JP2004194384A - Cooling device for motor vehicle battery - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling device for a motor vehicle battery capable of cooling the battery while reducing a burden on an air conditioner by selectively introducing inside air and outside air to a separately formed path for cooling the battery, and by selectively exhausting the air after cooling the battery to the inside and outside of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A midway of an air duct 13 for communicating an air intake opening 11 with an air exhaust opening 12 is communicated with a cooling case 17 of the battery 15. The battery 15 is cooled by flowing air in a direction from the air intake opening 11 to the air exhaust opening 12 by a blower 14 provided on the air duct 13. Switching between inside and outside air introduction of an air intake opening 11 is conducted by an air intake side change-over valve 20. Switching between discharge to vehicle inside and outside of the air exhaust opening 12 is conducted by an exhaust side change-over valve 21. A change-over operation for air intake between the inside and outside of the vehicle by the air intake side change-over valve, and a change-over operation for exhaustion between the inside and outside of the vehicle by the exhaust side change-over valve, are controlled by a controller 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery cooling device for an electric vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The drive source of a hybrid car is a combination of an engine and an electric motor, and the drive source of an electric vehicle is an electric motor, and any vehicle has a battery to drive the electric motor. The battery generates heat during charging and discharging, and this heat generation causes deterioration of the battery performance. Therefore, it is necessary to actively cool the battery.
[0003]
As a conventional battery cooling device for an electric vehicle, a battery is cooled by a cooling liquid, and a first heat exchanger for cooling the cooling liquid by outside air introduced by a fan is provided, and an air conditioning device is provided. There is one in which the cooled second heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the first heat exchanger with respect to the outside air introduction direction to cool the first heat exchanger and, consequently, the cooling liquid. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-1911904 (page 4, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional battery cooling device for an electric vehicle, which uses an air conditioner to cool the battery, the air conditioner is always operated, and fuel efficiency is deteriorated.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention separately forms a passage for cooling the battery, selectively introduces inside air and outside air into the passage, and selectively discharges the air after the battery is cooled to the inside and outside of the vehicle, so that the air conditioner is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle battery cooling device capable of cooling a battery while reducing a load.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the battery cooling device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, when cooling a battery mounted on an electric vehicle using an electric motor for a part or all of a drive source, air that communicates between an air inlet and an air outlet is provided. A passage is provided, and the middle of the air passage is communicated with the battery cooling case.A blower is provided in the air passage to flow air from the air inlet to the air outlet, and the battery is cooled by the air passing through the cooling case. In addition, switching between the introduction of inside air and the introduction of outside air at the air intake port is performed by an intake side switching valve, and the inside and outside of the air exhaust port are switched by an exhaust side switching valve, and the introduction of inside air and outside air by these intake side switching valves. The switching and the switching between the inside and outside of the vehicle by the exhaust side switching valve are controlled by a controller.
[0008]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the mode of cooling the battery by introducing outside air into the air passage and the mode of cooling the battery by introducing outside air into the air passage can be selectively used. Since the air-conditioned air is not used for cooling the battery, it is possible to prevent a burden on the air conditioner, and the air discharge destination after cooling the battery can be switched between the inside and the outside of the vehicle. When it is selected to the outside, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the vehicle compartment from rising, thereby preventing a burden on the air conditioner.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a battery cooling device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the cooling device, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a control mode of battery cooling air by a controller. It is.
[0011]
The battery cooling device 10 for an electric vehicle according to the first embodiment is applied to an electric vehicle using an electric motor as an electric motor for a part of a driving source such as a hybrid car or an entire driving source such as an electric vehicle. In addition, a battery serving as a power source of an electric motor mounted on the electric vehicle is cooled.
[0012]
That is, the cooling device 10 of this embodiment is capable of selectively switching between the introduction of inside air (vehicle air) and the introduction of outside air (external air), and is capable of selectively switching between interior exhaust and exterior exhaust. A cooling duct 13 is provided as an air passage communicating with the air outlet 12. Air is flowed from the air inlet 11 to the air outlet 12 by a blower 14 through the cooling duct 13, and air flowing through the cooling duct 13 is also provided. The battery 15 is cooled by the controller 16, and the controller 16 controls the switching between the introduction of the inside air and the outside air at the air inlet 11 and the switching between the inside and outside of the air outlet 12.
