Battery pack management device and operation method thereof

Abstract

A battery pack management apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed in this document may include: a communication unit that receives a voltage of one battery cell among a plurality of battery cell groups from a plurality of sensors that measure the voltage of the one battery cell among the plurality of battery cell groups; and a controller that calculates a median value of the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, calculates a voltage deviation between a plurality of battery cells in the plurality of battery cell groups and the median value of the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, and comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value to diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the priority and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2022 - 0151065, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on November 11, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery pack management device and an operation method thereof. Background Art

[0005] An energy storage system (ESS) stores high - capacity electrical energy in a plurality of battery packs including a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or in parallel. Heat may be generated in the battery packs of the ESS due to chemical reactions occurring during charging and discharging, and this heat may damage the performance and lifespan of the battery packs. Therefore, a battery pack management device (or a pack battery management system (PBMS)) that monitors the temperature, voltage, and current of the battery packs is driven to predict the state of the battery packs and manage them.

[0006] A battery pack is manufactured by combining a plurality of battery cells having the same design to ensure mass productivity during the production process. In the case of abnormal voltage behavior of a specific single battery cell, a chain ignition may occur inside the battery pack, such that the battery pack management device must diagnose the battery cell with abnormal voltage. However, according to the conventional method of detecting abnormal voltage behavior of battery cells by the battery pack management device, calculating the reduction rate of the average battery cell voltage relative to the voltage of a single battery cell or measuring a rapid change in temperature, it may not be possible to detect voltage fluctuations caused by noise inside the battery pack and instantaneous voltage changes of the battery cells, making it difficult to detect abnormal voltage behavior of the battery cells. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical Problem

[0008] The embodiments disclosed herein aim to provide a battery pack management device and an operation method thereof, in which an instantaneous voltage change of a battery cell can be detected based on the median value of the voltages of a battery cell group, thereby diagnosing an abnormal battery cell earlier.

[0009] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the above - mentioned technical problems, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

[0010] Technical Solution

[0011] The battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes: a communication unit configured to receive the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors being configured to measure the voltage of any one of the battery cell groups; and a controller configured to: calculate a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; calculate a voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with respect to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; and diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the communication unit may further be configured to receive the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors from each of the plurality of sensors, and the controller may further be configured to calculate a median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups and determine whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within a threshold range.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the controller may further be configured to: calculate a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups when the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within the threshold range.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the controller may further be configured to: calculate a voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with respect to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; and obtain a maximum value among the positive deviations and a maximum value among the negative deviations of the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the controller may further be configured to: determine whether the maximum value among the positive deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold value and whether the maximum value among the negative deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold value.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the controller may further be configured to: diagnose the battery cell as an abnormal battery cell when the maximum value among the positive deviations of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold value and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold value.

[0017] The method of operating a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes the following steps: receiving the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors; calculating the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; calculating the voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells with respect to the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; and diagnosing whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the step of receiving the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors may include the following steps: receiving the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors from each of the plurality of sensors; and calculating the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups, and determining whether the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within a threshold range.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the step of calculating the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups may include the following steps: calculating the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups when the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within the threshold range.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the step of calculating the voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells with respect to the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups may include the following steps: obtaining the maximum value among the positive deviations and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the step of diagnosing whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value may include the following steps: determining whether the maximum value among the positive deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold value, and whether the maximum value among the negative deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold value.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the step of diagnosing whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value may include the following steps: when the maximum value among the positive deviations of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold value and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold value, diagnosing the battery cell as an abnormal battery cell.

[0023] Beneficial effects

[0024] With the battery pack management device and its operation method according to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to detect the instantaneous voltage change of battery cells based on the median value of the voltages of the battery cell groups, thereby diagnosing abnormal battery cells earlier. Description of the drawings

[0025] Figure 1 Shows a battery pack according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0026] Figure 2 Is a block diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack management device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0027] Figure 3 Is a graph showing the change over time of the median value of the voltages of a battery cell group according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0028] Figure 4 Is a flowchart of a method for analyzing the voltage deviation of battery cells of an analysis controller according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0029] Figure 5 Is a flowchart of an operation method of a battery pack management device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0030] Figure 6 Is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computing system for implementing a battery pack management device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0031] Hereinafter, some embodiments disclosed in this document will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. When adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that even if the same components are shown in different drawings, the same components will be given the same reference numerals. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this document, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known configurations or functions will interfere with the understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this document, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] To describe the components in the embodiments disclosed herein, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the nature, order, sequence, etc. of the components. The terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art, as long as these terms have no different definitions. Generally, the terms defined in a general dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meaning as the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted as having an idealized or exaggerated meaning unless they are clearly defined in this document.

