Battery thermal system for vehicle
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.
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; and
a 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; and
a 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; and
A radiator configured to cool the power plant, the radiator located adjacent to the battery radiator.