Drive arrangement, vehicle having a drive arrangement, and method for operating a drive arrangement or a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive arrangement (10) having features of claim 1, to a vehicle (44) having a drive arrangement (10) of said kind, and to a method for operating a drive arrangement (10) of said kind or a vehicle (44) of said kind.

Description

[0001] R.413677

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] Drive system, vehicle with a drive system and a method for operating a drive system or a vehicle

[0006] State of the art

[0007] The invention relates to a drive arrangement with features of claim 1, a vehicle with such a drive arrangement and a method for operating such a drive arrangement or such a vehicle.

[0008] In drive systems with an electric motor, heat is generated during operation. To prevent overheating of the drive system, and especially the electric motor, this heat can be dissipated. A cooling circuit can be provided for this purpose, in which a coolant is circulated through the electric motor by means of a pump. Various cooling concepts can be used for this.

[0009] This allows, for example, the coolant flow rate to be kept constant. The disadvantage is that the pump can operate at an unnecessarily high speed, since the flow rate is usually designed for the worst-case scenario, which doesn't always occur. This can lead to excessive energy consumption and the generation of unnecessary (acoustic) noise.

[0010] The coolant flow rate can also be regulated depending on the coolant temperature. A disadvantage of this is that, due to the thermal mass of the coolant, the coolant temperature does not adjust quickly enough to compensate for the rapid temperature fluctuations in the electric motor. Consequently, the electric motor may be insufficiently cooled, which can lead to overheating and damage. R.413677

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[0012] Disclosure of the invention

[0013] According to the invention, a drive arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is proposed. The drive arrangement comprises a cooling circuit in which a coolant is or can be circulated. The cooling circuit includes an electric machine that is or can be supplied with the coolant. The cooling circuit includes a coolant reservoir for storing the coolant. The coolant reservoir can be designed as a coolant sump. The cooling circuit includes a coolant pump for circulating the coolant within the circuit. The cooling circuit includes a first control device for controlling the coolant pump. The cooling circuit includes a second control device for controlling the electric machine. The first control device is configured to control the coolant pump, in particular its delivery rate, based on a predictive model.The coolant can therefore be pumped within the cooling circuit depending on the prediction model.

[0014] This allows for reduced energy consumption and optimized cooling performance. Rapid temperature fluctuations can be predicted, and the coolant pump can be controlled precisely, or the coolant flow rate can be regulated.

[0015] Predictive control of the coolant flow within the cooling circuit can be implemented. The flow rate can be dynamically adjusted to the anticipated cooling demand. For example, a higher flow rate can be used when cooling demand is high and a lower flow rate when cooling demand is low. This can be achieved, for instance, by increasing or decreasing the speed of the coolant pump accordingly.

[0016] According to a further development of the drive arrangement, the cooling circuit can include a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can be configured to remove heat (from the cooling circuit). The heat exchanger can be thermally coupled to an external cooling circuit. The external cooling circuit can be configured to remove the heat externally. The external cooling circuit can include an inverter with a third control unit R.413677.

[0017] - 3 - include. The third control unit can be configured to control the inverter.

[0018] This allows the efficiency of the cooling circuit and thus the drive arrangement to be further optimized.

[0019] According to a further development of the drive arrangement, the prediction model can be created based on data from the first control unit, the second control unit and / or the third control unit.

[0020] It is also conceivable that the temperature of the coolant, the power requirements of the electric machine, the DC (direct current) bus voltage, the ambient temperature and / or the properties of the coolant, such as flow rate and / or temperature, can be incorporated into the creation of the prediction model.

[0021] This allows for an accurate prediction of the temperature development in the cooling circuit. In particular, the coolant flow rate can be controlled not only based on the coolant temperature. Adjustments to the coolant flow rate can be made even if the coolant temperature does not rise significantly (which can occur during short periods of high demand). This prevents overheating of the electric motor and enables the selection of an ideal coolant pump speed.

[0022] According to a further development of the drive arrangement, the cooling circuit can include a first bypass line. The first bypass line can be configured to bypass the electric machine. The drive arrangement or the cooling circuit can include a gearbox. The gearbox can be supplied with coolant via the first bypass line. The coolant can thus be routed either through the electric machine, around the electric machine, and / or through the gearbox (via the first bypass line).

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the cooling circuit can include a second bypass line. The second bypass line can be used to bypass R.413677.

[0024] - 4 -

[0025] The heat exchanger must be installed. The coolant can then be routed either through the heat exchanger or around the heat exchanger (using the second bypass line).