[0013]
The air inlet 11 is provided with an inside air inlet 11a and an outside air inlet 11b, and both the inlets 11a and 11b are selectively opened and closed by a first switching door 20 as an intake switching valve.
[0014]
The air outlet 12 is provided with an in-vehicle outlet 12a and an out-vehicle outlet 12b, and these two outlets 12a and 12b are selectively opened and closed by a second switching door 21 as an exhaust-side switching valve.
[0015]
Note that the first switching door 20 and the second switching door 21 show a state in which both the inside air and outside air introduction ports 11a and 11b and both the inside and outside exhaust ports 12a and 12b are closed in the illustrated state. The number of the first switching door 20 and the second switching door 21 is one, and one of the inside air and the outside air inlets 11a and 11b and one of the inside and outside exhaust ports 12a and 12b are closed.
[0016]
In addition, although the case where each of the air inlet 11 and the air outlet 12 is provided one by one is illustrated, a plurality of the air inlets 11 and the air outlets 12 may be provided without being limited to this.
[0017]
In this embodiment, two batteries 15 are mounted side by side, each of which is housed independently in a cooling case 17, and each cooling case 17 is provided with an air inlet 17a and an air outlet 17b.
[0018]
The cooling duct 13 communicating the air inlet 11 and the air outlet 12 is cut off in the middle, and the introduction duct 13 a on the side of the air inlet 11 is connected to the air inlet 17 a of the cooling case 17. The discharge duct 13b on the side is connected to the air outlet 17b of the cooling case 17.
[0019]
The blower 14 is provided in the discharge duct 13b. The blower 14 forces the air in the cooling duct 13 to flow from the air suction port 11 toward the air discharge port 12. The battery 15 is air-cooled by passing air through the case 17.
[0020]
Each of the detection signals of the battery temperature sensor 22 and the intake air temperature sensor 23 is input to the controller 16, and further, an outside air temperature signal, a vehicle speed signal, an air-conditioner intake position signal, and the like are input to the controller 16. A command signal for driving the blower 14 and a switching signal for the first and second switching doors 20 and 21 are output.
[0021]
Therefore, by outputting a switching signal from the controller 16 to the first and second switching doors 20 and 21 based on the various input signals, the cooling air of the battery 15 is appropriately controlled. As shown in FIG. 2, the intake side and the exhaust side of the battery cooling air are controlled according to the outside air temperature, the vehicle speed, and the intake position.
[0022]
That is, the switching signal output from the controller 16 to the intake-side switching valve 20 and the exhaust-side switching valve 21 changes the intake-side switching valve 20 and the exhaust-side switching valve 21 to high, middle, and low outside air temperatures as the first mode. The switching is performed based on this.
[0023]
As a second mode, the intake side switching valve 20 and the exhaust side switching valve 21 are switched based on a high speed range and a low speed range of the vehicle speed. As a third mode, when the vehicle is stopped, the intake side switching valve is switched. The valve 20 is switched to the inside air introduction side, and the exhaust side switching valve 21 is switched to the outside exhaust side.
[0024]
Further, as a fourth mode, the intake side switching valve 20 and the exhaust side switching valve 21 are switched based on the temperature of the battery. As a fifth mode, the intake side switching valve 20 and the exhaust side switching valve are switched. 21 is switched based on an intake setting position (outside air introduction mode FRE or inside air circulation mode REC) of an air conditioner (not shown).
[0025]
That is, in the cooling device 10 of this embodiment, the control is performed in a state where the inside of the vehicle is cooled by an air conditioner (not shown). In the case of a high outside air temperature, there is a margin in the allowable temperature of the battery 15 at a high speed. In the case (in FIG. 2, during normal operation), regardless of the inside / outside air circulation mode of the air conditioner, the intake side switching valve 20 is switched to the open side of the outside air introduction port 11 b, and the battery cooling wind sucked from the air intake port 11 By using outside air as much as possible, the load on the air conditioner is reduced.
