Vehicle Control System for Battery Cooling Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery cooling systems in electric and hybrid electric vehicles are energy-hungry, leading to unnecessary energy wastage, as they maintain optimal temperature requirements, which can be reduced by implementing a control system that enters an energy-saving mode based on the vehicle's location, allowing for delayed cooling when the vehicle is approaching a destination where natural cooling can occur.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines the vehicle's location relative to a reference point, such as a home or workplace, and deactivates or delays the cooling system when the vehicle is near its destination, utilizing location-dependent data to calculate the remaining distance or time to reach the destination, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery cooling system operates continuously to maintain optimal temperature, then battery performance and charging efficiency are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system transitions from continuous operation to dynamic control based on real-time conditions. The control system activates cooling only when battery temperature exceeds thresholds or during high-power operations, allowing the system to adapt its operation to actual thermal needs rather than running continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors battery temperature, state of charge, and operating conditions to dynamically adjust cooling system activation. This feedback mechanism ensures cooling is provided only when thermally necessary, preventing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining battery performance
2Temperature
If the cooling system is activated whenever battery temperature rises, then battery temperature control is improved, but unnecessary energy wastage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple temperature thresholds (first threshold for activation, second threshold for deactivation) rather than a single threshold. This hysteresis approach prevents frequent on-off cycling and activates cooling only when temperature exceeds the first threshold, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining adequate temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system applies cooling partially rather than continuously - activating cooling only when the first temperature threshold is exceeded and deactivating when the second threshold is reached. This partial action approach provides sufficient cooling to maintain battery performance while avoiding excessive energy consumption from continuous operation
3Temperature
If the cooling system operates during all driving modes, then battery temperature is maintained optimally, but vehicle range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system predicts future battery thermal conditions based on upcoming driving modes and ambient temperature changes. When the vehicle is approaching a destination or entering a charging mode where the engine will be running, the system can allow higher battery temperatures temporarily, knowing that natural cooling or engine heat will provide thermal management later
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the cooling function from continuous operation and applies it selectively based on driving mode. During EV mode with high ambient temperature, cooling is activated; during hybrid mode with engine running, cooling demand is reduced since the engine provides natural cooling through its operation
Data Source
AI summary
A control system or controller (190) for a vehicle (100), the vehicle (100) comprising: at least one energy-consuming subsystem (180), such as a battery cooling system (180), for controlling a or a respective first vehicle operating parameter, e.g. the battery operating temperature, and actuation means for the subsystem (180) for activating or deactivating it in accordance with vehicle operational requirements; wherein the control system (190) is configured to: determine a value of a or a respective second vehicle operating parameter which is dependent on a location of the vehicle (100), such as a distance (x, y) between a current location of the vehicle and a reference location, e.g. a driver's home or workplace, and control the actuation means of the subsystem (180) so as to deactivate the subsystem (180), optionally for a prescribed period of time, in dependence on the value of the determined vehicle location-dependent second vehicle operating parameter. Since the reference location is optionally a location at which the vehicle is expected to be parked and so will not require active battery cooling, when the vehicle is within easy reach of that destination, e.g. according to current battery temperature or predicted drive time to that destination, the battery cooling system (180) can be temporarily deactivated, in order to save energy wastage and battery drain, and improve fuel economy and electric range. Embodiments are applicable to other energy-hungry vehicle systems, e.g. heating or cooling systems (182, 184) of other vehicle components.