GB2527388A - Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly - Google Patents

Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2527388A
GB2527388A GB1501331.1A GB201501331A GB2527388A GB 2527388 A GB2527388 A GB 2527388A GB 201501331 A GB201501331 A GB 201501331A GB 2527388 A GB2527388 A GB 2527388A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
battery
heat exchanger
coolant
battery assembly
heat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1501331.1A
Other versions
GB201501331D0 (en
Inventor
Jennifer Vining
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB1501331.1A priority Critical patent/GB2527388A/en
Publication of GB201501331D0 publication Critical patent/GB201501331D0/en
Publication of GB2527388A publication Critical patent/GB2527388A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
    • H01M10/48—Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
    • H01M10/486—Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte for measuring temperature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
    • H01M10/655—Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/00271—HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
    • B60H1/00278—HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit for the battery
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F21/00—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F3/00—Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements
    • F28F3/12—Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/61—Types of temperature control
    • H01M10/613—Cooling or keeping cold
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/61—Types of temperature control
    • H01M10/615—Heating or keeping warm
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/62—Heating or cooling; Temperature control specially adapted for specific applications
    • H01M10/625—Vehicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/63—Control systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
    • H01M10/655—Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
    • H01M10/6554—Rods or plates
    • H01M10/6555—Rods or plates arranged between the cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
    • H01M10/656—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
    • H01M10/6567—Liquids
    • H01M10/6568—Liquids characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • H05B1/023—Industrial applications
    • H05B1/0236—Industrial applications for vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/00271—HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
    • B60H2001/00307—Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F2265/00—Safety or protection arrangements; Arrangements for preventing malfunction
    • F28F2265/24—Safety or protection arrangements; Arrangements for preventing malfunction for electrical insulation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
    • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
    • H01M10/653—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2220/00—Batteries for particular applications
    • H01M2220/20—Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A battery assembly (10) for a vehicle, including a battery 12 with a plurality of battery cells 14 and with a coolant circuit 16 configured to transfer heat from or to the battery. The coolant circuit includes at least one heat exchanger 18 which is in contact with at least one of the battery cells. The heat exchanger is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material. The battery assembly further includes a power supply unit 62 configured to pass electrical current through the heat exchanger. The surfaces of the heat exchanger which contact the battery cells or coolant may have an electrically insulating coating. The assembly may include a temperature sensor for monitoring the cells, and a control unit 64 configured to actuate the power supply unit dependent on the temperature of the cells. A refrigerant circuit (36) including compressor (38), condenser (40), chiller (34) and expansion device (42) may take up heat from the coolant in the coolant circuit.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GB1501331.1 RTM Date:26 October 2015 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Nornex, Kapton Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly The invention relates to a battery assembly for a vehicle. The battery assembly comprises a battery with a plurality of battery cells. A coolant circuit of the battery assembly is configured to transfer heat from the battery or to the battery. The coolant circuit comprises at least one heat exchanger, which is in contact with at least one of the battery cells. The at least one heat exchanger is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a battery assembly.
A typical automotive battery is composed of multiple battery cells which can in particular be configured as pouch cells. By connecting such battery cells in parallel and/or in series, the desired high voltage and kWh capacity is achieved. To avoid a thermal runaway and to improve the lifetime of the battery cells at high ambient temperatures, the battery cells require cooling. This can be achieved by a forced or convective stream of air around the battery cells or by pumping a liquid coolant through a coolant circuit comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the battery cells.
It is further known that actively heating an automotive battery, in particular a battery having Li-ion-cells, under cold ambient temperatures improves the battery performance as the discharge current capacity is increased. Without active heating at cold ambient temperature conditions, the battery must rely on its own internal charge or discharge resistance to heat up. Under cold ambient conditions this severely limits the performance of an electric or hybrid drive system of the vehicle, as it can take hours of driving to accomplish heating the battery to a desired operating temperature.
Document US 8 662 153 B2 describes a battery cell assembly configured to provide electrical power to a drive train of a vehicle with a heat exchanger which is in contact with adjacent battery cells. A fluid flows through the heat exchanger which can be made of aluminum or stainless steel.
Further, document US 8 620 502 B2 describes a battery thermal management system with a battery pack providing electrical energy to an electric motor of a vehicle. The battery pack is arranged in a coolant circuit which comprises an electric heater. The electric heater is energized when the temperature of the battery pack is low. A chiller arranged in the coolant circuit reduces the temperature of the coolant flow around or through the battery pack in case an operating temperature of the battery pack is greater than an upper limit.
Still further, document US 2013/0307483 Al describes a battery system with a secondary battery for an automobile. The battery system includes the battery with a battery case and a resistor which is provided on a surface of the battery case. The resistor is made of a material having a specific resistance and can be operated to heat the battery.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery assembly and a method of the initially mentioned kind, which provides for a particularly simple and efficient heat transfer to the battery.
