Performance enhancement of hvac system thermally conditioned by multiple branch cooling subsystem

A motor vehicle comprising:

• an electric motor-generator configured to generate torque;
• a heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system;
• a multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) configured to supply electrical energy to the electric motor-generator and having a plurality of relatively high thermal mass RESS modules;
• an auxiliary module having a relatively low thermal mass;
• a cooling subsystem including:
• a main coolant loop configured to circulate coolant;
• at least one coolant thermal conditioning device arranged in the main coolant loop;
• a plurality of RESS coolant branches arranged in parallel, wherein each RESS coolant branch is configured to receive coolant from the main coolant loop to adjust temperature of one of the respective RESS modules;
• and
• an auxiliary coolant branch arranged in parallel with the plurality of RESS coolant branches and configured to receive coolant from the main coolant loop;
• and
• an electronic controller in operative communication with the cooling subsystem and configured to:
• determine when temperature of at least one of the RESS modules is inside a first predetermined temperature range;
• determine when temperature of the auxiliary module is outside a second predetermined temperature range;
• thermally condition the coolant in the main coolant loop to a target temperature;
• restrict a flow of coolant, from the main coolant loop individually into at least one of the RESS coolant branches when temperature of the corresponding at least one RESS module is inside the first predetermined temperature range;
• and
• regulate a flow of coolant from the main coolant loop into the auxiliary coolant branch when temperature of the auxiliary module is outside the second predetermined temperature range to provide the coolant at the target temperature from the main coolant loop to the HVAC system.

A system for enhancing performance capabilities of a heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system, comprising:

• a multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) having a plurality of battery cells arranged in relatively high thermal mass individual battery modules;
• an auxiliary module having a relatively low thermal mass;
• a cooling subsystem including:
• a main coolant loop fluidly connected to the HVAC system and configured to circulate coolant;
• at least one coolant thermal conditioning device arranged in the main coolant loop;
• a plurality of RESS coolant branches arranged in parallel, wherein each RESS coolant branch is configured to receive coolant from the main coolant loop to adjust temperature of one of the respective battery modules;
• at least one RESS flow-valve configured to regulate and distribute across the plurality of RESS coolant branches the coolant received from the main coolant loop;
• an auxiliary coolant branch arranged in parallel with the plurality of RESS coolant branches and configured to receive coolant from the main coolant loop to adjust temperature of the auxiliary module;
• and
• a bypass flow-valve configured to regulate the coolant in the auxiliary coolant branch;
• and
• an electronic controller in operative communication with the cooling subsystem and configured to:
• determine when temperature of at least one of the battery modules is inside a first predetermined temperature range;
• determine when temperature of the auxiliary module is outside a second predetermined temperature range;
• thermally condition, via the at least one coolant thermal conditioning device, the coolant in the main coolant loop to a target temperature;
• restrict a flow of coolant, via the at least one RESS flow-valve, from the main coolant loop individually into at least one of the RESS coolant branches when temperature of the corresponding at least one RESS module is inside the first predetermined temperature range;
• and
• regulate a flow of coolant, via the bypass flow-valve, from the main coolant loop into the auxiliary coolant branch and provide at least a predefined minimum flow rate of the coolant through the cooling subsystem when temperature of the auxiliary module is outside the second predetermined temperature range to provide the coolant at the target temperature from the main coolant loop to the HVAC system.