Battery abnormality warning method and battery abnormality warning device

Abstract

The abnormality warning method for a storage battery of the present application is a method of detecting an abnormality in a storage battery mounted on a vehicle and warning an occupant of the vehicle, wherein it is determined whether a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery based on the air pressure within the storage battery pack, it is determined whether a voltage abnormality has occurred in the storage battery based on the cell voltage of the storage battery, in the case where it is determined that both the pressure abnormality of the storage battery and the voltage abnormality of the storage battery have occurred within a prescribed time, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the storage battery, and when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the storage battery, a warning is output to the occupant of the vehicle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a battery abnormality warning method and a battery abnormality warning device that detect an abnormality of a battery mounted on a vehicle and warn an occupant of the vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, as a protection device for stopping use of a battery in which an abnormality of an internal pressure rise has occurred, a protection device is disclosed in Patent Literature 1. In the protection device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a case and a lid are combined in a manner that the case is inside the lid, and when the pressure inside the battery rises, the conduction of the case and the lid is cut by the flexure of the lid.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-78000

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, as in the above-described conventional protection device, if the abnormality is judged based only on the pressure inside the battery, it is not possible to distinguish between an abnormality of a temporary cause or a low degree of importance and an abnormality of a high degree of importance, and thus there is a problem that it is not possible to correctly detect an abnormality of a high degree of importance. For example, in a battery mounted on a vehicle, the internal pressure of the battery also varies depending on the altitude of the region in which the vehicle is traveling or the strength of the cooling air of the battery cooler. Therefore, if the abnormality of the battery is judged based only on the internal pressure of the battery, it is not possible to distinguish between a rise in the pressure due to an abnormality of a temporary cause or a low degree of importance and a rise in the pressure due to an abnormality of a high degree of importance. As a result, there is a case where it is not possible to correctly detect an abnormality of a high degree of importance such as thermal runaway. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, the present application is proposed in view of the above-described actual situation, and an object thereof is to provide a battery abnormality warning method and a battery abnormality warning device that can distinguish between an abnormality of a temporary cause or a low degree of importance and an abnormality of a high degree of importance, and correctly detect an abnormality of a high degree of importance.

[0009] In order to solve the above-described problem, a battery abnormality warning method and a battery abnormality warning device according to an aspect of the present application determine whether an abnormality of a pressure has occurred in a battery based on the internal pressure of the battery, and determine whether an abnormality of a voltage has occurred in the battery based on the cell voltage of the battery. Further, in a case where it is determined that both the abnormality of the pressure of the battery and the abnormality of the voltage of the battery have occurred within a predetermined time, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the battery, and when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the battery, a warning is output to an occupant of the vehicle.

[0010] EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to the present application, a temporary cause or a low importance abnormality can be distinguished from a high importance abnormality, and a high importance abnormality can be correctly detected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a storage battery abnormality warning system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0013] Figure 2 is a timing chart for explaining an abnormality warning method of a storage battery of a storage battery abnormality warning device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0014] Figure 3 is a timing chart for explaining an abnormality warning method of a storage battery of a storage battery abnormality warning device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0015] Figure 4 is a timing chart for explaining an abnormality warning method of a storage battery of a storage battery abnormality warning device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of an abnormality warning process of a storage battery of a storage battery abnormality warning device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the present application is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0018] [Structure of Storage Battery Abnormality Warning System]

[0019] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a storage battery abnormality warning system according to the present embodiment. As shown in Figure 1 , the storage battery abnormality warning system 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a storage battery group 3 installed on a vehicle, a storage battery abnormality warning device 5 installed on a vehicle control module, and a display portion 7 provided on an instrument panel of the vehicle.

[0020] The battery abnormality warning system 1 is a system installed on a vehicle, which detects an abnormality occurring in the battery pack 3 and issues a warning to an occupant of the vehicle. Among the abnormalities occurring in the battery pack 3, in the battery abnormality warning system 1, a temporary cause or a low importance abnormality is distinguished from a high importance abnormality, and the high importance abnormality can be detected. In particular, the battery abnormality warning system 1 has a function of detecting thermal runaway as a high importance abnormality and warning the occupant before thermal lock is reached. The thermal runaway is an abnormality in which a cell of a lithium ion battery constituting the battery pack 3 is heated and burned due to a short circuit, and the thermal lock is an abnormality in which the thermal runaway of the cell is transferred to surrounding cells to cause a chain reaction. In the present embodiment, the case of the thermal runaway is described as an example of the high importance abnormality, but the high importance abnormality can be an abnormality other than the thermal runaway.

