Research on Combined Thermal Management System of Power Battery and Air Conditioning Based on MPC

Efficient thermal management of power batteries is critical for the safety of new energy vehicles. In this study, we present a novel combined thermal management system that integrates the battery-cooling system with the air-conditioning system. The system employs model predictive control (MPC) to regulate the battery water pump. To evaluate its performance, the MPC strategy is compared with ON-OFF, PID, and fuzzy control strategies. The system model was established and simulated in a high-temperature environment (40 °C) based on a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The results demonstrate that the MPC-controlled pump exhibits the fastest response speed, maintaining battery temperature fluctuations within 1 °C, comparable to fuzzy control but with significantly lower power consumption. Specifically, the MPC strategy reduces pump power consumption by 46.3% compared to ON-OFF control, 31.3% compared to PID control, and 36% compared to fuzzy control. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of pump response speed, battery temperature fluctuation, and pump power consumption, MPC exhibits the best overall performance.