EP4610498A1

EP4610498A1 - A method for calibrating a thermal management system and a thermal management system

Info

Publication number: EP4610498A1
Application number: EP24159971.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stiven ALMOU; Viktor ANDERSSON; Isabell Jobson; Andreas Rask
Original assignee: Volvo Penta AB
Current assignee: Volvo Penta AB
Priority date: 2024-02-27
Filing date: 2024-02-27
Publication date: 2025-09-03
Also published as: WO2025180918A1

Abstract

A computer-implemented method (2) and a computer system (500) for calibrating a flow of fluid in a thermal management system (5) the thermal management system (5) comprising at least one pump (10) and a stored map (14) of fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump (10) as a function of a predetermined input parameter (P) and pump speed. The method (2) comprises obtaining (S 1) data about a status of the thermal management system (5), determining (S2) a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump (10) based on the obtained data, operating (S3) the at least one pump (10), based on the stored map (14) and on measured properties, to provide a current fluid flow rate. The method further comprises monitoring (S4) the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, controlling (S5) the at least one pump (10) such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate. The disclosure further comprises a thermal management system (5) and a marine vessel (6) or an electric machine (6) comprising the thermal management system (5).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to a method for calibrating a thermal management system and to a thermal management system. In particular aspects, the disclosure relates to applications in an electrical driveline in a marine vessel or an electric machine. The disclosure can be applied to marine vessels and construction equipment, and to both mobile and stationary electric machines. Although the disclosure may be described with respect to a particular vessel, vehicle or machine, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vessel, vehicle or machine.

