Pre-aging method for battery pre-aging and test method for battery pack test

Abstract

The invention relates to a pre-aging method (10) and a pre-aging system (20) for pre-aging a battery (2) to a predetermined aging state, a test method (30) and a test system (40) for testing a battery pack according to a predetermined test plan, and a computer program product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pre-aging method for pre-aging a battery to a predetermined aging state, a testing method for testing a battery pack according to a predetermined test plan, a computer program product, a pre-aging system for pre-aging a battery to a predetermined aging state, and a testing system for testing a battery pack according to a predetermined test plan. Background Art

[0002] The aging behavior of newly developed batteries is of great interest. A common method for determining the aging behavior is to perform aging tests with an artificial load profile. The load profile is defined as follows: first a series of charge and discharge cycles are defined, followed by a pause time, followed by capacity and power tests, and possibly other tests. The parameters of the artificial profile can be varied to obtain information about the aging behavior under different conditions.

[0003] The prior art is to perform aging tests based on DOE (Design of Experiments) in order to obtain the maximum amount of information from the number of batteries used. Here, a specific set of cycle parameters is applied to each individual battery, starting from a new state until a preset aging state (also called SOH, i.e. State of Health) is reached, for example 75%.

[0004] In this method, the remaining capacity decreases over time according to the selected load curve parameters. The time required to reach the desired SOH depends largely on the selected load curve. This may lead to some batteries reaching the end of their service life prematurely, while other batteries have not yet reached the desired SOH value. Here, each battery only provides information about one set of load curve parameters.

[0005] In addition to obtaining different SOH values, the long duration of the known test methods is also disadvantageous. In order to test a battery, for example, in the SOH range of 100% to 80% of the battery capacity, it is likely that 1000 cycles or more need to be performed. Such long durations are unavoidable when limited to a set of cycling parameters, because in the case of cycling parameters with mild effects on aging, it may take a long time for the battery to age or reach SOH of 0. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system in a cost-effective and simple manner, by which battery testing is facilitated and more particularly accelerated.

[0007] The above tasks are accomplished by a pre-aging method having the features of claim 1, a test method having the features of claim 9, a computer program product having the features of claim 13, a pre-aging system having the features of claim 14, and a test system having the features of claim 15. Other features and details of the invention are derived from the dependent claims, the description and the figures. Here, the features and details described in connection with the pre-aging method of the invention are obviously also used in connection with the test method of the invention, the computer program product of the invention, the pre-aging system of the invention and the test system of the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosures of the various inventive aspects can or should always be referred to each other.

[0008] According to the present invention, a method for pre-aging at least one battery to a predetermined aging state is provided. The pre-aging method of the present invention has the following features:

[0009] - set the battery aging state to be reached,

[0010] - selecting at least one aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves, wherein each of the aging curves specifies at least one charging and / or cooling of the battery with preset aging parameters

[0011] or discharge process,

[0012] - applying to said battery at least one aging curve selected previously,

[0013] - selecting at least one further aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves, wherein the further aging curve differs from the previously selected aging curve applied to the battery in terms of at least one of the predefined aging parameters,

[0014] - applying at least one further previously selected aging curve to the battery until a predetermined aging state of the battery is reached.

[0015] Compared to known aging methods that always apply the same cycle to the battery, the pre-aging method of the present invention allows adjustable battery aging of the battery until the desired aging state is reached. This is particularly meaningful when aging multiple batteries in parallel. In this case, the pre-aging method of the present invention has the following advantages: multiple batteries can be aged relatively evenly in terms of the required time through different aging curves.

[0016] A particular application purpose of the pre-aging method of the present invention is associated with the test method of the present invention which preferably follows it, and the test method will be described in detail below. For this purpose, it is preferred to use a battery pre-aged by the pre-aging method of the present invention in order to take advantage of the rapid and uniform battery aging.

[0017] At the same time, the pre-aging method itself can also be used as a test method, where the battery aging information of the battery can be obtained by applying an aging curve. Therefore, in the pre-aging method, it can also be provided to obtain aging information under different aging curves.

