A TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM, A VEHICLE PROVIDED THEREWITH AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION THEREOF

Abstract

A temperature control system for a vehicle, comprising a main circuit comprising a tubing in which there is provided a coolant, a main circuit pump configured to pump said coolant through the tubing of the main circuit in a first direction. Connected in parallel to the main circuit are a first and second sub-circuit for cooling or heating of components connected thereto. In the sub-circuits there are provided first and second pumps that pump coolant through said sub-circuits from a first end to second end at which the respective sub-circuit is connected the main circuit. The first end is downstream the second end as seen in the first direction in the first circuit.

Claims

1. A temperature control system for a vehicle, comprising: a main circuit comprising a tubing in which there is provided a coolant, a main circuit pump configured to pump said coolant through the tubing of the main circuit in a first direction, and at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit; a first sub-circuit for cooling or heating a first component, said first sub-circuit comprising a tubing that has a first end and a second end, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit, wherein the first end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit at a position downstream of a position at which the second end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit as seen in said first direction; and at least one second sub-circuit for cooling or heating a second component said second sub-circuit comprising a tubing that has a first end and a second end, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit, wherein the first end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit at a position downstream of a position at which the second end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit as seen in said first direction, wherein: the first sub-circuit comprises a first pump configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit to the second end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit, and the second sub-circuit comprises a second pump configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit to the second end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit; a first sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.1 of said first component; a second sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.2 of said second component; and a control unit which is connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor and which is configured to control operation of the first pump based on input received from the first sensor and to control operation of the second pump based on input received from the second sensor, and wherein the control unit is connected to the pump of the main circuit and to the at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit and is configured to control operation of the pump of the main circuit and said unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit based on input received from the first sensor and the second sensor.

2. A temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to activate the pump of the main circuit and/or said unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit, as a response to input received from said first sensor or from said second sensor, or from a sensor that measures a temperature of the coolant in the first sub-circuit and/or the second sub-circuit indicating that sufficient heating or cooling of the first component or second component is not achieved by control of the first and second pump.

3. A temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the pump of the main circuit has a lower maximum output, measured in liters per minute, than a sum of a maximum output of the first and the second pumps.

4. A temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the tubing of the main circuit that presents openings to which the respective first and second ends of the first and second sub-circuits are connected is separable from an upstream part of said tubing of the main circuit and a downstream part of said tubing of the main circuit by means of tubing connections.

5. A temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein said first component and said second component are components of a vehicle.

6. A temperature control system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is a battery for accumulation of electric energy.

7. A temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein characterized in that the first component has a preferred operation temperature range a-b, and the second component has a preferred operation temperature range c-d, and wherein range a-b overlaps range c-d.

8. A vehicle, comprising a temperature control system, comprising: a main circuit comprising a tubing in which there is provided a coolant, a main circuit pump configured to pump said coolant through the tubing of the main circuit in a first direction, and at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit; a first sub-circuit for cooling or heating a first component, said first sub-circuit comprising a tubing that has a first end and a second end, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit, wherein the first end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit at a position downstream of a position at which the second end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit as seen in said first direction; at least one second sub-circuit for cooling or heating a second component, said second sub-circuit comprising a tubing that has a first end and a second end, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit, wherein the first end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit at a position downstream of a position at which the second end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit as seen in said first direction, wherein: the first sub-circuit comprises a first pump configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit to the second end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit, and the second sub-circuit comprises a second pump configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit to the second end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit; a first sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.1 of said first component; a second sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.2 of said second component; and a control unit which is connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor and which is configured to control operation of the first pump based on input received from the first sensor and to control operation of the second pump based on input received from the second sensor, and wherein the control unit is connected to the pump of the main circuit and to the at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit and is configured to control operation of the pump of the main circuit and said unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit based on input received from the first sensor and the second sensor.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first component and said second component is any one of: a battery for accumulation of electric energy; a compressor; an electric heater device; a condenser; or power electronics.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the first component or the second component is a battery for the accumulation of electric energy.

