US-20260124960-A1 - COOLING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE BATTERY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

A cooling system for vehicle battery and a control method thereof for a vehicle is provided. The cooling system includes an ambient temperature sensor that measures an ambient temperature. and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a battery cooling start temperature and a battery cooling end temperature based on the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor, predict an estimated vehicle driving time, and determine a final cooling start temperature and a final cooling end temperature by adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the predicted estimated vehicle driving time.

Inventors

• Qing Dong HOU
• Tae Hun Jung
• Xiaorui Zhai

Assignees

• HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
• KIA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251106

Priority Date

20241107

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A cooling system for a vehicle battery comprising: an ambient temperature sensor that measures an ambient temperature; and a controller including a memory storing computer-executable instructions and at least one processor configured to access the memory and execute the instructions, wherein the instructions comprise: determining a battery cooling start temperature and a battery cooling end temperature based on the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor; predicting an estimated vehicle driving time; and determining a final cooling start temperature and a final cooling end temperature by adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the predicted estimated vehicle driving time.
2. 2 . The cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a navigation device providing navigation information, wherein the instructions further comprise predicting the estimated vehicle driving time based on the navigation information provided by the navigation device.
3. 3 . The cooling system of claim 2 , further comprising a storage device for storing a vehicle driving time history, wherein the instructions further comprise predicting the estimated vehicle driving time based on the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device in the absence of the navigation information.
4. 4 . The cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage device for storing a vehicle driving time history, wherein the instructions further comprise predicting the estimated vehicle driving time based on the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device.
5. 5 . The cooling system of claim 2 , further comprising a storage device storing a vehicle driving time history, wherein the instructions further comprise predicting the estimated vehicle driving time based on the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device, and wherein instructions further comprise classifying an estimated vehicle driving time grade according to the predicted estimated vehicle driving time based on the navigation information or the vehicle driving time history, determining the estimated vehicle driving time grade as level 1 based on the predicted estimated vehicle driving time being less than a first scheduled time, determining the estimated vehicle driving time grade as level 2 based on the predicted estimated vehicle driving time being greater than or equal to the first scheduled time and less than a second scheduled time, and determining the estimated vehicle driving time grade as level 3 based on the predicted estimated vehicle driving time being greater than or equal to the second scheduled time and less than a third scheduled time.
6. 6 . The cooling system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions further comprise: based on the determined estimated vehicle driving time grade being level 1 , increasing the battery cooling start temperature by a first predetermined value to be the final battery cooling start temperature, and increasing the battery cooling end temperature by a second predetermined value to be the final battery cooling end temperature; based on the determined estimated vehicle driving time grade being level 2 , increasing the battery cooling start temperature by a third predetermined value to be the final battery cooling start temperature, and increasing the battery cooling end temperature by a fourth predetermined value to be the final battery cooling end temperature; and based on the determined estimated vehicle driving time grade being level 3 , increasing the battery cooling start temperature by a fifth predetermined value to be the final battery cooling start temperature, and increasing the battery cooling end temperature by a sixth predetermined value to be the battery cooling end temperature of the battery.
7. 7 . The cooling system of claim 6 , further comprising a battery temperature sensor for measuring a battery temperature, wherein the instructions further comprise: performing battery cooling based on a current battery temperature being higher than the final battery cooling start temperature; and terminating the battery cooling based on the current battery temperature being lower than or equal to the final battery cooling end temperature during the battery cooling.
8. 8 . The cooling system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions further comprise updating the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device based on an actual driving time of the vehicle after a vehicle ignition is turned off.
9. 9 . The cooling system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further comprise updating the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device based on an actual driving time of the vehicle after a vehicle ignition is turned off.
10. 10 . A method for controlling a cooling system for a vehicle battery comprising: determining, via a controller, a battery cooling start temperature and a battery cooling end temperature based on an ambient temperature measured by an ambient temperature sensor; predicting, via the controller, an estimated vehicle driving time; and determining, via the controller, a final battery cooling start temperature and a final battery cooling end temperature by adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the calculated estimated vehicle driving time via the controller.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein predicting the estimated vehicle driving time includes predicting, via the controller, the estimated vehicle driving time based on navigation information provided by a navigation device.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein predicting the estimated vehicle driving time includes predicting, via the controller, in the absence of the navigation information, the estimated vehicle driving time based on a vehicle driving time history stored in a storage device.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein predicting the estimated vehicle driving time includes predicting, via the controller, the estimated vehicle driving time based on a vehicle driving time history stored in a storage device.
