# US 11,027,594 B2 · Heated plastic fluid lines for thermal systems in a hybrid electric vehicle (H/EV) and use thereof

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- Number: US 11,027,594 B2
- Document ID: US11027594B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/471,197
- Filed: 2017-12-21
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-21
- Assignees: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
- Applicants: Ti Group Automotive Systems LLC
- Inventors: Thomas Stimson; Alastair Deane
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027594B2

## CPC

- B60H 1/2221: {arrangements of electric heaters for heating an intermediate liquid (B60H1/034 takes precedence)}
- B60H 1/00278: {for the battery}
- B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors}
- B60L 1/02: to electric heating circuits
- B60L 3/003: {relating to inverters}
- B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors}
- B60L 3/0061: {relating to electrical machines}
- B60L 58/26: by cooling
- B60L 58/27: by heating
- F16L 11/08: with reinforcements embedded in the wall (F16L11/11 takes precedence)
- F16L 53/38: using elongate electric heating elements, e.g. wires or ribbons
- H01M 10/615: Heating or keeping warm
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- H01M 10/6556: Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange (closed pipes H01M10/6552)
- H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
- H01M 10/6571: Resistive heaters (arrangements for heating the battery by its resistance to the internal current H01M10/637)
- H01M 10/66: Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
- H01M 10/663: the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
- B60H 2001/00307: {Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow}
- B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts
- B60L 2240/545: Temperature
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Heated plastic lines in a hybrid/electric vehicle (H/EV) in which a vehicle chassis thermal loop, component thermal loop, motor drive, and power electronics are coupled together and used in either a serial or parallel configuration. The vehicle chassis thermal loop includes a fluid, a circulation pump, and one or more lines through which the fluid flows. The component thermal loop includes the fluid and one or more lines in contact with the component through or around which the fluid flows. At least one of the vehicle chassis thermal loop and component thermal loop has at least a portion of the one or more lines being a plastic heated line. The plastic heated line is configured to heat the fluid to a temperature that is at or above a cold operating temperature predetermined for the component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of heating a component in a hybrid/electric vehicle (H/EV) having a vehicle chassis thermal loop including a fluid, a circulation pump, and one or more lines through which the fluid flows, the method comprising
heating a fluid located in a plastic heated line present in a thermal management system of the hybrid/electric vehicle;
allowing the heated fluid to circulate through a component thermal loop; and
heating the component to a temperature that is at or above a cold operating temperature predetermined for the component;
wherein the thermal management system comprises:
the component thermal loop comprising the fluid and one or more lines in contact with the component through or around which the fluid flows; the component thermal loop being coupled to the vehicle chassis thermal loop; and
at least one of the vehicle chassis thermal loop and component thermal loop having at least a portion of the one or more lines being the plastic heated line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating of the fluid is either initiated when a door of the hybrid/electric vehicle transitions with an external action from a locked state to an unlocked state or a remote power-up state, and/or used to control the temperature of the fluid while the component is being charged.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is heated to a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to about 70° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises closing a flow control valve that couples the vehicle chassis thermal loop to the component thermal loop, such that the vehicle chassis thermal loop and the component thermal loop operate independently.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises measuring temperature and/or pressure at one or more locations within the thermal management system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the component is a battery located within a battery pack through which the fluid flows.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The use of the thermal management system of claim 1 in a hybrid/electric vehicle (H/EV).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The use of the method of claim 1 to heat a battery pack in order to start a hybrid/electric vehicle.