first circuit and the second circuit can exchange heat.

[0038] For example, the circulation mode of the engine circulation device can be adjusted by adjusting the flow of the first three-way valve 131 and the second three-way valve 132: For example, when the engine is stopped, the coolant circulation path of the engine circulation device may be: engine radiator 110, second electric water pump 142, first three-way valve 131, first circuit coupled to heat exchanger 300, second three-way valve 132, first electric water pump 141, engine radiator 110; When the engine is started, the coolant circulation path of the engine circulation device may be the engine radiator 110, the engine 120, and the second electric water pump; It should be noted that the above circulation paths are only examples and not limitations; according to specific heat dissipation requirements, more types of circulation paths can be achieved by adjusting the flow ratio of the first three-way valve 131 and the second three-way valve 132, which will not be repeated here.

[0039] Exemplarily, the coupled heat exchanger 300 may be a water-to-water heat exchanger; the first circuit and the second circuit are independent of each other, so that in principle the coolants in the two circulations of the engine circulation device and the electric drive circulation device are independent of each other, and there is no risk of water mixing.

[0040] For example, when the hybrid electric vehicle enters pure electric driving mode, the engine radiator 110 can also dissipate heat for the electric drive radiator 210 by coupling the heat exchange function of the heat exchanger 300 .

[0041] For example, the cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle provided in the embodiments of the present application can effectively increase the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive cycle, thereby increasing the operating range of the electric drive system and further broadening the use scenarios of the entire vehicle. After indirectly increasing the heat dissipation capacity, the fan speed of the motor radiator 210 can be reduced due to the enhanced heat dissipation capacity, which is equivalent to replacing the power of a high-power fan with the power of a low-power water pump, thereby achieving energy saving, that is, reducing the heat dissipation power; in general, it is equivalent to the wind coming out after passing through the first layer of the motor radiator 210, which still needs to pass through the engine radiator 110 anyway, but when the engine 120 is not started, the function of the engine radiator 110 is equivalent to being wasted; and the cooling system of the hybrid vehicle provided in the embodiment of the present application, by adding a coupling heat exchanger 300, allows the engine radiator 110 to also dissipate heat for the electric drive radiator 210, and in principle, the two cycles of the engine circulation device and the electric drive circulation device are independent of each other and there is no risk of water mixing.

[0042] The cooling system of the hybrid vehicle provided in the embodiment of the present application couples the engine cycle with the electric drive cycle by adding a coupling heat exchanger 300, thereby increasing the heat exchange capacity of the system. When the engine 120 has no heat dissipation demand, the engine cycle can be turned on to dissipate heat for the electric drive cycle, which is equivalent to the electric drive cycle having two radiators. In addition, after the heat dissipation capacity is increased, the fan speed of the motor radiator 210 can be reduced due to the enhanced heat dissipation capacity, which is equivalent to replacing the power of a high-power fan with the power of a low-power water pump to reduce the heat dissipation power. Thus, the cooling system of the hybrid vehicle can achieve the technical effects of improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle and reducing the heat dissipation power.

[0043] In some embodiments, the cooling system also includes a front-end cooling module, which includes a low-temperature radiator and a condenser. The low-temperature radiator, the condenser, and the engine radiator 110 are arranged in sequence along the air duct direction, or the condenser, the low-temperature radiator, and the engine radiator 110 are arranged in sequence along the air duct direction.

[0044] For example, take the air duct direction of the low-temperature radiator, condenser, and engine radiator 110 as an example: after the cold air enters the vehicle from the grille, it first passes through the low-temperature radiator. After dissipating the heat to the coolant in the low-temperature radiator, the heat air will have a certain temperature rise. After passing through the condenser, there will be a certain temperature rise, and finally pass through the engine radiator 110. Due to the actual working conditions of the plug-in hybrid vehicle, the engine is often not started, and the driving and usage scenarios are more inclined to pure electric. At this time, the engine radiator 110 has no heat load, and the wind passing through the engine radiator 110 later only acts as resistance and does not play a heat dissipation role. At this time, after the two cycles of the cooling system are coupled through the coupling heat exchanger 300, the heat of the electric drive mechanism 230 is transferred to the engine cycle through the coupling heat exchanger 300, and then cooled by the engine radiator 110 at the front end, thereby maximizing the front-end heat dissipation performance and effectively improving the heat exchange capacity of the hybrid vehicle.

