DE102017212467A1 - Thermoelectric charging device and method for charging a low voltage battery for a vehicle and vehicle with a charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present approach relates to a thermoelectric charging device (105). The thermoelectric charging device (105) is configured to charge a low voltage battery (110) for a vehicle (100). The vehicle (100) has a cooling circuit device (115) with a heat generator device (120), a cooling device (125), a drain line (130) for passing a coolant from the heat generator device (120) to the cooling device (125) and a supply line (135 ) for conducting the coolant from the cooling device (125) to the heat generating device (120). For charging the low-voltage battery (110), the charging device (105) presented here has at least one thermoelectric element (140). The thermoelectric element (140) comprises a refrigerant connection (145) for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element (140) to the feed line (135), a heat connection (150) for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element (140) to the heat generator device (120) and a A low voltage terminal (155) for providing a low voltage electrical voltage (160) to the low voltage battery (110).

Description

The present approach relates to a thermoelectric charging device and a method for charging a low voltage battery for a vehicle and a vehicle with a charging device.

To supply a low-voltage vehicle electrical system, DC-DC converters, also called DCDC converters, are used, which convert an applied high voltage into a low voltage. Also known approaches for recovering energy from exhaust gases in internal combustion engines.

Against this background, the present approach provides an improved thermoelectric charging device and method for charging a low voltage battery for a vehicle and a vehicle having an improved charging device according to the main claims. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

The advantages achievable with the presented approach are that thermal losses of a refrigeration cycle device of a vehicle in the form of electrical energy can be recovered by a thermoelectric charger presented here in order to supply a low-voltage battery of the vehicle. This advantageously increases efficiency and enables savings of additional components such as DC-DC converters or elements for electrical isolation of different voltage networks.

A thermoelectric charging device is configured to charge a low voltage battery for a vehicle. The vehicle has a refrigeration cycle device with a heat generator device, a cooling device, a drain line for passing a coolant from the heat generator device to the cooling device and a supply line for passing the coolant from the cooling device to the heat generator device. For charging the low-voltage battery, the charging device presented here has at least one thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element includes a refrigeration port for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element to the feed line for dissipating thermal energy, a heat port for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element to the heat generator for supplying another thermal energy, and a low voltage port for providing a low voltage electrical supply to the low voltage battery.

The thermoelectric charging device may be a transducer device configured to convert a thermal energy into an electrical voltage. The thermoelectric element may for this purpose comprise one or a plurality of Peltier elements. As the low-voltage battery, a low-voltage electrical system of the vehicle can be understood, which can be supplied by a charging device presented here with an electrical voltage of, for example, 12 volts or 48 volts.

The cooling device may comprise a cooler and / or a pump and have a further cooling connection, which is coupled by means of the feed line to an additional cooling connection of the heat generator device. The heat connection can be coupled to or coupled to a further heat connection of the heat generator device.

According to one embodiment, the charging device may comprise the described cooling circuit device, wherein the cooling connection of the thermoelectric element is thermally coupled to the supply line of the cooling circuit device and the heat connection of the thermoelectric element to the heat generating device of the cooling circuit device is thermally coupled.

The heat generating device may be formed as an electric drive device for driving the vehicle. Thus, advantageously, thermal losses such as heat losses of the electric drive device can be recovered.

Alternatively, however, the heat generating device may also be formed as a transmission and / or intarder of the vehicle. Also gearboxes and / or Intardern incurred heat losses, which can be recovered. An intarder is an integrated retarder, for example, a retarder integrated at least partially into a transmission.

If the further heat connection of the heat generator device according to an embodiment of the charging device is arranged in the region of a heat-dissipating element of the heat generator device, a high temperature can be provided from here to the heat connection of the thermoelectric element. The heat-dissipating element may be a housing element and / or a drain port, to which advantageously a hottest point of the heat generator device may abut. By a thus producible high temperature difference between the heat connection and the refrigeration connection to the thermoelectric element, a high electrical low voltage to be provided to the low voltage terminal.

When the heat generating device is formed as an electric drive device as described above, the heat generating device may include a high voltage terminal for supplying a high voltage from a high voltage battery for supplying power to the refrigerating cycle device.

A vehicle has a loading device, which is formed in one of the variants presented. Such a vehicle can realize the advantages already described thanks to the loading device.

• Zuführen von thermischer Energie von der Wärmeerzeugereinrichtung zu dem Wärmeanschluss;
• Abführen von thermischer Energie von dem Kälteanschluss zu der Zulaufleitung; und
• Bereitstellen der elektrischen Niederspannung für die Niederspannungsbatterie an den Niederspannungsanschluss.

