DESC:This application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Application 201641012734, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments herein relate to vehicle systems, and more particularly to cooling systems in vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Currently, vehicles with an electric powertrain system are being used increasingly. Air-conditioning/HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Cooling) in such vehicles is different from that of a conventional fuel based vehicle, as it involves cooling for the cabin as well as the battery. Also, the optimum energy consumption from the battery is of utmost importance, as it will have a direct impact on the vehicle drive range.

OBJECTS
[003] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide methods and systems for balancing both the cabin and battery cooling requirements for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises of at least one electric powertrain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[004] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[005] FIG. 1 depicts a HVAC control and cooling system in a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[006] FIGs. 2a and 2b depict examples of the cut-in/cut off values of sensors for each setting, according to embodiments as disclosed herein, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[007] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[008] The embodiments herein achieve methods and systems for balancing both the cabin and battery cooling requirements for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises of at least one electric powertrain. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 2, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[009] The HVAC system, as disclosed herein can be at least one of a manual system or an automatic climate control system.
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a HVAC control and cooling system in a vehicle. The system 100, as depicted, comprises of a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater 101, an evaporation sensor 102, a heater sensor 103, an electric compressor 104, a condenser 105, a fan 106, a fan shroud 107, a control panel 108, a heater 109, an Engine Management System (EMS) 110, at least one battery 111, a battery cooling unit 112, and an evaporator (113).
[0011] In an example herein, the PTC heater 101 can be 2kW, 72V PTC heater. In an example herein, the compressor 104 can be a 72V Brushless DC (BLDC) motor. In an example herein, the fan 106 can be driven by a motor 150W.
[0012] Whenever the HVAC system 100 is switched ON (either for cabin or for battery cooling), the HVAC system 100 can turn the fan 106 ON. The HVAC system 100 can run the fan 106 at a single speed. In an embodiment herein, the HVAC system can run the fan 106 at a single high speed. However, when the vehicle speed is more than a pre-configured speed, the HVAC system 100 will turn the fan 106 OFF, irrespective of the ON/OFF state of the AC.
[0013] The control panel 108 can be present in the cabin of the vehicle, and will enable a user of the vehicle to control the HVAC system 100. The control panel can 108 can enable the user to control at least one of the blower speed, temperature, and so on. The blower speed can be integrated with the rpm (revolutions per minute) of the compressor 104. Each setting of the blower speed generates two signals; a first signal for controlling the blower speed and a second signal stating the rpm at which the compressor 104 is to run. The first signal can control the blower speed using a suitable means such as FET. In an embodiment herein, the second signal can be a Controller Area Network (CAN) signal. Examples of the compressor rpm values for cabin and battery cooling functions are depicted in Table 1.
Compressor rpm Values
Blower position Only Cabin cooling Only Battery cooling Cabin + Battery Cooling
Blower 1 3000 Required rpm will be sent by the EMS to the control panel, which transmits the same. Whichever value is higher between the blower position and EMS request.
Blower 2 4100
Blower 3 5200
Blower 4 6500
Table 1

[0014] A temperature control knob of the control panel 108 can be used to control both the A/C and heater temperature (either by setting the temperature or the blower speed). In an example herein, if a 19 step potentiometer is used in the temperature knob, wherein 6 cooling and 6 heating positions shall be available for a user. Each step in the cooling side corresponds to a different cut-in/cut-off temperature of the evaporator sensor 102, which determines the degree of cooling. Each step in the heating side corresponds to a different cut-in/cut-off temperature of the heater sensor 103, which determines the degree of heating. When the heater function is chosen, the compressor 104 will be in OFF position. When the cooling function is chosen (irrespective of AC ON or cut-off), the condenser fan 106 needs to be turned ON. When the temperature knob is in OFF or in the heater zone, the condenser fan 106 needs to be turned OFF. The air mix actuator should either completely block the passage to the heater (during A/C mode) or should completely open the heater passage (during heater mode). There is no mixing of air. Examples of the cut-in/cut off values of sensors for each setting are depicted in FIGs. 2a and 2b.
[0015] The control panel 108 can comprise of a common ON-OFF switch for both the heater 109 and the compressor 104. Based on the knob indicator position, either the compressor 104 or the heater 109 will be turned on when the push button is pressed. When an Air conditioning (AC) switch is turned ON, the control panel 108 will check for the dual pressure switch input, so that the compressor 104 will turn ON only when the system pressure is greater than a pre-defined pressure threshold. At one moment, the compressor 104 or the heater 109 can be turned ON. A flap can block either the heater passage or the evaporator passage. In a first position, the flap can block the heater passage during compressor ON state and in a second position can block the evaporator passage during heater ON state.
[0016] The battery cooling unit 112 can comprise of an evaporator and a blower. The battery cooling unit 112 can be supported by the HVAC system 100. Additional AC lines can be routed from the HVAC system 100 to the battery cooling unit 112. The battery cooling unit 112 can be fixed in between the air ducts, which is a closed loop system. Refrigerant flow through the rear AC lines can be controlled through a suitable means such as a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve can be controlled by the control panel 108, based on the request from the EMS 110 for battery cooling.
[0017] In an embodiment herein, the communication system shall be based on CAN and the diagnostic protocol can be UDS. The Input/output requirements are depicted in table 2 (which depicts the signals that are to be considered from/to E-box).
Signal From To Vehicle Condition Communication
State of Charge Info EMS CONTROL PANEL Ignition ON/OFF CAN
Cabin conditioning requirement (Remote) EMS CONTROL PANEL Ignition OFF CAN
Battery cooling requirement EMS CONTROL PANEL Ignition ON/OFF CAN
Battery cooling rpm EMS CONTROL PANEL Ignition ON/OFF CAN
AC ON CONTROL PANEL Signal isolator Ignition ON/OFF CAN
Compressor rpm CONTROL PANEL Signal isolator Ignition ON/OFF CAN
PTC Heater Out CONTROL PANEL PTC Heater Relay Ignition ON Hard Wired
Heater ON/OFF Status CONTROL PANEL EMS Ignition ON/OFF CAN
Table 2
[0018] The HVAC and battery cooling operation matrix is depicted in Tables 3 and 4. The matrix represents the operation of system components and the system status during various HVAC and battery cooling activities when the vehicle is in drive mode. Table 3 depicts the operation matrix for the HVAC and battery cooling system in drive mode.
IGN ONCONDITION
S.
No Condition Solenoid Value Compressor Status Cabin Blower Status Condenser Fan Status PTC Heater Status
1 Cabin Cooling Only OFF ON.
RPM Should be based on Blower knob Position ON.
Speed based on Blower Knob Position ON OFF
2 Cabin Heating Only OFF OFF ON
Speed based on blower knob
Position OFF ON
3 Battery cooling only ON ON
RPM should be based on EMS
command OFF ON OFF
4 Cabin and Battery
Cooling ON ON
RPM is the higher of values between blower position and EMSinput ON
Speed based on blower knob position ON OFF
5 Cabin blower and Battery Cooling ON ON
RPM should be based on EMS command ON
Speed based on blower knob position ON OFF
6 Cabin Heating and
Batter Cooling
(During Face, Foot & Bi-level Modes) ON ON
RPM should be based on EMS
command ON
Speed based on blower knob
Position ON OFF

