US 11,728,537 B2
Opportunistic system and method for battery cooling while charging on-plug
Rohan Shrivastava, Livonia, MI (US); Joseph George, Canton, MI (US); Jordan Mazaira, Taylor, MI (US); and Alexandria Schardt, Livonia, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/777,483.
Prior Publication US 2021/0242518 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/663 (2014.01); H01M 10/625 (2014.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/6561 (2014.01); B60H 1/14 (2006.01); B60H 1/22 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/63 (2014.01); B60L 1/04 (2006.01); B60L 58/26 (2019.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/613 (2014.01); B60L 53/10 (2019.01)
CPC H01M 10/663 (2015.04) [H01M 10/625 (2015.04); H01M 10/6561 (2015.04); H02J 7/00041 (2020.01); B60H 1/00278 (2013.01); B60H 1/143 (2013.01); B60H 1/2221 (2013.01); B60K 2001/005 (2013.01); B60L 1/04 (2013.01); B60L 53/11 (2019.02); B60L 58/26 (2019.02); B60L 2240/34 (2013.01); B60L 2240/545 (2013.01); B60L 2240/662 (2013.01); H01M 10/613 (2015.04); H01M 10/63 (2015.04); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01); Y02E 60/10 (2013.01); Y02T 10/70 (2013.01); Y02T 10/7072 (2013.01); Y02T 10/72 (2013.01); Y02T 90/14 (2013.01); Y02T 90/16 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal management system for a plug-in electric vehicle, the thermal management system comprising:
a high voltage battery configured to power the vehicle;
a refrigerant cooling circuit configured to be selectively operably coupled to the high voltage battery to cool the high voltage battery during charging of the vehicle;
a cabin heater core cooling circuit configured to be selectively operably coupled to the high voltage battery to cool the high voltage battery during charging of the vehicle;
a control valve operable to control a flow of battery coolant to the high voltage battery from the refrigerant cooling circuit and the cabin heater core cooling circuit; and
a control module programmed to selectively operate the control valve to select a mode of cooling the high voltage battery based on a determination, made by the control module, whether the high voltage battery is currently charging due to the vehicle being on-plug and whether cabin climate control has been requested,
wherein at least one mode of cooling selectable by the control module is a combined mode in which both the refrigerant cooling circuit and the cabin heater core cooling circuit provide cooling to the high voltage battery,
wherein the control module is further programmed to, while in the combined mode, operate the control valve to prevent the flow of battery coolant from the cabin heater core cooling circuit such that all battery coolant passing through the control valve is flowing from refrigerant cooling circuit in response to cabin climate control being requested regardless of an ambient temperature.