Method and device for controlling a waste heat management system of a vehicle

Abstract

Method for controlling waste heat distribution of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a plurality of electronic components (203, 204) that generate waste heat during operation, wherein the method comprises controlling (100) a device (201.1, 201.2) for dissipating at least part of the waste heat of the plurality of electronic components (203, 204) in order to heat an interior (206) of the vehicle, wherein the electronic components (203, 204) have a charging converter (210) for charging an electric battery (211) of the vehicle and / or a DC-DC converter (212), an inverter (213) and an electric motor (214), the method comprising: - controlling the waste heat distribution such that at least part of the waste heat generated by the charging converter (210) and / or the DC-DC converter (212), the inverter (213) and the electric motor (214) during charging of the battery (211) is used to heat the interior (206) of the vehicle, - Determine how much waste heat is generated by the electronic components (203, 204), - Estimate the amount of waste heat generated and - selecting a strategy based on the estimated amount of waste heat as to how this waste heat can be used to heat the interior (206) of the vehicle or to heat other areas of the vehicle, the estimation being based on measured values from past measurements, - determining at what point in time the waste heat generated by the electronic components (203, 204) is available in order to use the generated waste heat to heat the interior (206) of the vehicle, - controlling a charging cycle of the battery (211) such that the waste heat generated by the charging converter (210) during charging of the battery (211) is available at a specific time, - and that the charging cycle is timed so that the waste heat generated by the electronic components (202, 204) during charging can be used to heat the interior (206) shortly before the desired use of the vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling the waste heat management of a vehicle. The invention furthermore relates to a device for controlling the waste heat management of a vehicle.Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are nowadays equipped with a parking heater and / or an auxiliary heater, for example based on a combustion heater, and require a small fuel tank and the provision of, for example, gas or bioethanol. This auxiliary heating is needed because an electric motor usually does not produce the same waste heat as a conventional internal combustion engine, and therefore is unable to provide the desired internal temperature in the vehicle fast enough. Heating the vehicle interior with an electric heater reduces the possible range of the vehicle and does not provide a satisfactory solution. In addition, it is also necessary for the battery of the electric vehicle to have to be brought to a specific temperature in order for the entire power of the battery to be available, which is nowadays only possible with an additional auxiliary heating system.Similar concepts are disclosed in DE 10 2009 023 175 A1, DE 10 2011 090 125 A1, DE 195 45 449 A1, DE 10 2010 043 576 A1, DE 10 2009 028 330 A1 and in DE 10 2012 024 712 A1.In this case, parking heaters are integrated into a region whose complexity increases ever further. The auxiliary heating system accesses, for example, the fuel pump, air conditioning system, valves, pumps, fan heaters, etc. All these components connected to it are managed by different operating management systems and different activation area networks, as a result of which a very complex monitoring and communication system is necessary.It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method by means of which an additional auxiliary heating and / or an additional heating can be dispensed with or the energy requirement thereof can be reduced, as a result of which the system complexity of the vehicle can be reduced and the range of the vehicle can be improved.The object is achieved in particular by a method and a device having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.To achieve the object, a method according to claim 1 is used.By controlling the device for discharging the waste heat, at least some of the waste heat generated by the electronic components can be conducted into the interior of the vehicle and heat the latter. As a result, the waste heat of the electronic components is used and is not discharged unused to the external environment of the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to dispense with additional heaters or parking heaters or to reduce their energy requirement, which would otherwise reduce the range of the vehicle or would require the provision of an additional fuel.The waste heat management comprises the waste heat dissipation from and coolant supply to the electronic components of the vehicle, i.e. how coolant or cold air is supplied to the electronic components for cooling the same and how the warmed-up air (waste heat) is dissipated from the electronic components. For this purpose, the vehicle has a device for discharging the waste heat, which device has, for example, hose or pipelines, valves and pumps, with which cold air can be conducted to the electronic components and waste heat can be discharged from the electronic components.Electronic components are preferably components of the drive system of the vehicle that are involved in the conversion of electrical energy. The electronic components include, for example, power electronic components, one or more batteries and further electronic components of the vehicle. By controlling at least part of the device for discharging the waste heat, the waste heat generated by the electronic components can be conducted into the interior of the vehicle and heat the latter.In a further method according to the invention, it is further provided that the electronic components have a charging converter for charging an electric battery of the vehicle and the waste heat management is controlled in such a way that at least a part of the waste heat of the charging converter generated during the charging of the battery is used for heating the interior of the vehicle. The charging converter is, for example, an AC / DC voltage converter.In a further method according to the invention, it is further provided that the electronic components further have a DC-DC converter, an