TEMPERATURE BASED BATTERY CONTROL

Abstract

Responsive to data indicative of a temperature of a contactor connecting a battery and motor exceeding a threshold, a controller decreases power output from the battery to the motor. The data include parameters indicative of a temperature of the battery, a resistance of an electrical component between the battery and motor, and a thermal resistivity of one or more components other than the battery and motor in a vicinity of the contactor.

Description

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: a battery;a motor;a contactor contained in a housing and connected between the battery and motor; anda controller programmed to, responsive to data indicative of a temperature of the contactor exceeding a threshold, decrease power output from the battery to the motor, wherein the data include parameters indicative of a temperature of the battery, a resistance of an electrical component between the battery and motor, and a thermal resistivity of one or more components other than the battery and motor in a vicinity of the contactor.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electrical component is an electrical cable.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the one or more components include the housing.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the data further include a parameter indicative of a current passing through the contactor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the data further include a parameter indicative of a resistance of the contactor.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the data further include a product of the thermal resistivity and resistance.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the data further include one or more parameters indicative of coefficients of thermal decay.

8. A power system comprising: a controller programmed to execute instructions implementing a thermal model that produces output indicative of a temperature of a contactor connecting a battery and motor based on input indicative of a thermal resistivity of one or more components other than the battery and motor in a vicinity of the contactor, and to decrease power output from the battery to the motor responsive to the temperature exceeding a threshold.

9. The power system of claim 8, wherein the one or more components include a housing for the contactor.

10. The power system of claim 8, wherein the thermal model further produces the output based on input indicative of a current passing through the contactor.

11. The power system of claim 8, wherein the thermal model further produces the output based on input indicative of a resistance of the contactor.

12. The power system of claim 11, wherein the thermal model further produces the output based on input indicative of a product of the thermal resistivity and resistance.

13. A method comprising: decreasing power output from a battery to a motor after data indicates a temperature of a contactor electrically connecting the battery and motor exceeds a threshold, wherein the data include parameters indicative of a temperature of the battery, a resistance of an electrical component between the battery and motor, and a thermal resistivity of a housing of the contactor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrical component is an electrical cable.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the data further include a parameter indicative of a current passing through the contactor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the data further include a parameter indicative of a resistance of the contactor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data further include a product of the resistance and thermal resistivity.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the data further include one or more parameters indicative of coefficients of thermal decay.