11. A method of controlling operation of a temperature control system comprising: a main circuit comprising a tubing in which there is provided a coolant, a main circuit pump configured to pump said coolant through the tubing of the main circuit in a first direction, and at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit; a first sub-circuit for cooling or heating a first component, said first sub-circuit comprising a tubing that has a first end and a second end, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit, wherein the first end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit at a position downstream of a position at which the second end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit as seen in said first direction; at least one second sub-circuit for cooling or heating a second component, said second sub-circuit comprising a tubing that has a first end and a second end, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in the longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit, wherein the first end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit at a position downstream of a position at which the second end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit is connected to the tubing of the main circuit as seen in said first direction, wherein: the first sub-circuit comprises a first pump configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit to the second end of the tubing of the first sub-circuit, and the second sub-circuit comprises a second pump configured to pump coolant in a direction from said first end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit to the second end of the tubing of the second sub-circuit; a first sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.1 of said first component; a second sensor configured to measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.2 of said second component; and a control unit which is connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor and which is configured to control operation of the first pump based on input received from the first sensor and to control operation of the second pump based on input received from the second sensor, and wherein the control unit is connected to the pump of the main circuit and to the at least one unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit and is configured to control operation of the pump of the main circuit and said unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit based on input received from the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein said method comprises: a) measuring a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.1 of a first component; b) comparing the measured parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.1 of the first component to a preferred operation temperature range a-b of the first component; c) controlling an output of the first pump on basis of said comparison such that so as to control the temperature of the first component t.sub.1 toward the preferred operation temperature range a-b (a<t.sub.1<b); d) measuring a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.2 of the second component; e) comparing the measured parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.2 of the second component to a preferred operation temperature range c-d of the second component; f) controlling an output of the second pump on a basis of said comparison so as to control the temperature of the second component t.sub.2 toward the preferred operation temperature range c-d (c<t.sub.2<d); repeating said a) thru f) steps substantially continuously; and if any of the conditions a<t.sub.1<b or c<t.sub.2<d is not achieved by means of control of the output of the first pump or the second pump, controlling operation of the pump of the main circuit and operation of the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit in addition to controlling the output of the first and second pump such that a<t.sub.1<b and c<t.sub.2<d.

12. A temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to perform the following operations: a) measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.1 of a first component; b) compare the measured parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.1 of the first component to a preferred operation temperature range a-b of the first component; c) controlling an output of the first pump on basis of said comparison so as to control the temperature of the first component t.sub.1 toward the preferred operation temperature range a-b (a<t.sub.1<b); d) measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.2 of the second component; e) comparing the measured parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.2 of the second component to a preferred operation temperature range c-d of the second component; f) controlling an output of the second pump on a basis of said comparison so as to control the temperature of the second component t.sub.2 toward the preferred operation temperature range c-d (c<t.sub.2<d); repeating said a) thru f) steps substantially continuously; and if any of the conditions a<t.sub.1<b or c<t.sub.2<d is not achieved by means of control of the output of the first pump or the second pump, controlling operation of the pump of the main circuit and operation of the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit in addition to controlling the output of the first and second pump such that a<t.sub.1<b and c<t.sub.2<d.

13. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said control unit is configured to perform the following operations: a) measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.1 of a first component; b) compare the measured parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.1 of the first component to a preferred operation temperature range a-b of the first component; c) controlling an output of the first pump on basis of said comparison so as to control the temperature of the first component t.sub.1 toward the preferred operation temperature range a-b (a<t.sub.1<b); d) measure a parameter reflecting a temperature t.sub.2 of the second component; e) comparing the measured parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.2 of the second component to a preferred operation temperature range c-d of the second component; f) controlling an output of the second pump on a basis of said comparison so as to control the temperature of the second component t.sub.2 toward the preferred operation temperature range c-d (c<t.sub.2<d); repeating said a) thru f) steps substantially continuously; and if any of the conditions a<t.sub.1<b or c<t.sub.2<d is not achieved by means of control of the output of the first pump or the second pump, controlling operation of the pump of the main circuit and operation of the unit for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit in addition to controlling the output of the first and second pump such that a<t.sub.1<b and c<t.sub.2<d.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described more in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, on which:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of temperature control system according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing essential steps of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention,

[0043] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment to the control system shown in FIG. 1,

[0044] FIG. 4, is a further alternative embodiment to the control system shown in FIG. 1, and

[0045] FIG. 5 is yet another alternative embodiment of the control system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a temperature control system according to the present invention. Preferably the temperature control system is arranged in a vehicle, such as a bus or truck, for the purpose of heating or cooling components, including masses of gas and/or masses of liquid. According to one embodiment, the temperature control system is configured to cool a plurality of batteries which are configured to operate as accumulators of electric energy and to act as an energy storage which is used for feeding one or more electric motors/engines configured for the propulsion of the vehicle.

