# US 2013/0280561 A1 · System and method for using exhaust gas to heat and charge a battery for a hybrid vehicle

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- Number: US 2013/0280561 A1
- Document ID: US20130280561A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/689,009
- Filed: 2012-11-29
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-18
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Joseph M. Tolkacz; Brian L. Spohn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130280561A1

## CPC

- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- B60K 13/04: concerning exhaust
- B60L 50/15: with additional electric power supply (with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61)
- B60L 50/90: using propulsion power supplied by specific means not covered by groups B60L50/10 - B60L50/50, e.g. by direct conversion of thermal nuclear energy into electricity
- B60L 58/27: by heating
- B60W 10/26: for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
- H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
- B60K 2001/008: {with means for heating the electrical propulsion units}
- B60Y 2400/44: Exhaust turbines driving generators
- H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00)
- H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature}
- H01M 10/65: Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
- H01M 10/6572: Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
- 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
- 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
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN 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
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 including an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust gas having thermal energy for use in the EGHR device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein the EGHR device is mounted closer to the internal combustion engine than to the battery so as to provide more thermal energy to the heat transfer fluid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the controller signals a switch in the EGHR device for directing exhaust gas to the EGHR heat exchanger.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 including a heat transfer loop having fluid lines wherein the heat transfer fluid is located in the fluid lines of the heat transfer loop and further including a pump for maintaining flow in the fluid lines of the heat transfer loop.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger in thermal connection with the battery cover plate is a liquid stacked heat exchanger.

### Claim 7

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 further comprising:
a first fluid flow control valve having a first position for sending substantially all of the heat transfer fluid to the first heat exchanger when the controller determines that the temperature of the battery is below a first predetermined temperature, a second position for sending the heat transfer fluid to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger when the controller determines that the temperature of the battery is between the first predetermined temperature and a second predetermined temperature and the state of charge of the battery is below a predetermined level, and a third position for sending substantially all of the heat transfer fluid to the second heat exchanger when the controller determines that the temperature of the battery is greater than the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined level, and
a second fluid flow control valve having a first position for sending the heat transfer fluid to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger when the controller determines that 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 the predetermined level, and a second position for sending substantially all of the heat transfer fluid to a second heat exchanger when the controller determines that the temperature of the battery is above the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined level.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 including an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust gas having thermal energy for use in the EGHR device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the EGHR device is mounted closer to the internal combustion engine than to the battery so as to provide more thermal energy to the heat transfer fluid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein the first heat exchanger is a liquid stacked heat exchanger.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein the thermoelectric device is a Peltier generator.

### Claim 13

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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein thermally connecting the first heat exchanger to the heat transfer fluid continues until the temperature of the battery is above the second predetermined temperature.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein thermally connecting the second heat exchanger to the heat transfer fluid continues until the state of charge of the battery is above the predetermined level.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the heat transfer loop further includes a first fluid flow control valve and a second fluid flow control valve for controlling the flow of the heat transfer fluid, further including:
opening the first fluid flow control valve to one of a first position if the temperature of the battery is below the first predetermined temperature which is lower than the second predetermined temperature wherein substantially all of the heat transfer fluid flows to the first heat exchanger, a second position if the temperature of the battery is higher than the first predetermined temperature and lower than the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined level, wherein the heat transfer fluid flows to both of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and a third position if the temperature of the battery is greater than the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined level, wherein substantially all of the heat transfer fluid flows to the second heat exchanger; and
opening the second fluid flow control valve to one of a first position for flowing the heat transfer fluid to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger when the controller determines that the temperature of the battery is between the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge is below the predetermined level, and a second position for flowing substantially all of the heat transfer fluid to the second heat exchanger when the controller determines that the temperature of the battery is above the second predetermined temperature and the state of charge is below the predetermined level.