Battery system and operating method of battery system

Abstract

A battery system in an electric vehicle includes: a main battery; a battery management apparatus that controls power supply from the main battery to be blocked when an abnormality has occurred in one or more components included in the electric vehicle; and an auxiliary battery provided separately from the main battery and supplying power to one or more components provided in a cooling system that cools the main battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0098137 filed on July 27, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to battery systems and methods of operating battery systems. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries are used repeatedly by charging even after discharge and are used as energy sources for small devices such as mobile phones, tablet PCs, and vacuum cleaners. They are also used as energy sources for medium and large devices such as automobiles and energy storage systems (ESS) for smart grids.

[0004] Depending on the system requirements, secondary batteries are applied to systems in the form of assemblies such as battery modules (in which multiple battery cells are connected in series or in parallel) or battery packs (in which multiple battery modules are connected in series or in parallel). In the case of medium- to large-sized equipment such as electric vehicles, high-capacity battery systems in which multiple battery packs are connected in parallel can be applied to meet the required capacity of the equipment.

[0005] In electric vehicles equipped with a high-capacity battery system as described above, efforts are continuously being made to ensure the stability of the battery system even under various abnormal conditions such as abnormally high temperature of the battery (see, for example, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-0006404). Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical issues

[0007] The present disclosure provides a battery system that can improve the temperature stability of a battery even when an abnormal state occurs.

[0008] The present disclosure provides a method of operating such a battery system.

[0009] Technical Solution

[0010] A battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a main battery; a battery management device that controls the power supply from the main battery to be blocked when an abnormality has occurred in one or more components included in an electric vehicle; and an auxiliary battery that is arranged separately from the main battery and supplies power to one or more components provided in a cooling system that cools the main battery when the power supply from the main battery is blocked.

[0011] The auxiliary battery may be configured to supply power to a refrigerant circulation unit that circulates refrigerant within a refrigerant circulation path. Here, the main battery may be configured to supply power to the cooling system, and the auxiliary battery may be configured to supply power only to the refrigerant circulation unit provided in the cooling system when power supply from the main battery is blocked.

[0012] The cooling system according to this embodiment includes a refrigerant circulation path through which refrigerant flows, a heat exchange unit that cools the refrigerant, and a refrigerant circulation pump that circulates the refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path. The auxiliary battery may be configured to supply power to the refrigerant circulation pump when power from the main battery is blocked.

[0013] When an abnormality has occurred in one or more components, the power supply from the main battery to the heat exchange unit can be blocked. Here, the refrigerant circulation pump can operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path without being cooled by the heat exchange unit.

[0014] The auxiliary battery may be configured to exhibit an output voltage lower than an output voltage of the main battery.

[0015] When an abnormality has occurred in one or more components, the battery management device can switch the main relay arranged in the power supply path on the output side of the main battery from a closed state to an open state, and control one or more components arranged in the cooling system to operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery.

[0016] The battery management device according to this embodiment diagnoses whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system in the driving mode of the electric vehicle or in the charging mode of the main battery, and when the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, controls the power supply from the main battery to be blocked and controls the power supply from the auxiliary battery to be allowed.

[0017] The battery management device is activated at every predetermined time in the parking mode of the electric vehicle or the sleep mode of the battery system, and diagnoses whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system, and when the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, controls the power supply from the main battery to remain blocked and controls the power supply from the auxiliary battery to be allowed.

[0018] A method for operating a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is performed by a battery management device arranged in an electric vehicle, and includes: diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system; when the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, controlling the power supply from the main battery to be blocked; and when the power supply from the main battery is blocked, controlling an auxiliary battery arranged separately from the main battery to supply power to one or more components included in a cooling system that cools the main battery.

[0019] Controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to one or more components provided in the cooling system includes controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to a refrigerant circulation pump that circulates refrigerant within a refrigerant circulation path.

[0020] The main battery supplies power to the cooling system, and when the power supply from the main battery is blocked, the auxiliary battery supplies power only to a refrigerant circulation pump provided in the cooling system.

[0021] The cooling system includes a refrigerant circulation path through which refrigerant flows, a heat exchange unit that cools the refrigerant, and a refrigerant circulation pump that circulates the refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path. Controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to one or more components provided in the cooling system includes controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to the refrigerant circulation pump.

[0022] Controlling the power supply from the main battery to be blocked includes controlling the power supply from the main battery to the heat exchange unit to be blocked. Controlling the power supply from the auxiliary battery to the refrigerant circulation pump includes operating the refrigerant circulation pump with power supplied by the auxiliary battery to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path without being cooled by the heat exchange unit.

[0023] The auxiliary battery may be configured to exhibit an output voltage lower than an output voltage of the main battery.

[0024] Controlling the power supply from the main battery to be blocked includes switching a main relay arranged on a power supply path on an output side of the main battery from a closed state to an open state. Controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to one or more components includes controlling the one or more components to operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery.

[0025] Diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system according to another embodiment includes diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system in a driving mode of the electric vehicle or a charging mode of the main battery.

[0026] Diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system includes activating the battery management device at each predetermined time in a parking mode of the electric vehicle or a sleep mode of the battery system and diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred.