[0045] Optionally, the front-end cooling module generally has three layers: low-temperature radiator-condenser-engine radiator 110, where the positions of the low-temperature radiator and condenser may vary according to different vehicle models; it may also be condenser-low-temperature radiator-engine radiator, where the engine radiator 110 is generally in the last layer of the module.

[0046] In some embodiments, the cooling system further includes a first expansion water tank 160 and a second expansion water tank 250 . The first expansion water tank 160 is connected to the engine circulation device, and the second expansion water tank 250 is connected to the electric drive circulation device.

[0047] For example, the engine circulation device and the electric drive circulation device are each provided with an expansion water tank, which can accommodate the expansion volume of the system water in their respective coolant circulation loops, and can also play a role in maintaining constant pressure and replenishing water for the system.

[0048] In some embodiments, the cooling system further includes a thermostat 170 , one end of the thermostat 170 is connected to the engine 120 , and the other end of the thermostat 170 is connected to the engine radiator 110 and the second electric water pump 142 .

[0049] For example, by providing the thermostat 170 , a temperature sensitive element can be used to sense the temperature change of the coolant, and the operating temperature of the engine 120 can be adjusted by controlling the flow of the coolant in the engine circulation device.

[0050] In some embodiments, the cooling system further includes a thermostat 180 , which is configured to match the engine 120 .

[0051] For example, the temperature change of the coolant is sensed by the thermostat 180 , and the operating temperature of the engine 120 is adjusted by controlling the flow of the coolant in the engine circulation device.

[0052] In some embodiments, the cooling system further includes a heating mechanism 190 , which is disposed between the second electric water pump 142 and the first three-way valve 131 .

[0053] For example, by providing the heating mechanism 190 , heat can be provided to the coolant of the HVAC 150 and / or the electric drive circulation device without starting the engine 120 , thereby ensuring the normal operation of the HVAC 150 and the electric drive circulation device.

[0054] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a cooling cycle control method provided in an embodiment of the present application; the cooling cycle control method is applied to Figure 1 The cooling system of the hybrid vehicle shown in FIG. 1 includes the following steps: S100: Acquire ambient temperature data; S200: Determining an operating mode of the hybrid vehicle based on the ambient temperature data, where the operating modes include a summer strategy mode and a winter strategy mode; S300: If the operating mode is the summer strategy mode, obtain vehicle drive target data, battery power data, and electric drive water temperature data, and control the cooling system circulation path and engine start and stop based on the vehicle drive target data, battery power data, and electric drive water temperature data; S400: If the operating mode is the winter strategy mode, obtain the passenger compartment heating demand data and the electric drive water temperature data, and control the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine according to the passenger compartment heating demand data and the electric drive water temperature data.

[0055] For example, in combination with the ambient temperature data, it can be determined whether the current environment is suitable for operating in the winter strategy mode or the summer strategy mode; if it is suitable for operating in the winter strategy mode, it means that the ambient temperature is relatively low at this time, and HVAC may be required to heat the passenger cabin, and the engine may need to be started to provide a heat source for the coolant of the electric drive circulation device to ensure the normal operating temperature of the electric drive mechanism; if it is suitable for operating in the summer strategy mode, it is necessary to combine the vehicle drive target data, battery power data and electric drive water temperature data for comprehensive regulation to ensure the optimal operating state of the hybrid vehicle's cooling system; thus, the cooling cycle control method uses different strategy controls to enable the hybrid vehicle's cooling system to operate in the optimal mode, thereby achieving the technical effect of improving the hybrid vehicle's heat exchange capacity and reducing the heat dissipation power.

[0056] See Figure 3 , Figure 3 A schematic flow chart of controlling the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine in the winter strategy mode provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] In some embodiments, the step of controlling the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine according to the warm air passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: S410: If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and the heating mechanism can meet the warm passenger compartment demand data, adjust the flow ratio of the first three-way valve to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC system based on the electric drive water temperature data and the warm passenger compartment demand data, and stop the engine; S420: If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and there is no demand for heated passenger compartment, the first three-way valve closes the flow to the HVAC; S430: If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and the heating mechanism does not meet the warm air passenger compartment demand data, adjust the flow ratio of the first three-way valve to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC system based on the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, and start the engine; S440: If the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the temperature threshold, the first three-way valve closes the flow of the second circuit leading to the coupled heat exchanger.