[0033] Figure 1 Shows a battery pack in the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0034] Referring to Figure 1 , the battery pack 1000 in the embodiments disclosed herein may include a plurality of battery cells 100, a charge / discharge device (not shown), a plurality of sensors 200, and a battery pack management device 300.

[0035] The battery pack 1000 may supply power to a target device (not shown). To this end, the battery pack 1000 may be electrically connected to the target device. Here, the target device may include an electrical, electronic, or mechanical device that operates by receiving power from the battery pack 1000. For example, the target device may be (but is not limited to) an energy storage system (ESS) or an electric vehicle (EV).

[0036] According to an embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include a plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Although Figure 1 three battery cell groups are shown, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the plurality of battery cells 100 may include n battery cell groups (n is a natural number of 2 or greater).

[0037] For example, when the plurality of battery cells 100 includes 42 battery cells, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include three battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, and each battery cell group may include 14 battery cells.

[0038] For example, when the plurality of battery cells 100 includes 28 battery cells, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include two battery cell groups 110 and 120, and each battery cell group may include 14 battery cells.

[0039] The plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 may include a plurality of battery cells. As a basic unit of a battery that can use electrical energy through charge and discharge, the battery cell may be a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, a lithium-ion polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery, etc., and is not limited thereto.

[0040] The battery cells may be manufactured through a series of manufacturing processes including an electrode manufacturing process, an assembly process, a chemical conversion process, etc., and the manufactured battery cells may be connected in series or in parallel with each other and embedded in a housing structure to form the battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. The completed battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 may be connected in series or in parallel with each other and embedded in a housing structure to form the battery pack 1000.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 may include a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or in parallel. According to an embodiment, the number of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 may be the same.

[0042] According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 may be implemented in the form of a battery monitoring integrated circuit (BMIC) that monitors the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the plurality of battery cells. Hereinafter, a case where each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 is implemented by a BMIC will be described as an example.

[0043] Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 may measure the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. More specifically, the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 may be respectively matched one-to-one with the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Although Figure 1 the plurality of functional modules are shown as three in the figure, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 may include n sensors (n is a natural number of 2 or more).

[0044] For example, when the plurality of battery cells 100 includes three battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, the plurality of sensors 200 may include three sensors 210, 220, and 230. The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 may be respectively matched one-to-one with the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 to measure the voltage of the matching battery cell group among the battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. For example, the first sensor 210 may measure the voltage of the first battery cell group 110, the second sensor 220 may measure the voltage of the second battery cell group 120, and the third sensor 230 may measure the voltage of the third battery cell group 130.

[0045] For example, when the plurality of battery cells 100 includes two battery cell groups 110 and 120, the plurality of sensors 200 may include two sensors 210 and 220. The plurality of sensors 210 and 220 may be respectively matched one-to-one with the plurality of battery cell groups 110 and 120 to measure the voltage of the matching battery cell group in the battery cell groups 110 and 120.

[0046] Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can be electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of each of the plurality of battery cells to repeatedly measure the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells. Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can repeatedly measure the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 at specific intervals to generate voltage change data for each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0047] Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can send information such as voltage, current, and temperature regarding any one of the measured battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 to the battery pack management device 300.

[0048] The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can manage and / or control the states and / or operations of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. For example, the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can manage and / or control the states and / or operations of the plurality of battery cells included in the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can manage the charging and / or discharging of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0049] The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can monitor the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 and / or the plurality of battery cells included in the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. In the charge / discharge path or any position of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, sensors or various measurement modules (not shown) for monitoring performed by the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can also be additionally installed.

[0050] The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can be configured to communicate with the battery pack management device 300. The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can receive control signals (such as instructions, etc.) for controlling the battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the battery pack management device 300. The plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can send measurement values obtained through monitoring, parameters calculated therefrom, etc. to the battery pack management device 300.

[0051] The battery pack management device (PBMS) 300 can control the overall operation of the battery pack 1000 and manage the state of the battery pack 1000.

[0052] More specifically, the battery pack management device 300 may be configured to communicate with multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230. The battery pack management device 300 may receive various data related to multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230. The battery pack management device 300 may monitor the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 and / or multiple battery cells included in the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 based on measured values of voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 received from the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230.