[0018] The aging state can be described by the so-called SOH (State of Health). Advantageously, the aging state can be characterized solely by the SOH. The SOH is a measure that indicates the available capacity of the battery in the respective aging state, but also takes other influencing parameters into account. It can be expressed in particular as a ratio between the available remaining capacity of the battery and the initial battery capacity or the design capacity of the battery. Another operationally relevant SOH influencing parameter is the (relative) change in the internal resistance as the battery ages (generally the internal resistance increases with aging).

[0019] It is confirmed here by corresponding tests that SOH fully describes the battery aging state. Therefore, it is found that when the battery operates within a certain range of operating parameters (including but not limited to charge / discharge current, battery voltage limit, temperature), SOH is only weakly related to the previous load conditions of the battery. On the contrary, the aging state can be fully described by SOH, and the battery aging history can be ignored when operating within the parameter range related to the battery chemistry. As a battery, a single battery cell can be used here, for example. However, multiple interconnected battery cells or battery modules of a battery pack can also be used. Of course, it is also possible to use an entire battery pack as a battery, so that the entire battery pack and all its battery cells are pre-aged. The battery pack can especially be a traction battery for the electric drive of a motor vehicle. In the case of expensive traction batteries, their aging during the long service life of the motor vehicle is particularly important, so it is necessary to check the battery with the help of tests before it is used in a motor vehicle.

[0020] The aging curve refers here to the set conditions of at least one charging and / or discharging process of the battery. Preferably, the aging curve includes a plurality of setting conditions of the charging and / or discharging process, in particular a plurality of charging and discharging cycles, defined according to preset aging parameters. Therefore, the aging curve can, for example, define 2 to 300, 4 to 200, 10 to 150, etc., charging and discharging cycles that are fixedly preset according to aging parameters. The aging curve therefore specifies the aging parameters for the battery charging and discharging cycle, which remain constant within a predetermined number of cycles and are applied to the battery. The aging parameters here refer to parameters that are adjustable and variable during the charging and discharging cycle that affect the aging of the battery, and can in particular be external environmental parameters and / or electrical operating parameters of the battery.

[0021] Here, at least two different aging curves are provided in the pre-aging method of the present invention, which are selected and applied to the battery. In order to distinguish the aging curves, at least one second aging curve is referred to as at least another aging curve. It is different from the other or all other aging curves in one or more aging parameters. In order to determine when to switch between aging curves, a further step of determining a transition aging state can be provided. The transition aging state can also be compared with a predetermined aging state. It is also possible to preset the aging parameters of another aging curve based on the transition aging state (especially the comparison of the transition aging state with the predetermined aging state).

[0022] The application of at least one further aging curve is continued until a predetermined termination criterion of the pre-aging method is met. Here, the termination criterion is the reaching of a previously predetermined aging state. Finally, a battery is obtained which has been pre-aged quickly and evenly to a predetermined aging state and can now be used, in particular for the aforementioned test method according to the invention.

[0023] All method steps of the method according to the invention do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order in which they are named, but can be carried out in this way. Therefore, the individual method steps can also be carried out in a different order or simultaneously. Thus, for example, the setting of the battery aging state to be achieved can also be carried out after the aging curve selection, or the aging state to be achieved can also be adjusted as required during the method.

[0024] Advantageously, before reaching the predetermined aging state of the battery, an additional aging curve is selected from a plurality of different aging curves and applied to the battery, wherein the additional aging curve is at least different from the aging curve previously selected and applied to the battery in at least one or more of the preset aging parameters. The additional aging curve may also be different from a plurality or all of the previously selected and applied aging curves in at least one or more of the preset aging parameters. Therefore, a more balanced and faster battery pre-aging is achieved by applying more different aging curves. In addition, more aging behavior information can be obtained than using a single fixed aging curve.

[0025] It is also advantageous if at least one of the selected aging curves is designed to age the battery at a first rate and at least another of the selected aging curves is designed to age the battery at a second rate that is different from the first rate. Thus, under very heavy loads, a faster aging rate is generally assumed than under low loads. The first rate can be, for example, a typical slow aging rate with low charging and / or discharging currents, while the second rate can be a fast aging rate with generally high charging and / or discharging currents. The above-mentioned equalization is thereby ensured, since the aging parameters are not merely changed between aging curves that lead to similar and equally fast aging rates, but rather aging curves are actually applied that age the battery at different rates.