[0026] This allows the coolant flow to be flexibly adjusted according to the required specifications. This further optimizes the efficiency of the cooling circuit and, consequently, the drive system.

[0027] According to a further development of the drive arrangement, the cooling circuit can include at least one temperature sensor for measuring the coolant temperature. The temperature determined by the temperature sensor can be incorporated into the prediction model, particularly its creation. The cooling circuit can include a filter for filtering the coolant. The cooling circuit can include at least one valve for controlling the first and / or second bypass line.

[0028] This allows the efficiency of the cooling circuit and thus the drive arrangement to be further optimized.

[0029] According to the invention, a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a drive arrangement as described above is proposed.

[0030] Regarding the advantages achievable with the vehicle, reference is made to the relevant explanations concerning the drive arrangement. The measures described in connection with the drive arrangement and / or those explained below can be used for further vehicle development.

[0031] According to a further development of the vehicle, the vehicle may include a navigation device. The navigation device may be configured as a navigation system or a navigation instrument. The predictive model may be based on data from the navigation device.

[0032] This allows for an accurate prediction of the temperature development in the cooling circuit. R.413677

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[0034] Thus, the electric machine of the vehicle's drive system can be pre-cooled, e.g. before and / or during an uphill drive, to ensure that the prolonged high loads (during the uphill drive) do not lead to overheating problems of the electric machine.

[0035] Accordingly, the cooling of the electric motor in the vehicle's drive system could be reduced, for example, before and / or during downhill driving, since less heat generation is expected in the electric motor (during downhill travel). The coolant flow rate could be reduced during such phases, which can lead to energy savings and an increase in the vehicle's range.

[0036] The cooling of the electric motor could be switched off when, for example, the vehicle, according to the navigation system's data, is approaching its destination. Since it can be assumed that the vehicle will no longer be in operation after reaching the destination, the electric motor can gradually cool down without requiring additional cooling via the cooling circuit.

[0037] According to the invention, a method for operating a drive arrangement or a vehicle as described above is proposed. The method comprises the step:

[0038] Pumping the coolant within the cooling circuit depending on the prediction model.

[0039] Regarding the advantages achievable with this method, reference is made to the relevant explanations concerning the drive system or the vehicle. The measures described in connection with the drive system or the vehicle and / or those explained below can be used to further develop the method.

[0040] According to a further development of the procedure, the procedure can include the following step: R.413677

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[0042] Controlling the delivery rate of the coolant pump based on the prediction model. The delivery rate of the coolant pump can be used to control and regulate the flow of coolant within the cooling circuit.

[0043] This allows the flow of coolant to be controlled or regulated using simple means.

[0044] According to a further development of the procedure, the procedure can include the following step:

[0045] Creating the prediction model based on data from the first control unit, the second control unit, the third control unit and / or the navigation unit.

[0046] This allows for the most accurate possible prediction of the temperature development in the cooling circuit.

[0047] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0048] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a drive arrangement and

[0049] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a vehicle.

[0050] The drive assembly is designated by reference numeral 10 in Figure 1. The drive assembly 10 is designed for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The drive assembly 10 comprises a cooling circuit 12 in which a coolant 14 is or can be conveyed.

[0051] The cooling circuit 12 includes an electric machine 16. The electric machine 16 is supplied with, or can be supplied with, the coolant 14. R.413677

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[0053] The cooling circuit 12 includes a coolant reservoir 18 for storing the coolant 14. The coolant reservoir 18 can be designed as a coolant sump.

[0054] The cooling circuit 12 includes a coolant pump 20. The coolant pump 20 is designed to pump the coolant 14 within the cooling circuit 12.

[0055] The cooling circuit 12 comprises a first control device 22 for controlling the coolant pump 20. The cooling circuit 12 comprises a second control device 24 for controlling the electric machine 16.

[0056] The first control device 22 is set up to control the coolant pump 20, in particular a delivery rate of the coolant pump, depending on a prediction model.

[0057] The drive assembly can include a heat exchanger 26. The heat exchanger 26 can be thermally coupled to an external cooling circuit 28. The external cooling circuit 28 can include an inverter 30 with a third control unit 32. The third control unit 32 can be configured to control the inverter 30.

[0058] The prediction model can be created or be created based on data from the first control unit 22, the second control unit 24 and / or the third control unit 32.