This object is solved by a battery assembly having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 9. Advantageous configurations with convenient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
The battery assembly according to the invention comprises a power supply unit configured to pass electrical current through the at least one heat exchanger. Due to the electrically conductive properties of the at least one heat exchanger, the at least one heat exchanger can be used to actively and directly heat the battery. Direct heating results from applying the electrical current to the heat exchanger by means of the power supply unit. Applying the electrical current produces heat via the relationship P = 12 R through power dissipation.
Since the at least one heat exchanger is made of electrically conductive material, the power supply unit can be used to pass the electrical current through the at least one heat exchanger and thus produce heat which increases the performance of the battery cells under cold ambient temperature conditions.
If the battery assembly is utilized in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the amount of available battery propulsion power under cold ambient temperature conditions is therefore improved.
As the at least one heat exchanger is in contact with at least one of the battery cells, a very simple and efficient heat transfer to the battery can be achieved by providing the electrical current to the at least one heat exchanger. However, the heat exchanger can also be utilized for cooling the battery as the coolant can be circulated through the coolant circuit comprising the at least one heat exchanger. Thus, a very compact battery assembly is provided.
The power supply unit can in particular be a small direct current switching power supply which delivers the electric current to the at least one heat exchanger when it is switched on.
In an advantageous embodiment a surface of the at least one heat exchanger, which is in contact with the at least one battery cell, has an electrically insulating coating. Thus, an electrical contact between the heat exchanger and the battery cells can be avoided as the electrical current passes through the heat exchanger. Therefore, damaging of the battery cells can be avoided.
It has further proven advantageous if a surface of the at least one heat exchanger which is in contact with the coolant has an electrically insulating coating. Thus, the coolant, which can in particular be a solution containing glycol, is protected frorii electrical contact.
While pure glycol is not electrically conductive, there can be ions or other contaminants within the coolant which lead to a certain electrical conductivity of the coolant. Therefore the internal coating of the heat exchanger is advantageous.
The external coating does not necessarily need to cover the heat exchanger completely. It is sufficient if the regions are electrically insulated, which are in contact with the at least one battery cell.
However, providing a complete coating on the external surface or outside of the heat exchanger can particularly easily be achieved during the manufacturing of the heat exchanger.
The electrically insulating coating can, in particular completely, cover both the inside and the outside of the at least one heat exchanger.
As electrically insulating material which constitutes the coating a ceramic material can be utilized. However, also a plastic material can be utilized such as a flame resistant meta-aramide which is commercially available under the name Nomex. Further, a polyimide can be utilized as the electrically insulating material, in particular a polyimide which is commercially available under the name Kapton.
The electrically insulating coating can also be provided on inside surfaces and outside surfaces of pipes which provide the coolant to the at least one heat exchanger and which receive the coolant from the at least heat exchanger.
Preferably, at least one temperature sensor is provided for monitoring the temperature of at least one of the battery cells. In particular, each battery cell can be equipped with a thermocouple. Thus, the effect of heating and/or cooling can be particularly well monitored on a battery cell scale.
The battery cell preferably comprises a control unit configured to actuate the power supply unit depending on the temperature of at least one of the battery cells. Such a control unit, which can in particular be a microcontroller, can perform the heating algorithm logic and actuate the power supply unit in order to raise the temperature of the battery cells into a preferable operating temperature range. Such a controller can in particular be co-located with an internal battery management system (BMS) of the battery assembly.
The coolant circuit is preferably configured to transfer heat from an inverter of the battery assembly to the battery. This is based on the finding that the heat rejected by the inverter can particularly easily be transferred to the battery via the coolant circuit when the ambient temperature is low. This also increases the battery discharge capacity and thus battery performance at low outside temperatures.
The battery assembly can further comprise a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser and at least one chiller. The chiller is arranged downstream of an expansion device in the refrigerant circuit. Here the at least one chiller is configured to take up heat from the coolant in the coolant circuit. This chiller therefore allows cooling the battery by transferring heat from the coolant to the chiller. This in particular advantageous if the refrigerant circuit is also utilized to cool a cabin of the vehicle equipped with the battery assembly and/or a bunk of the vehicle.
In the method according to the invention for operating a battery assembly for a vehicle with a battery comprising a plurality of battery cells, a coolant circuit transfers heat to the battery. The coolant circuit comprises at least one heat exchanger which is in contact with at least one of the battery cells. The at least one heat exchanger is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material. The battery assembly comprises a power supply unit which passes electrical current through the at least one heat exchanger.
The advantages and preferred embodiments described with respect to the battery assembly according to the invention also apply to the method according to the invention.
The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.
Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures or explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments as well as based on the drawings.
Therein show: Fig. 1 a battery assembly of a vehicle equipped with a high voltage automotive battery, wherein the battery is arranged within a coolant circuit of the battery assembly; and Fig. 2 an arrangement of heat exchangers within the coolant circuit, wherein a power supply unit is configured to pass electrical current through the heat exchangers to heat the battery cells of the battery.