A method of charging a low-voltage battery of a vehicle is provided, comprising a refrigeration cycle device having a heat generator, a cooler, a drain line for conducting a refrigerant from the heat source device to the cooler, and a supply line for passing the refrigerant from the cooler to the heat generator and a thermoelectric Charging device, which is formed in one of the previously presented variants, wherein the cooling connection of the thermoelectric element of the charging device thermally coupled to the feed line, the heat connection of the thermoelectric element of the charging device thermally coupled to the heat generator means and the low voltage terminal of the thermoelectric element of the charging device with the low-voltage battery , The method comprises at least the following steps:

• Supplying thermal energy from the heat generator means to the heat interface;
• Dissipating thermal energy from the refrigeration port to the supply line; and
• Providing the low voltage electrical supply for the low voltage battery to the low voltage terminal.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugs mit einer thermoelektrischen Ladevorrichtung zum Laden einer Niederspannungsbatterie des Fahrzeugs gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 2 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Laden einer Niederspannungsbatterie eines Fahrzeugs gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the approach presented here are shown in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle with a thermoelectric charging device for charging a low-voltage battery of the vehicle according to an embodiment; and
• 2 a flowchart of a method for charging a low-voltage battery of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and similarly acting, wherein a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 100 with a thermoelectric charging device 105 for charging a low voltage battery 110 of the vehicle 100 according to an embodiment.

The thermoelectric charging device 105 is designed to be the low-voltage battery 110 of the vehicle 100 to load. Save the low voltage battery 110 points the vehicle 100 a cooling circuit device 115 with a heat generator device 120 , a cooling device 125 , a drain line 130 for conducting a coolant from the heat generating device 120 to the cooling device 125 and a supply line 135 for conducting the coolant from the cooling device 125 to the heat generator device 120 on.

For charging the low-voltage battery 110 is the charger 105 in the vehicle 100 taken and has at least one thermoelectric element 140 on. The thermoelectric element 140 includes a refrigeration connection 145 for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element 140 with the supply line 135 , a heat connection 150 for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element 140 with the heat generator device 120 and a low voltage connection 155 for providing a low voltage electrical 160 for the low-voltage battery 110 ,

The embodiments of the charging device described below 105 are optional:

According to this embodiment, the refrigeration port is 145 with the supply line 135 thermally coupled and the heat connection 150 with the heat generator device 120 thermally coupled. The low voltage connection 115 is with the low voltage battery 110 connected.

According to this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle device 115 Part of the loader 105 ,

The heat generator device 120 is as an electric drive device, for example as an electric motor, for driving the vehicle 100 formed.

Another heat connection 165 the heat generator device 120 is in the range of a heat-dissipating element of the heat generator device 120 arranged.

The heat-dissipating element can be, for example, a housing element, a structural element or a heat sink of the heat-generating device 120 act. The heat-dissipating element according to one embodiment is an operation of the heat-generating device 120 represent strongly heated part. According to various embodiments, the heat dissipating element is inside or on an outside of the heat generating device 120 arranged.

The heat generator device 120 also has a high voltage connection 170 for feeding a high voltage 175 from a high voltage battery 180 on. The high voltage battery 180 is according to this embodiment with the high voltage terminal 170 connected.

The following describes details of the thermoelectric charging device already described 105 described again in other words:

The presented here thermoelectric charging device 105 can also be described as a thermoelectric charger for a low voltage electrical system in a high voltage vehicle application.

Evident is the thermoelectric charging device 105 as a mechanical connection between two temperature poles with an electrical connection for an output of a charging cable in the form of the low voltage connection 155 ,

The presented here thermoelectric charging device 105 allows high efficiency by means of recovery of electrical energy, for example in the form of low voltage 160 , from a thermal loss of the electric drive device 120 , Unlike other DC-DC converters, which are necessary in systems to load a low-voltage network from a high-voltage network, omitted in the presented here thermoelectric charging device 105 advantageously called for known DC-DC converter galvanic isolation between the low-voltage network, also called LV network or 12V network, and the high-voltage network, also called HV network. Due to the electrical safety must be included in such DC-DC converters galvanic isolation between the networks, which can be omitted here.

In the presented here thermoelectric charging device 105 is by means of the thermoelectric element 140 , which may also be referred to as a thermoelectric generator, recovers voltage from the thermal losses of the electric drive and as the low voltage 160 the low-voltage network in the form of the low-voltage battery 110 made available. This is a parallel charging of the low-voltage battery 110 no longer necessary from the high-voltage network and thus no DC-DC converter between the low-voltage network and the high-voltage network more necessary, which also no action is required for a galvanic isolation between the low-voltage network and the high-voltage network. By the presented here thermoelectric charging device 105 anyway there is a galvanic isolation 185 between the low voltage grid and the high voltage grid.

In one embodiment, a portion of the thermal losses extracted by the refrigeration cycle may be released to the environment through an optional cooler. According to one embodiment, the low-voltage network is additionally charged by means of an optional DC-DC converter from the high-voltage network.

The thermoelectric element 140 is at one end at a hottest point of the electric drive device according to this embodiment 120 and at another end to the supply line 135 the cooling circuit device 115 at a coldest point of the electric drive device 120 , connected. This achieves a maximum thermal difference. These connections can be made flexible, according to an alternative embodiment, therefore, other thermal contact points than those shown here are possible.