[0058] For example, if the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the temperature threshold, it means that the electric drive mechanism is at a normal operating temperature and no longer needs to be heated. To avoid overheating of the electric drive mechanism, the flow of the second circuit leading to the coupled heat exchanger is disconnected, thereby disconnecting the heat exchange function of the coupled heat exchanger; if the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold, the warm air passenger compartment demand data and the heating capacity of the heating mechanism are combined to determine whether the engine needs to be started, and the flow ratio of the first three-way valve leading to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC is adjusted according to the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, so that the cooling system operates in the optimal range.

[0059] In some embodiments, the step of controlling the cooling system's circulation path and the engine's start and stop based on vehicle drive target data, battery power data, and electric drive water temperature data includes: Determine the remaining mileage of pure electric driving based on the vehicle's driving target data and battery power data; The cooling system's circulation path and the engine's start and stop are controlled based on the remaining pure electric driving mileage data and the electric drive water temperature.

[0060] For example, in the summer strategy mode, the remaining pure electric driving mileage data is determined based on the vehicle driving target data and battery power data, and then the cooling system's circulation path and the engine start and stop are controlled based on the remaining pure electric driving mileage data and the electric drive water temperature, thereby ensuring that the cooling system's heat dissipation capacity is maximized in the priority pure electric driving mode.

[0061] See Figure 4 , Figure 4A schematic diagram of a flow chart for controlling the circulation path of the cooling system and the start and stop of the engine in the summer strategy mode provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] In some embodiments, the step of controlling the cooling system circulation path and the start and stop of the engine according to the pure electric driving remaining mileage data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: S310: If the remaining electric driving range data meets the driving requirements, the engine is stopped; S320: If the remaining mileage of pure electric driving does not meet the driving requirements, the engine is started; S330: If the engine stops and the electric drive water temperature data is less than the danger threshold, the cooling system continues to operate according to the current operating mode; S340: If the engine is stopped and the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the danger threshold, open the engine thermostat; S350: If the engine is started, disconnect the heat exchange path between the first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger.

[0063] For example, when the remaining mileage data of pure electric driving does not meet the requirements, it means that the battery power is low and the engine needs to be started, otherwise the engine is stopped; when the engine is stopped, it is determined whether additional heat dissipation is required based on the electric drive water temperature data. If so, the engine thermostat is opened to use the engine radiator in the engine circulation device for auxiliary heat dissipation, thereby improving the heat dissipation capacity of the cooling system; when the engine is started, the heat exchange path between the first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger needs to be disconnected to avoid the temperature of the electric drive circulation device being too high.