[0021] The battery pack 3 is a high-voltage battery pack equipped on a vehicle, which has lithium ion batteries. The battery pack 3 has a battery controller 31 and pressure sensors 33a, 33b, and further has a battery cooler and a junction box. Although the battery pack 3 is sealed, the internal air pressure is slowly controlled because of a venting device (vent).

[0022] The battery controller 31 monitors the state of the lithium ion batteries, and detects and monitors the state of charge, input and output voltage, temperature, and the like of the lithium ion batteries. In particular, the battery controller 31 detects the minimum voltage, average voltage, maximum voltage, and the like of the cells constituting the lithium ion batteries, and outputs them to a vehicle control module through CAN (Controller Area Network) communication.

[0023] The pressure sensors 33a, 33b detect the air pressure in the battery pack 3 and output it to the vehicle control module through CAN communication or a wire harness. The pressure sensors are provided in two, and even if a failure occurs in either of the pressure sensors, the air pressure in the battery pack 3 can be continuously detected. In the vehicle control module, the failure of the pressure sensor is diagnosed by comparing the values detected by the two pressure sensors.

[0024] The battery abnormality warning device 5 is a device installed on a vehicle control module, which detects an abnormality of the battery pack 3 and warns an occupant of the vehicle. As described above, the battery abnormality warning device 5 is a device that detects an abnormality of the battery pack 3 and warns an occupant of the vehicle. The battery abnormality warning device 5 is installed on the vehicle control module, and detects an abnormality of the battery pack 3 and warns an occupant of the vehicle. Figure 1As shown, the battery abnormality warning device 5 is provided with a voltage abnormality determination section 51, a pressure abnormality determination section 53, a battery abnormality determination section 55, a running state determination section 57, and a warning section 59. The battery abnormality warning device 5 acquires information indicating the state of the lithium-ion battery from the battery controller 31, and in particular, acquires the minimum voltage of the cells constituting the lithium-ion battery through CAN communication. In addition, the battery abnormality warning device 5 acquires the air pressure within the battery pack 3 from the pressure sensors 33a, 33b through CAN communication or a wire harness. Furthermore, the battery abnormality warning device 5 outputs a warning to the occupant of the vehicle when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3. At this time, the battery abnormality warning device 5 causes the display section 7 to display a warning message, and also outputs a warning sound or a voice of the warning message from a speaker provided in the passenger compartment.

[0025] The voltage abnormality determination section 51 acquires the minimum voltage of the cells constituting the lithium-ion battery from the battery controller 31, and determines whether or not a voltage abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3 based on the cell voltage of the lithium-ion battery. Specifically, in the case where the minimum voltage of the cells is below a prescribed voltage determination threshold, the voltage abnormality determination section 51 determines that a voltage abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3. In addition, the voltage determination threshold is set by verifying through experiments or simulations a voltage at which it is considered that an abnormality has occurred in the lithium-ion battery.

[0026] In addition, in the case where thermal runaway has occurred in the battery pack 3, since the lithium-ion battery is short-circuited, the cell voltage does not rise again when it falls. Therefore, once the determination of a voltage abnormality is made, the determination is continued. On the other hand, in the case where an abnormality other than thermal runaway has occurred, the cell voltage sometimes rises again even if it falls, in which case the determination of a voltage abnormality is canceled. However, in the case where the determination of a voltage abnormality is canceled, it is not sufficient that the cell voltage exceeds the voltage determination threshold, and the determination of a voltage abnormality is not canceled if the voltage does not exceed a voltage that is a certain value higher than the voltage determination threshold. In addition, in the case where there is an abnormality in the CAN communication and data cannot be normally acquired, the voltage abnormality determination section 51 determines that a voltage abnormality has occurred in order to be on the safe side.

[0027] The pressure abnormality determination section 53 acquires the air pressure in the battery pack 3 from the pressure sensors 33a, 33b, and determines whether or not a pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3 based on the air pressure in the battery pack 3. Specifically, in the case where the amount of change in the air pressure in the battery pack 3 is above a prescribed pressure determination threshold for a prescribed determination time, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3.