[0059] The cooling circuit 12 can have a first bypass line 34 for bypassing the electric machine 16. The cooling circuit can include a gearbox 17. The gearbox 17 can be supplied with coolant 14 via the first bypass line 34. The coolant flow can be directed through and / or around the electric machine 16 and, in this case, through the gearbox 17 via the first bypass line 34.

[0060] The cooling circuit 12 can include a second bypass line 36 to bypass the heat exchanger 26. The coolant 14 can be routed through the heat exchanger 26 or around the heat exchanger 26 via the second bypass line 36. R.413677

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[0062] The cooling circuit 12 can include at least one valve 42 for controlling the first and / or the second bypass line 34, 36. In this case, the cooling circuit has two valves 42. A first valve 42 is configured to direct the coolant flow through the first bypass line 34, and a second valve 42 is configured to direct the coolant flow through the second bypass line 36.

[0063] The cooling circuit 12 can include at least one temperature sensor 38 for detecting the temperature of the coolant 14. In this case, the cooling circuit 12 has two temperature sensors 38. A first temperature sensor 38 is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 26 and downstream of the second bypass line 36 in the direction of coolant flow 14. A second temperature sensor 38 is arranged downstream of the electric motor 16, downstream of the gearbox 17, and upstream of the coolant reservoir 18 in the direction of coolant flow 14.

[0064] The cooling circuit 12 can include a filter 40 for filtering the coolant 14. In this case, the filter 40 is arranged upstream of the coolant pump 20 in the direction of coolant flow.

[0065] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 44, in particular a motor vehicle, with a drive arrangement 10 according to the above descriptions. The drive arrangement 10 can be the drive arrangement 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0066] The vehicle 44 may include a navigation device 46. The predictive model may be based on data from the navigation device 46.

[0067] The following describes a method for operating a drive arrangement 10 according to the above descriptions or a vehicle 44 according to the above descriptions. The drive arrangement 10 may be the drive arrangement 10 shown in Figure 1. The vehicle 44 may be the vehicle 44 shown in Figure 2. The method comprises the step: R.413677

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[0069] Pumping of the coolant 14 within the cooling circuit 12 depending on the prediction model.

[0070] The procedure may include the following steps:

[0071] Controlling the delivery rate of the coolant pump 20 based on the prediction model. This allows, in particular, the flow rate of the coolant 14 within the cooling circuit 12 to be controlled or regulated. The procedure can include the following step:

[0072] Creating the prediction model based on data from the first control unit 22, the second control unit 24, the third control unit 32 and / or the navigation unit 46.

Claims

R.413677 - 10 - Claims 1. Drive arrangement (10) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a cooling circuit (12) in which a coolant (14) is conveyed, comprising: an electric machine (16) which is or can be supplied with the coolant (14), a coolant reservoir (18) for storing the coolant (14), a coolant pump (20) for conveying the coolant (14) within the cooling circuit (12), a first control device (22) for controlling the coolant pump (20), a second control device (24) for controlling the electric machine (16), wherein the first control device (22) is configured to control the coolant pump (20), in particular a delivery rate of the coolant pump (20), depending on a prediction model.

2. Drive arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling circuit (12) has a heat exchanger (26), wherein the heat exchanger (26) is thermally coupled to an external cooling circuit (28), wherein the external cooling circuit (28) comprises an inverter (30) with a third control device (32) for controlling the inverter (30).

3. Drive arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the prediction model is created on the basis of data from the first control unit (22), the second control unit (24) and / or the third control unit (32).

4. Drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling circuit (12) has a first bypass line (34) for bypassing the electric machine (16) R.413677 - 11 - and / or a second bypass line (36) to bypass the heat exchanger (26).

5. Drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling circuit (12) comprises at least one temperature sensor (38) for detecting the temperature of the coolant (14), a filter (40) for filtering the coolant (14) and at least one valve (42) for controlling the first and / or the second bypass line (34, 36).

6. Vehicle (44), in particular motor vehicle, comprising a drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

7. Vehicle (44) according to claim 6, characterized in that the vehicle (44) comprises a navigation device (46), wherein the prediction model is created on the basis of data from the navigation device (46).

8. Method for operating a drive arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5 or a vehicle (44) according to claim 6 or 7 comprising the step: Pumping the coolant (14) within the cooling circuit (12) depending on the prediction model.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized by the step: Controlling the delivery rate of the coolant pump (20) depending on the prediction model.

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the step: Creating the prediction model based on data from the first control unit (22), the second control unit (24), the third control unit (32) and / or the navigation unit (46).

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