JP2017171054A - Battery device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect an abnormality of an air temperature sensor by a simple method while suppressing erroneous detection.SOLUTION: A battery device comprises: a battery 10; a cooling fan 11 that feeds cooling air in a vehicle interior to the battery 10; an air temperature sensor 21 that detects a temperature of the air to be fed; a battery temperature sensor 22 that detects a temperature of the battery 10; occupant detecting means 26 that detects whether or not an occupant is in the vehicle interior; and a control portion 50. The control portion 50 comprises a continuation determining portion 45 that determines whether an occupant detection state where it is detected that the occupant is in the vehicle interior and a rotating state of the cooling fan 11 continue for a fixed period of time (continuation determination). The control portion 50 determines that the air temperature sensor 21 is abnormal, when a detected value of the air temperature sensor 21 is higher than a detected value of the battery temperature sensor 22 by a prescribed threshold or more, in the continuation determination state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air-cooled battery device that can detect an abnormality in an air temperature sensor.

  In recent years, electric vehicles such as an electric vehicle using a motor as a drive source and a hybrid vehicle using a motor and an engine as a drive source are often used. These electric vehicles are equipped with a chargeable / dischargeable battery for supplying electric power to the motor and charging the generated electric power when the motor is operated as a generator, and a cooling device for cooling the battery. The cooling device drives a cooling fan to suck in cooling air, and flows the sucked cooling air through a cooling channel around the battery to cool the battery.

  Patent Document 1 describes a cooling device that supplies cooling air in a vehicle compartment to a battery by a cooling fan. In the cooling device of Patent Document 1, when the intake air temperature detected by the air temperature sensor is higher than the battery temperature detected by the battery temperature sensor, the cooling fan is not started so that the battery temperature does not rise further. Yes.

JP 2010-163095 A

  By the way, in the cooling device as described in Patent Document 1, when the air temperature sensor fails and a sensor abnormality occurs in which a detection value higher than the actual value is output, the cooling device detects the detected value of the air temperature sensor. Since it is determined that the detected value is higher than the detected value of the battery temperature sensor and the cooling fan is not started, the battery temperature may continue to rise and the output of the battery may be limited. For this reason, it is necessary to detect abnormality of the air temperature sensor.

  In order to detect the abnormality of the air temperature sensor, there is a method of arranging two air temperature sensors and determining that the air temperature sensor is abnormal when the difference between the detection values of the two air temperature sensors becomes large. It is done. However, this method has a problem that the number of air temperature sensors increases, the cost of the cooling device increases, and the cooling device becomes complicated.

  As a method for detecting an abnormality of the air temperature sensor without increasing the number of air temperature sensors, the detection value of the air temperature sensor is higher than a detection value of the battery temperature sensor by a predetermined threshold (hereinafter referred to as an abnormality detection condition). In other words, a method for determining that the air temperature sensor is abnormal can be considered. However, in a situation where the intake air temperature, which is a temperature measurement target of the air temperature sensor, is high (for example, a situation where the vehicle is placed in the sun), the abnormality detection condition is satisfied even if the air temperature sensor is normal. There is a possibility that the abnormality is erroneously detected.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to detect an abnormality of an air temperature sensor by a simple method while suppressing erroneous detection.

  The battery device of the present invention includes a battery for driving a vehicle, a cooling fan that supplies cooling air in a vehicle interior to the battery, and an air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of air supplied from the cooling fan to the battery. A battery temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the battery, an occupant detection means for detecting the presence of an occupant in the vehicle interior, an air temperature detected by the air temperature sensor, and a detection by the battery temperature sensor A control unit that adjusts the number of rotations of the cooling fan based on the battery temperature, and the control unit is in an occupant detection state in which it is detected by the occupant detection means that an occupant is present in the vehicle interior. An occupant determination unit that determines that there is a cooling fan rotation control unit that rotates the cooling fan, the occupant detection state, and the rotation state A continuation determination unit that determines that the air temperature sensor has continued for a certain period of time, and an abnormality determination unit that determines that the air temperature sensor is abnormal when the air temperature is higher than the battery temperature by a predetermined threshold or more in the state of continuation determination. And comprising.