[0028] Here, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 does not use the absolute value of the air pressure within the battery pack 3, but uses the amount of change in the air pressure to determine the pressure abnormality. The air pressure within the battery pack 3 becomes lower in the case where the vehicle travels in a region at a high altitude, and thus the use of the absolute value of the air pressure sometimes erroneously determines the pressure abnormality. Therefore, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 calculates the amount of change from the air pressure value at a certain time ago, and uses the amount of change in the air pressure to determine the pressure abnormality. Thus, even if the altitude of the region where the vehicle travels changes and the air pressure within the battery pack 3 changes, the pressure abnormality can be correctly determined.

[0029] Further, in the case where the amount of change in the air pressure is equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold value and a predetermined determination time elapses, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines that the pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3. The determination time is set to a time in which the air pressure is considered to continue to rise in the case where the pressure abnormality has occurred. Even if the air pressure rises in the case where the pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, the air pressure gradually decreases since the battery pack 3 is provided with the vent device. Therefore, in the case where the pressure abnormality has occurred, the time in which the amount of change in the air pressure equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold value continues is verified by experiment or simulation, and the determination time is set. Also, the pressure determination threshold value is set by verifying the amount of change in the air pressure at the time of the occurrence of the pressure abnormality by experiment or simulation.

[0030] When the pressure abnormality is thus determined, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 continues to determine the pressure abnormality until a predetermined time elapses from the determination that the pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, and when the predetermined time elapses, the determination of the pressure abnormality is released. The pressure abnormality determination section 53 sets a continuation time in which the determination of the pressure abnormality is continued, and during the continuation time, the determination of the pressure abnormality is continued even if the air pressure of the battery pack 3 decreases. Then, when the continuation time elapses, the determination of the pressure abnormality is released.

[0031] In the case where the thermal runaway has occurred in the abnormality occurring in the battery pack 3, not only the pressure abnormality but also the voltage abnormality occurs. Therefore, in the case where the thermal runaway has occurred, the time in which the voltage abnormality occurs from the occurrence of the pressure abnormality is verified by experiment or simulation, and the continuation time is set. Also, in the case where the voltage abnormality is determined during the continuation time, the thermal runaway of the battery pack 3 is determined by the battery abnormality determination section 55.

[0032] When it is determined that both the pressure abnormality in the battery pack 3 and the voltage abnormality in the battery pack 3 have occurred within a prescribed time, the battery abnormality determination section 55 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3. That is, when it is determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3 and it is determined that a voltage abnormality has also occurred during the duration of the pressure abnormality, the battery abnormality determination section 55 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3. Further, when it is determined that a voltage abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, it is determined that a pressure abnormality has also occurred, and the battery abnormality determination section 55 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3.

[0033] The running state determination section 57 determines the running state of the vehicle on the basis of information from the vehicle control module or the like. Specifically, the running state determination section 57 determines whether the vehicle is running or parked, and outputs the result to the warning section 59.

[0034] When it is determined by the battery abnormality determination section 55 that an abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, the warning section 59 outputs a warning to the occupant of the vehicle. Specifically, the warning section 59 outputs and displays a warning message to the display section 7, and outputs a warning sound or a voice of the warning message to the speaker provided in the passenger compartment. At this time, the warning section 59 changes the warning message in accordance with the running state of the vehicle acquired from the running state determination section 57. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the case where the vehicle is running, a warning message such as "Please safely park the vehicle and retreat to a safe place outside the vehicle" is output, and in the case where the vehicle is parked, a warning message such as "Please retreat to a safe place outside the vehicle" is output. Figure 1

[0035] The display section 7 is a display provided on the instrument panel, and displays a warning message as shown in FIG. 5. Further, a warning lamp can be provided on the instrument panel, and the warning lamp is caused to light up. When a warning message is displayed, a warning sound or a voice of the warning message is simultaneously output from the speaker. Figure 1

[0036] In addition, the battery abnormality warning device 5 is provided with a controller composed of a general electronic circuit including a microcomputer, a microprocessor, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and peripheral devices such as a memory. Further, the controller has a function of detecting an abnormality of the battery pack 3 and outputting a warning. Each function of the controller can be installed by one or a plurality of processing circuits. The processing circuit includes, for example, a programmed processing device such as a processing device including a circuit, and also includes a device such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a conventional circuit component configured for a specific purpose in order to execute the functions described in the embodiments.

