Battery Management Control for Excess Regenerative Energy and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing accumulator and heat management systems in vehicles face inefficiencies due to compressor speed being tied to engine speed, leading to energy loss and increased fuel consumption, as well as sub-optimal radiator cooling strategies that do not consider battery storage levels.
Innovation Solution
An integrated system with a controller that manages energy distribution by monitoring pressure and energy availability in accumulator systems, adjusting compressor operation based on pressure and energy data, and optimizing heat management by adjusting fan activation based on coolant temperature and battery conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the compressor speed is tied to engine speed, then the compressor operation is simplified and synchronized with engine cycles, but energy loss increases and fuel consumption rises due to sub-optimal compressor speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the compressor speed variable and independent from engine speed. The compressor is equipped with a variable speed drive that allows it to operate at optimal speeds regardless of engine RPM, enabling the compressor to dynamically adjust its operation based on actual system needs rather than being constrained by engine cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical direct-drive connection between engine and compressor with an electric motor-driven system. This substitution allows the compressor to be powered independently from the engine mechanically, enabling electronic control of compressor speed and eliminating the energy losses associated with mechanical coupling and sub-optimal speed operation
2Ease of operation
If the cooling fan operates independently of battery storage level, then the cooling function is simplified, but fuel consumption and engine load increase due to unnecessary fan operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring battery state of charge levels and using this information to control cooling fan operation. The system receives feedback from battery sensors and adjusts fan operation accordingly, activating the fan only when both cooling is needed and battery charge is sufficient, thereby optimizing energy usage while maintaining adequate cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cooling fan operation adaptive rather than fixed. The fan speed and operation timing are dynamically adjusted based on real-time battery state of charge measurements, allowing the system to optimize between cooling requirements and energy conservation based on current operating conditions
3Loss of energy
If regenerative braking energy is captured and stored, then energy recovery is improved, but battery storage capacity may be insufficient to store all available energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts excess energy from the battery system when storage capacity is insufficient. When regenerative braking generates more energy than the battery can store, the system diverts or dumps the excess energy through alternative pathways such as resistive loads or direct conversion to mechanical work, preventing energy loss while managing battery capacity constraints
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining, by a controller, a presence of an available electrical energy quantity generated from an energy generation event; comparing, by the controller, the available electrical energy quantity to an available energy capacity of a battery storage system; and responsive to determining the available electrical energy quantity exceeds the available energy capacity of the battery storage system, causing, by the controller, a transmission of at least a portion of the available energy quantity to a heat management system.