7 Cabin Heating and
Batter Cooling
(During Foot-Defrost & Defrost Modes) OFF OFF ON
Speed based on blower knob
Position OFF ON

Table 3
[0019] Table 4 depicts the operation matrix for the HVAC and battery cooling system in ignition OFF mode.
IGN OFFCONDITION
S.
No Condition Solenoid Value Compressor Status Cabin Blower Status Condensor Fan Status PTC Heater Status
1 Only Cabin cooling
by remote OFF ON
Compressor RPM Should Maintain at 4500 RPM ON
4th Blower Speed ON OFF

2 Only Cabin Heating by Remote OFF OFF ON
4th Blower Speed OFF ON
3 Cabin Precooling
and Battery Cooling ON ON
Compressor RPM Should be based on EMS command ON
4th Blower Speed ON OFF
4 Cabin Pre Heating
and Battery Cooling ON ON
RPM should be based on EMS
command OFF ON OFF

5 Battery Cooling Only ON ON
RPM Should be based on EMS command OFF ON OFF
Table 4
[0020] During Ignition ON & OFF, when SOC (battery charge) is less than a pre-defined threshold, cabin cooling and heating are not enabled.
[0021] Embodiments herein balance both cabin and battery cooling requirements. Embodiments herein use air for cooling. The battery cooling unit functions independent of the cabin cooling. Embodiments herein also disclose a single loop system.
[0022] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and cooling system (100) for a vehicle, the system (100) comprising a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater (101), an evaporation sensor (102), a heater sensor (103), an electric compressor (104), a condenser (105), at least one fan (106), a control panel (108), a heater (109), at least one battery (111), a battery cooling unit (112) for the battery (111), and an evaporator (113).

2. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) is configured for
turning the fan (106) on, on the system (100) being turned on, if speed of the vehicle is less than a pre-configured speed; and
turning the fan (106) off, if speed of the vehicle is less than the pre-configured speed.

3. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) is configured for
generating a first signal for controlling blower speed, based on current blower setting on the control panel (108); and
generating a second signal for determining revolutions per minute (rpm) at which the compressor (104) is to run, based on the current blower setting on the control panel (108).

4. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control panel (108) comprises a common ON-OFF switch for the heater (109) and the compressor (104).

5. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) is configured for turning the compressor (104) on, if system pressure is greater than a pre-defined pressure threshold, on an Air conditioning (AC) switch on the control panel (108) being turned on.

6. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) further comprises a flap, wherein the flap in a first position blocks a passage to the heater (109) during ON state of the compressor (104) and in a second position blocks a passage to the evaporator (113) during ON state of the heater (109).

7. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control panel (108) is configured to control the battery cooling unit (112), wherein a plurality of AC lines runs to the battery cooling unit (112).

8. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the battery cooling unit (112) comprises of an evaporator and a blower.

9. The system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the battery cooling unit (112) is fixed in between air ducts present in the vehicle in a closed loop system.

10. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) is configured for not enabling cabin cooling and heating, if State of Charge (SOC) of the battery (111) is less than a pre-defined threshold.