[0064] In some implementation scenarios, the cooling system of a hybrid vehicle provided by the embodiments of the present application has at least the following beneficial effects: 1. Coupling the engine and electric drive cycles to improve the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive system; By adding a water-to-water heat exchanger, the electric drive cycle is coupled with the engine cycle, increasing the heat exchange capacity of the system. Under pure electric operating conditions, the engine radiator can serve as an additional radiator to dissipate heat for the electric drive system, thereby improving the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive system. For example, in hot summer areas, when a vehicle is driven for a long time or under high load conditions, the electric drive system is prone to performance degradation or even damage due to excessive temperature. The coupled cooling system of the present invention can ensure that the temperature of the electric drive system is always within a safe range, avoiding performance degradation and failure due to overheating; 2. Indirectly increase the motor's circulating heat dissipation area, broadening the vehicle's application scenarios; By adding a water-to-water heat exchanger, the electric drive cycle is coupled with the engine cycle, which increases the working range of the electric drive system and broadens the use scenarios of the entire vehicle. Under pure electric conditions, the engine radiator can be used as an additional radiator to dissipate heat for the electric drive system, which significantly improves the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive system in high temperature environments. For example, in high-temperature areas in the summer, when the vehicle is driving for a long time or under high-load conditions, the electric drive system is prone to performance degradation or even damage due to excessive temperature. The coupled cooling system of the present invention can ensure that the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive system in a high-temperature environment is significantly improved, broadens the use scenarios of the entire vehicle, and improves the applicability and reliability of the vehicle; 3. Reduce fan power consumption, significantly save energy and reduce vehicle noise; By adding a water-to-water heat exchanger to couple the electric drive cycle with the engine cycle, energy saving can be achieved. Specifically, when the electric drive cycle needs to dissipate heat and the engine has no demand, the system can start the engine cycle, transfer the heat of the electric drive cycle to the engine cycle through the water-to-water heat exchanger, and use the heat dissipation capacity of the engine radiator to dissipate heat for the electric drive system. This design is equivalent to using the power of a low-power water pump to exchange for the power of a high-power fan, which can significantly reduce energy consumption. For example, under pure electric conditions, traditional cooling systems need to rely on high-power fans to dissipate heat, and have high energy consumption. Through the coupled cooling system of the present invention, the heat dissipation capacity of the engine radiator can be used to dissipate heat for the electric drive system, reducing the use of fans, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving the energy efficiency level of the entire vehicle. Reducing the fan speed can reduce noise and improve customer comfort; 4. Improve system stability and reliability; By adding a water-to-water heat exchanger, the electric drive cycle is coupled with the engine cycle, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the system. Specifically, when the electric drive cycle needs to dissipate heat and the engine has no demand, the system can start the engine cycle, transfer the heat of the electric drive cycle to the engine cycle through the water-to-water heat exchanger, and use the heat dissipation capacity of the engine radiator to dissipate heat for the electric drive system. This design not only improves the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive system, but also ensures the stability and reliability of the electric drive system under various working conditions. For example, in high-temperature areas in the summer, when a vehicle is driving for a long time or under high-load conditions, the electric drive system is prone to performance degradation or even damage due to excessive temperature. The coupled cooling system of the present invention can ensure that the temperature of the electric drive system is always within a safe range, avoid performance degradation and failures due to overheating, and improve the stability and reliability of the system; 5. The motor can be quickly warmed up in winter; In winter, the motor temperature is low and the working efficiency is low. In winter, the engine can be started to quickly warm up the electric drive system, improve the working efficiency of the motor, and further save energy; 6. Improve user experience; By adding a water-to-water heat exchanger, the electric drive cycle is coupled with the engine cycle, which significantly improves the performance of the vehicle and enhances the user's driving experience. Specifically, when the electric drive cycle needs to dissipate heat and the engine has no demand, the system can start the engine cycle, transfer the heat of the electric drive cycle to the engine cycle through the water-to-water heat exchanger, and use the heat dissipation capacity of the engine radiator to dissipate heat for the electric drive system. This design not only improves the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive system, but also ensures the stability and reliability of the electric drive system under various working conditions, thereby improving the performance of the vehicle. For example, in high-temperature areas in summer, when a vehicle is driving for a long time or under high-load conditions, the electric drive system is prone to performance degradation or even damage due to excessive temperature. Through the coupled cooling system of the present invention, it can be ensured that the temperature of the electric drive system is always within a safe range, avoiding performance degradation due to overheating, providing a smooth driving experience, and improving user satisfaction.

