System and method for using exhaust gas to heat and charge a battery for a hybrid vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJoseph M. Tolkacz, Brian L. Spohn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for using exhaust gas to heat and/or charge a battery for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The system and method use an exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) device to heat a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid is thermally connected to a first heat exchanger to heat the battery and/or to a second heat exchanger to charge the battery if predetermined conditions are met.
Claims16
A system for heating a battery in a hybrid vehicle using exhaust gas comprising:
- an exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) device for directing exhaust gas to an EGHR heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy to a heat transfer fluid;
- a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the battery;
- a controller for determining that the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature;
- and
- a heat exchanger, in thermal connection with a battery cover plate of the battery, for transferring thermal energy from the heat transfer fluid to the battery cover plate when the controller indicates that the temperature of the battery is below the predetermined temperature, so that the temperature of the battery rises.
A system for heating and charging a battery in a hybrid vehicle using exhaust gas comprising:
- an exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) device having an EGHR heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy to a heat transfer fluid;
- a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the battery;
- a state of charge indicator for indicating the state of charge of the battery;
- a controller for monitoring a signal from the temperature sensor and a signal from the state of charge indicator;
- a first heat exchanger, for thermally connecting with a battery cover plate of the battery, wherein the first heat exchanger receives thermal energy from the heat transfer fluid and thermally connects to the battery cover plate so that the temperature of the battery rises;
- and
- a second heat exchanger, for electrically charging the battery, wherein the second heat exchanger receives thermal energy from the heat transfer fluid and thermally connects to a thermoelectric device which causes a current to flow, charging the battery so that the state of charge of the battery rises;
- wherein the controller enables heat transfer fluid to flow to at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger based on at least one of the temperature of the battery and the state of charge of the battery.
A method for heating and charging a battery having a battery cover plate in a hybrid vehicle using exhaust gas having thermal energy and heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer loop including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a thermoelectric device, comprising:
- determining a temperature of the battery;
- determining a state of charge of the battery;
- thermally connecting the exhaust gas having thermal energy to the heat transfer fluid;
- thermally connecting the first heat exchanger to the heat transfer fluid if the temperature of the battery is below one of a first predetermined temperature and a second predetermined temperature so that the first heat exchanger receives the heat transfer fluid and thermally connects to the battery cover plate so that the temperature of the battery rises;
- and
- thermally connecting the second heat exchanger to the heat transfer fluid if the temperature of the battery is between the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge of the battery is below a predetermined state of charge so that the second heat exchanger receives the heat transfer fluid and thermally connects to the thermoelectric device which causes a current to flow charging the battery so the state of charge of the battery rises.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.