초록 ▼

A battery thermal system for use in a vehicle having a power plant, an air conditioning system and a battery pack, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The battery thermal system may include a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger that selectively receives a refrigerant from the vehicle air cond

A battery thermal system for use in a vehicle having a power plant, an air conditioning system and a battery pack, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The battery thermal system may include a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger that selectively receives a refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system; a battery radiator located adjacent to a cooling fan; a valve that receives a liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirects the liquid coolant to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator; and an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the valve, the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator. The battery thermal system may also include a battery coolant heater for selectively heating the coolant that flows into the battery pack.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle comprising: a power plant;a radiator configured to cool the power plant;a cooling fan located adjacent to the radiator and configured to draw air through the radiator;an air conditioning system;a battery pack; anda battery thermal system including a battery radiator located adjacent to

1. A vehicle comprising: a power plant;a radiator configured to cool the power plant;a cooling fan located adjacent to the radiator and configured to draw air through the radiator;an air conditioning system;a battery pack; anda battery thermal system including a battery radiator located adjacent to the radiator and in fluid communication with the battery pack; a battery coolant heater located upstream of the battery pack and configured to receive a flow of a liquid coolant therethrough, whereby the battery coolant heater is activatable to heat the coolant flowing therethrough; and an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the battery radiator, and the battery coolant heater; and wherein the battery thermal system includes a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger configured to selectively receive a refrigerant from the air conditioning system, and a valve configured to receive the liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirect the liquid coolant to one of the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator. 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the battery thermal system includes an air separator configured to receive a flow of liquid coolant therethrough and separate air bubbles from the liquid in the liquid coolant. 3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power plant is an internal combustion engine. 4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power plant is a fuel cell. 5. The vehicle of claim 1 including an electric motor drivingly engaging the cooling fan. 6. The vehicle of claim 1 including a plug-in charger operatively engaging the battery pack. 7. A vehicle comprising: an air conditioning system;a battery pack; anda battery thermal system including a coolant-to-air battery radiator in fluid communication with the battery pack; a battery coolant heater located upstream of the battery pack and configured to receive a flow of a liquid coolant therethrough, whereby the battery coolant heater is activatable to heat the coolant flowing therethrough; an electric pump for pumping the liquid coolant through the battery pack, the battery radiator, and the battery coolant heater; a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger configured to selectively receive a refrigerant from the air conditioning system; and a valve configured to receive the liquid coolant from the battery pack and selectively redirect the liquid coolant to one of the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger and the battery radiator. 8. The vehicle of claim 7 comprising: a power plant; andA radiator configured to cool the power plant, the radiator located adjacent to the battery radiator.