[0053] The battery pack management device 300 may calculate parameters (such as state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), etc.) indicating the monitoring status of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 and / or multiple battery cells included in the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0054] The battery pack 1000 may diagnose whether any one of the multiple battery cells is abnormal based on measured values (such as voltage, current, temperature, etc.) of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 received from the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230, and parameters (such as state of charge SOC, state of health SOH, etc.) directly calculated indicating the state of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 and / or the state of multiple battery cells included in the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0055] The battery pack management device 300 may send various control signals for controlling the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 to the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230. That is, the battery pack management device 300 may serve as a higher-level controller for the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230. When communicating with the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230 in the system, the battery pack management device 300 may serve as the main controller.

[0056] The battery pack management device 300 may control the operation of the charge / discharge device. For example, the battery pack management device 300 may monitor the voltage of the battery pack 1000 and monitor faults of the charge / discharge device, etc.

[0057] The battery pack management device 300 may control the operation of a relay (not shown). For example, the battery pack management device 300 may short-circuit the relay to supply power to a target device. When a charging device is connected to the battery pack 1000, the sensor may short-circuit the relay.

[0058] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0059] Hereinafter, the configuration of the battery pack management device 300 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 2 With reference to Figure 2 , the battery pack management device 300 may include a communication unit 310 and a controller 320.

[0060] The communication unit 310 may receive the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the plurality of battery sensors 110, 120, and 130. More specifically, the communication unit 310 may receive the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 measured by each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 from each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230.

[0061] The communication unit 310 may be connected to the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 through a wired / wireless network. For example, the communication unit 310 may be connected to each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 through Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, Controller Area Network (CAN) communication, or Ethernet communication.

[0062] The controller 320 may calculate the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. That is, the controller 320 may calculate the median of the voltages of all the plurality of battery cells 100. The controller 320 may determine whether the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 falls within a threshold range. For example, the controller 320 may determine whether the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 falls within a threshold range of more than 3.4V and less than 4.2V.

[0063] When the median of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 falls within the threshold range, the controller 320 may calculate the median of the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0064] For example, when 42 battery cells form a total of three battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 and each battery cell group includes 14 battery cells, the first battery cell group 110 may measure the voltages of the 1st to 14th battery cells, the second battery cell group 120 may measure the voltages of the 15th to 28th battery cells, and the third battery cell group 130 may measure the voltages of the 29th to 42nd battery cells.

[0065] Here, the controller 320 may calculate the median of the voltages of the 1st to 14th battery cells included in the first battery cell group 110, calculate the median of the voltages of the 15th to 28th battery cells included in the second battery cell group 120, and calculate the median of the voltages of the 29th to 42nd battery cells included in the third battery cell group 130. That is, the controller 320 may calculate the median of the real-time measured voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0066] When the medians of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 fall within the threshold range, the controller 320 may calculate the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0067] Figure 3 is a graph showing the change over time of the median of the voltage of the battery cell group according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0068] Referring to Figure 3 , the controller 320 may calculate the change over time of the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. For example, the controller 320 may calculate the change in the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 during the idle period A after the discharge of the battery pack 1000, the charging period B, the idle period C after charging, and the discharge period D.

[0069] The controller 320 may calculate the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 with respect to the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0070] More specifically, the controller 320 may calculate the voltage deviation of each battery cell included in each battery cell group with respect to the median of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0071] For example, the controller 320 may calculate a first median that is the median of the voltage of the first battery cell group 110 changing over time, calculate a second median that is the median of the voltage of the second battery cell group 120 changing over time, and calculate a third median that is the median of the voltage of the third battery cell group 130 changing over time.

[0072] For example, the controller 320 may calculate the deviation of the voltages of the 1st to 14th battery cells included in the first battery cell group 110 relative to the first median value, calculate the deviation of the voltages of the 15th to 28th battery cells included in the second battery cell group 120 relative to the second median value, and calculate the deviation of the voltages of the 29th to 42nd battery cells included in the third battery cell group 130 relative to the third median value.

[0073] For example, the controller 320 may compare the voltage of the 1st battery cell with the median value of the voltages of the first battery cell group 110 to calculate the voltage deviation of the 1st battery cell. For example, the controller 320 may calculate the deviation of the voltage of the 1st battery cell relative to the first median value of the first battery cell group 110 during the idle period A, charging period B, idle period C after charging, and discharging period D after discharging of the battery pack 1000.

