Cabin-Battery Heat Sharing Control for Cold EV Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid and full electric vehicles, cold battery temperatures can lead to reduced discharge power and lower energy storage capacity, necessitating effective thermal management to enhance driving range and acceleration performance.
Innovation Solution
A thermal-management system is implemented in vehicles, featuring a battery loop and a cabin heating loop that can be fluidly connected or isolated by a valve, with a controller programmed to toggle the valve and adjust heating modes based on battery temperature, charging status, and estimated distance to empty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery is heated to maintain optimal temperature for discharge power and energy storage, then the battery performance is improved, but the thermal management system complexity increases due to the need for valve control and heat distribution balancing
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is designed to serve multiple functions: heating the battery when needed, heating the cabin when needed, and balancing heat distribution between both. The single thermal management system performs these different functions through the controller's ability to toggle the valve between different positions, making the system universal rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for battery and cabin thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a controllable valve that can dynamically change position between different configurations (connecting battery loop to heater core, connecting cabin loop to heater core, or isolating loops). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions and prioritize heating needs based on real-time requirements, resolving the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than fixed.
2Temperature
If the valve toggles between connecting battery and cabin heating loops, then heat distribution is balanced, but the system control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors temperatures and system conditions to determine when to toggle the valve between different positions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically balance heat distribution based on actual thermal states of the battery and cabin, resolving the contradiction by using intelligent control rather than complex mechanical systems. The feedback loop simplifies the control strategy compared to having multiple independent control systems.
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
Active battery heating increases the available driving range and improves vehicle acceleration by maintaining optimal battery temperatures, while also balancing heat distribution between the cabin and battery to maintain acceptable thermal performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heater core in the passenger cabin. The blower is configured to circulate air through the heater core to heat the passenger cabin of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the heating loop when the valve is in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop from the heating loop when the valve is in a second position
Implementation Method 3
a blower configured to circulate air through the heater core to heat the passenger cabin of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a traction battery and an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to power wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a thermal-management system having a battery loop configured to circulate coolant through the traction battery, a cabin heating loop configured to circulate coolant through a heater and a heater core, a blower configured to circulate air through the heater core to heat a passenger cabin of the vehicle, and a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the heating loop when the valve is in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop from the heating loop when the valve is in a second position. A controller is programmed to, responsive to (i) the battery charging, (ii) a temperature of the battery being less than a first threshold, and (iii) a temperature of the heater core being greater than a second threshold, energize the heater and command the valve to toggle between the first and second positions in succession such that heat generated by the heater is circulated to the battery and the heater core.