inverter and an electric motor and the waste heat management is controlled in such a way that at least some of the waste heat generated during the operation of the vehicle of the DC-DC converter, of the inverter and / or of the electric motor is used for heating the interior of the vehicle. The waste heat generated by the DC-DC converter, the inverter and / or the electric motor during operation can be used to heat the interior of the vehicle and is not discharged unused to the environment.In addition to the aforementioned components, the electronic components can also have further components which are used for charging the battery or for operating the electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, for example. These are preferably components which are used in the field of power electronics and which during operation preferably generate waste heat which is to be dissipated from the components in order that they can operate as desired.In a further method according to the invention, provision is also made for: detecting how much waste heat is generated by the electronic components. The electronic components preferably record the operating temperature, for example by temperature sensors integrated in the components, and provide the data to the device. Knowing the amount of waste heat available allows effective control of waste heat management to warm up the interior of the vehicle as needed.In a further method according to the invention, the following is also provided: controlling one or more valves and / or pumps of the device for discharging the waste heat of the electronic components. By appropriately controlling one or more valves and / or pumps, the waste heat of the electronic components can be used at least partially for heating the interior of the vehicle. The device for discharging the waste heat of the electronic components is, for example, an air- or liquid-based cooling system with which the waste heat of the electronic components can be discharged.In a further method according to the invention, provision is also made for: ascertaining at which point in time the waste heat generated by the electronic components is available. As a result, the waste heat generated can be used accurately in time for heating the interior of the vehicle. For example, the waste heat of the electronic components can thereby be used at a desired time.In a further method according to the invention, it is further provided to control a charging cycle of the battery in such a way that the waste heat generated by the charging converter during charging of the battery is available at a specific point in time. The battery is generally charged after a precomputed and regulated charge cycle that is dependent on various factors such as a reasonable current rate, available power, and other factors. The charging cycle of the battery can be controlled by the method in such a way that, for example, the charging cycles or one or more of the last charging cycles are controlled in time such that the waste heat of the electronic components which arises during charging can be used for heating the interior of the vehicle a short time before the desired use of the vehicle.In a further method according to the invention, it is further provided to control at least a part of the device for discharging the waste heat in order to conduct a part of the waste heat of the electronic components in such a way as to heat an interior of the vehicle and to conduct a further part of the waste heat in such a way as to discharge it to the environment of the vehicle. If, for example, more waste heat is available than is required in the interior of the vehicle, the excess waste heat can be discharged to the environment of the vehicle.Furthermore, a device for controlling the waste heat management of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a plurality of electronic components which generate waste heat during operation. The apparatus is configured to control an apparatus for draining at least a portion of the waste heat of the plurality of electronic components to warm the interior of the vehicle.The device is in this case capable of estimating the quantity of waste heat generated. The estimation may be based on measurements from measurements in the past, for example. The device can select a strategy based on the estimated amount of waste heat, as to how this waste heat can be used for heating the interior of the vehicle or also for heating other regions of the vehicle. The device is in this case capable of controlling valves and / or pumps of the device for removing the waste heat (cooling-heating system) directly and / or indirectly in order to achieve the desired distribution of the waste heat. For example, in the case of a parked vehicle, the device can influence the charging cycle in such a way that the charging cycles or one or more of the last charging cycles are scheduled in time such that it is close to the time of scheduled use of the vehicle. Via a "CAN" bus system, the device can receive the time information (when the vehicle is to be ready for use) from an operating device, an external timer or via remote control. In electric vehicles, the request for the time of provision can also be available, since this must be input by the driver in order to determine the charging cycles. In addition, further data, such as the temperature, the battery state, etc., are communicated via the "CAN" bus system. From these data, the device determines a suitable charging cycle request and forwards it to the charging device. The device itself then first enters a sleep mode. A suitable charging cycle program is then selected from the transmitted data for the charging cycles by the charging device, wherein a last charging cycle is placed temporally close to the time at which the vehicle is intended to stand ready. If the last charging cycle is started, the device is reactivated so that it closes or opens the corresponding valves, so that the waste heat is not conveyed any further to the radiator, but is used for heating the interior of the vehicle and, if necessary, for heating the battery. As a result, for example, the battery itself and the interior of the vehicle can be preheated to a specific temperature, i.e., for example, ice on the windows of the vehicle can already have been sufficiently thawed as a result and the vehicle can be used without any further waiting time.Furthermore, a heating system, in particular for vehicles for heating an interior of a vehicle, is specified with a device described above.The features described above in connection with the method are likewise to be understood equivalently as features of the device and of the heating system in an analogous manner, insofar as appropriate.