[0074] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a method for analyzing the voltage deviation of battery cells of an analysis controller according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0075] Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 4 a method for diagnosing battery cells based on the voltage deviation of each of a plurality of battery cells executed by the controller 320 will be described in detail.

[0076] In operation S101, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltages of all the plurality of battery cells 100. In operation S101, the controller 320 may also determine whether the median values of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 fall within a threshold range.

[0077] In operation S102, when the median values of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 fall within the threshold range, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0078] In operation S103, the controller 320 may calculate the voltage deviation of the plurality of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 relative to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0079] In operation S104, the controller 320 may obtain the maximum value among the positive (+) deviations and the maximum value among the negative (-) deviations of the voltage deviations of the plurality of battery cells in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Here, when the voltage of a battery cell exceeds or is higher than the median value of the voltages of the battery cell group, a positive deviation may be calculated; when the voltage of a battery cell is less than or lower than the median value of the voltages of the battery cell group, a negative deviation may be calculated.

[0080] In operation S104, for example, the controller 320 may identify the voltage deviation of the first battery cell relative to the first median value of the first battery cell group 110 as a positive deviation or a negative deviation. Here, when the voltage of the first battery cell exceeds the first median value of the first battery cell group 110, a positive deviation can be calculated; when the voltage of the first battery cell is less than the first median value of the first battery cell group 110, a negative deviation can be calculated.

[0081] In operation S104, recall Figure 3 , for example, the controller 320 may calculate the "deviation of the idle period A after discharge ", "deviation of the charging period B ", "deviation of the discharge period D ", and "deviation of the discharge period D " of the battery pack 1000 as negative deviations of the battery cells. In operation S104, for example, the controller 320 may calculate the "deviation of the charging period B ", "deviation of the idle period C after charging ", and "deviation of the idle period C after charging " as positive deviations of the battery cells.

[0082] In operation S104, the controller 320 may obtain the maximum value among the positive deviations and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells. In operation S104, for example, the controller 320 may calculate the maximum value among the "deviation of the charging period B ", "deviation of the idle period C after charging ", and "deviation of the idle period C after charging " that are calculated as positive deviations of the battery cells as the maximum value among the positive deviations. In operation S104, for example, the controller 320 may calculate the "deviation of the idle period C after charging " as the maximum value among the positive deviations of the battery cells.

[0083] In operation S104, for example, the controller 320 may calculate the value with the largest absolute value among the "deviation of the idle period A ", "deviation of the charging period B ", "deviation of the discharge period D ", and "deviation of the discharge period D " that are calculated as negative deviations of the battery cells as the maximum value among the negative deviations. For example, the controller 320 may calculate the "deviation of the idle period A " as the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cells.

[0084] In operation S105, the controller 320 may compare the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 with a threshold value to diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells 100 is abnormal.

[0085] In operation S105, more specifically, the controller 320 may determine whether the maximum value among the positive deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 exceeds an upper threshold value. In operation S105, the controller 320 may determine whether the maximum value among the negative deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 is less than a lower threshold value. Here, the upper threshold value and the lower threshold value may be set based on the SOH of the plurality of battery cells 100 pre-calculated by the controller 320.

[0086] In operation S105, for example, the controller 320 may determine whether the "deviation of the idle period C after charging", which is the maximum value among the positive deviations of the battery cells, " exceeds the upper threshold value. In operation S105, the controller 320 may determine whether the "deviation of the idle period A", which is the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cells, " is less than the lower threshold value.

[0087] In operation S106, when the maximum value among the positive deviations of any one of the plurality of battery cells 100 exceeds the upper threshold value and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold value, the controller 320 may determine that the battery cell is abnormal.

[0088] As described above, the battery pack management device according to the embodiments disclosed herein may detect the instantaneous voltage change of the battery cells based on the median value of the voltages of the battery cell groups, thereby diagnosing abnormal battery cells earlier.

[0089] In addition, the battery pack management device 300 may calculate the voltage change of each battery cell group to diagnose the states of the plurality of battery cell groups.

[0090] In addition, the battery pack management device 300 may calculate the voltage deviation of the battery cells based on the median value of the voltages of the battery cell groups, thereby avoiding misdiagnosis of the battery cells caused by the voltage deviation of the battery cells due to the deterioration of normal battery cells.

[0091] The battery pack management device 300 may compare the voltage change of each of the plurality of battery cells with the voltage change of the plurality of battery cell groups to diagnose the abnormality of any one of the plurality of battery cells.