  According to the present invention, since the abnormality of the air temperature sensor is detected after eliminating the situation in which the abnormality of the air temperature sensor may be erroneously detected, the erroneous detection can be suppressed. Moreover, since the abnormality detection of an air temperature sensor is detected by comparing the detection value of the existing sensor, without adding a new sensor, it is simple.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the battery apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the abnormality detection process of the air temperature sensor which the battery device in embodiment of this invention performs.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the battery device 100 of the present embodiment. The battery device 100 includes a battery 10 for driving the vehicle, a cooling fan 11 that supplies the battery 10 with cooling air in the vehicle interior, and an air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the air supplied from the cooling fan 11 to the battery 10. 21, a battery temperature sensor 22 that detects the temperature of the battery 10, a vehicle speed sensor 26, and a control unit 50.

  The battery 10 is connected to an inverter 18 via a positive electrode line 16 and a negative electrode line 17. The inverter 18 converts the DC power of the battery 10 into AC power and drives the motor generator 19 for driving the vehicle. The AC power generated by the motor generator 19 is converted into DC power by the inverter 18 and charged to the battery 10.

  The battery 10 includes a cooling channel (not shown) inside. One end of the intake duct 14 is connected to the inlet of the cooling flow path of the battery 10, and the other end of the intake duct 14 is connected to an intake port 13 provided in the vehicle interior. A cooling fan 11 is attached inside the intake duct 14. Further, an exhaust duct 15 for discharging the air after cooling the battery 10 is attached to the outlet of the cooling flow path of the battery 10. Therefore, as shown by the thick black arrow in FIG. 1, the cooling air sucked from the intake port 13 provided in the vehicle interior flows into the cooling flow path inside the battery 10 through the intake duct 14, and the battery After 10 is cooled, it is discharged from the exhaust duct 15. An air temperature sensor 21 that detects the temperature of the cooling air supplied from the cooling fan 11 to the battery 10 is attached inside the intake duct 14.

  The control unit 50 is a microprocessor, and executes a predetermined process using an input signal / data from the sensor and generates an output signal / data based on the processing result by executing a program. The control unit 50 includes an occupant determination unit 41, a cooling fan rotation control unit 42, a continuation determination unit 45, and an abnormality determination unit 48 which will be described later.

  In the battery device 100 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 50 uses the air temperature (hereinafter referred to as TC) detected by the air temperature sensor 21 and the battery temperature (hereinafter referred to as TB) detected by the battery temperature sensor 22. Based on this, the motor 12 that drives the cooling fan 11 is controlled to adjust the rotational speed of the cooling fan 11. Usually, when TB is higher than TC, the cooling fan 11 is rotated at the number of revolutions corresponding to the battery temperature. However, when TB is low temperature, it is not necessary to cool the battery 10, so the cooling fan 11 is stopped. Let

  In the battery device 100 of the present embodiment, the control unit 50 detects an abnormality of the air temperature sensor 21. In the present embodiment, as an abnormality detection of the air temperature sensor 21, it is determined that TC is higher than TB by detecting a Hi abnormality that indicates a detection value TC is higher than the actual value, and the cooling fan 11 stops unintentionally. To prevent it.

  The abnormality detection method of this embodiment determines that the air temperature sensor 21 is abnormal when TC is higher than TB by a predetermined threshold or more (abnormality detection condition). However, even if the air temperature sensor 21 is normal, an abnormality detection condition may be satisfied, and an abnormality cannot always be detected accurately. Therefore, the control unit 50 confirms whether or not the abnormality can be detected accurately before performing abnormality detection. Specifically, it is confirmed whether the following preconditions are satisfied.

  Precondition: a passenger detection state in which it is detected that an occupant is present in the passenger compartment, and a state in which the cooling fan 11 is rotating (rotation state) is a state in which Δt continues for a certain period (continuation determination state). about.

  If abnormality detection is performed according to the abnormality detection condition in a situation where the above preconditions are not satisfied, there is a possibility that the abnormality is erroneously detected even if the air temperature sensor 21 is normal.

  For example, when the vehicle on which the battery device 100 is mounted is placed under a hot sun, the temperature of the air in the passenger compartment becomes high, and the air in the intake duct 14 that is the temperature measurement target of the air temperature sensor 21 is increased. Since temperature also becomes high temperature, TC may become higher than TB. Therefore, when there is no occupant in the passenger compartment, that is, when the temperature of the air in the passenger compartment may be high, even if the air temperature sensor 21 is normal, the abnormality detection condition (TC is lower than TB). It is possible that the air temperature sensor 21 is erroneously detected.