BACKGROUND

Thermal management systems, such as found in heavy duty trucks, often have standard, pre-defined configurations for different vehicle models. This allows components to be placed in vehicles with fixed positions for each vehicle model. Thereby, calibration and software testing have already been made and are valid upon completed assembly of the system. Simulations and verifications have been made for the same setup before.
In marine and industrial applications, the number of unique configurations of thermal management systems is equal to the number of systems and applications. Manual calibration of such thermal management systems requires time and resources.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to calibrate a flow of fluid in a thermal management system in an electrical driveline in a marine vessel or an electric machine. The thermal management system comprises at least one pump controllable by the processing circuitry and a stored map of fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump as a function of a predetermined input parameter and pump speed.
The processing circuitry is configured to obtain data about a status of the thermal management system, to determine a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump based on the obtained data, and to operate the at least one pump based on the stored map and on measured properties to provide a current fluid flow rate. The processing circuitry is further configured to monitor the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, to control the at least one pump such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
The first aspect of the disclosure may seek to provide a system that automates calibration of a pump, or a plurality of pumps, installed in a thermal management system. Apart from the features disclosed above, the thermal management system comprises components requiring thermal management, such as a battery pack, or a climate system in a cabin. The components and the pump(s) may be interconnected by a fluid conduit network for circulating fluid through the system. A technical benefit may include a shorter installation time for new pumps in a thermal management system, requiring less resources to correctly calibrate the fluid flow provided by the pump(s). Further, a system supplier does not need to verify fluid flow of the thermal management system at the customer. Energy is saved due to optimally calibrated pump speed. Also, the system will be plug-and-play, being adaptable to any configuration of thermal management systems.
The data about the status of the thermal management system may comprise data on a configuration of the thermal management system, such as which components are installed therein, what nominal flow requirement such individual components have, how the components are connected and/or arranged in relation to each other and in relation to any pumps in the thermal management system, etc. The data may also comprise information on an operational status of the thermal management system, for instance data on current temperature and power consumption of components, ambient temperature, etc. The data may also comprise information on modes imposed on the system, such as economic mode (i.e. power-saving mode) or performance mode (promoting higher power consumption). The data may be obtained by communication between the processing circuitry of the computer system and the components of the thermal management system and/or by accessing a database, and/or from pre-stored information in the computer system, and/or by measurements.
As mentioned hereinabove, based on the obtained data, the required fluid flow rate may be determined. The required fluid flow rate is the flow rate of the fluid required to keep components of the thermal management system at a pre-defined operating temperature.
The stored map comprises information on a flow rate of the at least one pump as a function of the predetermined input parameter and pump speed, at various pump speeds. The input parameter may for instance be a sensed output of the pump. The input parameter may also be input power. The stored map is used to provide the current fluid flow rate from the at least one pump. Optionally, the current fluid flow rate may be determined as the flow rate that achieves the required fluid flow rate at the lowest power consumption.
The processing circuitry is configured to monitor the current fluid flow rate achieved by the at least one pump. If the current fluid flow rate differs from the determined required fluid flow rate, operation of the at least one pump is controlled to adjust the current fluid flow rate towards the required fluid flow rate. When the current fluid flow rate differs from the required fluid flow rate by a pre-determined maximum acceptable flow difference, the fluid flow in the thermal management system is deemed calibrated and a calibration process is finished. In other words, when the difference between the current fluid flow rate and the required fluid flow rate falls below the pre-determined maximum acceptable flow difference, the current fluid flow rate is deemed equal to the required fluid flow rate and the calibration processed is finished.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, at least one measured property is an output of the at least one pump, and the measured output of the at least one pump is used to adjust the current fluid flow rate. A technical benefit may include using a real-time value of the fluid flow rate output of the at least one pump to adjust the current fluid flow rate. Thereby, the current fluid flow rate is more quickly adapted to the required fluid flow rate and energy may be saved by dynamically meeting the system flow requirements depending on a current state.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, when determining the required fluid flow rate the processing circuitry is further configured to select and apply a predetermined mode of operating the at least one pump. A technical benefit may include adjusting the required fluid flow according to the mode, such as an economic mode, and thereby causing the current fluid flow rate, provided by the at least one pump, to adapt to the applied mode.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the thermal management system further comprises a sensor assembly. The processing circuitry may further be configured to collect fluid flow data from the sensor assembly, and to further adjust the current fluid flow rate, provided by the at least one pump, based on the collected fluid flow data such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate. A technical benefit may include measuring at least one property of the fluid flow, such as a temperature, and/or pressure, in at least one location of the thermal management system. Such fluid flow data may be used to further approach the current fluid flow to the required fluid flow.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the processing circuitry may further be configured to monitor a temperature of the fluid and to adjust the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump based on a viscosity of the fluid calculated from the temperature. A technical benefit may include a faster calibration process in that the current fluid flow rate is more accurately adjusted towards the required fluid flow rate.
