Thermal management system, vehicle and associated method

摘要

A system includes a cooling system having a cooling fluid for cooling an engine and a radiator fan motor; a dynamic braking system configured to supply electrical energy to the fan motor during a braking event; and a controller that is operable to direct the electrical energy from the dynamic braking system to the fan motor to cool the coolant to a predetermined minimum threshold temperature. A method includes switching a vehicle thermal management system from a first mode of operation in which the coolant is maintained at a steady operating temperature to a second mode of operation in which the coolant is cooled to a minimum threshold temperature.

主权项

1. A thermal management system, comprising:
a cooling system for cooling an engine, the cooling system having a first electric device comprising a radiator fan and a radiator fan motor coupled to the radiator fan for driving the radiator fan and that is controllable independent of engine operating speed; a plurality of energy sources, each controllable to supply electrical power to the first electric device; and a controller configured to select a first energy source from among the plurality of energy sources and to direct electrical power from the first energy source to the first electric device, wherein the first energy source is selected based on an availability of the first energy source and an energy cost factor associated with the first energy source supplying the electrical power relative to respective energy cost factors associated with each other energy source of the plurality of energy sources, each respective energy cost factor including an effective amount of fuel consumed by the engine for a designated amount of electrical power to be supplied by that energy source to the first electric device; the controller is configured to direct the electrical power from the first energy source to the first electric device for operation of the cooling system in an overcooling mode, wherein in the overcooling mode the first electric device is powered to continue to cool a cooling element from below past a designated maximum threshold temperature to a lower, second threshold temperature, wherein the cooling element is associated with the engine; disabling the overcooling mode of operation in response to reaching a predetermined minimum threshold temperature and in response to an engine fuel usage amount.