[0065] In some implementation scenarios, the cooling system of a hybrid vehicle provided in the embodiments of the present application has the following specific implementation examples: 1. Coupling of the engine cycle and the electric drive cycle; The present invention thermally couples the engine cycle and the electric drive radiator through a water-to-water heat exchanger. In traditional thermal management design, the engine cycle and the electric drive cycle have a huge difference in working water temperature. The working water temperature of the engine cycle is generally above 100°C in summer, and the maximum water temperature can reach about 120°C. The water temperature of the electric drive system is generally between 60°C and 70°C. Due to the excessively high working temperatures, these two cycles cannot be directly connected in series through a water valve. If cross-flow or valve leakage occurs, the motor system may overheat and fail to work. Therefore, it is necessary to couple the two cycles through a water-to-water heat exchanger, and the water-to-water heat exchanger can be directly disconnected without valve adjustment. 2. Enhance the heat dissipation capacity of the electric drive cycle; The distributed cooling system of the present invention indirectly increases the radiator area of the electric drive system by coupling the engine cycle with the electric drive system, thereby improving the heat dissipation capacity of the system. The specific principles are as follows: The front-end cooling module generally consists of three layers: low-temperature radiator-condenser-engine radiator. The positions of the low-temperature radiator and condenser may vary according to different vehicle models, or it may be condenser-low-temperature radiator-engine radiator, but what is certain is that the engine radiator must be in the last layer of the module. An example of the heat dissipation process: After the cold air enters the vehicle from the grille, it first passes through the low-temperature radiator. After dissipating the heat of the low-temperature radiator coolant, the heat air will have a certain temperature rise. After passing through the condenser, there will be a certain temperature rise, and finally pass through the engine radiator. Due to the actual working conditions of plug-in hybrid vehicles, the engine is often not started, and the driving and usage scenarios are more inclined to pure electric. At this time, the engine radiator has no heat load, and the wind passing through the high-temperature radiator later only acts as resistance and does not play a heat dissipation role. At this time, after the system is coupled through the water-to-water heat exchanger, the heat of the electric drive system is transferred to the engine circulation through the water-to-water heat exchanger, and then cooled through the engine radiator at the front end, so as to maximize the front-end heat dissipation performance; 3. The motor warms up quickly in winter; In winter, due to the low temperature, the coolant temperature of the electric drive system will also be low. In a low temperature environment, the viscosity of the lubricating oil of the electric drive system increases, which may lead to a decrease in motor efficiency and may produce abnormal noise. In order to quickly increase the temperature of the electric drive system and improve the efficiency of the motor, the present invention realizes the coupling of the electric drive cycle and the engine cycle through a water-to-water heat exchanger. When the system detects that the temperature of the electric drive system is lower than a preset value (for example, 10°C), the controller will automatically start the engine. After the engine starts, its coolant transfers heat to the coolant of the electric drive cycle through the water-to-water heat exchanger, quickly raising the temperature of the electric drive system. The system monitors the temperature of the electric drive system in real time through a temperature sensor. When the temperature reaches a preset value (for example, 30°C), the controller will automatically stop the engine and switch to the normal working mode of the electric drive cycle. In this way, the system can quickly warm up the electric drive system in winter, improve motor efficiency, reduce abnormal noise, and enhance user experience; 4. By increasing the heat dissipation of the electric drive system, the fan speed can be reduced; Traditional cooling systems typically rely on high-power fans to dissipate heat, especially in high-temperature environments, requiring very high fan speeds to meet cooling requirements. A water-to-water heat exchanger indirectly increases the heat dissipation area of the motor radiator, allowing the fan speed to be reduced, significantly reducing fan energy consumption. The water pump's power is much lower than that of the fan. Intelligent control strategies dynamically adjust the pump's speed based on actual cooling requirements, ensuring optimal coolant flow and pressure. By reducing the energy consumption of both the fan and the water pump, overall system energy consumption is significantly reduced.

[0066] For example, the cooling system and cooling cycle control method for a hybrid vehicle provided by the embodiments of the present application have the following main effects: 1. Multifunctional engine radiator application: The system uses sensors to monitor the temperature of each subsystem in real time, including the front electric drive, electronic control, and rear electric drive, as well as the coolant temperature, engine startup status, and the high-temperature radiator inlet air temperature to determine whether the high-temperature radiator has heat dissipation capacity. If so, the engine radiator is used to dissipate heat for the electric drive system. 2. Coupling the engine and electric drive cycles: The engine and electric drive cycles are coupled via a water-to-water heat exchanger, enabling further system coupling and energy utilization within the vehicle. 3. Energy saving and emission reduction: The increased heat dissipation area of the electric drive system can reduce the required fan speed, thereby achieving energy saving; 4. Rapid warm-up of the electric drive system: After the system is coupled, the PTC originally used for heating and the engine waste heat can be used to preheat the electric drive system at low temperatures in winter, thereby increasing the working efficiency of the electric drive system.

[0067] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can also be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings show the possible architectures, functions and operations of the devices, methods and computer program products according to the multiple embodiments of the present application. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram can represent a module, a program segment or a part of the code, and the module, program segment or a part of the code contains one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical functions. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in an order different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two consecutive boxes can actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each box in the block diagram and / or flowchart, and the combination of boxes in the block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or can be implemented using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0068] In addition, the functional modules in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated together to form an independent part, or each module can exist independently, or two or more modules can be integrated to form an independent part.

[0069] If the functions are implemented in the form of software function modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, read-only memories (ROM), random access memories (RAM), magnetic disks or optical disks.

[0070] The foregoing is merely an embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following figures. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent figures.

