JPH04312304A - Power supply cooler for electric automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress temperature rise of battery at the time of charging operation. CONSTITUTION:When a vehicle mounted connector 7 is connected with an outdoor connector and a driving power supply 1 is charged through a charger 6, a charging controller 15 connects a movable contact 16a with a fixed contact 16c. Consequently, a part of charging current for the driving power supply 1 is fed from the charger 6 through a resistor 19 and a first switch 16 to a fan motor 10 and a backup power supply 18 whereby the fan motor 10 rotary drives a fan 9 to cool the driving power supply 1. Upon finish of charging operation, the movable contact 16a is connected with the fixed contact 16b to feed the fan motor 10 with power from the backup power supply 18 for a predetermined time thus sustaining cooling operation of the driving power supply 1 through the fan 9.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for cooling a power source of an electric vehicle.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 60-187456, some conventional power cooling devices for electric vehicles do not turn off the power when the main switch of the electric vehicle is turned on. A structure is known in which the constituent batteries are cooled with cooling air.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned power supply cooling device, cooling air is blown using power from an auxiliary power source for driving on-vehicle electrical components other than the drive motor. If the main switch is turned off when exiting the vehicle or parking the vehicle, the control system will stop working and cooling air will not be blown, making it impossible to cool the battery. In addition, during charging, the control system is turned off to prevent malfunctions, so the battery cannot be cooled down as described above, and battery performance deteriorates over time due to temperature rise during charging. It may deteriorate.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, a fan device is provided for cooling a battery constituting the power source of an electric vehicle when the battery is being charged.

[0005]

[Operation] When the battery constituting the power source is charged, the fan device blows cooling air to the battery to cool the battery.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a driving power source. This driving power source 1 is configured to output high voltage power of about 300V using a plurality of batteries.

2 is a motor controller. When the driver operates an accelerator operation part such as an accelerator pedal (not shown) while the driver turns on the main switch of the car (not shown), the motor controller 2 generates a high voltage corresponding to the amount of operation of the accelerator operation part. Power supply for driving electric power 1
The driving motor 3 is supplied to the driving motor 3 to rotationally drive the driving motor 3. A drive wheel (not shown) is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 3.

[0008] 4 is a power source for auxiliary equipment. The auxiliary power source 4 is configured to output low-voltage power necessary to operate auxiliary components 5, which are in-vehicle electrical components other than the drive motor 3, by means of a battery, and when the main switch is turned on. In the operating state, by turning on a switch (not shown) of the auxiliary part 5, low voltage power is supplied to the auxiliary part 5.

[0009] 6 is a charger. The output end of this charger 6 is connected to the driving power source 1. An in-vehicle connector 7 is connected to the input end of the charger 6. By connecting this in-vehicle connector 7 to an outdoor connector installed, for example, in a parking lot (not shown), the charger 6 charges the driving power source 1 and outputs a connector connection signal to the charging controller 15. It is supposed to be done.

8 is a fan device. This fan device 8 includes a fan 9, a fan motor 10, a remaining amount sensor 11, a temperature sensor 12, a gas sensor 13, and a control calculation section (hereinafter referred to as
(simply referred to as CPU) 14, charge controller 15, and first
Switch 16, second switch 17 and backup power supply 1
8 and a resistor 19, for a certain period of time during and after charging the battery constituting the driving power source 1,
In addition, when the battery constituting the driving power source 1 becomes high temperature during discharge, etc., while cooling the battery constituting the driving power source 1, the driving power source 1
It is designed to be activated when gas is generated from the battery that makes up the system.

The fan 9 is connected to the output shaft of a fan motor 10 and is rotated by rotation of the fan motor 10 to send cooling air to the drive power source 1.