According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a computer-implemented method for calibrating a flow of fluid in a thermal management system in an electrical driveline in a marine vessel or an electric machine. The thermal management system comprises at least one pump controllable by the processing circuitry, and a stored map of fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump as a function of a predetermined input parameter and pump speed. The method comprises obtaining, by the processing circuitry, data about a status of the thermal management system; determining, by the processing circuitry, a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump based on the obtained data, and operating, by the processing circuitry, the at least one pump, based on the stored map and on measured properties, to provide a current fluid flow rate. The method further comprises monitoring, by the processing circuitry, the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, controlling the at least one pump such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, at least one measured property is an output of the at least one pump, and the processing circuitry, based on the measured output, adjusts the current fluid flow rate.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, when determining the required fluid flow rate, the processing circuitry further selects and applies a predetermined mode of operating the at least one pump.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the thermal management system may further comprise a sensor assembly, and the monitoring of the current fluid flow rate may further comprise collecting, by the processing circuitry, fluid flow data from the sensor assembly, and further adjusting, by the processing circuitry, the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump based on the collected fluid flow data such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the monitoring of the current fluid flow rate further comprises determining a temperature of the fluid and further adjusting the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump based on a viscosity of the fluid calculated from the temperature.
Benefits, technical effects and advantages of the features of the second aspect of the disclosure are analogous to the benefits, technical effects and advantages of the corresponding features of the first aspect of the disclosure.
According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processing circuitry, the method of any one of the examples of the second aspect of the disclosure. The third aspect of the disclosure may seek to control the at least one pump of the thermal management system to control the current fluid flow rate to approach the required fluid flow rate in a quick and robust manner. A technical benefit may include an automated calibration process which is quick and requires less resources than conventional manual calibration.
According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of any one of the examples of the second embodiment of the disclosure.
According to a fifth aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a thermal management system comprising at least one pump and the computer system of any one of the examples of the first aspect of the disclosure. The fifth aspect of the disclosure may seek to provide a thermal management system in which fluid flow is quickly and automatically calibrated. The thermal management system may have an arbitrary configuration of pumps and components.
According to a sixth aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a marine vessel or electric an machine comprising the thermal management system of any one of the examples of the fifth aspect of the disclosure. The marine vessel or electric machine may comprise at least one thermal management system, or a number of thermal management systems, such as for a mechanical drive system, for an electric energy storage system (such as a battery pack) and/or for an electric machine drive unit. In the context of this disclosure, electric machines should be understood as electric machines in an industrial segment, such as terminal tractors, forklifts, firetrucks, energy storage systems, etc. Commercial trucks, on the other hand, often have pre-defined configurations of thermal management systems, in which the pumps may be pre-calibrated. Such applications do not face the problems of manual calibration.
The disclosed aspects, examples (including any preferred examples), and/or accompanying claims may be suitably combined with each other as would be apparent to anyone of ordinary skill in the art. Additional features and advantages are disclosed in the following description, claims, and drawings, and in part will be readily apparent therefrom to those skilled in the art or recognized by practicing the disclosure as described herein.
There are also disclosed herein computer systems, control units, code modules, computer-implemented methods, computer readable media, and computer program products associated with the above discussed technical benefits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples are described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary marine vessel according to an alternative of the sixth aspect of the disclosure, the marine vessel being shown as comprising a thermal management system according to the fifth aspect of the disclosure.
Fig. 2 exemplifies a thermal management system according to the fifth aspect of the disclosure.
Fig. 3 is an exemplary map of flow rates of the at least one pump as a function of an input parameter, the flow rates being provided at various pump speeds.
Fig. 4 is an exemplary flow chart of a method according to the second aspect of the disclosure.
Fig. 5 is an exemplary system diagram of a computer system according to the first aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below provides information and examples of the disclosed technology with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure.
