System and method for solar-powered engine thermal management

Abstract

A system and method of engine thermal management. Energy may be received from a solar energy source electrically connected to a vehicle propulsion system. At least some of the energy from the solar energy source may be used to heat a component of the vehicle propulsion system. A control module may provide at least some of the energy from the solar energy source to a heater, for example, to heat a component of the vehicle propulsion system prior to starting the vehicle propulsion system. The heater may heat the vehicle propulsion system to temperatures within a predetermined range associated with optimal efficiency of the vehicle propulsion system.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving energy from a solar energy source electrically connected to a vehicle propulsion system; and   heating, using at least some of the energy from the solar energy source, a component of the vehicle propulsion system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy to heat the component of the vehicle propulsion system is stored in an energy storage system separately from, and distributed by a control module independently of, energy provided to start the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy from the solar energy source is used to heat the vehicle propulsion system to temperatures within a predetermined temperature range associated with optimal efficiency for the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising initiating heating the vehicle propulsion system prior to starting the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the component of the vehicle propulsion system is engine coolant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving an indication of an anticipated start time for starting the vehicle propulsion system and initiating heating the component of the vehicle propulsion system a predetermined amount of time prior to the anticipated start time for starting the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving information from a device external to the vehicle and changing the amount of energy from the solar energy source provided to the component of the vehicle propulsion system based on the received information. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a solar energy source to collect solar power;   an energy storage system electrically connected to the solar energy source for storing energy generated thereby; and   a vehicle propulsion system, wherein the vehicle propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy storage system to receive energy from the solar energy source to heat a component of the vehicle propulsion system.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising a heater, wherein a controller allocates energy from the solar energy source to power the heater to heat the component of the component of the vehicle propulsion system to temperatures within a predetermined temperature range associated with optimal efficiency for the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the component of the vehicle propulsion system and wherein the control module is to change the amount of energy from the solar energy source allocated to the heater to compensate for the sensed temperature to heat the component to temperatures within the predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the energy generated by the solar energy source is provided to heat the component of the vehicle propulsion system to temperatures within a predetermined temperature range associated with optimal efficiency for the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising a controller to initiate heating the component of the vehicle propulsion system prior to starting the vehicle propulsion system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the component of the vehicle propulsion system is engine coolant. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising a control module and an external device, wherein the control module receives information from the external device and changes the amount of energy from the solar energy source allocated to the vehicle propulsion system based on the received information. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is a vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 generating electricity using a solar energy source attached to a vehicle; and   heating an engine coolant system of the vehicle using the electricity.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electricity used to heat the engine coolant system is stored in an energy storage system separately from, and distributed by a control module independently of, energy provided to start the engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising initiating heating the engine coolant system prior to starting the engine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the energy from the solar energy source is provided to heat the engine coolant system to temperatures within a predetermined temperature range associated with optimal efficiency for the engine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising receiving information from a device external to the vehicle and changing the amount of electricity used to heat the engine coolant system based on the received information.