The fan motor 10 receives power from any one of the driving power source 1, the auxiliary power source 4, and the backup power source 18 by operating the first switch 16 and the second switch 17. It is designed to receive and rotate. Specifically, one external terminal 10a of the fan motor 10 is connected to the negative terminals 1a and 4a of the driving power source 1 and the auxiliary power source 4. The other external terminal 10b of the fan motor 10 is connected to the positive terminal 1 of the drive power source 1.
A first switch 16 and a resistor 19 are connected in series to b, and a first switch 16 and a second switch 17 are connected in series to the positive terminal 4b of the auxiliary power source 4. be.

The remaining power sensor 11 detects the amount of remaining power of the battery constituting the drive power source 1, and outputs the amount of electricity corresponding to the detected remaining amount of power as a detected remaining amount signal. .

The temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature of the battery constituting the driving power source 1, and outputs an amount of electricity corresponding to the detected temperature as a detected temperature signal.

The gas sensor 13 detects the amount of gas discharged from the battery constituting the driving power source 1, and outputs an amount of electricity corresponding to the detected gas amount as a detected gas signal.

When the main switch is turned on, the CPU 14 receives low-voltage power from either the driving power source 1 or the auxiliary power source 4 through a transformer (not shown), and starts ( ON operation) and this CP
Based on the program set in advance in U14, the detected temperature signal taken in from the temperature sensor 12 and the gas sensor 1
3 outputs a fan drive signal to the second switch 17 in response to the detected gas signal taken in from the second switch 17, brings the movable contact 17a of the second switch 17 into contact with the fixed contact 17b, and turns on the second switch 17. On the contrary, when the main switch is turned off, the supply of the low voltage power is cut off, and the activation is stopped (off operation).

The charge controller 15 receives the connector connection signal from the charger 6, thereby changing the energization signal to the first one.
By outputting to the switch 16 and receiving the detected remaining amount signal from the remaining amount sensor 11, the charging time t1, total cooling time t2, and resistance value R are calculated, and a charging time signal corresponding to the calculated charging time t1 is generated. At the same time as being output to the charger 6, a resistance value determination signal corresponding to the calculated resistance value R is output to the resistor 19.

How to determine the resistance value R in the charge controller 15 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The charging time t1 for the battery constituting the drive power source 1 is determined based on the detected remaining amount signal as the current performance of the battery constituting the drive power source 1, and the process proceeds to step 102.

In step 102, assuming that the battery constituting the driving power source 1 has been charged at the charging time t1 determined in step 101, it is determined to what extent the temperature of the battery will rise due to the charging. That is,
A temperature increase rate is determined, and a threshold value T0 as the limit temperature that the battery can tolerate is determined from this temperature increase rate, and the process proceeds to step 103. This limit temperature is a standard by which charging efficiency decreases when the temperature of the battery during charging becomes higher than the limit temperature, and is determined through experiments. Further, the temperature increase rate is illustrated as a temperature characteristic represented by a curve L1 shown in step 102.

In step 103, the maximum temperature T1 in the temperature characteristic L1 shown in step 102 is equal to the threshold value T0.
The input rating w to the fan motor 10 is determined as follows. In other words, assuming that the fan motor 10 is rotated at the determined input rating w, the cooling air sent from the fan 9 causes the temperature characteristics of the battery that constitutes the drive power source 1 to change as shown by the dotted line. The curve L1 becomes a solid curve L2, and the maximum temperature T1 falls below the threshold value T0. Then, the process proceeds to step 104.

In step 104, although the maximum temperature T1 in the temperature characteristic L2 in step 103 is below the threshold value T0, the temperature of the battery constituting the driving power source 1 is immediately lowered after charging is completed. , the cooling time Δt after the end of charging is determined, and the cooling time Δt after the end of charging is added to the charging time t1 determined in step 101 to determine the total cooling time t2 (t2=t1+Δt). That is, even after the end of charging, the fan motor 10 continues to be rotated at the input rating w determined in step 103, and the drive power source 1 is configured by blowing air from the fan 9 during the cooling time Δt after the end of charging. When the battery is cooled, the temperature characteristics of the battery forming the driving power source 1 change from the dotted curve L3 to the solid curve L4,
The temperature of the battery constituting the drive power source 1 will drop quickly after charging is completed. Then, the process proceeds to step 105.