[0026] The predetermined aging parameters are preferably at least two of temperature, mechanical pressure, charging current, discharging current, state of charge and in particular Δ state of charge and pulse frequency. In particular, it can also be at least three or more or all of the above parameters. Here, the battery environment may be affected by temperature and mechanical pressure, so the aging parameters can be regarded as external environmental parameters that may affect battery aging. The remaining parameters are battery electrical operating parameters that can be adjusted during charging and / or discharging. The state of charge can, for example, be used as an aging parameter to describe the degree of charge and discharge of the battery between charge and discharge cycles. The state of charge can be preset here, for example, in the form of an absolute value or a relative value. Different predefinition methods can also be used for other aging parameters, so for example, with respect to the discharge current and the charging current, the peak current and / or the average current can be preset.

[0027] Advantageously, the predetermined aging parameter in the aging curve lies within a predetermined parameter range. The parameter range may be limited, in particular, with regard to the battery design. Thus, the battery is prevented from being operated outside its design range, for example, operation at temperatures below -40° C. is avoided when the battery is only designed for temperatures up to -40° C. This ensures that no damage to the battery occurs due to pre-aging, which damage may only be discovered later and would make it impossible to use the pre-aged battery as it would be used under normal practical conditions, in particular to test it.

[0028] It is also preferred that the predetermined aging state is in the range of 95% to 70%, in particular 90% to 75% residual capacity measured based on the battery design capacity. For example, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% and / or 70% SOH are conceivable.

[0029] It is particularly preferred to pre-age a plurality of batteries in parallel. It is advantageous here to adopt the same predetermined aging state for all batteries. For this purpose, the batteries can be placed in a battery arrangement, for example, which has a parallel arrangement of batteries, a voltage source for charging the batteries and an electrical consumer for discharging the batteries. The batteries can preferably be structurally identical, but can also be different from one another, for example in terms of battery chemistry, structure, number of battery cells, etc. Advantageously, the batteries have the same battery capacity, i.e. 100% of the designed capacity. By means of the pre-aging method according to the invention, all batteries can reach essentially the same aging state in approximately the same time, since the different aging curves used can achieve a balanced aging of the batteries.

[0030] In this case, the individual aging curves for all batteries pre-aged in parallel can preferably be selected to be different from one another. This allows the batteries to be tested as described above, since different aging curves are used and thus more information about battery aging can be collected, in particular for batteries of identical construction. Alternatively, however, the same aging curve can also be selected and applied for the individual batteries in order to achieve aging that is as uniform as possible.

[0031] It is also advantageous that, in order to bring all batteries to a predetermined aging state, the transitional aging state of other batteries is taken into account when selecting the aging curve of each battery. As mentioned above, the transitional aging state can thus be determined or monitored, in particular in comparison with the predetermined aging state. However, in the case of multiple batteries, this can be used as feedback not only for selecting the aging curve of the battery with the transitional aging state, but also for other batteries. It can thus be determined, for example, that a certain battery ages faster than other batteries because the transitional aging state of the battery is higher than that of the other batteries. Thus, an aging curve that causes faster aging than the battery with the high transitional aging state that has been reached can be selected for the other batteries in order to rebalance the transitional aging state of each battery. By comparing the transitional aging state in this way and using it as feedback for the pre-aging method in order to select the respective aging curves, the battery can be kept within a predetermined battery capacity interval, and the battery will not deviate from the predetermined battery capacity interval during the pre-aging method. Therefore, active control of the pre-aging of multiple batteries according to the aging curve is allowed.

[0032] Although it is particularly advantageous to age all cells at the same rate on average (i.e. to implement an average aging rate), another important advantage is that as many different aging parameter combinations as possible can be measured at each current aging level (SOH). The information obtained from this can be correlated with each other. For this purpose, a model can be built from previously measured data on the relationship between aging parameters and aging. Then, with only a small amount of information and in particular with respect to a predetermined aging rate threshold, a new aging parameter combination can be selected with the help of the model.