  In addition, when the vehicle on which the battery device 100 is mounted is placed in the hot weather, when the vehicle is driven and travels, the temperature of the air in the passenger compartment gradually cools due to air conditioning, but the air temperature sensor 21. When the cooling fan 11 is stopped, the air temperature inside the intake duct 14 that is the target of temperature measurement is not immediately cooled. Therefore, when the cooling fan 11 is not in a rotating state, that is, when the cooling fan 11 is stopped, a state where an occupant is present (occupant detection state) is confirmed, and the temperature of the air in the vehicle interior is determined. Even if it is estimated that the temperature is not high, an abnormality detection condition (TC is higher than TB by a predetermined threshold or more) can be established with the air temperature sensor 21 in a normal state, and an abnormality in the air temperature sensor 21 can be erroneously detected. There is sex.

  Therefore, it is necessary to confirm that the occupant is detected and the cooling fan 11 is rotating. Further, even if the occupant detection state and the cooling fan 11 are rotated, the air temperature in the intake duct 14 that is the temperature measurement target of the air temperature sensor 21 does not immediately decrease, and erroneous detection is possible. Therefore, it is a precondition that these states continue for a certain period Δt (continuation determination state).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the abnormality detection process of the air temperature sensor 21 of this embodiment is demonstrated concretely. The control unit 50 repeatedly executes a series of processes (abnormality detection processes) shown in FIG. 2 at a cycle of a predetermined period ΔT.

  First, in S100 of FIG. 2, the control unit 50 confirms whether TB is equal to or higher than a temperature at which the battery 10 needs to be cooled (hereinafter referred to as a first temperature). As described above, when TB is a low temperature (less than the first temperature), it is not necessary to cool the battery 10, and therefore it is not necessary to detect an abnormality in the air temperature sensor 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, when TB is low temperature (less than 1st temperature) (S100: No), abnormality detection of this period is complete | finished, without performing abnormality detection (S106). On the other hand, if TB is equal to or higher than the first temperature in S100 (S100: Yes), the process proceeds to S102.

  In S102, the cooling fan rotation control unit 42 of the control unit 50 puts the cooling fan 11 in a rotating state. In S100, since it is confirmed that TB is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the battery 10 needs to be cooled (first temperature), the cooling fan 11 is rotated and the battery 10 is cooled. Usually, when TC is higher than TB, the cooling fan 11 is stopped, but here, the cooling fan 11 is in a rotating state regardless of the relationship between TC and TB. After S102, the process proceeds to S103.

  In S103, the occupant determination unit 41 of the control unit 50 confirms whether or not there is an occupant in the passenger compartment (occupant detection state). In the present embodiment, the vehicle speed sensor 26 is used as occupant detection means for detecting the presence of an occupant in the vehicle compartment. Specifically, if the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 26 is greater than 0, it is determined that there is an occupant in the vehicle compartment. However, the occupant detection means may be other than the vehicle speed sensor 26 as long as it can detect the presence of an occupant in the passenger compartment. For example, the rotational speed of the motor generator 19 may be detected, and if the rotational speed is greater than 0, it may be determined that there is an occupant in the vehicle compartment. Further, it may be determined that a passenger is present in the passenger compartment by detecting that the passenger is sitting on the seat using a seating sensor or the like.

  If it is determined in S103 that there is no occupant in the passenger compartment (not in the occupant detection state) (S103: No), the precondition is not satisfied, and therefore no abnormality detection (S106) is performed in order to avoid erroneous detection. Then, the abnormality detection process in this cycle is finished. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an occupant in the passenger compartment (occupant detection state) (S103: Yes), the process proceeds to S104.