[0092] Figure 5 is a flowchart of an operation method of a battery pack management device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0093] The battery pack management device 300 can be substantially the same as the battery pack management device 300 described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and thus will be briefly described to avoid redundant description.

[0094] With reference to Figure 5 , a method of operating a battery pack management device may include: operation S201 of receiving voltages of a plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from a plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230; operation S202 of calculating a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130; operation S203 of calculating a voltage deviation of each of a plurality of battery cells with respect to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130; and operation S204 of diagnosing whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value.

[0095] Hereinafter, operations S201 to S204 will be described in detail.

[0096] In operation S201, the communication unit 310 may receive the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230.

[0097] In operation S201, more specifically, the communication unit 310 may receive the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 measured by each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 from each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230.

[0098] In operation S201, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. That is, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltages of all the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0099] In operation S201, the controller 320 may determine whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 falls within a threshold range.

[0100] In operation S201, when the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 falls within the threshold range, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 20, and 130. In operation S201, that is, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltages measured in real time of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0101] In operation S202, when the median value of the voltages of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 falls within a threshold range, the controller 320 may calculate the median value of the voltage of each of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 20, and 130.

[0102] In operation S203, the controller 320 may calculate the voltage deviation of each of the multiple battery cells included in each of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 with respect to the median value of the voltage of each of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 20, and 130.

[0103] In operation S203, more specifically, the controller 320 may calculate the voltage deviation of each battery cell included in each battery cell group with respect to the median value of the voltage of each of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0104] In operation S203, for example, the controller 320 may calculate a first median value that is the median value of the voltage of the first battery cell group 110 changing over time, calculate a second median value that is the median value of the voltage of the second battery cell group 120 changing over time, and calculate a third median value that is the median value of the voltage of the third battery cell group 130 changing over time.

[0105] In operation S203, the controller 320 may calculate the deviation of the voltages of the 1st to 14th battery cells included in the first battery cell group 110 with respect to the first median value, calculate the deviation of the voltages of the 15th to 28th battery cells included in the second battery cell group 120 with respect to the second median value, and calculate the deviation of the voltages of the 29th to 42nd battery cells included in the third battery cell group 130 with respect to the third median value.

[0106] In operation S203, the controller 320 may obtain the maximum value among the positive (+) deviations and the maximum value among the negative (-) deviations in the voltage deviations of each of the multiple battery cells in each of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Here, when the voltage of a battery cell exceeds the median value of the voltage of the battery cell group, a positive deviation may be calculated. When the voltage of a battery cell is less than the median value of the voltage of the battery cell group, a negative deviation may be calculated.

[0107] In operation S203, for example, the controller 320 may identify the voltage deviation of the 1st battery cell with respect to the first median value of the first battery cell group 110 as a positive deviation or a negative deviation. Here, when the voltage of the 1st battery cell exceeds the first median value of the first battery cell group 110, a positive deviation may be calculated; when the voltage of the 1st battery cell is less than the first median value of the first battery cell group 110, a negative deviation may be calculated.

[0108] In operation S204, the controller 320 may compare the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 with a threshold value to diagnose whether any of the plurality of battery cells 100 is abnormal.

[0109] In operation S204, more specifically, the controller 320 may determine whether the maximum value among the positive deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 exceeds an upper threshold value. In operation S204, the controller 320 may determine whether the maximum value among the negative deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 is less than a lower threshold value. Here, the upper threshold value and the lower threshold value may be set based on the SOH of the plurality of battery cells 100 pre-calculated by the controller 320.

[0110] In operation S204, when the maximum value among the positive deviations of any one of the plurality of battery cells 100 exceeds the upper threshold value and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold value, the controller 320 may determine that the battery cell is abnormal.

[0111] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computing system for implementing a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0112] Referring to Figure 6 , the computing system 2000 according to an embodiment disclosed herein may include an MCU 21000, a memory 2200, an input / output I / F 2300, and a communication I / F 2400.

[0113] The MCU 21000 may be a processor that executes various programs (such as a battery pack management device operation program, etc.) stored in the memory 2200, processes various data through these programs, and executes Figure 1 the above functions of the battery pack management device 300 shown.

[0114] The memory 2200 may store various programs related to the operation of the battery pack management device 300. In addition, the memory 2200 may store the operation data of the battery pack management device 300.