[0033] The subject of the invention is also a test method for testing a battery pack according to a predetermined test plan. The test method has the following steps:

[0034] - providing a first battery pack comprising at least one first battery having a first battery capacity,

[0035] - providing at least one second battery pack comprising at least one second battery having a second battery capacity different from the first battery capacity,

[0036] - setting a test plan for testing the battery pack, wherein the test plan specifies a charging and / or discharging process of the battery pack with preset test parameters, and

[0037] - Test the two battery packs in parallel according to a predetermined test plan.

[0038] Thus, the use of the test method according to the invention allows the testing of batteries and in particular batteries according to a predetermined test plan to be significantly accelerated. This is achieved by providing batteries with different battery capacities and testing them. The battery test can thus be carried out in a certain aging state interval and in particular in a SOH range, in particular for example 100% to 80%, without actually testing all batteries according to the test plan for the required number of cycles from 100% to 80% of the design capacity. The test plan can in particular be a DOE test plan.

[0039] The cells of the individual battery groups may in particular be structurally identical cells, i.e. in particular cells having the same cell chemistry, the same cell construction and / or the same designed capacity. Thus, comprehensive sampling is used to test cells of a certain configuration, thereby covering the variability between cells in the test method. Different test parameters may also be applied to different cells, so that different information about the aging of the cells can be obtained during the aging of these cells.

[0040] Each of the at least two battery groups therefore preferably comprises a plurality of batteries, ie at least two, three or more batteries, for example two to ten or three to six batteries. This allows a larger test sample size, thereby obtaining more effective test results.

[0041] The battery capacity refers in particular to the maximum capacity of the battery, which can be expressed relative to its design capacity as described above. The battery capacity of at least one first battery and at least one second battery refers in particular to the residual capacity, wherein these batteries initially have substantially the same initial capacity or, in other words, are manufactured with substantially the same design capacity.

[0042] The internal resistance of a battery generally increases with aging, depending on the battery chemistry. Changes in the internal resistance can affect, among other things, the power characteristics of the battery. In combination with the determination of the battery capacity, corresponding measurements can provide a more comprehensive description of the effects (power, range) caused by battery aging.

[0043] In particular, the same parameters as the aforementioned aging parameters come into consideration as test parameters, in particular electrical operating parameters.

[0044] The two battery packs are preferably pre-aged according to the pre-aging method of the present invention in terms of their battery capacity, in particular, residual capacity. This makes it possible to simply prepare a battery pack having the battery. In particular, when the pre-aging method of the present invention is used for pre-aging for the testing method of the present invention, multiple batteries of the same battery pack reach the same predetermined aging state (i.e., the same battery capacity) as much as possible.

[0045] It is also possible to combine the test method according to the invention and the pre-aging method according to the invention with one another, wherein the pre-aging method is carried out before the test method. The pre-aging method can be carried out in the test method for at least one of the battery packs. Advantageously, the battery pack arrangement or circuit used for the pre-aging method can also be used for the test method.

[0046] Preferably, the test plan predetermines different test parameters for these batteries. This allows, in particular, batteries of the same structure to be tested with different test parameters under different SOH conditions, so as to obtain different aging information when the batteries age due to the test execution.

[0047] For example, it is thus possible to know the extent to which the temperature affects the battery aging in the following situation, that is, when, for example, one battery is tested at 20°C, another battery at 0°C and another battery at -20°C according to a test plan. The test parameter that differs between the batteries is therefore the ambient temperature. Therefore, different information about the aging behavior of a certain battery type at different temperatures can be obtained through the test. In addition, it is preferably provided for this purpose with battery packs having batteries of different battery capacities. If, for example, the SOH range of 100% to 80% SOH should be tested, for example, a first battery pack with three first batteries with a SOH of 100% and a second battery pack with three second batteries with a SOH of 90% are provided. They are tested according to the test plan, so that one battery of each of the two battery packs is tested at 20°C, at 0°C and at -20°C respectively. Therefore, compared to a test method in which the SOH of a battery pack with three batteries needs to be fully aged from 100% to 80%, the test time of the test method according to the invention can be reduced by about half. Nevertheless, the same amount of aging information can still be obtained over the entire SOH range of 100% to 80%.