[0071] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

[0072] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply the existence of any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article, or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or device. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or device comprising the element.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a hybrid vehicle, characterized in that: It includes an engine circulation device, an electric drive circulation device and a coupled heat exchanger; The engine circulation device includes an engine radiator, an engine, a first three-way valve, a second three-way valve, a first electric water pump, a second electric water pump, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit. The engine radiator, the first electric water pump, and the engine are connected in sequence. The engine, the second electric water pump, the first three-way valve, the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger, and the second three-way valve are connected in sequence. One end of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit is connected to the third end of the first three-way valve, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit is connected in parallel with the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger. The third end of the second three-way valve is connected between the engine and the second electric water pump. The electric drive circulation device includes a motor radiator, an electric control mechanism, an electric drive mechanism and a third electric water pump, wherein the motor radiator, the first circuit of the coupled heat exchanger, the electric control mechanism, the electric drive mechanism and the third electric water pump are connected in sequence; The first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger are independent of each other, and the first circuit and the second circuit can exchange heat.

2. The cooling system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling system also includes a front-end cooling module, which includes a low-temperature radiator and a condenser. The low-temperature radiator, the condenser, and the engine radiator are arranged in sequence along the air duct direction, or the condenser, the low-temperature radiator, and the engine radiator are arranged in sequence along the air duct direction.

3. The cooling system of a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The cooling system further includes a first expansion water tank and a second expansion water tank, wherein the first expansion water tank is connected to the engine circulation device, and the second expansion water tank is connected to the electric drive circulation device.

4. The cooling system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling system further includes a thermostat, one end of the thermostat is connected to the engine, and the other end of the thermostat is connected to the engine radiator and the second electric water pump.

5. The cooling system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein: The cooling system further includes a thermostat, which is configured to match the engine.

6. The cooling system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling system further includes a heating mechanism, which is disposed between the second electric water pump and the first three-way valve.

7. A cooling cycle control method, characterized in that: Applied to the cooling system of a hybrid vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the cooling cycle control method comprises: Get ambient temperature data; determining an operating mode of the hybrid vehicle according to the ambient temperature data, the operating mode including a summer strategy mode and a winter strategy mode; If the operating mode is the summer strategy mode, obtaining vehicle drive target data, battery power data, and electric drive water temperature data, and controlling the cooling system circulation path and engine start and stop according to the vehicle drive target data, the battery power data, and the electric drive water temperature data; If the operating mode is the winter strategy mode, the heated passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data are obtained, and the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine are controlled according to the heated passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data.

8. The cooling cycle control method according to claim 7, wherein: The step of controlling the flow ratio of the first three-way valve and the start and stop of the engine according to the warm air passenger compartment demand data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and the heating mechanism can meet the warm air passenger compartment demand data, the flow ratio of the first three-way valve to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC is adjusted according to the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, and the engine is stopped; If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and there is no demand for heated passenger compartment, the first three-way valve closes the flow to the HVAC; If the electric drive water temperature data is less than the temperature threshold and the heating mechanism does not meet the warm air passenger compartment demand data, the flow ratio of the first three-way valve to the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger and to the HVAC is adjusted according to the electric drive water temperature data and the warm air passenger compartment demand data, and the engine is started; If the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the temperature threshold, the first three-way valve closes the flow of the second circuit leading to the coupled heat exchanger.

9. The cooling cycle control method according to claim 7, wherein: The step of controlling the circulation path of the cooling system and the start and stop of the engine according to the vehicle drive target data, the battery power data and the electric drive water temperature data includes: Determine the remaining mileage of pure electric driving based on the vehicle's driving target data and battery power data; The cooling system's circulation path and the engine's start and stop are controlled based on the remaining pure electric driving mileage data and the electric drive water temperature.

10. The cooling cycle control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The steps of controlling the cooling system circulation path and the start and stop of the engine according to the pure electric driving remaining mileage data and the electric drive water temperature data include: If the remaining mileage data of pure electric driving meets the driving requirements, the engine stops; If the remaining mileage data of pure electric driving does not meet the driving requirements, the engine starts; If the engine stops and the electric drive water temperature data is lower than the danger threshold, the cooling system continues to operate according to the current operating mode; If the engine stops and the electric drive water temperature data is greater than or equal to the danger threshold, open the engine thermostat; If the engine is started, the heat exchange path between the first circuit and the second circuit of the coupled heat exchanger is disconnected.

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