Auxiliary Battery Cooling for a Vehicle

Abstract

A HVAC and battery cooling system, and method of operation, for use in a vehicle that may include a HVAC system, a battery cooling system and a pre-cooling heat exchanger is disclosed. The HVAC system may include an evaporator and a drain configured to receive condensate from the evaporator. The battery cooling system may include a main battery cooling subsystem configured to cool a cooling fluid that flows through a battery pack. The pre-cooling heat exchanger is configured to receive a flow of the cooling fluid therethrough and a flow of the condensate therethrough, whereby the condensate absorbs heat from the cooling fluid as the condensate flows through the pre-cooling heat exchanger.

1 . A HVAC and battery cooling system for use in a vehicle comprising:
 a HVAC system including an evaporator and a drain configured to receive condensate from the evaporator;   a battery cooling system including a main battery cooling subsystem configured to cool a cooling fluid that flows through a battery pack; and   a pre-cooling heat exchanger configured to receive a flow of the cooling fluid therethrough and a flow of the condensate therethrough, whereby the condensate absorbs heat from the cooling fluid as the condensate flows through the pre-cooling heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the condensate is directed directly from the drain into the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the condensate is directed from the pre-cooling heat exchanger to atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 1  including a control valve having an inlet configured to receive the condensate from the drain, a first outlet configured to direct the condensate to the pre-cooling heat exchanger, and a second outlet configured to direct the condensate to the atmosphere, bypassing the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 4  including an insulated condensate bottle configured to receive the condensate from the drain and direct the condensate to the control valve. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 5  including a condensate pump configured to pump the condensate from the first outlet through the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 4  including a condensate pump configured to pump the condensate from the first outlet through the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 1  including an insulated condensate bottle configured to receive the condensate from the drain and direct the condensate to the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 1  including a condensate pump configured to pump the condensate from the drain through the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC and battery cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the battery cooling system includes a battery cooling pump configured to pump the cooling fluid through the main battery cooling subsystem and the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . A method of cooling a battery pack in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) directing a cooling fluid in a battery cooling system through a pre-cooling heat exchanger;   (b) directing a condensate from an evaporator in a HVAC system through the pre-cooling heat exchanger to thereby cause the condensate to absorb heat from the pre-cooling heat exchanger;   (c) directing the cooling fluid in the battery cooling system from the pre-cooling heat exchanger through a main battery cooling subsystem; and   (d) directing the cooling fluid from the main battery cooling subsystem through the battery pack to thereby absorb heat from the battery pack.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) is further defined by providing a control valve and selectively switching the valve to direct the condensate to the pre-cooling heat exchanger and to direct the condensate to bypass the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein step (b) is further defined by pumping the condensate through the pre-cooling heat exchanger with a condensate pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein step (b) is further defined by storing the condensate from the evaporator in an insulated condensate bottle prior to directing the condensate through the control valve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) is further defined by storing the condensate from the evaporator in an insulated condensate bottle prior to directing the condensate through the pre-cooling heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) is further defined by pumping the condensate through the pre-cooling heat exchanger with a condensate pump.