[0048] The subject matter of the invention is also a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is run by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the pre-aging method according to the invention and / or the testing method according to the invention.

[0049] The computer program product of the invention therefore brings about the same advantages as explained in detail with respect to the pre-aging method of the invention and the testing method of the invention.

[0050] The computer program product may be the computer program itself or a product form, such as a computer-readable data storage device, on which a computer program for executing the pre-aging method of the present invention and / or the testing method of the present invention may be stored.

[0051] Furthermore, the aforementioned object is achieved by a pre-aging system for pre-aging at least one battery to a predetermined aging state. The pre-aging system has the following modules:

[0052] - at least one setting module for setting a battery aging state to be achieved,

[0053] at least one selection module for selecting at least one aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves and for selecting another aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves, wherein each of the aging curves specifies a charging and / or discharging process of the battery with preset aging parameters, and wherein the other aging curve differs from the previously selected aging curve applied to the battery with respect to at least one of the preset aging parameters,

[0054] at least one application module for applying at least one previously selected aging curve to the battery and for applying another previously selected aging curve to the battery, and

[0055] - At least one determination module, configured to determine whether a predetermined battery aging state has been reached.

[0056] Therefore, the pre-aging system of the present invention brings the same advantages as explained in detail with respect to the pre-aging method of the present invention.

[0057] In particular, the pre-aging system can be configured to carry out the pre-aging method of the present invention.

[0058] Some modules or all modules of the pre-aging system can be implemented here, for example, respectively by a separate computer program code or jointly by the same computer program code and / or by separate or common computer functional units or electronic components. It is also possible that some modules are implemented in the same module. The pre-aging system can in particular include one or more computers or be formed by the one or more computers, which can have these modules.

[0059] Finally, the aforementioned task is also accomplished by a test system for testing a battery pack. The test system has the following modules:

[0060] at least one providing module for providing a first battery pack comprising at least one first battery having a first battery capacity and providing at least one second battery pack comprising at least one second battery having a second battery capacity different from the first battery capacity,

[0061] - at least one setting module for setting a test plan for testing a battery pack, wherein:

[0062] The test plan specifies a charging and / or discharging process of the battery pack with preset test parameters, and

[0063] - at least one test module for testing the two battery packs in parallel according to a predetermined test plan.

[0064] The parallel test can be performed separately or jointly, for example. That is, at least one test module can be used to test the two battery packs separately or in parallel. Therefore, the test system of the present invention brings the same advantages as explained in detail with respect to the test method of the present invention.

[0065] In particular, the test system can be set up to carry out the test method according to the invention.

[0066] The test system and the pre-aging system can also be combined into a common system, wherein certain modules (eg setting modules) can be set up only once and can be used for both the test system and the pre-aging system.

[0067] Some modules or all modules of the test system can be implemented here, for example, respectively by a separate computer program code or jointly by the same computer program code and / or by separate or common computer functional units or electronic components. It is also possible that some modules are implemented in the same module. The test system can in particular include or be formed by one or more computers, which can have these modules. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are derived from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. The drawings schematically show:

[0069] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a battery circuit,

[0070] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing a pre-aging method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown,

[0071] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing a pre-aging system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0072] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing a battery being aged by an aging method according to the prior art,

[0073] Figure 5 Shows the battery through Figure 2 Pre-aging method or Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the pre-aging system being aged,

[0074] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing a testing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0075] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing a test system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0076] Figure 8 Show Figure 7Schematic diagram of an alternative test system,

[0077] Fig. 9 Show Figure 7 An alternative to the test system, especially in combination with Figure 8 Schematic diagram of

[0078] Fig.10 Shows the battery through Figure 2 Pre-aging method or Figure 3 Another schematic diagram of a pre-aging system being aged, and

[0079] Fig.11 Shown in Figure 6 The test method or Figure 7 Schematic diagram of battery aging during the test system.