  In S104, the continuation determination unit 45 of the control unit 50 confirms whether the occupant detection state, which is a precondition, and the rotation state of the cooling fan 11 are in a state in which Δt continues for a certain period (continuation determination state). . If the constant period Δt has not been continued (S104: No), the process waits until the constant period Δt continues (continuation determination state). When the passenger detection state, that is, the state where the passenger is present in the passenger compartment continues for a certain period Δt, the passenger compartment becomes sufficiently cool. Further, since the rotation state of the cooling fan 11 continues for a certain period Δt, the cool air in the passenger compartment is sufficiently sent into the intake duct 14 which is the temperature measurement target of the air temperature sensor 21, and becomes hot in the hot air inside the intake duct 14. The exhausted air will be discharged. Accordingly, if the air temperature sensor 21 is normal, TC is lower than TB, that is, the abnormality detection condition is not satisfied, thereby preventing erroneous detection.

  In S104, when it is confirmed that the occupant detection state and the rotation state of the cooling fan 11 that are the preconditions are in a state in which Δt continues for a certain period (continuation determination state) (S104: Yes), The process proceeds to S106.

  In S106, the abnormality determination unit 48 of the control unit 50 detects the abnormality of the air temperature sensor 21 using the abnormality detection condition. Specifically, when TC is higher than TB by a predetermined threshold or more (S106: Yes), it is determined that the air temperature sensor 21 is abnormal (S108), and when not (S106: No), It is determined that the air temperature sensor 21 is normal (S110).

  If it is determined that there is an abnormality in the air temperature sensor 21 (S108), a detection value that is higher than the actual temperature is output from the air temperature sensor 21 due to the abnormality in the air temperature sensor 21. Therefore, normally, since it is determined that TC is higher than TB and the cooling fan 11 is stopped, there is a problem that the battery temperature continues to rise and the output of the battery 10 is limited. However, when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the air temperature sensor 21 (S108), the battery device 100 of the present embodiment keeps the rotation state of the cooling fan 11 set in S102, thereby increasing the battery temperature. This prevents the output of the battery 10 from being restricted.

  The control unit 50 repeatedly executes the abnormality detection process described above at a predetermined period ΔT.

  In the battery device 100 of the present embodiment described above, abnormality detection (S106) is not performed when TB is low (less than the first temperature) (S100: No). Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to add the condition that TB is equal to or higher than the first temperature to the preconditions described above, and to prevent the air temperature sensor 21 from detecting an abnormality when TB is lower than the first temperature. However, as in the present embodiment, even if the precondition does not include a condition where TB is equal to or higher than the first temperature, if TB is equal to or higher than the first temperature, the cooling fan 11 is in a rotating state (S102), and TB When the temperature is lower than the first temperature, the cooling fan 11 is stopped. Therefore, the condition that TB is equal to or higher than the first temperature is confirmed under the above-mentioned precondition (confirmation of the rotation state). ing.

  According to the battery device 100 of the present embodiment described above, since the abnormality of the air temperature sensor 21 is detected after eliminating the situation in which the abnormality of the air temperature sensor 21 may be erroneously detected, the erroneous detection is suppressed. it can. Moreover, since the abnormality detection of the air temperature sensor 21 is detected by comparing the detection value of the existing sensor, without adding a new sensor, it is simple.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Battery, 11 Cooling fan, 12 Motor, 13 Inlet, 14 Intake duct, 15 Exhaust duct, 16 Positive line, 17 Negative line, 18 Inverter, 19 Motor generator, 21 Air temperature sensor, 22 Battery temperature sensor, 26 Vehicle speed sensor 41 occupant determination unit, 42 cooling fan rotation control unit, 45 continuation determination unit, 48 abnormality determination unit, 50 control unit, 100 battery device.

Claims (1)

A battery for driving the vehicle;
A cooling fan for supplying cooling air in the passenger compartment to the battery;
An air temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of air supplied from the cooling fan to the battery;
A battery temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the battery;
Occupant detection means for detecting the presence of an occupant in the vehicle interior;
A controller that adjusts the number of revolutions of the cooling fan based on the air temperature detected by the air temperature sensor and the battery temperature detected by the battery temperature sensor;
The controller is
An occupant determination unit that determines that the occupant is in an occupant detection state in which the presence of an occupant is detected by the occupant detection means;
A cooling fan rotation control unit for rotating the cooling fan;
A continuation determination unit that determines that the occupant detection state and the rotation state have continued for a certain period of time;
An abnormality determination unit that determines that the air temperature sensor is abnormal when the air temperature is higher than the battery temperature by a predetermined threshold or more in the continuation determination state;
A battery device characterized by the above.

Images