In step 105, the resistance value R of the resistor 19 is expressed as follows, R≒{
It is determined from (V-ε0)·V·t1}/(w·t2). In other words, the resistance value R obtained in step 105 makes it possible to charge the battery constituting the drive power source 1 with one of the charging characteristics L5, L6, and L7. By setting the value R in the resistor 19, the current output from the charger 6 charges the battery constituting the driving power source 1, and a part of this charging current drives the fan motor 10 to rotate. The backup power source 18 is charged with the remaining amount. Note that W0 is the power required by the driving power source 1.

Now, referring back to FIG. 1 again, the first switch 16 includes one movable contact 16a and two fixed contacts 16b, 16c, and the movable contact 16a normally operates as shown in FIG. Contact one fixed contact 16b as shown in FIG.
It is of a self-returning electromagnetic drive type in which it leaves one fixed contact 16b and contacts the other fixed contact 16c in response to an energization signal from the charge controller 15. This movable contact 16
The other external terminal 10b of the fan motor 10 is connected to a. One fixed contact 16b has an auxiliary power source 4
The positive terminal 4b of is connected via the second switch 17. The positive terminal 1b of the drive power source 1 is connected to the other fixed contact 16c via a resistor 19.

The second switch 17 has one movable contact 17
The movable contact 17a is normally turned off away from the fixed contact 17b as shown in FIG. 1, and is brought into contact with the fixed contact 17b by a fan drive signal from the CPU 14. It is a self-returning normally open electromagnetic drive type that turns on and operates. A positive terminal 4b of the auxiliary power source 4 is connected to the movable contact 17a. The fixed contact 17b includes one fixed contact 1 of the first switch 16.
6b is connected.

The backup power supply 18, like the auxiliary power supply 4, outputs the low voltage power necessary to rotate the fan motor 10 using a battery.
The external terminals 10a and 10b of the fan motor 10 are connected in parallel.

The resistor 19 is a variable resistor whose resistance value R can be determined by a resistance value determination signal from the charge controller 15.

Although not shown, when the vehicle-mounted connector 7 is connected to the outdoor connector in order to charge the battery forming the drive power source 1, the main switch is not turned on for security reasons. It looks like this.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the driver turns on a main switch (not shown) to put the electric vehicle into a drivable state, the CPU 14 is activated in step 201 and the process proceeds to step 202.

[0030] In step 202, it is determined whether the CPU 14 is turned on. Then, if the CPU 14 is turned on by turning on the main switch, the process advances to step 203. On the contrary, CPU1
4 is operating off, the charge controller 15
The process proceeds to steps 204 to 206.

In step 203, since the CPU 14 is turned on, the turning on of the main switch means that the electric vehicle is ready to run, and the in-vehicle connector 7 is connected to the outdoor connector. This means that the movable contact 16a of the first switch 16 is in contact with the fixed contact 16b as shown in FIG. Capture the gas signal,
When the detected temperature is higher than the preset temperature set in the CPU 14 or the detected gas amount is higher than the set gas amount preset in the CPU 14, gas generation occurs in the battery forming the driving power source 1. When the fan device 8
Activate. Specifically, the CPU 14 outputs a fan drive signal to the second switch 17. Then, the second switch 17 is turned on, and the movable contact 17a becomes the fixed contact 17b.
, low-voltage power is supplied to the fan motor 10 from the auxiliary power supply 4, and the fan motor 10 is driven to rotate.
The fan 9 rotates, and the rotation of the fan 9 blows cooling air to the driving power source 1, which cools the plurality of batteries in the driving power source 1, or carries the gas generated from the batteries onto the cooling air for driving. Discharge outside the power supply 1.