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.The following are shown: FIG. 1 schematically shows the sequence of the method according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of a device for discharging the waste heat from electronic components of an electric vehicle; and FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure of a further device for discharging the waste heat from electronic components of an electric vehicle.FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the sequence 100 of the method for controlling waste heat management of a vehicle. The vehicle has a plurality of electronic components which generate waste heat during operation. The method comprises controlling 101 the waste heat management such that at least a portion of the waste heat of the electronic components generated during charging of the battery is used for heating the interior of the vehicle.FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure 200 of a device for dissipating the waste heat from electronic components 203, 204 of an electric vehicle. The device comprises a first part of a device 201.1 for dissipating the heat via which cold air 202 is drawn from the exterior environment of the vehicle. The device further comprises a plurality of electronic components 203, 204 which heat up during operation.A device 207 for controlling the device 201.1 for dissipating the waste heat of the electronic components 203, 204 controls at least a portion of the waste heat of the electronic components 203, 204 via a second portion of the device 201.2 for dissipating the heat as warm air 205 into the interior 206 of a vehicle in order to heat the interior 206.FIG. 3 shows the structure 200 of the device shown in FIG. 2 in further detail. Via the first part of a device 201.1 for dissipating the heat, e.g. an autocooler, cold air 202 is drawn in from the environment of the vehicle. The electronic components 203 comprise a charge converter 210 and a battery 211 in the embodiment shown. The battery 211 is charged via the charge converter 210. In the embodiment shown, the electronic components 204 comprise a DC-DC converter 212, an inverter 213 and an electric motor 214. The cold air 202 drawn in from the first part of a device 201.1 for dissipating the heat is conducted via lines 208, for example pipe and / or hose lines, to the charging converter 210, the battery 211, the DC-DC converter 212, the inverter 213, and the electric motor 214 in order to dissipate waste heat from these electronic components 203, 204 which arises during the operation of the components. The device for dissipating the heat from the electronic components 203, 204, i.e. the charging converter 210, the battery 211, the DC-DC converter 212, the inverter 213, and the electric motor 214, can also include the lines 208 as well as valves 209 and pumps (not shown). The device for dissipating the heat can comprise all the devices used for dissipating the waste heat from the electronic components 203, 204.The device 207, e.g. a control device, comprises for example a microprocessor or a corresponding electronic circuit which is / is programmed to control one or more valves 209 and / or pumps (not shown) and controls the valves 209 such that the waste heat of the electronic components 203, 204 is conducted as required via the second part of a device 201.2 for dissipating the heat, e.g. a fan, as warm air 205 into the interior 206 of a vehicle. The device for controlling the valves is able to communicate with the electronic components, for example, via a "CAN" bus system. The electronic components consume large amounts of electrical power and thereby generate waste heat, which must be dissipated by a cooling circuit in conventional systems. These power components are, for example, the charging converter 210 in a parked vehicle, the AC / DC voltage converter in a vehicle which is driving, among other things.During charging of the battery 211, heat is generated in the charging converter 210 and partially also in the battery 211, which heat has to be dissipated in order to ensure a trouble-free operation of the charging converter 210 and the battery 211. The heat generated by the charge converter 210 may be used for warming up the battery 211 itself. Usually, however, the waste heat of the charge converter 210 is conducted to the intercooler via the lines 208 and discharged to the external environment. During operation of the vehicle, waste heat is produced both in the DC-DC converter 212, in the inverter 213 and in the electric motor 214, which waste heat is conventionally dissipated to the radiator via lines 208 in order to ensure trouble-free operation.Conventionally, an auxiliary heater or auxiliary heater (not shown) is used to heat the interior space 206. The auxiliary heating or auxiliary heating can be, for example, a heating device based on a PTC element (heating element with positive temperature coefficients) or based on a combustion heating. The warm air generated by the heating device is used here to heat the interior space 206 of the vehicle. The warm air 205 is guided via a fan directly or via a heat exchanger into the interior 206 of the vehicle. In an electric vehicle, for operation of the PCT element, current from the battery is usually necessary. This power consumption reduces the possible range of the vehicle in that the power consumed by the heating device for heating the interior of the vehicle is no longer available for driving the vehicle.For cooling the interior of the vehicle, a compressor (not shown) may be connected to the fan. The air cooled by the compressor may be used to cool the interior space 206.In the charging mode of the vehicle, according to the method and apparatus, the waste heat generated by the charge converter 210 is conducted to the fan via lines 108. The waste heat is conducted here directly or via a heat exchanger as warm air 205 into the interior 206 of the vehicle. The device 207 controls the waste heat transfer from the charge converter 210 in such a way that the waste heat from the charge converter 210 is not discharged via the radiator to the external environment and is lost, but is instead