[0037] [Method of warning of abnormality of battery]

[0038] ​​Next, the method for issuing abnormal warnings about the battery in the battery abnormality warning device 5 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 2 This is a timing diagram illustrating the battery abnormality warning method of the battery abnormality warning device 5 in this embodiment.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, at time t1, the air pressure inside the battery pack 3 rises, and the change in air pressure exceeds the pressure determination threshold. Then, after a certain time T1 has elapsed while the change in air pressure exceeds the pressure determination threshold, when time t2 arrives, the pressure anomaly determination unit 53 determines that a pressure anomaly has occurred in the battery pack 3 and sets a pressure anomaly flag.

[0040] At time T2, when the pressure anomaly flag is set, the pressure anomaly determination unit 53 starts timing for duration T2, and continues to determine the pressure anomaly even if the pressure in the battery pack 3 decreases during duration T2. ​​However, since no voltage anomaly is determined during duration T2, the pressure anomaly at time t1 is considered to be an anomaly other than thermal runaway, such as a refrigerant anomaly in the battery cooler.

[0041] Subsequently, without determining a voltage anomaly, at time t3, the air pressure in battery pack 3 rises again, and the change in air pressure exceeds the pressure determination threshold. Then, while the change in air pressure exceeds the pressure determination threshold, after confirmation time T1 has elapsed and time t4 has arrived, the pressure anomaly determination unit 53 again determines that a pressure anomaly has occurred in battery pack 3, and resets and starts the duration T2 again from the time t4 when the pressure anomaly is determined again.

[0042] Subsequently, at time t5, the lowest unit voltage falls below the voltage determination threshold, and the voltage anomaly determination unit 51 determines that a voltage anomaly has occurred in the battery pack 3, setting a voltage anomaly flag. Simultaneously, the battery anomaly determination unit 55 determines that both pressure and voltage anomalies have occurred within duration T2, therefore determining that a thermal runaway anomaly has occurred in the battery pack 3 and setting an anomaly detection flag. Afterwards, the warning unit 59 outputs a warning.

[0043] In this way, if the battery malfunction warning device 5 determines that both pressure and voltage abnormalities have occurred within a specified time, it concludes that an abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, thus reliably detecting high-critical anomalies such as thermal runaway. For example, as Figure 2 If we judge battery malfunctions solely based on pressure anomalies at time t1, we might miss less significant anomalies such as refrigerant malfunctions in the battery cooler. However, by using both pressure and voltage anomalies to determine battery malfunctions, we can reliably detect more serious anomalies such as thermal runaway.

[0044] In addition, the battery abnormality warning device 5 sets and starts the duration T2 again from the time when the pressure abnormality is determined again in the case where the occurrence of the pressure abnormality is determined again. Thereby, even in the case where a plurality of abnormalities occur at the same time, the abnormality of high importance can be reliably detected. For example, in the case where the pressure abnormality other than the thermal runaway occurs at the time t1 of the pressure abnormality as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 6, the duration T2 started at the time t2 ends at the time t5 when the voltage abnormality is determined, and thus the thermal runaway cannot be detected. However, since the battery abnormality warning device 5 sets and starts the duration T2 again at the time t4, the abnormality of high importance such as the thermal runaway can be detected by the determination of the voltage abnormality at the time t5. Figure 2

[0045] Next, the abnormality warning method of the battery in the case where the voltage abnormality occurs before the pressure abnormality occurs will be described based on the timing chart of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, at the time t1, the lowest cell voltage becomes below the voltage determination threshold, and the voltage abnormality determination unit 51 determines that the battery pack 3 has the voltage abnormality and sets the voltage abnormality flag. Thereafter, in the case where the thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack 3, the cell voltage does not rise again, and thus the determination of the voltage abnormality is continued. Figure 3 Figure 3

[0046] Then, at the time t2, the air pressure in the battery pack 3 rises, and the change amount of the air pressure becomes above the pressure determination threshold. Then, in the state where the change amount of the air pressure is above the pressure determination threshold, when the confirmation time T1 elapses and the time t3 is reached, the pressure abnormality determination unit 53 determines that the pressure abnormality occurs in the battery pack 3 and sets the pressure abnormality flag. At the same time, since the battery abnormality determination unit 55 determines that both the pressure abnormality and the voltage abnormality occur, it is determined that the abnormality of the thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack 3 and the abnormality detection flag is set. Thereafter, the warning unit 59 outputs the warning.