[0047] The temperature control system comprises a main circuit 1 comprising tubing 2 in which there is provided a coolant. The system further comprises a main circuit pump 3 configured to pump said coolant through the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 in a first direction, shown with an arrow in FIG. 1. The temperature control system also comprises at least one unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1. Said unit may comprise a fan-cooled radiator 4, a heater 5 and/or a cooler 6. The cooler 6 may comprise an evaporator via which the coolant exchanges heat with a refrigerant of a cooling system provided with a compressor, a condenser and said evaporator. In the shown embodiment, the radiator 4 is connected in parallel with the heater 5 and the cooler 6. A directing valve 26 is provided for controlling coolant flow to the radiator 4 and the heater 5 and cooler 6. Other set ups and arrangements are of course conceivable. For example, the unit for heating or cooling may comprise at least one further circuit from which coolant of predetermined temperature is introduced into the main circuit. Such further circuits then, per definition, becomes part of the main circuit disclosed in this application.

[0048] In addition to the main circuit 1, the temperature control system also comprises a first sub-circuit 7 for cooling or heating a first component 8, said first sub-circuit comprising a tubing 9 that has a first end 10 and a second end 11, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing 2 of the main circuit at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit. The first end 10 is connected to the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 at a position downstream the position at which the second 11 end is connected to the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 as seen in said first direction.

[0049] The temperature control system also comprises a second sub-circuit 12 for cooling or heating a second component 13, said second sub-circuit 12 comprising a tubing 14 that has a first end 15 and a second end 16, which are connected to respective openings in the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 at positions that are spaced apart from each other as seen in a longitudinal direction of the tubing of the main circuit 1. The first end 15 is connected to the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 at a position downstream the position at which the second 16 end is connected to the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 as seen in said first direction.

[0050] The first ends 10, 15 are located downstream the second ends 11, 16 as seen in the first direction and, in this specific case, as seen from the pump 3 of the main circuit. There is a mixing zone in the first circuit 1 between the first ends 10, 15 and the second ends 11, 16, which is shared by the main circuit 1 and the first and second sub-circuits. The mixing zone should have a volume above a predetermined threshold value in order to enable coolant flowing through the sub-circuits to be mixed in said zone. According to one embodiment, the first component 8 has a preferred operation temperature range a-b, and the second component 13 has a preferred operation temperature range c-d, wherein a-b overlaps c-d.

[0051] There is also provided a sensor 25 for sensing the temperature of the coolant downstream the second ends 11, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 13 and upstream the respective first and second component 8, 13 as seen in said first direction. Alternatively the sensor 25 is supplemented or replaced by corresponding sensors arranged for the measurement of the coolant temperature in the first and second sub-circuits 7, 13 downstream the first ends 10, 15 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 13, but upstream the first and second components 8, 13 as seen in the flow directions generated in the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12.

[0052] Further to the above-mentioned features, the first sub-circuit 7 comprises a first pump 17 configured to pump a coolant in a direction from said first end 10 of the tubing 9 of the first sub-circuit 7 to the second end 11 of the first sub-circuit 7. The coolant pumped through the first sub-circuit is coolant shared with the main circuit.

[0053] The second sub-circuit 12 comprises a second pump 18 configured to pump a coolant in a direction from said first end 15 of the tubing 14 of the second sub-circuit 12 to the second end 16 of the second sub-circuit 12.

[0054] The temperature control system further comprises a first sensor 19 configured to measure a parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.1 of said first component 8 and, a second sensor 20 configured to measure a parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.2 of said second component 13. There is also provided a control unit 21 which is connected to the first sensor 19 and to the second sensor 20 and which is configured to control the operation of the first pump 17 on basis of input received from the first sensor 19 and to control the operation of the second pump 18 on basis of input received from the second sensor 20.

[0055] The control unit 21 is connected to the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and to the at least one unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 and is configured to control the operation of the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and said unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 on basis of input received from the first sensor 19 and the second sensor 20. The control unit is also connected to and configured to control the directing valve 26.

[0056] The control unit 21 is configured to activate the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and/or said unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1, as a response to input received from said first or second sensor 19, 20 that indicates that sufficient heating or cooling of the first component 8 or second component 13 is not achieved by control of the first and second pump 17, 18.

[0057] A portion 22 of the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 that presents the openings to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected is separable from an upstream part of said tubing and a downstream part of said tubing 2 by means of tube connections 23, 24 via which it is connected to said upstream part and downstream part respectively. The portion 22 carrying said openings thus forms an easily replaceable unit which can be replaced to another corresponding unit with another setup of openings, depending on the need.