14. 14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein: predicting the estimated vehicle driving time, via the controller, includes predicting the estimated vehicle driving time based on a vehicle driving time history stored in a storage device; classifying an estimated vehicle driving time grade according to the predicted estimated vehicle driving time based on the navigation information or the vehicle driving time history via the controller; determining the estimated vehicle driving time grade is determined as level 1 when the predicted estimated vehicle driving time is less than a first scheduled time; determining the estimated vehicle driving time grade is determined as level 2 when the predicted estimated vehicle driving time is greater than or equal to the first scheduled time and less than a second scheduled time; and determining the estimated vehicle driving time grade is determined as level 3 when the predicted estimated vehicle driving time is greater than or equal to the second scheduled time and less than a third scheduled time.
15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein, when adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the determined estimated vehicle driving time grade being level 1 , the battery cooling start temperature is increased by a first predetermined value to be the final battery cooling start temperature, and the battery cooling end temperature is increased by a second predetermined value to be the final battery cooling end temperature.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein, when adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the determined estimated vehicle driving time grade being level 2 , the battery cooling start temperature is increased by a third predetermined value to be the final battery cooling start temperature, and the battery cooling end temperature is increased by a fourth predetermined value to be the final battery cooling end temperature.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein, when adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the determined estimated vehicle driving time grade being level 3 , the battery cooling start temperature is increased by a fifth predetermined value to be the final battery cooling start temperature, and the battery cooling end temperature is increased by a sixth predetermined value to be the final battery cooling end temperature.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: after determining the final battery cooling start temperature and the final battery cooling end temperature, performing cooling of the battery via the controller based on a current battery temperature being greater than or equal to the final battery cooling start temperature; and terminating cooling of the battery via the controller based on the current battery temperature being lower than or equal to the final battery cooling end temperature during the cooling of the battery.
19. 19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: updating, via the controller, the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device based on an actual driving time of the vehicle when a vehicle ignition is turned off.
20. 20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein: updating, via a controller, the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device based on an actual driving time of the vehicle when a vehicle ignition is turned off.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202411585404.1 filed with the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration on Nov. 7, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a cooling system for a vehicle battery and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a cooling system for a vehicle battery and a control method thereof capable of adjusting a battery cooling strategy based on an ambient temperature and a vehicle usage mode. BACKGROUND Electric vehicles are equipped with high-voltage batteries as a power source. To support the function of the high-voltage battery, a cooling system for the battery may maintain the temperature of the high-voltage battery at a (e.g., optimal) working temperature (e.g., 36° C.). When the temperature of the high-voltage battery exceeds the (e.g., optimum) operating (e.g., working) temperature, the cooling system for the battery begins to cool the high-voltage battery, thereby lowering the temperature of the high-voltage battery. A conventional battery cooling strategy does not consider ambient temperature and vehicle usage modes, which may result in increased (e.g., excessive) cooling and energy waste. On the one hand, when the vehicle is parked in a high-temperature environment (e.g., above 40° C.) for a long period of time, the temperature of the high-voltage battery becomes almost the same as the ambient temperature. In this case, even if the driving time of the vehicle is short, the conventional cooling system for the battery cools the high-voltage battery (e.g., immediately) after the vehicle is started, thereby lowering the temperature of the high-voltage battery to an (e.g., optimal) operating temperature. However, in this case, the ambient temperature is high and the vehicle driving time is very short, making it difficult to maintain the temperature of the high-voltage battery at the (e.g., optimal) operating temperature. Therefore, using conventional battery cooling strategies result in increased (e.g., excessive) battery cooling and energy waste. On the other hand, when the vehicle is driven in a low-temperature environment (e.g., below 0° C.), once the temperature of the high-voltage battery exceeds the (e.g., optimum) operating temperature, the conventional battery cooling system (e.g., immediately) performs cooling of the high-voltage battery, thereby lowering the temperature of the high-voltage battery to the (e.g., optimum) operating temperature. However, considering that the temperature of the high-voltage battery may naturally decrease in low ambient temperatures, using the conventional battery cooling strategy may still result in increased (e.g., excessive) battery cooling and energy waste. The above information disclosed in this background section is meant to facilitate understanding of the background of the disclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art. SUMMARY An example embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cooling system for a vehicle battery and a control method thereof capable of adjusting a battery cooling strategy based on an ambient temperature and a vehicle usage mode. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling system for a vehicle battery is provided. The cooling system includes an ambient temperature sensor that measures an ambient temperature and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine a battery cooling start temperature and a battery cooling end temperature based on the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor, predict an estimated vehicle driving time, and determine a final cooling start temperature and a final cooling end temperature by adjusting the battery cooling start temperature and the battery cooling end temperature based on the predicted estimated vehicle driving time. In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling system may further include a navigation device providing navigation information, and the controller may be further configured to predict the estimated vehicle driving time based on the navigation information provided by the navigation device. In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling system may further include a storage device for storing a vehicle driving time history, and the controller may be further configured to predict the estimated vehicle driving time based on the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device in the absence of the navigation information. In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling system may further include a storage device storing a vehicle driving time history, and the controller may be further configured to predict the estimated vehicle driving time based on the vehicle driving time history stored in the storage device when there is no na