[0047] Thus, the battery abnormality warning device 5 determines that the abnormality occurs in the battery pack 3 in the case where both the pressure abnormality and the voltage abnormality are determined to occur, and thus the abnormality of high importance such as the thermal runaway can be reliably detected.

[0048] Next, the abnormality warning method of the battery in the case where the power of the vehicle is turned off during the duration will be described based on the timing chart of FIG. 6. In addition, the case where the power of the vehicle is turned off is described here, but the case where the power of the battery abnormality warning device 5 is turned off can also be the case. As shown in FIG. 6, at the time t1, the lowest cell voltage becomes below the voltage determination threshold, and the voltage abnormality determination unit 51 determines that the battery pack 3 has the voltage abnormality and sets the voltage abnormality flag. Thereafter, in the case where the thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack 3, the cell voltage does not rise again, and thus the determination of the voltage abnormality is continued. Figure 4 Figure 4 ​​​​As shown, at time tl, the air pressure in the battery pack 3 rises, and the amount of change in the air pressure becomes equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold. Then, when time tl passes after the amount of change in the air pressure is equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold, and time t2 is reached, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, and sets the pressure abnormality flag.

[0049] At time t2, when the pressure abnormality flag is set, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 starts counting the duration time T2, and during the duration time T2, the determination of the pressure abnormality is continued even if the air pressure in the battery pack 3 decreases.

[0050] After that, at time t3 when the power of the vehicle is turned off, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 backs up the pressure abnormality flag in the memory. Then, when the power of the vehicle is turned on at time t4, the backed-up pressure abnormality flag is set again, the duration time T2 is set again from time t4 when the power of the vehicle is turned on, and counting is started.

[0051] Then, at time t5, the minimum cell voltage becomes equal to or less than the voltage determination threshold, the voltage abnormality determination section 51 determines that a voltage abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3, and sets the voltage abnormality flag. At the same time, the battery abnormality determination section 55 determines that both the pressure abnormality and the voltage abnormality have occurred within the duration time T2, and thus determines that a thermal runaway abnormality has occurred in the battery pack 3 and sets the abnormality detection flag. After that, the warning section 59 outputs a warning.

[0052] In this way, the battery abnormality warning device 5 backs up the pressure abnormality flag when the power of the vehicle is turned off, sets and starts the duration time T2 again from the time when the power of the vehicle is turned on. Thus, even if the power of the vehicle is turned off, the pressure abnormality flag is not cleared, and thus it is possible to prevent the duration time T2 from being interrupted, and it is possible to reliably detect an abnormality of high importance. For example, in the case where the duration time T2 started at time t2 is already over at time t5 when the voltage abnormality is determined, it is not possible to detect the thermal runaway. However, the battery abnormality warning device 5 sets and starts the duration time T2 again at time t4 when the power of the vehicle is turned on, and thus it is possible to detect an abnormality of high importance such as the thermal runaway by the determination of the voltage abnormality at time t5. Figure 4

[0053] [Battery abnormality warning processing]

[0054] Next, the battery abnormality warning processing of the battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the processing sequence of the battery abnormality warning processing of the battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment. The battery abnormality warning processing is started when the power of the vehicle is turned on.

[0055] ​like Figure 5 As shown, in step S101, the battery malfunction warning device 5 determines whether the diagnostic permission conditions for diagnosing malfunctions in the battery pack 3 are met. If the diagnostic permission conditions are not met, the malfunction in the battery pack 3 cannot be diagnosed normally, so no action is taken. Figure 5 The abnormal warning handling of the battery is shown. The diagnostic clearance conditions are: sufficient power supply voltage to enable the controller constituting the battery abnormal warning device 5 to operate; the CPU constituting the battery abnormal warning device 5 is functioning normally; maintenance functions are not used; the vehicle's starter switch is on and off, etc. If these diagnostic clearance conditions are met, proceed to step S103; otherwise, continue to determine whether the diagnostic clearance conditions are met.

[0056] In step S103, the battery abnormality warning device 5 acquires data required to perform abnormality warning processing of the battery. For example, the voltage abnormality determination unit 51 acquires data on the lowest cell voltage from the battery controller 31, and the pressure abnormality determination unit 53 acquires data on the air pressure of the battery pack 3 from the pressure sensors 33a and 33b.

