System and method for rebalancing a battery during vehicle operation

Abstract

A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to a system and method for rebalancing a battery during vehicle operation. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] Conventional electric (EV), hybrid electric (HEV), and fuel cell (FC) vehicles generally include one or more batteries. Each battery is generally composed of a plurality of electrochemical cells (i.e., cells) combined in series to produce a potential. The smallest unit (i.e., grouping) of cells for which a state of charge (SOC) may be determined is generally referred to as a module. [0005] The cells and / or modules of the battery are generally matched by capacities and voltages during the battery fabrication process. The fabrication process may also include charging and discharging the battery to confirm that all module voltages are within a specified tolerance at all voltage levels. The assembly process generally provides a battery having module voltages within a few milli-volts of one an...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Accordingly, one or more embodiments of the present invention may provide a system and / or method for rebalancing a battery during vehicle operation that reduces and / or eliminates recharge related vehicle performance degradation and / or improves control of the charge current during battery rebalancing.

Problems solved by technology

Over time, ambient conditions and / or charging / discharging the battery during vehicle operation may result in differences among the individual SOC of the cells (SOCcell).

Thus, any divergence among SOC modules may reduce the operating range of the battery which may, in turn, result in reduced battery performance and a reduced battery life.

Such low-rate constant-current overcharge generally requires precise control of charge current (e.g., 1 to 2 Amperes) and may require a long period of time (e.g., 5 hours or more) to complete.

Conventional hybrid and fuel cell vehicle charge-control systems are generally not configured to control the charge current within the conventional rebalancing range during vehicle operation.

Furthermore, during recharging of the cells (i.e., battery recharging), the vehicle may experience decreased operating performance (e.g., poor vehicle acceleration, reduced fuel economy, etc.).

The decreased vehicle performance may result in a vehicle operator perceiving different or unusual vehicle behavior.

Conventional recharging of a pure electric vehicle generally rebalances the cells of the EV battery.

The slow charging process inherently rebalances the SOC of the cells.

However, rapid EV recharge techniques are under development which may reduce the inherent rebalancing of an EV battery during EV recharging.

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