transferred via the lines 208 to the fan. Here, the waste heat of the charge converter 210 is mostly used for heating the interior space 206 of the vehicle. At the same time, the air is cooled as it passes through the fan and can be returned to the charging converter 210, which cools the charging converter 210 and ensures reliable operation of the charging converter 210.In the vehicle operating mode, the waste heat generated by the DC-DC converter 212, the inverter 213 and the electric motor 214 is used via lines 208 to warm the interior 206 of the vehicle. The method controls the waste heat transfer from the DC-DC converter 212, the inverter 213 and the electric motor 214 in such a way that the waste heat thereof is not dissipated to the environment via the radiator, but rather is transferred via the lines 208 to the fan, which generates warm air 205, for example via a heat exchanger, which warms up the interior 206 of the vehicle. By using the waste heat of the electronic components 203, 204, such as DC-DC converter 212, inverter 213 and electric motor 214, no further additional heating or auxiliary heating is necessary for heating the interior 206 of the vehicle. If no waste heat of the DC-DC converter 212, inverter 213 and electric motor 214 is necessary for heating the interior 206 of the vehicle, the waste heat of the DC-DC converter 212, inverter 213 and electric motor 214 can be dissipated via the radiator. Alternatively or additionally, both systems can also be combined, but in the case where warm air 205 is necessary, for example, in the interior 206, more waste heat is provided via the DC-DC converter 212, the inverter 213 and the electric motor 214 than is necessary.List of reference characters100 Sequence 101 method step 200 structure 201.1, 201.2 device for dissipating the heat 202 cold air 203 electronic component 204 electronic component 205 warm air 206 interior 207 device 208 line 209 valve 210 charging converter 211 battery 212 DC-DC converter 213 inverter 214 electric motor

Claims

Method for controlling a waste heat distribution of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a plurality of electronic components (203, 204) which generate waste heat during operation, wherein the method comprises controlling (100) a device (201.1, 201.2) for discharging at least part of the waste heat of the plurality of electronic components (203, 204) in order to heat an interior space (206) of the vehicle, wherein the electronic components (203, 204) comprise a charging converter (210) for charging an electrical battery (211) of the vehicle and / or a DC-to-DC converter (212), an inverter (213) and an electric motor (214), wherein the method comprises: - controlling the waste heat distribution in such a way, at least a portion of the waste heat generated during charging of the battery (211) of the charging converter (210) and / or of the DC converter (212), of the inverter (213) and of the electric motor (214) is used for heating the interior (206) of the vehicle, detecting how much waste heat is generated by the electronic components (203, 204), estimating the amount of waste heat generated and selecting a strategy on the basis of the estimated amount of waste heat, such as this waste heat can be used for heating the interior (206) of the vehicle or for heating other regions of the vehicle, wherein the estimation is carried out on the basis of measurement values from measurements of the past, determining at which point in time the waste heat generated by the electronic components (203, 204) is available, In order to use the waste heat generated for heating the interior (206) of the vehicle, - controlling a charging cycle of the battery (211) such that the waste heat generated by the charging converter (210) during charging of the battery (211) is available at a specific point in time, - and that the charging cycle is controlled in time such that the waste heat of the electronic components (202, 204) generated during charging can be used for heating the interior (206) a short time before the desired use of the vehicle.Method according to claim 1, comprising controlling one or more valves (209) and / or pumping the device (201.1, 201.2) for discharging the waste heat of the electronic components (203, 204) in order to use the waste heat of the electronic components (203, 204) at least partially for heating the interior space (206) of the vehicle,Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising controlling at least part of the device (201.1, 201.2) for discharging part of the waste heat of the electronic components (203, 204) in order to heat an interior space (206) of the vehicle and a further part of the waste heat in order to discharge it to the environment of the vehicle.Device (207) for controlling the waste heat distribution of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a plurality of electronic components (203, 204) which generate waste heat during operation, wherein the device (207) is configured to control a device (201.1, 201.2) for discharging at least part of the waste heat of the electronic components (203, 204) in order to heat the interior space (206) of the vehicle, wherein the device is configured - to estimate the generated amounts of waste heat and - to make a selection of a strategy on the basis of the estimated amount of waste heat, how this waste heat can be used for heating the interior space of the vehicle or for heating other regions of the vehicle, wherein the device (207) is configured to make the estimation on the basis of measurement values from measurements of the past, wherein a determination is made at which point in time the waste heat generated by the electronic components (203, 204) is available in order to use the generated waste heat for heating the interior (206) of the vehicle, - wherein a control of a charging cycle of the battery (211) such that the waste heat generated by the charging converter (210) during charging of the battery (211) is available at a specific point in time is provided, - and wherein the charging cycle is controllable in time such that the waste heat of the electronic components (203, 204) generated during charging can be used for heating the interior (206) a short time before the desired use of the vehicle.Heating device, in particular for vehicles, for heating an interior (206) of a vehicle, comprising a device according to claim 4.

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