The disclosure provides a system and a method that automates calibration of a pump, or a plurality of pumps, installed in a thermal management system. Advantages may include a shorter installation time for new pumps in a thermal management system, requiring less resources to correctly calibrate the fluid flow provided by the pump(s). Further, a pump manufacturer does not need to verify fluid flow of the thermal management system at the customer. Energy is saved due to optimally calibrated pump speed. Also, the system will be plug-and-play, being adaptable to any configuration thermal management systems. This contrasts to conventionally calibrated thermal managements systems, where human resources may require a week's manual work to calibrate a system.
Fig. 1 is an exemplary marine vessel 6 according to the sixth aspect of the disclosure. The marine vessel 6 is shown as comprising a thermal management system 5 according to the fifth aspect of the disclosure. Alternatively, but not shown, an electric machine 6 may comprise the thermal management system. Such an electric machine 6 may be a stationary working machine or may be provided with an electric propulsion system. The marine vessel 6 or electric machine 6 may comprise at least one thermal management system 5, or a number of thermal management systems 5. The thermal management systems 5 may be provided for a mechanical drive system, for an electric energy storage system (such as a battery pack) and/or for an electric machine drive unit, etc.
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 exemplify aspects of the thermal management system 5 by a block diagram and a map 14, respectively. The thermal management system 5 comprises at least one pump 10 and the stored map 14 ( Fig. 3 ). The stored map 14 shows fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump 10 as a function of a predetermined input parameter P and pump speed A-F. The thermal management system also comprises a computer system 500 according to the first aspect of the disclosure. The computer system 500 will be described more in detail hereinbelow. It comprises processing circuitry 502 (illustrated in Fig. 5 ) configured to calibrate a flow of fluid in the thermal management system 5 in an electrical driveline in the marine vessel 6 or electric machine 6. The at least one pump 10 is controllable by the processing circuitry 502. The thermal management system 5 further comprises at least one component 12 requiring thermal management, such as a battery pack, or a climate system in a cabin. The components 12 and the pump(s) 10 may be interconnected by a fluid conduit network, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 2 , for circulating fluid through the system. The thermal management system 5 may have an arbitrary configuration of pumps and components.
The processing circuitry 502 of the computer system 500 is configured to obtain data about a status of the thermal management system 5, to determine a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump 10 based on the obtained data, and to operate the at least one pump 10 based on the stored map 14 and on measured properties to provide a current fluid flow rate. The processing circuitry 502 is further configured to monitor the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, to control the at least one pump 10 such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
By the computer system 500, calibration of the pump 10, or a plurality of pumps 10, installed in a thermal management system 5 is automated. Thereby, installation time is shortened for new pumps 10 in a thermal management system, requiring less resources to correctly calibrate the fluid flow provided by the pump(s) 10. Further, a pump manufacturer does not need to verify fluid flow of the thermal management system 5 at the customer. Energy is saved due to optimally calibrated pump speed. Also, the system will be plug-and-play, being adaptable to any configuration thermal management systems.
The data about the status of the thermal management system 5 may comprise data on a configuration of the thermal management system 5, such as which components 12 are installed therein, what nominal flow requirement such individual components 12 have, how the components 12 are connected and/or arranged in relation to each other and in relation to any pumps 10 in the thermal management system, etc. The data may also comprise information on an operational status of the thermal management system 5, for instance data on current temperature and power consumption of components 12, ambient temperature, etc. The data may also comprise information on modes imposed on the system, such as economic mode (i.e. power-saving mode) or performance mode (promoting higher power consumption). The data may be obtained by communication between the processing circuitry 502 of the computer system 500 and the components 12 of the thermal management system 5 and/or by accessing a database, and/or from pre-stored information in the computer system 500, and/or by measurements.
As mentioned hereinabove, based on the obtained data, the required fluid flow rate may be determined. The required fluid flow rate is the flow rate of the fluid required to keep components 12 of the thermal management system 5 at a pre-defined operating temperature.
The processing circuitry 502 is configured to monitor the current fluid flow rate achieved by the at least one pump. If the current fluid flow rate differs from the determined required fluid flow rate, operation of the at least one pump 10 is controlled to adjust the current fluid flow rate towards the required fluid flow rate. When the current fluid flow rate differs from the required fluid flow rate by a pre-determined maximum acceptable flow difference, the fluid flow in the thermal management system 5 is deemed calibrated and a calibration process is finished. In other words, when the difference between the current fluid flow rate and the required fluid flow rate falls below the pre-determined maximum acceptable flow difference, the current fluid flow rate is deemed equal to the required fluid flow rate and the calibration processed is finished.
As depicted in Fig. 3 , the stored map 14 comprises information on a flow rate of the at least one pump 10 as a function of the predetermined input parameter P and pump speed, at various pump speeds. The input parameter P may for instance be a sensed output of the pump 10. Thereby, the current fluid flow rate is more quickly adapted to the required fluid flow rate. The input parameter P may also be input power. The stored map 14 is used to provide the current fluid flow rate from the at least one pump 10. Optionally, the current fluid flow rate may be determined as the flow rate that achieves the required fluid flow rate at the lowest power consumption.
In the exemplary map 14 of Fig. 3, the pump speeds are shown for.