[0115] A plurality of memories 2200 can be set as needed. The memories 2200 can be volatile memories or non-volatile memories. For the memories 2200 that are volatile memories, random access memories (RAMs), dynamic RAMs (DRAMs), static RAMs (SRAMs), etc. can be used. For the memories 2200 that are non-volatile memories, read-only memories (ROMs), programmable ROMs (PROMs), electrically erasable ROMs (EAROMs), erasable PROMs (EPROMs), electrically erasable PROMs (EEPROMs), flash memories, etc. can be used. The above examples of the memories 2200 are only examples and are not limited thereto.

[0116] The input / output I / F 2300 can provide an interface for sending and receiving data by connecting input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, etc. (not shown) and output devices such as a display (not shown) to the MCU 21000.

[0117] The communication I / F 2400, which is a component capable of sending various data to and receiving various data from a server, can be various devices capable of supporting wired or wireless communication. For example, a program or various data for resistance measurement and abnormality diagnosis of battery cells can be sent to or received from a separately provided external server through the communication I / F 2400.

[0118] The above description is only an illustration of the technical idea of the present disclosure, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential features of the present disclosure.

[0119] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are intended to describe the technical spirit of the present disclosure rather than limit the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical spirits within the same scope should be understood to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0120] [Description of Reference Numerals]

[0121] 1000: Battery pack

[0122] 100: Multiple battery cells

[0123] 110: First battery cell group

[0124] 120: Second battery cell group

[0125] 130: Third battery cell group

[0126] 120: Sensor

[0127] 210: First sensor

[0128] 220: Second sensor

[0129] 230: Third sensor

[0130] 300: Battery pack management device

[0131] 310: Communication unit

[0132] 320: Controller

[0133] 2000: Computing system

[0134] 21000: MCU

[0135] 2200: Memory

[0136] 2300: Input / output I / F

[0137] 2400: Communication I / F

Claims

1. A battery pack management device, the battery pack management device comprising: A communication unit configured to receive, from each of a plurality of sensors, the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups, the plurality of sensors being configured to measure the voltage of the any one of the plurality of battery cell groups; And A controller configured to: Calculate a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; Calculate a voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells in the plurality of battery cell groups with respect to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; And Diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value.

2. The battery pack management device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication unit is further configured to receive, from each of the plurality of sensors, the voltage of the any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors among the plurality of battery cell groups, and The controller is further configured to calculate a median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups and determine whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within a threshold range.

3. The battery pack management device according to claim 2, wherein, The controller is further configured to: When the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within the threshold range, calculate a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups.

4. The battery pack management device according to claim 3, wherein, The controller is further configured to: Calculate a voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells in each of the plurality of battery cell groups with respect to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups within the plurality of battery cell groups; And Obtain a maximum value among the positive deviations and a maximum value among the negative deviations of the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells in the plurality of battery cell groups.

5. The battery pack management device according to claim 4, wherein, The controller is further configured to: determine whether the maximum value among the positive deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold value, and whether the maximum value among the negative deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold value.

6. The battery pack management device according to claim 5, wherein, The controller is further configured to: when the maximum value among the positive deviations of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold value and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold value, diagnose the battery cell as an abnormal battery cell.

7. An operation method of a battery pack management device, the operation method comprising the following steps: Receive, from each of a plurality of sensors, the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups; Calculate a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; Calculate a voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells with respect to the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; And Diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value.

8. The operation method according to claim 7, wherein, The step of receiving, from each of a plurality of sensors, the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups includes the following steps: Receiving, from each of the plurality of sensors, the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors among the plurality of battery cell groups; and Calculating a median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups, and determining whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within a threshold range.

9. The operation method according to claim 8, wherein, The step of calculating the median value of the voltage of each battery cell group among the plurality of battery cell groups includes the following steps: when the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups falls within the threshold range, calculating the median value of the voltage of each battery cell group among the plurality of battery cell groups.

10. The operation method according to claim 9, wherein, The step of calculating the voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells with respect to the median value of the voltage of each battery cell group among the plurality of battery cell groups includes the following steps: Obtaining the maximum value among the positive deviations and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the voltage deviations of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells within the plurality of battery cell groups.

11. The operation method according to claim 10, wherein, The step of diagnosing whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells with a threshold includes the following steps: determining whether the maximum value among the positive deviations of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold, and whether the maximum value among the negative deviations of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold.

12. The operation method according to claim 11, wherein,The step of diagnosing whether any one of the plurality of battery cells is abnormal by comparing the voltage deviation of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells with a threshold includes the following steps: when the maximum value among the positive deviations of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold and the maximum value among the negative deviations of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold, diagnosing the battery cell as an abnormal battery cell.

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