[0080] exist Figures 1 to 11 The same reference numerals are used to designate the same components or components with the same functions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] Figure 1 The schematic diagram shows a battery circuit 1 with a plurality of batteries 2, which are connected in parallel with a voltage source 3 for charging the batteries 2 and an electrical consumer 4 for discharging the batteries 2. The voltage source 3 and the electrical consumer 4 can be switched on separately via a switch 5 in the battery circuit 1. The batteries 2 can be of the same structure. The batteries 2 can be, for example, battery cells, battery modules or battery packs.

[0082] As in Figure 1 In the figure, it is indicated by three ellipses in each case that more batteries 2 than the five batteries 2 shown in the example can also be connected in parallel. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide less than five batteries 2 in the battery circuit 1, for example only two or only one battery 2. In addition, it can also be provided that each of the batteries 2 is assigned its own voltage source 3, its own electrical load 4 and / or its own switch 5, so that Figure 1 Only one possible simple variant of the battery circuit 1 is shown, which can realize the reference Figure 2 The pre-aging method 10 is explained.

[0083] The pre-aging method 10 is used to pre-age the one or more batteries 2 (to be referred to below) of the battery circuit 1 to a predetermined aging state. In the setting step 11 of the pre-aging method 10, the aging state to be reached by the battery 2 is set.

[0084] In a first selection step 12, an aging curve is then selected from a plurality of different aging curves. Each aging curve specifies a certain number of charge and discharge cycles of the battery 2 with predefined aging parameters, which are carried out with the aid of the voltage source 3 and the electrical load 4. The aging parameters can be, for example, environmental parameters such as temperature or mechanical stress on the battery 2 and electrical operating parameters such as charging and discharging currents. In a first application step 13, the aging curve selected in the first selection step 12 is applied to the battery 2.

[0085] The first selection step 12 and the first application step 13 are now substantially repeated by the second selection step 14 and the second application step 15, wherein further repetitions are also possible, such as in Figure 2 , as indicated by three ellipsis points, until a predetermined aging state of the battery 2 is reached. Different from the first selection step 12, in the second selection step 14 and possible further selection steps (i.e., the third and fourth selection steps, not shown here), an aging curve different from the previously applied aging curve is selected. The aging curves differ in one or more of the preset aging parameters, so that the battery 2 is subjected to different loads under different aging curves.

[0086] Figure 3 A pre-aging system 20 is shown, which can be used to perform Figure 2 The pre-aging method 10 of the present invention. The pre-aging system 20 has a setting module 21 for executing the setting step 11, a selection module 22 for executing the selection steps 12 and 14, an application module 23 for executing the application steps 13 and 15, and a determination module 24 for determining that a predetermined aging state of the battery 2 is reached and thus allowing the pre-aging method 10 to be terminated.

[0087] Figure 4 The aging of five batteries 2 according to the prior art is now shown in the form of a graph of SOH (state of health) versus the number of charge and discharge cycles n, wherein SOH represents the remaining capacity of the battery 2 relative to its design capacity (normalized to 100%). In the aging method according to the prior art, a specific charge and discharge cycle is applied to each battery 2, and the charge and discharge cycle is always kept constant. This has the effect that some batteries 2 need a long time to reach a certain aging state, for example SOH = 80% ( Figure 4 The three batteries 2 above need to pass n=1000 cycles. On the other hand, this leads to visible non-uniform aging. Accordingly, the battery 2 cannot be aged uniformly using the methods of the prior art.

[0088] if Figure 4If the method shown is used as a test method to obtain aging information for the battery 2, this is not satisfactory because after 1000 cycles, no description of the aging behavior of all batteries 2 under specific charge and discharge cycles can be given within the same SOH range (e.g. 100% to 75%).

[0089] The situation of the pre-aging method 10 of the present invention is different, and the result is as follows Figure 5 Here, the battery 2 has been pre-aged by the pre-aging system 20 according to the pre-aging method 10 and thus has reached a SOH of about 80% more quickly (after about n=1000 cycles) and has aged more uniformly, making their SOHs similar.

[0090] If Figure 5 If the pre-aging method 10 in the embodiment is used as a test method to obtain aging information, all five batteries 2 can be tested using different aging curves in the SOH range of 100% to about 80%, thereby obtaining more abundant aging information. However, it is still more preferred that the actual test method 30 (such as Figure 6 A pre-aging method 10 is used before (as shown).