[0026]
At this time, the air discharge port 12 switches the exhaust side switching valve 21 to the open side of the outside discharge port 12b, discharges the cooling air heated through the battery 15 to the outside of the vehicle, and is heated into the vehicle interior. Air is not returned.
[0027]
In addition, when the battery 15 has no allowance for the allowable temperature (in FIG. 2, when the battery temperature is high) and when the ambient temperature around the vehicle is high and the speed is low, the intake side switching valve 20 is switched to the open side of the inside air inlet 11 a. Thus, the battery cooling air suction port 11 is set to the cooled inside air, and the cooling of the battery 15 is prioritized.
[0028]
At this time, except for the case where the intake setting position of the air conditioner is in the inside air circulation mode (REC), the air discharge port 12 switches the exhaust side switching valve 21 to the open side of the vehicle outside discharge port 12b and passes through the battery 15 to warm. The cooling air is discharged to the outside of the vehicle so that the warmed air is not returned to the vehicle interior.
[0029]
However, since the load on the battery 15 is smaller in the low speed range than in the high speed range, the calorific value of the battery 15 is also small, and the temperature rise of the air downstream of the battery 15 is smaller than that in the high speed range. Considering that in this mode (high outside air temperature, low speed range), the outside air temperature is high and the temperature of the outside air to be introduced is also high because the air in the downstream area of the battery 15 is discharged outside the vehicle. When the intake position is in the inside air circulation mode (REC), even if the air in the downstream area of the battery 15 is returned to the vehicle interior, the load on the air conditioner does not change much.
[0030]
Furthermore, when the outside air is introduced into the battery 15, the temperature of the battery 15 may be too low when the outside air is introduced into the battery 15 (the efficiency of the battery 15 is deteriorated in a low temperature state). At the time of starting, the intake side switching valve 20 is switched to the open side of the inside air introduction port 11a, and the temperature of the battery 15 is raised by the inside air sucked from the air suction port 11.
[0031]
When the vehicle is stopped, one of the air inlet 11 and the air outlet 12 communicates with the outside air, and the other communicates with the inside air, so that it can function as a normal drafter (ventilation).
[0032]
With the above configuration, in the electric vehicle battery cooling device 10 of the present embodiment, the mode in which the inside air is introduced into the cooling duct 13 to cool the battery 15 and the mode in which the outside air is introduced into the cooling duct 13 By properly using the cooling mode, the conditioned air in the vehicle compartment is not used for cooling the battery 15 in the mode in which the battery 15 is cooled by the outside air, so that the load on the air conditioner can be reduced.
[0033]
Since the destination of the warmed air after cooling the battery 15 can be switched between the inside and the outside of the vehicle, when the outside is selected, it is possible to prevent the temperature inside the vehicle from rising and to place a burden on the air conditioner. Can be prevented.
[0034]
Further, by switching the intake-side switching valve 20 and the exhaust-side switching valve 21 based on the outside air temperature, air having a temperature suitable for cooling the battery 15 can be cooled by the air conditioner at a high outside air temperature, Alternatively, the battery 15 can be effectively cooled by being introduced from inside air that is not cooled at a low outside air temperature or from outside air at a middle or outside air temperature.
[0035]
Further, by switching the intake-side switching valve 20 and the exhaust-side switching valve 21 based on the vehicle speed, the battery 15 is cooled by the inside air at a high outside air temperature and at a low speed when the ambient temperature of the vehicle becomes higher than the outside air temperature. At a high speed when the ambient temperature of the vehicle is equivalent to the outside air, the battery 15 can be cooled by the outside air depending on the temperature of the battery 15, so that the load on the air conditioner can be reduced.
[0036]
Furthermore, when the vehicle is stopped, the door may be opened and closed when the vehicle is stopped by switching the intake side switching valve 20 to the inside air introduction side and switching the exhaust side switching valve 21 to the outside exhaust side. The function of a normal drafter can be provided, and the effect of opening and closing the door can be reduced.