A) 1000 rpm
B) 2000 rpm
C) 3000 rpm
D) 4000 rpm
E) 5000 rpm
F) 5200 rpm

When determining the required fluid flow rate the processing circuitry 502 is may be configured to select and apply a predetermined mode of operating the at least one pump 10 to adjust the required fluid flow according to the mode, such as an economic mode, and thereby causing the current fluid flow rate, provided by the at least one pump, to adapt to the applied mode.
The thermal management system 5 may further comprise a sensor assembly 16. The processing circuitry 502 may be configured to collect fluid flow data from the sensor assembly 16, and to further adjust the current fluid flow rate, provided by the at least one pump 10, based on the collected fluid flow data such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate. At least one property of the fluid flow may be measured, such as a temperature, and/or pressure, in at least one location of the thermal management system 5. Such fluid flow data may be used to further approach the current fluid flow to the required fluid flow.
The processing circuitry 502 may further be configured to monitor a temperature of the fluid and to adjust the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump 10 based on a viscosity of the fluid calculated from the temperature. The calibration process may thereby be faster because the current fluid flow rate is more accurately adjusted towards the required fluid flow rate.
A computer-implemented method for calibrating the flow of fluid in the thermal management system 5 in an electrical driveline in a marine vessel or electric machine, according to the second aspect of the disclosure, is shown in Fig. 4 . The thermal management system 5 comprises at least one pump 10 controllable by the processing circuitry 502, a stored map 14 of fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump 10 as a function of a predetermined input parameter and pump speed.
The method 2 comprises obtaining S 1, by the processing circuitry 502, data about a status of the thermal management system 5; determining S2, by the processing circuitry, a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump 10 based on the obtained data; operating S3, by the processing circuitry, the at least one pump 10, based on the stored map 14 and on measured properties, to provide a current fluid flow rate. The method 2 further comprises monitoring S4, by the processing circuitry 502, the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, controlling S5 the at least one pump 10 such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
A measured property may be an output of the at least one pump 10, and the processing circuitry 502 adjusts the current fluid flow rate based on the measured output.
When determining the required fluid flow rate, the processing circuitry 502 may further select and apply a predetermined mode of operating the at least one pump 10.
The thermal management system 5 may further comprise a sensor assembly 16, and the monitoring S4 of the current fluid flow rate may further comprise collecting, by the processing circuitry 502, fluid flow data from the sensor assembly 16, and further adjusting, by the processing circuitry 502, the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump 10 based on the collected fluid flow data such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
The monitoring S4 of the current fluid flow rate may further comprise determining a temperature of the fluid and further adjusting the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump based on a viscosity of the fluid calculated from the temperature.
As mentioned hereinabove, the processing circuitry 502 may be configured to monitor S4 the current fluid flow rate achieved by the at least one pump 10. If the current fluid flow rate differs from the determined required fluid flow rate, operation of the at least one pump 10 is controlled to adjust the current fluid flow rate towards the required fluid flow rate. When the current fluid flow rate differs from the required fluid flow rate by a pre-determined maximum acceptable flow difference, the fluid flow in the thermal management system 5 is deemed calibrated and a calibration process is finished. In other words, when the difference between the current fluid flow rate and the required fluid flow rate falls below the pre-determined maximum acceptable flow difference, the current fluid flow rate is deemed equal to the required fluid flow rate and the calibration processed is finished, as shown by a horizontal line at the bottom of the flowchart.
Benefits, technical effects and advantages of the features of the second aspect of the disclosure are analogous to the benefits, technical effects and advantages of the corresponding features of the first aspect of the disclosure.
Fig. 5 is an exemplary system diagram of a computer system 500 according to the first aspect of the disclosure. The computer system 500 is described more in detail below. However, according to the third aspect of the disclosure, there is also provided a computer program product 520 comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processing circuitry 502, the method 2 of any one of the examples of the second aspect of the disclosure. The third aspect of the disclosure may seek to control the at least one pump 10 of the thermal management system 5 to control the current fluid flow rate to approach the required fluid flow rate in a quick and robust manner.
According to the fourth aspect of the disclosure, there is also provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 514 comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry 502 to perform the method 2 of any one of the examples of the second embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a computer system 500 for implementing examples disclosed herein. The computer system 500 is adapted to execute instructions from a computer-readable medium to perform these and/or any of the functions or processing described herein. The computer system 500 may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN (Local Area Network), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), automotive network communication protocol (e.g., FlexRay), an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. While only a single device is illustrated, the computer system 500 may include any collection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Accordingly, any reference in the disclosure and/or claims to a computer system, computing system, computer device, computing device, control system, control unit, electronic control unit (ECU), processor device, processing circuitry, etc., includes reference to one or more such devices to individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. For example, control system may include a single control unit or a plurality of control units connected or otherwise communicatively coupled to each other, such that any performed function may be distributed between the control units as desired. Further, such devices may communicate with each other or other devices by various system architectures, such as directly or via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, etc.
