Apparatus for controlling electric water pump of hybrid vehicle and method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water pump control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle and a control method thereof. An exemplary apparatus according to the present invention includes a thermostat determining a circulation path of the coolant, a coolant temperature sensor, a motorized water pump configured to pump a coolant, and a control portion for controlling the motorized water pump to circulate the coolant, if the hybrid vehicle enters into an EV mode or an idle engine stop mode if the coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. An exemplary method of the present invention includes the steps of suspending operation of the motorized water pump if the coolant temperature is less than a predetermined value until a cooling fan is operated, and controlling a driving speed of the motorized water pump according to a load of the cooling fan in operation.

1 . A motorized water pump control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
 a thermostat determining a circulation path of a coolant;   a coolant temperature sensor detecting a coolant temperature;   a motorized water pump configured to pump the coolant; and   a control portion for controlling the motorized water pump to circulate the coolant, if the vehicle enters into an EV mode or an idle engine stop mode in a condition that the coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature value.   
     
     
         2 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control portion drives the motorized water pump, if an operation of a heating apparatus is demanded, in the EV mode or the idle engine stop mode. 
     
     
         3 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control portion varies a driving speed of the motorized water pump according to a vehicle speed, if the vehicle enters into the idle engine stop mode in a condition that the coolant temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature value. 
     
     
         4 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control portion enters into a limp home mode, outputs an alarm message, and drives the motorized water pump to circulate the coolant if an error is detected. 
     
     
         5 . A motorized water pump control method of a vehicle, comprising:
 determining whether a vehicle enters into an EV mode or an idle engine stop mode;   determining whether a coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined value if the vehicle is in the EV mode or the idle engine stop mode;   driving a motorized water pump if the coolant temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature value;   turning off the motorized water pump if the coolant temperature is less than the predetermined temperature value; and   varying a driving speed of the motorized water pump according to a vehicle speed if the vehicle speed is larger than a predetermined vehicle speed value when the motorized water pump is in operation.   
     
     
         6 . The motorized water pump control method of  claim 5 , wherein the motorized water pump is driven to circulate the coolant if operation of a heating apparatus is demanded in the EV mode or the idle engine stop mode. 
     
     
         7 . A motorized water pump control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
 a thermostat determining a circulation path of coolant according to a coolant temperature exhausted from an engine;   a radiator emitting heat absorbed in the coolant;   a cooling fan disposed at one side of the radiator to blow air;   a motorized water pump disposed between the engine and the thermostat to circulate the coolant; and   a control portion that varies an on or off mode of the motorized water pump according to an operating load of the cooling fan.   
     
     
         8 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control portion monitors data relating to environmental and driving conditions of the engine and enters into a limp home mode so as to operate the motorized water pump if an error is detected from the monitored data. 
     
     
         9 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control portion stops operation of the motorized water pump until the cooling fan is operated a first time after ignition, if the coolant temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature value. 
     
     
         10 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control portion drives the motorized water pump at a second speed if the cooling fan is operated at a low speed. 
     
     
         11 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the control portion drives the motorized water pump at a first speed that is slower than the second speed if the cooling fan is turned off. 
     
     
         12 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control portion drives the motorized water pump at a third speed that is faster than the second speed if the cooling fan is driven at a high speed. 
     
     
         13 . The motorized water pump control apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the control portion increases the driving speed of the motorized water pump according to a factor value of a vehicle speed if the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined vehicle speed value. 
     
     
         14 . A motorized water pump control method of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
 suspending operation of a motorized water pump in a condition in which a coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature value until a cooling fan is operated; and   controlling a driving speed of the motorized water pump according to a load of a cooling fan while the cooling fan is being operated.   
     
     
         15 . The motorized water pump control method of  claim 14 , wherein the motorized water pump is driven at a second speed while the cooling fan is being driven at a low speed. 
     
     
         16 . The motorized water pump control method of  claim 15 , wherein the motorized water pump is driven at a first speed that is slower than the second speed while the cooling fan is halted. 
     
     
         17 . The motorized water pump control method of  claim 15 , wherein the motorized water pump is driven at a third speed that is faster than the second speed if it is determined that the cooling fan is being operated at a high speed, and it is determined that the engine is in a high load condition based on a determined value of a coolant flux. 
     
     
         18 . The motorized water pump control method of  claim 17 , wherein a factor value according to the vehicle speed is applied to drive the motorized water pump faster than the third speed if the cooling fan is driven at a high speed, the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value, and it is determined that the engine is in a high speed and high load condition. 
     
     
         19 . The motorized water pump control method of  claim 14 , wherein the driving speed of the motorized water pump is varied proportionally according to the vehicle speed in the high speed or high load condition of the engine.