Apparatus for controlling water pump of hybrid vehicle and method thereof

Abstract

A water pump control apparatus and method of a hybrid vehicle are used to control a motorized water pump according to the heat emission amount of an engine. The apparatus and method include calculating a temperature difference by detecting a temperature of a coolant exhausted from an engine and a temperature of the coolant flowing to an engine, calculating a heat emission amount of the engine by applying a circulating coolant flux to the temperature difference, and driving a motorized water pump with a driving power in proportion to the heat emission amount of the engine.

1 . A water pump control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
 a thermostat configured to determine a circulation direction of a coolant according to a temperature of the coolant that is exhausted from an engine;   a motorized water pump mounted between the engine and the thermostat for circulating the coolant;   a first coolant temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing from the engine to a cooler;   a second coolant temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the coolant flowing from the cooler to the engine; and   a control portion that applies a temperature difference detected by the first and second coolant temperature sensors and a coolant flux to calculate a heat emission amount of the engine, the control portion configured to drive the motorized water pump according to the heat emission amount.   
     
     
         2 . The water pump control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control portion outputs a warning signal and simultaneously enters into a limp home mode so as to continuously drive the motorized water pump with a predetermined driving power such that the coolant continuously circulates, if it is determined that the cooling system is in an abnormal condition. 
     
     
         3 . The water pump control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control portion drives the motorized water pump in proportion to the heat emission amount of the engine, and
 the control portion determines driving power in proportion to the heat emission amount of the engine, calculates a compensation factor according to the coolant temperature, and applies the compensation factor to the driving power so as to drive the motorized water pump more rapidly in a condition in which the coolant temperature is rising.   
     
     
         4 . A water pump control method of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
 calculating a temperature difference by detecting a temperature of a coolant exhausted from an engine, and a temperature of the coolant flowing to an engine;   calculating a heat emission amount of the engine by applying a circulating coolant flux to the temperature difference; and   driving a motorized water pump with a driving power in proportion to the heat emission amount of the engine.   
     
     
         5 . The water pump control method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 driving the motorized water pump with the driving power in proportion to the heat emission amount if the coolant temperature is steady;   calculating a compensation factor according to the coolant temperature;   applying the compensation factor to the driving power; and   calculating a final driving power so as to drive the motorized water pump more rapidly if the heat emission amount and the coolant temperature are raised.