The computer system 500 may comprise at least one computing device or electronic device capable of including firmware, hardware, and/or executing software instructions to implement the functionality described herein. The computer system 500 may include processing circuitry 502 (e.g., processing circuitry including one or more processor devices or control units), a memory 504, and a system bus 506. The computer system 500 may include at least one computing device having the processing circuitry 502. The system bus 506 provides an interface for system components including, but not limited to, the memory 504 and the processing circuitry 502. The processing circuitry 502 may include any number of hardware components for conducting data or signal processing or for executing computer code stored in memory 504. The processing circuitry 502 may, for example, include a general-purpose processor, an application specific processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a circuit containing processing components, a group of distributed processing components, a group of distributed computers configured for processing, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The processing circuitry 502 may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device.
The system bus 506 may be any of several types of bus structures that may further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and/or a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The memory 504 may be one or more devices for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating methods described herein. The memory 504 may include database components, object code components, script components, or other types of information structure for supporting the various activities herein. Any distributed or local memory device may be utilized with the systems and methods of this description. The memory 504 may be communicably connected to the processing circuitry 502 (e.g., via a circuit or any other wired, wireless, or network connection) and may include computer code for executing one or more processes described herein. The memory 504 may include non-volatile memory 508 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), etc.), and volatile memory 510 (e.g., random-access memory (RAM)), or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a computer or other machine with processing circuitry 502. A basic input/output system (BIOS) 512 may be stored in the non-volatile memory 508 and can include the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer system 500.
The computer system 500 may further include or be coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as the storage device 514, which may comprise, for example, an internal or external hard disk drive (HDD) (e.g., enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) or serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)), HDD (e.g., EIDE or SATA) for storage, flash memory, or the like. The storage device 514 and other drives associated with computer-readable media and computer-usable media may provide non-volatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executable instructions, and the like.
Computer-code which is hard or soft coded may be provided in the form of one or more modules. The module(s) can be implemented as software and/or hard-coded in circuitry to implement the functionality described herein in whole or in part. The modules may be stored in the storage device 514 and/or in the volatile memory 510, which may include an operating system 516 and/or one or more program modules 518. All or a portion of the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as a computer program 520 stored on a transitory or non-transitory computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium (e.g., single medium or multiple media), such as the storage device 514, which includes complex programming instructions (e.g., complex computer-readable program code) to cause the processing circuitry 502 to carry out actions described herein. Thus, the computer-readable program code of the computer program 520 can comprise software instructions for implementing the functionality of the examples described herein when executed by the processing circuitry 502. In some examples, the storage device 514 may be a computer program product (e.g., readable storage medium) storing the computer program 520 thereon, where at least a portion of a computer program 520 may be loadable (e.g., into a processor) for implementing the functionality of the examples described herein when executed by the processing circuitry 502. The processing circuitry 502 may serve as a controller or control system for the computer system 500 that is to implement the functionality described herein.
The computer system 500 may include an input device interface 522 configured to receive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system 500 when executing instructions, such as from a keyboard, mouse, touch-sensitive surface, etc. Such input devices may be connected to the processing circuitry 502 through the input device interface 522 coupled to the system bus 506 but can be connected through other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1394 serial port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an IR interface, and the like. The computer system 500 may include an output device interface 524 configured to forward output, such as to a display, a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 500 may include a communications interface 526 suitable for communicating with a network as appropriate or desired.
The operational actions described in any of the exemplary aspects herein are described to provide examples and discussion. The actions may be performed by hardware components, may be embodied in machine-executable instructions to cause a processor to perform the actions, or may be performed by a combination of hardware and software. Although a specific order of method actions may be shown or described, the order of the actions may differ. In addition, two or more actions may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including" when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, actions, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, actions, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Relative terms such as "below" or "above" or "upper" or "lower" or "horizontal" or "vertical" may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the aspects described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed aspects for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the disclosure being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

