Thermal management system for range extender vehicle

A method for cooling a set of batteries in a vehicle, the method performed by a system controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:

• determining a battery temperature for the set of batteries;
• determining an ambient air temperature;
• determining an engine temperature;
• determining a cab temperature;
• and
• performing one or more of:
• sending a set of signals to one or more valves of a plurality of valves of a coolant system to open a fluid circuit including a coolant system battery heat exchanger, an engine and a radiator to remove heat from the engine and add heat to the set of batteries, to remove heat from the engine and the set of batteries to the ambient environment or remove heat from the ambient environment and add heat to the set of batteries;
• sending a set of signals to a compressor to cause fluid to flow through a refrigerant system and one or more valves of a plurality of valves to open a fluid circuit including a refrigerant system battery heat exchanger, the compressor, a cab heat exchanger and a refrigerant system external heat exchanger and a plurality of expansion valves to remove heat from the set of batteries and add heat to the cab or the ambient environment or remove heat from the cab or the ambient environment and add heat to the set of batteries;
• determining an exhaust gas temperature;
• and performing one or more of:
• sending a set of signals to one or more valves of a plurality of valves of an exhaust gas system to open a fluid circuit including an exhaust gas battery heat exchanger and an exhaust gas heat exchanger to remove heat from exhaust gas and add heat to the set of batteries or to remove heat from the exhaust gas to the ambient environment.

A method for cooling a set of batteries in a vehicle, the method performed by a system controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:

• determining a battery temperature for the set of batteries;
• if the battery temperature is less than a minimum battery temperature:
• determining an ambient air temperature;
• if the ambient air temperature is greater than the minimum battery temperature, sending a signal to a battery fluid pump to pump fluid through an ambient air battery heat exchanger;
• determining an exhaust gas temperature;
• if the exhaust gas temperature is greater than the minimum battery temperature:
• sending a signal to the battery fluid pump to pump fluid through an exhaust gas battery heat exchanger;
• and
• sending a signal to an exhaust gas system to open a fluid loop comprising the exhaust gas battery heat exchanger;
• determining a coolant temperature;
• if the coolant temperature is greater than the minimum battery temperature:
• sending a signal to a battery fluid pump to pump fluid through a coolant battery heat exchanger;
• and
• sending a signal to a coolant system to open a fluid loop comprising the coolant battery heat exchanger;
• determining a cab temperature;
• and
• performing one or more of:
• sending a set of signals to one or more valves of a plurality of valves of a refrigerant system to open a fluid circuit including a refrigerant system battery heat exchanger, a compressor, a cab heat exchanger and a refrigerant system external heat exchanger and a plurality of expansion valves to remove heat from the set of batteries and add heat to the cab or the ambient environment or remove heat from the cab or the ambient environment and add heat to the set of batteries.