By reducing the thermal loss thanks to the thermoelectric charging device 105 can advantageously be the cooling circuit very small dimensions. Furthermore, regardless of the dimensioning of the cooling circuit, a temperature boost by the thermoelectric element 140 , which can also be referred to as a thermocouple, be collected.

According to this embodiment, the low-voltage battery 110 around a 12V low voltage network. By a suitable choice of the thermoelectric element 140 or a voltage adjustment according to an alternative embodiment by the charging device 105 powered by a 48V low voltage grid.

According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the heat generator device 120 formed as a transmission and / or an Intarder and / or a complete cooling circuit, in this case, the heat generator means 120 typically no high voltage connection 170 on.

2 shows a flowchart of a method 200 for charging a low-voltage battery of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

This can be a procedure 200 act using the in 1 described thermoelectric charging device 105 is feasible.

The vehicle may be the one in 1 described vehicle with the cooling circuit device with the heat generator, the cooling device, the drain line for conducting the coolant from the heat generator device to the cooling device and the supply line for conducting the coolant from the cooling device to the heat generating device and the thermoelectric charging device, wherein the cooling connection of the thermoelectric element of Charger is thermally coupled to the supply line, the heat connection of the thermoelectric element of the charging device thermally coupled to the heat generator device and the low-voltage terminal of the thermoelectric element of the charging device to the low-voltage battery.

The procedure 200 includes at least one step 205 of feeding, a step 210 the laxative and one step 215 of providing. In step 205 the feeding is supplied with thermal energy from the heat generating means to the heat connection. In step 210 the discharge thermal energy is dissipated from the refrigerant connection to the supply line. In step 215 the provision of a low voltage electrical supply for the low voltage battery is provided to the low voltage terminal.

If an exemplary embodiment comprises a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, then this is to be read so that the embodiment according to one embodiment, both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment either only first feature or only the second feature.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

vehicle

105

thermoelectric charging device

110

Low-voltage battery

115

Cooling cycle device

120

Heat generating means

125

cooling device

130

drain line

135

supply line

140

thermoelectric element

145

cold connection

150

heat connection

155

Low voltage connection

160

low voltage

165

further heat connection

170

High voltage connection

175

high voltage

180

High-voltage battery

185

galvanic isolation

200

Method for charging a low-voltage battery of a vehicle

205

Step of dispensing

210

Step of laxing

215

Step of providing

Claims (9)

A thermoelectric charging device (105) for charging a low-voltage battery (110) for a vehicle (100), comprising a cooling circuit device (115) having a heat generator device (120), a cooling device (125), a drain line (130) for conducting a coolant from the heat generator device (120) to the cooling device (125) and a feed line (135) for directing the coolant from the cooling device (125) to the heat generating device (120), wherein the loading device (105) comprises at least the following features: a thermoelectric element (140) having a refrigeration port (145) for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element (140) to the feed line (135), a heat connection (150) for thermally coupling the thermoelectric element (140) to the heat generator device (120) and a A low voltage terminal (155) for providing a low voltage electrical voltage (160) to the low voltage battery (110). Loading device (105) according to Claim 1 with the cooling circuit device (115), wherein the cooling connection (145) of the thermoelectric element (140) is thermally coupled to the feed line (135) of the cooling circuit device (115) and the heat connection (150) of the thermoelectric element (140) to the heat generating device ( 120) the Cooling circuit device (115) is thermally coupled. A charging apparatus (105) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat generating means (120) is formed as an electric drive means for driving the vehicle (100). Loading device (105) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the heat generator means (120) includes a high voltage terminal (170) for supplying a high voltage (175) from a high voltage battery (180). Loading device (105) according to one of Claims 1 to 2 in which the heat generating means (120) is formed as a transmission of the vehicle (100). Loading device (105) according to one of Claims 1 to 2 in which the heat generating means (120) is formed as an intarder of the vehicle (100). Charging device (105) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a further heat connection (165) of the heat-generating device (120) is arranged in the region of a heat-dissipating element of the heat-generating device (120). Vehicle (100) with a loading device (105) according to one of the preceding claims. Method (200) for charging a low-voltage battery (110) of a vehicle (100) comprising a cooling circuit device (115) with a heat generator device (120), a cooling device (125), a drain line (130) for conducting a coolant from the heat generator device (120 ) to the cooling device (125) and a supply line (135) for conducting the coolant from the cooling device (125) to the heat generating device (120) and a thermoelectric charging device (105) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the cooling connection (145) of the thermoelectric element (140) of the charging device (105) thermally couples with the supply line (135), the heat connection (150) of the thermoelectric element (140) of the charging device (105) with the heat generating device (120) and the low voltage terminal (155) of the thermoelectric element (140) of the charging device (105) is coupled to the low voltage battery (110), and wherein the method (200) comprises at least the following steps: supplying (205) thermal energy from the heat generating device ( 120) to the heat connection (150); Removing (210) thermal energy from the refrigeration port (145) to the feed line (135); and providing (215) a low voltage electrical power (160) for the low voltage battery (110) to the low voltage terminal (155).

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