[0058] The term “tubing” as applied in this disclosure should be regarded in a wide sense and may include all sorts of structural elements that define a channel through which a coolant may flow. A tubing as used in this disclosure may also comprise a plurality of structural elements that together define the tubing, said structural elements not necessarily having the traditional geometric tubular shape of a tube.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment, comprising a piece of tubing 32 to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the upstream part of the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 is connected to the piece of tubing 32 at a point between the first ends 10, 15 and the seconds ends 11, 16 of the sub-circuits 7, 12. There is still a mixing zone in which coolant from the main circuit 1 and the sub-circuits 7, 12 is mixed.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment, comprising a piece of tubing 42 to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the downstream part of the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 is connected to the piece of tubing 42 at a point between the first ends 10, 15 and the seconds ends 11, 16 of the sub-circuits 7, 12. There is still a mixing zone in which coolant from the main circuit 1 and the sub-circuits 7, 12 is mixed.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment, comprising a piece of tubing 52 to which the first and second ends 10, 11, 15, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 8, 12 are connected in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that both the upstream part and the downstream part of the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 are connected to the piece of tubing 52 at respective points between the first ends 10, 15 and the seconds ends 11, 16 of the sub-circuits 7, 12. The upstream part of the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1 is connected closer to the second ends 11, 15 of sub-circuits 7 12 than is the downstream part of the tubing 2 of the main circuit 1. As a result thereof, there is still a mixing zone in which coolant from the main circuit 1 and the sub-circuits 7, 12 is mixed.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart in which steps of the method according to the present invention is presented. The method comprises the following steps:

[0063] Measuring the temperature t of the coolant downstream the second ends 11, 16 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12 as seen in said first direction, either by measurement in said mixing zone and/or by individual measurement of the coolant temperature in the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12 downstream the first ends 10, 15 of the first and second sub-circuits 7, 12, but upstream the first and second components 8, 13, box S1.

[0064] Comparing the measured coolant temperature t with a preferred operation temperature range a-b of the first component 8 and with a preferred operation temperature range c-d of the second component 13, box S2.

[0065] If the measured coolant temperature t is outside the ranges a-b and/or c-d, then operation of the pump 3 of the main circuit 1 and said unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 should be controlled such that the measured coolant temperature t becomes inside said ranges a-b and c-d, box S3.

[0066] Measuring a first parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.1 of the first component 8 in the first sub-circuit, and measuring a second parameter reflecting the temperature t.sub.2 of the second component 13 in the second sub-circuit, box S4.

[0067] Comparing the temperature t.sub.1 reflected by the first measured parameter to the preferred operation temperature range a-b of the first component 8, to determine if a<t.sub.1<b, and comparing the temperature t.sub.2 reflected by the second measured parameter to the preferred operation temperature range c-d of the second component 13 to determine if c<t.sub.2<d, box S5.

[0068] If a<t.sub.1<b is not fulfilled, controlling the output of the first pump 17 of the first sub-circuit 7 on basis of said comparison such in order to obtain that a<t.sub.1<b, and if c<t.sub.2<d, controlling the output of the second pump 18 on basis of said such that c<t.sub.2<d, box S6.

[0069] These steps are preferably performed by the action of the control unit 21 in interaction with the first and second sensors 19, 20, the sensor 25 for measuring the coolant temperature, the pump 3 in the main circuit 1, the unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1, and the first and second pumps 17, 18.

[0070] It should be stated that if the temperature t of the coolant is not within the ranges a-b and c-d, this will be interpreted by the control unit as an indication that sufficient heating or cooling of the first component 8 or second component 13 is not achieved by control of the first and second pumps 17, 18 alone, but that added functionality of the pump 3 in the main circuit 1 and the unit 4, 5, 6 for cooling or heating the coolant in the main circuit 1 is needed.

[0071] Although the invention has been exemplified only by showing an embodiment in which there are only two sub-circuits it should be understood that the intended scope of protection also includes solutions in which there are numerous such sub-circuits, and by means of which the temperature of a plurality of components, including batteries, are controlled. Controlling the temperature of a component also includes controlling the temperature of a mass of gas or liquid, preferably by controlling the temperature of a component that in its turn affects the temperature of the mass of gas or liquid.

[0072] It should be added that of course, the claimed scope of protection also covers designs in which there are further components/parts in each respective circuit. Such components/parts may be provided serially or in parallel with the components/parts that have been disclosed in this disclosure.