A computer system (500) comprising processing circuitry (502) configured to calibrate a flow of fluid in a thermal management system (5) in an electrical driveline in a marine vessel or electric machine, the thermal management system (5) comprising:
- at least one pump (10) controllable by the processing circuitry (502), and

- a stored map (14) of fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump (10) as a function of a predetermined input parameter (P) and pump speed,
the processing circuitry (502) being configured to:
- obtain data about a status of the thermal management system (5),

- determine a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump (10) based on the obtained data,

- operate the at least one pump (10), based on the stored map (14) and on measured properties, to provide a current fluid flow rate,

- monitor the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, control the at least one pump (10) such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
The computer system (500) of claim 1, wherein at least one measured property is an output of the at least one pump (10), and wherein the measured output of the at least one pump (10) is used to adjust the current fluid flow rate.
The computer system (500) of any one of claims 1-2, wherein when determining the required fluid flow rate the processing circuitry (502) is further configured to select and apply a predetermined mode of operating the at least one pump (10).
The computer system (500) of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the thermal management system (5) further comprises a sensor assembly (16), the processing circuitry (502) further being configured to:
- collect fluid flow data from the sensor assembly (16), and

- further adjust the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump (10) based on the collected fluid flow data such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
The computer system (500) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the processing circuitry (502) is further configured to monitor a temperature of the fluid and to adjust the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump (10) based on a viscosity of the fluid calculated from the temperature.
A computer-implemented method (2) for calibrating a flow of fluid in a thermal management system (5) in an electrical driveline in a marine vessel or electric machine, the thermal management system (5) comprising:
- at least one pump (10) controllable by the processing circuitry (502), and

- a stored map (14) of fluid flow rates provided by the at least one pump (10) as a function of a predetermined input parameter (P) and pump speed,
the method (2) comprising:
- obtaining (S 1), by the processing circuitry (502), data about a status of the thermal management system (5),

- determining (S2), by the processing circuitry (502), a required fluid flow rate of the at least one pump (10) based on the obtained data,

- operating (S3), by the processing circuitry (502), the at least one pump (10), based on the stored map (14) and on measured properties, to provide a current fluid flow rate,

- monitoring (S4), by the processing circuitry (502), the current fluid flow rate, and if the current fluid flow rate is different from the required fluid flow rate, controlling (S5) the at least one pump (10) such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
The method (2) of claim 6, wherein at least one measured property is an output of the at least one pump (10), and wherein the processing circuitry (502), based on the measured output adjusts the current fluid flow rate.
The method (2) of any one of claims 6-7, wherein when determining (S2) the required fluid flow rate the processing circuitry (502) further selects and applies a predetermined mode of operating the at least one pump (10).
The method (2) of any one of claims 6-8, wherein the thermal management system (5) further comprises a sensor assembly (16), and the monitoring (S4) of the current fluid flow rate further comprises:
- collecting, by the processing circuitry (502), fluid flow data from the sensor assembly (16), and

- further adjusting (S5), by the processing circuitry (502), the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump (10) based on the collected fluid flow data such that the current fluid flow rate approaches the required fluid flow rate.
The method (2) of any one of claims 6-9, wherein the monitoring (S4) of the current fluid flow rate further comprises determining a temperature of the fluid and further adjusting (S5) the current fluid flow rate provided by the at least one pump (10) based on a viscosity of the fluid calculated from the temperature.
A computer program product (520) comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processing circuitry (502), the method (2) of any one of claims 6-10.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (514) comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry (502), cause the processing circuitry (502) to perform the method (2) of any one of claims 6-10.
A thermal management system (5) comprising at least one pump (10) and the computer system (500) of any one of claims 1-5.
The thermal management system (5) of claim 13, further comprising a sensor assembly (16).
A marine vessel (6) or an electric machine (6) comprising the thermal management system (5) of any one of claims 13-14.