[0091] Figure 6 A test method 30 for testing a battery pack is schematically shown, the battery pack being, for example, Figure 1 A battery pack is shown which comprises five batteries 2 and a further battery pack (not shown) which in turn comprises a plurality of batteries 2 . Figure 7 A corresponding test system 40 is shown, by which the test method 30 can be performed.

[0092] By providing the module 41, in a first providing step 31 a first battery pack comprising a first battery 2 having a first battery capacity (especially a residual capacity) is provided, for example Figure 1 , the battery circuit 1 is connected as shown in FIG. By the same providing module 41 of the test system 40 , a second battery pack including a second battery 2 having a second battery capacity is provided in a second providing step 32 , the second battery capacity being different from the first battery capacity.

[0093] like Figure 7 and Fig.11 As shown, the first battery group may include, for example, three batteries 2 with 100% SOH battery capacity, and the second battery group may also include, for example, three batteries 2 with 90% SOH battery capacity, which have been pre-aged quickly and uniformly through a small number of cycles according to the pre-aging method 10 of the present invention.

[0094] Here, in Figure 7It is shown that other providing steps (not shown) can be implemented to provide other battery packs with other batteries 2, wherein the batteries 2 in the battery packs have different SOHs, such as 95% SOH and 85% SOH, thereby further speeding up the test method 30, as will be explained below.

[0095] Next, the setting module 42 of the test system 40 performs a setting step 33 for setting a test plan for testing the battery pack. The test plan specifies a charge and discharge cycle of the battery pack with preset test parameters, which are different for the battery 2 under test.

[0096] Next, the test module 43 performs the test step 34, in which the battery pack is tested in parallel in time according to a predetermined test plan. Fig.11 As shown in FIG. 1 , the graph shows that the battery 2 only needs 600 cycles to complete the entire test in the SOH range of 100% to about 80%, instead of Figure 4 The aging test shown requires more than 1000 cycles and can only be tested within a limited SOH range common to all cells 2 (100% to slightly less than 95%).

[0097] Different from Figure 7 As shown, the provision of battery packs 1 with different capacities (e.g., 95%, 90%, etc.) can also be performed in parallel. Accordingly, the test method 30 can be performed on different battery packs 1 with different capacities, respectively. Accordingly, different test systems 40 can also be used, on which battery packs 1 with different capacities are tested in parallel or sequentially, such as Figure 8 and 9 As shown in the example, Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The data of the two test systems 40 may then be merged.

[0098] Fig.10 A battery capacity interval 50 is shown, which is preferably complied with by a predetermined parameter range of an aging parameter of the aging curve. Alternatively or additionally, the battery capacity interval 50 can be complied with by determining and feeding back the transient aging state of the battery 2. The feedback can be performed in the selection step 14 as well as in other selection steps, so as to select another aging curve of the battery 2 in such a way that all batteries 2 are operated within the battery capacity interval 50 and reach the predetermined aging state as much as possible at the same time.

[0099] The above description of the embodiments describes the present invention by way of example only.

[0100] Reference numerals list

[0101] 1 Battery Circuit

[0102] 2 Batteries

[0103] 3 Voltage Source

[0104] 4 Electrical appliances

[0105] 5 Switches

[0106] 10 Pre-aging method

[0107] 11 Setting steps

[0108] 12 First Selection Step

[0109] 13 First application step

[0110] 14 Second selection step

[0111] 15 Second application step

[0112] 20 Pre-aging system

[0113] 21 Setting Module

[0114] 22 Select Module

[0115] 23 Application Module

[0116] 24 Determine the module

[0117] 30 Test Methods

[0118] 31 First step of provision

[0119] 32 Second provision step

[0120] 33 Another setting step

[0121] 34 Test Steps

[0122] 40 Test System

[0123] 41 Provide Modules

[0124] 42 Setting Module

[0125] 43 Test Module

[0126] 50 Battery capacity range

Claims

1. A pre-aging method (10) for pre-aging at least one battery (2) to a predetermined aging state, wherein: The pre-aging method (10) is characterized by comprising the following steps: - setting (11) the aging state of the battery (2) to be reached, - selecting (12) at least one aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves, wherein: Each of the aging curves defines at least one charging and / or discharging process of the battery (2) with preset aging parameters, - applying (13) to the battery (2) at least one aging curve selected previously, - selecting (14) at least one further aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves, wherein: The further aging curve differs from the aging curve previously selected and applied to the battery (2) with respect to at least one of the predetermined aging parameters, - applying (15) at least one further aging curve selected previously to the battery (2) until a predetermined aging state of the battery (2) is reached.