[0057] In step S105, the pressure anomaly determination unit 53 calculates the change in air pressure from a certain time ago as the change in air pressure of the battery pack 3. However, the pressure anomaly determination unit 53 calculates the change in air pressure only if the pressure sensors 33a and 33b have not malfunctioned and the vehicle control module has not just started or recovered from a fault.

[0058] In step S107, the pressure anomaly determination unit 53 determines whether the change in air pressure calculated in step S105 is above or above the pressure determination threshold. If the change in air pressure is above or above the pressure determination threshold, the process proceeds to step S115; if the change in air pressure is less than the pressure determination threshold, the process proceeds to step S109.

[0059] In step S109, the voltage anomaly determination unit 51 determines whether the lowest cell voltage of the battery pack 3 is above or below the voltage determination threshold. If the lowest cell voltage is below the voltage determination threshold, the process proceeds to step S111; if the lowest cell voltage is above the voltage determination threshold, the process proceeds to step S113.

[0060] In step S111, the voltage anomaly determination unit 51 determines that a voltage anomaly has occurred in the battery pack 3, returns to step S107, and continues to determine whether a pressure anomaly has occurred in the battery pack 3.

[0061] In step S113, the storage battery abnormality warning device 5 determines whether the power of the vehicle is turned off, and in the case of being turned off, ends the abnormality warning processing of the storage battery of the present embodiment. On the other hand, in the case of not being turned off, returns to step S101, and continues the abnormality warning processing of the storage battery.

[0062] On the other hand, in the case where the amount of change in the air pressure is determined to be equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold value in step S107, proceeds to step S115, and the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines whether the determined time has elapsed in the state where the amount of change in the air pressure is equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold value. In the case where the amount of change in the air pressure decreases to be less than the pressure determination threshold value before the determined time elapses, proceeds to step S113, and in the case where the determined time has elapsed in the state where the amount of change in the air pressure is equal to or greater than the pressure determination threshold value, proceeds to step S117.

[0063] In step S117, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines that the pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery pack 3, and at the same time, starts the timing of the continuation time in step S119.

[0064] In step S121, the voltage abnormality determination section 51 determines whether the lowest cell voltage of the storage battery pack 3 is equal to or greater than the voltage determination threshold value. In the case where the lowest cell voltage is less than the voltage determination threshold value, proceeds to step S127, and in the case where the lowest cell voltage is greater than the voltage determination threshold value, proceeds to step S123.

[0065] In step S123, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines whether the continuation time has elapsed. In the case where the continuation time has elapsed, cancels the determination of the pressure abnormality, and proceeds to step S113, and in the case where the continuation time has not elapsed, proceeds to step S125.

[0066] In step S125, the pressure abnormality determination section 53 determines whether the determination of the pressure abnormality is performed during the continuation time, or whether the switch to the on of the power of the vehicle is performed after the power of the vehicle is turned off during the continuation time. In the case where either one of the determination of the pressure abnormality or the switch of the power of the vehicle is performed during the continuation time, returns to step S119, and sets and starts the continuation time again. On the other hand, in the case where neither one of the determination of the pressure abnormality nor the switch of the power of the vehicle is performed during the continuation time, the processing returns to step S121, and the determination of the voltage abnormality is continuously performed.

[0067] In step S121, in the case where the lowest cell voltage is less than the voltage determination threshold value, proceeds to step S127. In step S127, the voltage abnormality determination section 51 determines that the voltage abnormality has occurred in the storage battery pack 3, and the storage battery abnormality determination section 55 determines that the abnormality of a high importance degree such as the thermal runaway has occurred in the storage battery pack 3.

[0068] In step S129, the warning section 59 outputs a warning to the display section 7 or the speaker, and ends the abnormality warning processing of the storage battery of the present embodiment.

[0069] [Effects of Embodiments]

[0070] As explained in detail above, in the storage battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment, it is determined whether a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery based on the air pressure within the storage battery pack, and it is determined whether a voltage abnormality has occurred in the storage battery based on the cell voltage of the storage battery. Further, in a case where it is determined that both the pressure abnormality of the storage battery and the voltage abnormality of the storage battery have occurred within a prescribed time, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the storage battery, and a warning is output to the occupant of the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to distinguish between an abnormality of a temporary cause or low importance and an abnormality of high importance, to correctly detect an abnormality of high importance, and to reliably warn the occupant of the vehicle of an abnormality of the storage battery.