Fig. 1 schematically shows a battery assembly 10 comprising a high voltage automotive battery 12. The battery 12 comprises a plurality of battery cells 14 (see fig. 2). For cooling the battery cells 14 of the battery 12, a liquid coolant such as a glycol containing medium is pumped through a coolant circuit 16. To remove heat from the battery cells 14, the liquid coolant is pumped through heat exchangers 18, which are in contact with the battery cells 14 (see fig. 2). The coolant in the coolant circuit 16 is provided to the heat exchangers 18 through an inlet pipe 20. An outlet pipe 22 of the coolant circuit 16 receives the coolant which is discharged from the heat exchangers 18. A pump 24 circulates the coolant through the coolant circuit 16. In the coolant circuit 16 a radiator 26 is arranged to remove heat from the coolant circulating through the coolant circuit 16.
The coolant circuit 16 can also be utilized to provide the coolant to an inverter 28 of the battery assembly 10. As the battery 12 and the inverter 28 have similar operating temperature ranges, the coolant can be utilized to cool both the battery 12 and the inverter 28. However, a mixing valve 30 is placed within the coolant circuit 16, which allows thermally isolating the battery 12 when the operating temperature of the inverter 28 exceeds the temperature of the battery 12. In this case a further pump 32 circulates the coolant from the inverter 28 to the radiator 26 and back to the pump 32 through the mixing valve 30.
In this operating mode, in which the battery 12 is thermally isolated, the battery 12 is actively cooled via a chiller 34. The chiller 34 functions as a heat exchanger between the coolant circuit 16 and a refrigerant circuit 36 of the battery assembly 10. The refrigerant circuit 36 is also utilized to climatize a cabin of the vehicle and, in the example shown in fig. 1, a bunk of the vehicle. The vehicle can in particular be a truck having the bunk. The refrigerant circuit 36 comprises a compressor 38, a condenser 40 and an expansion valve 42 upstream of the chiller 34. As the refrigerant expands in the chiller 34, the coolant flowing through the chiller 34 is actively cooled by the utilization of the compressor 38.
In the example shown in fig. 1 the refrigerant circuit 36 comprises further evaporators 44, 46 in which the refrigerant expands downstream of a corresponding expansion valve 48, in the same way as in the chiller 34. The first evaporator 44 serves for airconditioning the cabin of the vehicle and the second evaporator 46 is utilized for airconditioning the bunk of the vehicle. By operating further valves 52, 54 the refrigerant can be prevented from flowing through the evaporators 44, 46. The refrigerant circuit 36 can also comprise a dryer 56 as well as pressure and temperature sensors.
The coolant circuit 16 also comprises a coolant reservoir 58 and temperature sensors to measure the temperature of the coolant. Further, a fan 60 is preferably provided to remove heat from the coolant flowing through the radiator 26.
While cooling of the battery 12 is important for both safety and longevity reasons, the heating of the battery 12 is important for performance at low ambient temperatures.
Under normal highway driving or city driving with the vehicle, it can take over an hour for the battery 12 in a hybrid power train to reach nominal operating temperatures in which the battery 12 has its best performance. This lag in warming of the battery 12 not only decreases electric assist power but in turn also decreases fuel economy due of a lack of hybrid assist.
Therefore a heating strategy is implemented in the battery assembly 10 which uses the liquid coolant circuit 16 to increase the discharge capacity of the battery 12. This increases the performance of the battery 12 at low ambient temperatures. A corresponding algorithm is based on sending heat rejected by the inverter 28 to the battery 12 via the coolant circuit 16 when the ambient temperature is low. To improve the heat transfer to the battery 12, the heat exchangers 18 are utilized as resistive heaters, as will be explained in more detail with regard to fig. 2.
The battery 12 shown in fig. 2 has an integrated heating package comprising the heat exchangers 18, a power supply unit 62 and a control unit in the form of a controller or microcontroller 64. As the heat exchangers 18 are made of an electrically conductive material, the power supply unit 62 can be utilized to pass electrical current through the heat exchangers 18. This current produces heat which is transferred to the battery cells 14.
The microcontroller 64 calculates the desired power supply current based on a heating strategy or heating algorithm which monitors the temperature of each battery cell 14 as well as the ambient temperature. The microcontroller 64 then acts to regulate the current provided by the power supply unit 62 to the heat exchangers 18. The microcontroller 64 or such an electronic control unit therefore utilizes the heat exchangers 18 as resistive heaters. The power supply unit 62 is electrically connected to the inlet pipe 20 and to the outlet pipe 22 which provides the coolant to the heat exchangers 18 and receives the coolant discharged from the heat exchangers 18, respectively.
Preferably the heat exchangers 18 are coated with an electrically insulating material, for example ceramic. The coating can cover both the inside and the outside of the heat exchangers 18. The internal coating serves to protect the coolant from electrical contact.
The external coating isolates the battery cells 14.
Further, the battery cells 14 are preferably equipped with temperature sensors or such thermocouples. Thus, the temperature of each battery cell 14 can be communicated to the microcontroller 64 which then regulates the power supply unit 62. The power supply unit 62 can in particular be a small direct current switching power supply. The microcontroller 64 can be part of a battery management system.
An entry of the liquid coolant into the inlet pipe 20 is illustrated in fig. 2 by an arrow 66. A further arrow 68 in fig. 2 illustrates the liquid coolant discharged from the outlet pipe 22 towards the mixing valve 30.
In fig. 2 two heat exchangers 18 are illustrated which each are in contact with a number of battery cells 14. These heat exchangers 18 are electrically connected in parallel between the inlet pipe 20 and the outlet pipe 22. By utilizing more than one heat exchanger 18 as resistive heater, a particularly good heat transfer from the heat exchanger 18 to the battery cells 14 can be achieved.
List of reference signs battery assembly 12 battery 14 battery cell 16 coolant circuit 18 heat exchanger inlet pipe 22 outlet pipe 24 pump 26 radiator 28 inverter mixing valve 32 pump 34 chiller 36 refrigerant circuit 38 compressor condenser 42 expansion valve 44 evaporator 46 evaporator 48 expansion valve expansion valve 52 valve 54 valve 56 dryer 58 coolant reservoir fan 62 power supply unit 64 microcontroller 66 arrow 68 arrow

