VEHICLE WITH A HIGH-VOLTAGE STORAGE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle with a storage device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a vehicle is known from EP 3 333 934 A1.

[0003] Electric and hybrid vehicles are equipped with a high-voltage storage system that stores electrical energy to power a propulsion-generating electric motor. Such a high-voltage storage system comprises a housing in which several electrically interconnected storage cells are arranged. To allow pressure equalization between the interior of the high-voltage storage housing and the environment in the event of fluctuations in ambient air pressure and / or a cell short circuit, resulting in the destruction of one or more storage cells and subsequent outgassing, high-voltage storage housings typically have at least one ventilation device, as shown in DE 10 2013 215 699 A1.The ventilation system allows gas exchange between the interior of the high-voltage storage housing and the environment, as well as the escape of condensate from the interior of the high-voltage storage housing into the environment. Conversely, the ventilation opening prevents water or moisture from entering the interior of the high-voltage storage housing.

[0004] For the ventilation system to function properly, it is necessary to ensure that it always has sufficient gas permeability.

[0005] The object of the invention is to create a high-voltage storage device or a vehicle with such a high-voltage storage device whose ventilation / extraction device has increased functional reliability.

[0006] The invention is based on a vehicle with a high-voltage storage system, which includes a high-voltage storage housing in which several electrical storage cells are arranged. At least one venting device is provided in a wall of the high-voltage storage housing. The term "wall" is to be understood in a very broad sense. This could, for example, be an upper or lower wall or a side wall of the high-voltage storage housing. The venting device is gas-permeable (at least semi-permeable) from at least one interior of the high-voltage storage housing to an exterior or to the environment of the high-voltage storage housing, thus allowing gas to escape from the interior of the high-voltage storage housing to the outside or to the environment in the event of overpressure, thereby equalizing the pressure.

[0007] The core of the invention consists in the provision of a device on the ventilation / exhaust system by means of which a substance that accumulates on the ventilation / exhaust system and partially or completely clogs it can be removed. By removing the substance in question using this device, sufficient gas permeability of the ventilation / exhaust system can be ensured.

[0008] Depending on the vehicle design, it may be necessary to position the ventilation system in an area of ​​the vehicle where snow, ice, and / or dirt can accumulate in cold temperatures. For example, in some vehicle designs, the ventilation system must be located in the wheel arch or underbody area, where snow, ice, and / or dirt can accumulate in winter conditions.

[0009] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the device by means of which a blocking substance can be removed includes a heating element. For example, an electric heating element (e.g., a resistance heater) can be provided by means of which the ventilation device can be heated. By heating the ventilation device, snow or ice that has accumulated on the ventilation device can be melted, thereby preventing or eliminating a partial or complete blockage of the ventilation device.

[0010] As an alternative or supplement to an electric heating device, the device used to remove the obstructing substance can also include a heating channel through which a heating medium flows. This heating channel can, for example, be connected to or in flow communication with the heating / cooling channel system of the high-voltage storage unit. The storage cells located inside the high-voltage storage unit's housing can be heated or cooled as needed by means of this heating / cooling channel system.

[0011] Alternatively or additionally to an electric heating device or heating channel, the device by means of which the obstructing substance can be removed can also include an ultrasonic generator with which obstructing substances such as ice or environmental dirt can be removed from the ventilation device.

[0012] Alternatively or in addition to an electric heating device or a heating channel or an ultrasonic generator, a spray nozzle could also be provided, by means of which cleaning fluid can be sprayed onto or against the ventilation device and thus cleaned.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the aforementioned heating device can be switched on or off, and is only switched on when a temperature measured at a predetermined location in the vehicle is lower than a predetermined temperature. For example, the ambient air temperature can be measured by means of a sensor device located in the engine compartment or elsewhere in the vehicle. If the ambient air temperature falls below a predetermined temperature of, for example, +3°C, +2°C, +1°C, or 0°C, the heating device can be switched on.

[0014] Furthermore, a sensor device is provided that can detect whether the venting device is partially or completely blocked by a clogging substance. Such a sensor device can be based on one or more sensor principles. For example, a sensor device based on electrical resistance measurement can be provided, wherein a sensor element of the sensor device has an electrical resistance that depends on the degree of clogging of the venting device, i.e., on the loading of the venting device with clogging substance.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, a sensor device based on optical transmittance measurement can be used, wherein the optical transmittance of the ventilation device depends on the degree of clogging of the ventilation device with clogging substance, i.e., on the loading of the ventilation device with clogging substance.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor device can be based on the principle of inductance change. The inductance to be monitored depends on the degree of clogging of the ventilation / venting device with clogging substance, i.e., on the loading of the ventilation / venting device with clogging substance.

[0017] As mentioned above, the invention relates not only to a high-voltage storage device, but also to a vehicle with such a high-voltage storage device.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, monitoring electronics are provided which issue a visual and / or audible warning message when a predetermined degree of blockage of the ventilation system in a passenger compartment of the vehicle is exceeded. For example, a warning message can be displayed visually in the instrument cluster, in a display provided in the area of ​​the instrument panel, or at another location when the ventilation system exceeds a predetermined degree of blockage.

Claims

1. High-voltage storage device, which has a storage housing in which a plurality of electrical storage cells are arranged, wherein in a wall of the storage housing at least one ventilation device is provided, which is gas-permeable at least from an interior of the storage housing to an outside of the storage housing, so that in the event of an overpressure in the interior of the storage housing gas can escape from the interior of the storage housing, wherein on the ventilation device a device is provided, by means of which a substance, which accumulates at the ventilation device and partially or completely clogs it, is removable, wherein the device comprises a heating device and / or an ultrasonic generator, with which or with which substance accumulated at the ventilation device and causing clogging is removable; characterised in that a sensor device is provided, with which it is detectable whether the ventilation device is partially or completely clogged by snow or ice and / or environmental dirt, wherein the sensor device is a - sensor device based on an electrical resistance measurement, wherein the resistance to be measured depends on the degree of clogging of the ventilation device and / or - sensor device based on an optical transmission measurement, wherein the optical transmission of the ventilation device depends on the degree of clogging of the ventilation device, and / or - sensor device based on an inductance measurement, wherein an inductance to be monitored depends on the degree of clogging of the ventilation device.

2. High-voltage storage device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substance is water frozen to ice or snow and / or environmental dirt.

3. High-voltage storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the heating device is an electrical heating device or comprises an electrical heating device, by means of which the ventilation device is heatable, whereby snow or ice accumulated there is meltable.

4. High-voltage storage device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the heating device comprises at least one heating channel through which a heating medium flows.

5. High-voltage storage device according to claim 4, characterised in that the heating channel is in flow connection with a heating / cooling channel system of the high-voltage storage device.

6. High-voltage storage device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the heating device can be switched on or switched off and is only switched on when a temperature measured at a predetermined location is lower than a predetermined temperature.

7. Vehicle with a high-voltage storage device according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterised in that a monitoring electronics is provided, which, when a predetermined degree of clogging of the ventilation device is exceeded, outputs an optical and or acoustic warning message in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.