Vehicle Load Shedding Control for Converter Thermal Derating
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrical load management systems for vehicles, excessive heat in converters due to high demand or insufficient cooling can lead to thermal derating, causing voltage drops and potentially resulting in loss of propulsion, braking, or other critical system failures.
Innovation Solution
An electrical load management system that includes a controller to detect load shed triggers, such as thermal derating or voltage drops, and proactively reduces power consumption by selectively shedding low-priority loads, either by reducing current or cutting off power to non-critical loads, thereby reducing stress on the electrical system and preventing thermal derating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the converter operates at high power to meet electrical demand, then the power output is sufficient, but excessive heat is generated causing thermal derating and voltage drops
Solution Approach 1:
The controller proactively detects load shed triggers and sheds low-priority loads before thermal derating occurs. This preliminary action prevents the converter temperature from reaching dangerous levels by reducing electrical demand in advance, thereby avoiding voltage drops and system failures while maintaining sufficient power for critical loads
2Temperature
If cooling capacity is increased to prevent thermal derating, then converter temperature is controlled, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing cooling infrastructure without adding complex active cooling control mechanisms. The controller manages thermal issues primarily through load shedding rather than increasing cooling capacity, allowing the cooling system to operate passively and naturally, thereby reducing system complexity while still preventing thermal derating
3Temperature
If electrical loads are reduced to prevent thermal derating, then converter temperature is controlled, but power availability for vehicle systems decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller selectively sheds only low-priority electrical loads while maintaining power supply to critical vehicle systems. This localized approach ensures that temperature control is achieved through targeted load reduction rather than blanket power reduction, thereby maintaining sufficient power availability for essential functions while preventing thermal derating
Data Source
AI summary
A battery load management system and methods of managing a battery load, e.g., in a vehicle, may be directed to a converter that steps down electrical power from an input voltage to a reduced voltage. An electrical bus in electrical communication with the converter may be configured to supply electrical power received from the converter at the reduced voltage to a plurality of electrical loads. A controller may be configured to detect a load shed trigger, and in response to the detection select one or more low-priority loads included in the plurality of electrical loads. The controller may also be configured to reduce electrical power consumption by the one or more low-priority loads.