Here, when the driver turns off the main switch and connects the in-vehicle connector 7 to the outdoor connector in order to charge the battery constituting the drive power source 1, the CPU 14 turns off. Because of what I am doing,
The second switch 17 is turned off as shown in FIG. In this state, from the charger 6 to the charge controller 1
A connector connection signal is output to charge controller 1.
5 is activated, and the process of step 204 begins. That is, in step 204, it is determined whether or not charging is in progress. In other words,
If charging is not in progress because the vehicle-mounted connector 7 is not connected to the outdoor connector and no connector connection signal is input, the process proceeds to step 205. On the contrary,
If the vehicle-mounted connector 7 is connected to the outdoor connector and a connector connection signal is input, and charging is in progress, the process proceeds to step 206.

[0033] In step 205, the fan device 8 does not operate except for a certain period of time immediately after charging.

In step 206, charge controller 1
5 is the charging time t of the battery that constitutes the driving power source 1
1 and the total cooling time t2, determine a resistance value R according to the calculated charging time t1 and total cooling time t2, and send a resistance value determination signal corresponding to the determined resistance value R to the resistor 1.
9 and sets the resistance value of resistor 19 to R. In parallel with this, power is charged from the charger 6 to the battery constituting the drive power source 1, and an energization signal from the charge controller 15 causes the movable contact 16a of the first switch 16 to switch to the fixed contact 16c. A part of the electric power from the charger 6 is supplied to the fan motor 10 through the resistor 19, and the fan motor 10 is driven to rotate, causing the fan 9 to rotate, and the rotation of the fan 9 causes the cooling air to Air is blown to the driving power source 1 to cool the plurality of batteries of the driving power source 1, while a part of the power from the charger 6 passing through the resistor 19 is charged to the backup power source 18.

[0035] Then, when the charging time t1 elapses from the start of charging the battery constituting the driving power source 1,
The charging controller 15 outputs a charging end signal to the charger 6 and stops outputting the energization signal to the first switch 16. As a result, charging of the battery constituting the drive power source 1 from the charger 6 is stopped, and overcharging of the battery is prevented. On the other hand, the movable contact 16a of the first switch 16 self-returns to the state shown in FIG. 1 in which it is separated from the other fixed contact 16c and comes into contact with one fixed contact 16b. Further, after the charging of the battery constituting the driving power source 1 is completed, power from the backup power source 18 is supplied to the fan motor 10 for a certain period of time Δt, which is the cooling time after the charging is completed, and the fan motor 10 is rotated. The drive continues for a certain period of time Δt, and due to the cooling air blowing from the fan 9,
The battery constituting the drive power source 1 is cooled.

That is, the fan device 8 constitutes the drive power source 1 from the start of charging to a certain period of time after the end of charging, regardless of the CPU 14 which starts and stops in accordance with the on/off operation of the main switch of the electric vehicle. Since the battery is cooled, the battery is charged at a temperature lower than the threshold T0 that causes charge deterioration, and the temperature quickly reaches a steady state after charging is completed.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and although not shown in the drawings, for example, the fan device 8 may be installed in an air conditioner mounted on an electric vehicle. In this case, the resistance value R is set based on the voltage of the air conditioner, the fan 9 is used as a fan of the air conditioner, and an air outlet extending to the vicinity of the drive power source 1 is added to the air conditioner. Note that depending on the current value during operation of the air conditioner, the drive power source 1 and the fan motor of the air conditioner may be connected in series instead of in parallel. In this series case, resistor 19 can be omitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the fan device 8 cools the battery of the drive power source 1, but the fan device 8 cools the batteries of both the drive power source 1 and the auxiliary power source 4. However, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, since a fan device is provided for cooling the battery constituting the power source of an electric vehicle when the battery is being charged, charging can be performed independently of the control system of the electric vehicle. Lower the temperature of the battery inside
Charging efficiency can be increased, and the inconvenience of impairing battery performance due to temperature rise during charging can also be eliminated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining a resistance value in the charge controller of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Drive power supply 6...Charger 8...Fan device 9...Fan 10...Fan motor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A power supply cooling device for an electric vehicle using a battery as a power source, characterized in that the electric vehicle is provided with a fan device for cooling the battery when the battery is being charged.