[0071] Further, in the storage battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment, in a case where the amount of change in the air pressure within the storage battery pack becomes equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value and a prescribed determination time elapses, it is determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery. Thereby, even if the air pressure within the storage battery pack changes due to a change in altitude of the region in which the vehicle equipped with the storage battery is traveling, it is possible to correctly determine a pressure abnormality.

[0072] Further, in the storage battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment, during a period from when it is determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery until a prescribed time elapses, the determination of the pressure abnormality is continued, and when the prescribed time elapses, the determination of the pressure abnormality is cancelled. Thereby, even in a case where the air pressure slowly decreases due to the pressure abnormality, if the storage battery is provided with a breather device, it is possible to correctly detect an abnormality of the storage battery.

[0073] Further, in the storage battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment, in a case where it is again determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred during a period from when it is determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery until a prescribed time elapses, the prescribed time is again set and started from the time when it is again determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery. Thereby, even in a case where multiple pressure abnormality occur at the same time, it is possible to reliably detect an abnormality of high importance.

[0074] Further, in the storage battery abnormality warning device 5 of the present embodiment, in a case where the power supply of the vehicle is turned off after it is determined that a pressure abnormality has occurred in the storage battery for a prescribed time period, the prescribed time is again set and started from the time when the power supply of the vehicle is turned on. Thereby, even in a case where the power supply of the vehicle is turned off during the prescribed time period, it is possible to reliably detect an abnormality of high importance.

[0075] In addition, the above-described embodiments are one example of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can of course be made to the design and the like, even if the mode is other than the above-described embodiments, as long as it is within the scope of the technical idea of the present application.

[0076] Symbol explanation

[0077] 1 Battery abnormality warning system

[0078] 3 Battery pack

[0079] 5 Battery abnormality warning device

[0080] 7 Display portion

[0081] 31 Battery controller

[0082] 33a, 33b Pressure sensor

[0083] 51 Voltage abnormality determination portion

[0084] 53 Pressure abnormality determination portion

[0085] 55 Battery abnormality determination portion

[0086] 57 Traveling state determination portion

[0087] 59 Warning portion

Claims

1. A storage battery abnormality warning method of detecting an abnormality of a storage battery mounted on a vehicle and warning an occupant of the vehicle, characterized by: determining whether a pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery based on a gas pressure in a storage battery group of the storage battery; determining whether a voltage abnormality occurs in the storage battery based on a cell voltage of the storage battery; determining that an abnormality occurs in the storage battery when it is determined that both the pressure abnormality of the storage battery and the voltage abnormality of the storage battery occur within a first prescribed time; outputting a warning to the occupant of the vehicle when it is determined that the abnormality occurs in the storage battery; and resetting and starting the first prescribed time again from a time when a power supply of the vehicle is turned on when the power supply of the vehicle is turned off during a period from when it is determined that the pressure abnormality of the storage battery occurs until the first prescribed time elapses.

2. The storage battery abnormality warning method according to claim 1, characterized in that: it is determined that the pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery when a change amount of the gas pressure in the storage battery group becomes equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value for a second prescribed time.

3. The storage battery abnormality warning method according to claim 2, characterized in that: the determination of the pressure abnormality is continued during a period from when it is determined that the pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery until the first prescribed time elapses, and the determination of the pressure abnormality is released when the first prescribed time elapses.

4. The storage battery abnormality warning method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: the first prescribed time is reset and started again from a time when it is determined again that the pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery when the pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery again during a period from when it is determined that the pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery until the first prescribed time elapses.

5. A storage battery abnormality warning device having a controller that detects an abnormality of a storage battery mounted on a vehicle and warns an occupant of the vehicle, characterized in that: the controller performs the following control; determines whether a pressure abnormality occurs in the storage battery based on a gas pressure in a storage battery group of the storage battery; determines whether a voltage abnormality occurs in the storage battery based on a cell voltage of the storage battery; determines that an abnormality occurs in the storage battery when it is determined that both the pressure abnormality of the storage battery and the voltage abnormality of the storage battery occur within a first prescribed time; outputs a warning to the occupant of the vehicle when it is determined that the abnormality occurs in the storage battery; and resets and starts the first prescribed time again from a time when a power supply of the vehicle is turned on when the power supply of the vehicle is turned off during a period from when it is determined that the pressure abnormality of the storage battery occurs until the first prescribed time elapses. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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