Battery Cooling Fan Control Without Intake Air Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for power storage devices rely on intake air temperature sensors to manage fan operation, but there is a need to curb temperature increases without using these sensors, especially when their reliability is low.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system that includes a blower fan and a control device which stops the fan when certain conditions are met, such as the vehicle being stopped, the current relevant value being low, the fan being driven, and the power storage device temperature increasing, indicating cabin temperature is higher.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an intake air temperature sensor is provided to detect cabin temperature, then the cooling control accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power storage device itself serves as the temperature reference by comparing its own temperature with the intake air temperature inferred from operating conditions. The system uses self-diagnosis capabilities to detect temperature increases and determines cooling needs without external sensors, making the device self-sufficient for temperature management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate parameters (current-relevant values, vehicle speed, operating state) as mediators to indirectly infer the temperature relationship between cabin air and power storage device. Instead of directly measuring intake air temperature, the system uses these intermediary measurements to determine when cooling is needed.
2Reliability
If the blower fan is continuously operated to cool the power storage device, then the temperature control reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower fan operation is made dynamic and adaptive rather than continuous. The control device adjusts fan operation based on real-time assessment of cooling needs by monitoring temperature trends and operating conditions. The fan operates only when necessary to maintain reliable temperature control while minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (fan speed, duty cycle) based on the assessed cooling requirement. By monitoring the temperature increase rate and current-relevant values, the system dynamically adjusts fan operation parameters to achieve reliable cooling with optimized energy usage.
3Speed
If the intake air temperature sensor is used when reliability is low, then the cooling response is improved, but the system reliability deteriorates due to sensor failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for sensor failure by having alternative temperature assessment methods ready. Instead of relying solely on the intake air temperature sensor, the system uses multiple indicators (power storage device temperature trend, current-relevant values, operating state) to cross-validate and maintain reliable cooling control even when the sensor fails or provides inaccurate readings.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents additional temperature increases of the power storage device due to higher cabin temperatures without relying on intake air temperature sensors, thereby enhancing system reliability and reducing component count.
Implementation Method 1
a blower fan that is mounted in a vehicle along with the power storage device and that blows air in a cabin to the power storage device
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for a power storage device includes a blower fan that is mounted in a vehicle along with the power storage device and that blows air in a cabin to the power storage device and a control device that controls the blower fan. The control device stops the blower fan when it is ascertained that predetermined conditions that the vehicle is in a stopped state, a current-relevant value relevant to a current of the power storage device is in a predetermined range including a value 0, the blower fan is being driven, and the temperature of the power storage device is increasing are satisfied.