[0037]
Further, since the intake side switching valve 20 and the exhaust side switching valve 21 are switched based on the temperature of the battery 15, when cooling by outside air is performed, if the temperature of the battery 15 is high, the inside air introduction mode by the air conditioner is set. Thus, the battery 15 can be effectively cooled.
[0038]
Further, since the intake side switching valve 20 and the exhaust side switching valve 21 are switched based on the intake setting position (FRE or REC) of the air conditioner, the cooling heated through the battery 15 in the outside air introduction mode (FRE). Since the wind can be discharged to the outside of the vehicle so as not to return to the inside of the vehicle, the load on the air conditioner can be reduced.
[0039]
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description will be omitted.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of the cooling device. In the cooling device 10a according to the second embodiment, the intake side switching valve 20 and the exhaust side switching valve 21 are controlled to adjust the respective opening ratios. I am trying to add it.
[0041]
That is, the intake side switching valve 20 can be switched to a position for closing the inside air introduction port 11a or the outside air introduction port 11b as in the first embodiment, and the opening degree can be set in the middle thereof. Thus, the inside air and the outside air can be mixed and inhaled from the inside air inlet 11a and the outside air inlet 11b at an appropriate ratio.
[0042]
In addition, even in the exhaust side switching valve 21, it is possible to switch to the position where the in-vehicle outlet 12a or the out-vehicle outlet 12b is closed, and it is also possible to set the opening degree in the middle thereof, and After cooling, the air can be discharged into and out of the vehicle at an appropriate ratio from the in-vehicle outlet 12a and the out-vehicle outlet 12b.
[0043]
Therefore, in the battery cooling device 10a of the second embodiment, it is possible to set an intermediate position between the inside air intake mode and the outside air introduction mode, and an intermediate position between the inside exhaust mode and the outside exhaust mode. The battery cooling temperature and the vehicle interior temperature can be more precisely controlled according to conditions, for example, the outside air temperature, the vehicle speed, the battery temperature, the intake setting position, and the like shown in the first embodiment, and the burden on the air conditioner can be reduced. It can be reduced.
[0044]
The present invention has been described by taking the first and second embodiments as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a control mode of battery cooling air by a controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a main part of the cooling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10a Cooling device 11 Air inlet 11a Inside air inlet 11b Outside air inlet 12 Air outlet 12a Car outlet 12b Car outlet 13 Cooling duct (air passage)
14 blower 15 battery 16 controller 17 cooling case 20 first switching door (intake side switching valve)
21 Second switching door (exhaust side switching valve)

Claims (7)

An electric vehicle using an electric motor for part or all of a drive source, and a battery cooling device for an electric vehicle that cools a mounted battery.
One or more air inlets for switching between inside air introduction and outside air introduction by an intake side switching valve;
One or more air outlets for switching between in-vehicle discharge and out-vehicle discharge by an exhaust-side switching valve;
An air passage communicating with the air inlet and the air outlet, and an intermediate passage communicating with the battery cooling case;
A blower that cools the battery by flowing air from the air inlet to the air outlet in the air passage, and passing the air through the cooling case;
An electric vehicle battery cooling device, comprising: a controller that controls switching between introduction of inside air and outside air by an intake side switching valve and switching between inside and outside discharge by an exhaust side switching valve. The cooling device for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the intake side switching valve and the exhaust side switching valve are switched based on an outside air temperature. The cooling device for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the intake side switching valve and the exhaust side switching valve are switched based on a vehicle speed. 4. The electric vehicle battery cooling device according to claim 3, wherein when the vehicle is stopped, the intake side switching valve is switched to the inside air introduction side, and the exhaust side switching valve is switched to the outside discharge side. The cooling device for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the intake side switching valve and the exhaust side switching valve are switched based on a temperature of the battery. The cooling device for an electric vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the intake side switching valve and the exhaust side switching valve are switched based on an intake set position of the air conditioner. The battery cooling device for an electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intake side switching valve and the exhaust side switching valve are provided with control for adjusting respective opening ratios.

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