2. The pre-aging method (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before a predetermined aging state of the battery (2) is reached, another aging curve is selected from a plurality of different aging curves and applied to the battery (2), wherein the other aging curve is different from the aging curve previously selected and applied to the battery (2) at least in terms of at least one of the preset aging parameters.

3. The pre-aging method (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: At least one of the selected aging curves is configured to age the battery (2) at a first rate, and at least another of the selected aging curves is configured to age the battery (2) at a second rate different from the first rate.

4. The pre-aging method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The preset aging parameters are at least two of temperature, mechanical pressure, charging current, discharging current, state of charge and pulse frequency.

5. The pre-aging method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The preset aging parameters in the aging curve are within a predetermined parameter range.

6. The pre-aging method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The predetermined aging state is within a range of 95% to 70% of the remaining capacity measured based on the design capacity of the battery (2).

7. The pre-aging method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A plurality of batteries (2) are pre-aged in parallel, wherein the predetermined aging state is the same for all batteries (2).

8. The pre-aging method (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that: In order to make all batteries (2) reach a predetermined aging state, an aging curve for the battery (2) is selected taking into account the transitional aging state of the corresponding other batteries (2).

9. A test method (30) for testing a battery pack according to a predetermined test plan, wherein: The testing method (30) is characterized by comprising the following steps: - providing (31) a first battery pack comprising at least one first battery (2) having a first battery capacity, - providing (32) at least one second battery pack comprising at least one second battery (2) having a second battery capacity, the second battery capacity being different from the first battery capacity, - setting (33) a test plan for testing the battery packs, wherein the test plan sets a charging and / or discharging process of the battery packs with preset test parameters, and - Testing (34) the two battery packs in parallel according to said predetermined test plan.

10. The test method (30) according to claim 9, characterized in that: The two battery packs have each been pre-aged to their battery capacity according to a pre-aging method (10) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8.

11. The test method (30) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: Each of the battery packs comprises a plurality of batteries (2).

12. The test method (30) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that: The test parameters predetermined by the test plan are different for the battery (2).

13. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is run by a computer, cause the computer to execute the pre-aging method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and / or the testing method (30) according to one of claims 9 to 12.

14. A pre-aging system (20) for pre-aging at least one battery (2) to a predetermined aging state, wherein: The pre-aging system (20) is characterized by having the following modules (21, 22, 23, 24): - at least one setting module (21) for setting an aging state of the battery (2) to be achieved, at least one selection module (22) for selecting at least one aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves and for selecting another aging curve from a plurality of different aging curves, wherein each of the aging curves specifies a charging and / or discharging process of the battery (2) with preset aging parameters, and wherein the other aging curve differs from the previously selected aging curve applied to the battery (2) with respect to at least one of the preset aging parameters, at least one application module (23) for applying at least one previously selected aging curve to the battery (2) and for applying another previously selected aging curve to the battery (2), and - at least one determination module (24) for determining that a predetermined ageing state of the battery (2) has been reached.

15. A test system (40) for testing a battery pack, wherein: The testing system (40) is characterized by having the following modules: at least one providing module (41) for providing a first battery group and at least one second battery group, the first battery group comprising at least one first battery (2) having a first battery capacity, the at least one second battery group comprising at least one second battery (2) having a second battery capacity, the second battery capacity being different from the first battery capacity, - at least one setting module (42) for setting a test plan for testing the battery pack, wherein the test plan sets a charging and / or discharging process of the battery pack with preset test parameters, and - at least one test module (43) for testing the two battery packs in parallel according to the predetermined test plan.

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