Claims (9)

  1. Claims Battery assembly for a vehicle, with a battery (12) comprising a plurality of battery cells (14) and with a coolant circuit (16) configured to transfer heat from the battery (12) or to the battery (12), wherein the coolant circuit (16) comprises at least one heat exchanger (18) which is in contact with at least one of the battery cells (14), wherein the at least one heat exchanger (18) is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material, characterized in that the battery assembly (10) comprises a power supply unit (62) configured to pass electrical current through the at least one heat exchanger (18).
  2. 2. Battery assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that a surface of the least one heat exchanger (18), which is in contact with the at least one battery cell (14) has an electrically insulating coating.
  3. 3. Battery assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a surface of the least one heat exchanger (18), which is in contact with the coolant has an electrically insulating coating.
  4. 4. Battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by at least one temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of at least one of the battery cells (14).
  5. 5. Battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a control unit (64) configured to actuate the power supply unit (62) dependent on the temperature of at least one of the battery cells (14).
  6. 6. Battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the power supply unit (62)is electrically connected to an inlet pipe (20) configured to provide the coolant to the least one heat exchanger (18) and to an outlet pipe (22) configured to receive the coolant discharged from the least one heat exchanger (18).
  7. 7. Battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coolant circuit (16) is configured to transfer heat from an inverter (28) of the battery assembly (10) to the battery (12).
  8. 8. Battery assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a refrigerant circuit (36) comprising a compressor (38), a condenser (40) and at least one chiller (34) arranged downstream of an expansion device (42) in the refrigerant circuit (36), wherein the at least one chiller (34) is configured to take up heat from the coolant in the coolant circuit (16).
  9. 9. Method for operating a battery assembly (10) for a vehicle, with a battery (12) comprising a plurality of battery cells (14) and with a coolant circuit (16) which transfers heat to the battery (12), wherein the coolant circuit (16) comprises at least one heat exchanger (18) which is in contact with at least one of the battery cells (14), wherein the at least one heat exchanger (18) is at least partially made of an electrically conductive material, characterized in that the battery assembly (10) comprises a power supply unit (62) which passes electrical current through the at least one heat exchanger (18).
GB1501331.1A 2015-01-27 2015-01-27 Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly Withdrawn GB2527388A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1501331.1A GB2527388A (en) 2015-01-27 2015-01-27 Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1501331.1A GB2527388A (en) 2015-01-27 2015-01-27 Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201501331D0 GB201501331D0 (en) 2015-03-11
GB2527388A true GB2527388A (en) 2015-12-23

Family

ID=52673991

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1501331.1A Withdrawn GB2527388A (en) 2015-01-27 2015-01-27 Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2527388A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2562456A (en) * 2017-02-28 2018-11-21 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Heat exchanger device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080311466A1 (en) * 2003-12-18 2008-12-18 General Motors Corporation Thermoelectric methods to control temperature of batteries
US20100243346A1 (en) * 2009-03-27 2010-09-30 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Battery pack for a vehicle
US20100279153A1 (en) * 2009-04-30 2010-11-04 Lg Chem, Ltd. Battery systems, battery module, and method for cooling the battery module
JP2012238571A (en) * 2011-04-28 2012-12-06 Toyota Industries Corp Battery temperature adjusting device
JP2013114926A (en) * 2011-11-29 2013-06-10 Toyota Industries Corp Heat exchanger for battery, and vehicle
US20140030560A1 (en) * 2012-07-25 2014-01-30 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Battery with solid state cooling

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080311466A1 (en) * 2003-12-18 2008-12-18 General Motors Corporation Thermoelectric methods to control temperature of batteries
US20100243346A1 (en) * 2009-03-27 2010-09-30 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Battery pack for a vehicle
US20100279153A1 (en) * 2009-04-30 2010-11-04 Lg Chem, Ltd. Battery systems, battery module, and method for cooling the battery module
JP2012238571A (en) * 2011-04-28 2012-12-06 Toyota Industries Corp Battery temperature adjusting device
JP2013114926A (en) * 2011-11-29 2013-06-10 Toyota Industries Corp Heat exchanger for battery, and vehicle
US20140030560A1 (en) * 2012-07-25 2014-01-30 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Battery with solid state cooling

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2562456A (en) * 2017-02-28 2018-11-21 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Heat exchanger device
GB2562456B (en) * 2017-02-28 2020-03-25 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Heat exchanger device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201501331D0 (en) 2015-03-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
KR101903492B1 (en) Battery temperature regulation system and battery temperature regulation unit
US9180750B2 (en) Vehicular thermo-control device
US9797631B2 (en) Temperature-control device and method for the temperature control of an energy store
JP5757502B2 (en) Battery temperature control unit and battery temperature control device
US9482142B2 (en) Cooling system for an electric vehicle and method for producing a cooling system
US20150219367A1 (en) Thermoelectric heat exchanger capable of providing two different discharge temperatures
US8377581B2 (en) Battery pack for a vehicle
CN108738177B (en) Electric heating device
US20150171493A1 (en) Cooling system for battery cells
KR20110089317A (en) Battery module
MXPA04001251A (en) Thermal jacket for battery.
WO2019039188A1 (en) Battery temperature regulator and external heat source supply device
US10923734B2 (en) Temperature-control arrangement for an electrical energy store
US20180037086A1 (en) Vehicle apparatus
US20140287293A1 (en) Temperature control device
US9829219B2 (en) Thermoelectric arrangement for use in a cooling system of a motor vehicle and cooling system having such a thermoelectric arrangement
EP2518424B1 (en) Thermoelectric heat exchanger capable of providing two different discharge temperatures
US20160368347A1 (en) Fluid heating device for a motor vehicle and corresponding heating and/or air-conditioning apparatus
US20230271479A1 (en) Electric fluid heater
CN110871712A (en) Thermal management system for vehicle
GB2527388A (en) Battery assembly for a vehicle and method for operating a battery assembly
JP2014093245A (en) Battery unit
WO2023281304A1 (en) A battery thermal management system for electric vehicles and a method to operate the same
JP7207235B2 (en) battery system
CN112002925A (en) Fuel cell automobile management system and control method thereof

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)