[0027] According to another embodiment, a battery system is arranged in an electric vehicle and includes: a main battery that supplies power to the electric vehicle; a battery management device that controls the power supply from the main battery to be blocked when an abnormality has occurred in one or more components included in the electric vehicle; and an auxiliary battery that is provided separately from the main battery and that supplies power directly only to specific components among one or more components provided in a cooling system that cools the main battery when the power supply from the main battery is blocked, without supplying power to the remaining components of the cooling system.

[0028] The cooling system includes: a refrigerant circulation path in which refrigerant flows; a heat exchange unit that cools the refrigerant; and a refrigerant circulation pump that allows the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path, and when the power supply from the main battery is blocked, the auxiliary battery supplies power only to the refrigerant circulation pump of the cooling system.

[0029] Beneficial effects

[0030] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above, even when the output of the main battery is blocked due to the occurrence of an abnormal state in the battery system, at least some functions of the cooling system are activated by the auxiliary battery, so that the temperature stability of the battery system can be improved relative to conventional battery systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 3 is a reference view illustrating a cooling system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 4 is an operational flow chart of a method of operating a battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 5 is an operational flow chart of a method for operating a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 6 is an operational flow chart of a method for operating a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a battery management device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] In some of the drawings, corresponding components are given the same reference numerals. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings illustrate elements simply and clearly and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, to aid understanding of the various embodiments, the dimensions of some elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated compared to other elements. Furthermore, to avoid obstructing understanding of the spirit of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments but are known in the art may not generally be depicted.

[0039] 110: Main battery

[0040] 120: Auxiliary battery

[0041] 200: Battery management equipment

[0042] 300: Power request device

[0043] 310: Drive equipment

[0044] 320: Cooling system

[0045] 321: Refrigerant circulation path

[0046] 322: Heat exchange unit

[0047] 323: Refrigerant circulation pump DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The present disclosure can be modified in various ways and can have various embodiments. Therefore, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific embodiments, and all modifications, equivalents and replacements fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. When describing each of the drawings, similar reference numerals are used for similar parts.

[0049] Terms such as "first," "second," "A," and "B" may be used to describe various components, but these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of the plurality of related listed items.

[0050] When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, it should be understood that the component can be directly connected or coupled to another element, but another component may exist between them. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another component, it should be understood that no other components exist between them.

[0051] The terms used herein are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, singular expressions include plural expressions. In this document, it should be understood that terms such as "including" and "having" are intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical or scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Terms (such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0053] When a predetermined abnormal condition is detected in the battery system while the electric vehicle is in driving mode or the battery is being charged, a relay arranged on the output side of the battery is switched to an open state, thereby blocking the charging and discharging power to the battery. While the battery cooling system for battery temperature stability operates by receiving power from the battery, the battery cooling function is also stopped when the power supply to the battery is blocked by opening the relay.

[0054] The present disclosure provides a battery protection technology capable of improving temperature stability of a battery even when a relay arranged on an output side of a battery is switched to a disconnected state due to occurrence of an abnormal condition in a battery system and a charging and discharging path is blocked.

[0055] Some terms used herein are defined below.

[0056] A battery cell is the smallest unit that stores electricity, and a battery module refers to an assembly in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected.

[0057] A battery pack or battery rack refers to a system with a minimum single structure that electrically connects module units set by a battery manufacturer and can be monitored and controlled by a battery management system (BMS), and may include multiple battery modules and a single battery protection unit (BPU) or protection device.

[0058] A battery bank may refer to a group of large-scale battery rack systems, in each of which multiple battery racks are connected in parallel. Monitoring and control of a rack BMS (RBMS) at the battery rack level may be performed at the battery bank level via the BMS.

[0059] A battery assembly refers to an assembly that includes a plurality of electrically connected battery cells and is applied to a specific system or device to serve as a power source. Here, a battery assembly may refer to, for example, a battery module, a battery pack, a battery rack, or a battery bank, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to these entities.

[0060] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a block diagram of a battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0062] refer to Figure 1 , a battery system according to one embodiment includes a main battery 110 , an auxiliary battery 120 , and a battery management device 200 .

[0063] The main battery 110 may be configured to supply power to a power request device 300 placed within an electric vehicle. The power request device 300 may include a drive device 310 and a cooling system 320 for the electric vehicle. In addition to the drive device 310 and the cooling system 320, the power request device 300 may also include various components for operating the electric vehicle. The cooling system 320 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a refrigerant circulation path 321 through which refrigerant flows, a heat exchange unit 322 configured to cool the refrigerant, and a refrigerant circulation pump 323 configured to circulate the refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path 321.

[0064] The auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to supply power to one or more components provided in the cooling system 320. Here, the auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to supply power to activate at least some functions of the cooling system 320. In one embodiment, the auxiliary battery 120 is configured to supply power to a refrigerant circulation unit that circulates refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path 321.

[0065] The main relay 410 is disposed in a power supply path on the output side of the main battery 110 and is configured to electrically connect or disconnect the main battery 110 and the power requesting device 300. Here, the main relay 410 may be on / off controlled by the battery managing device 200.

[0066] The auxiliary relay 420 may be disposed in a power supply path on the output side of the auxiliary battery 120 and configured to electrically connect or disconnect specific components of the auxiliary battery 120 from the cooling system 320. Here, the auxiliary relay 420 may be on / off controlled by the battery management device 200.

[0067] At the same time, if Figure 2As shown, the auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to be directly connected to specific components of the cooling system 320, such as, for example, the refrigerant circulation pump 323. Here, the refrigerant circulation pump 323, as a corresponding component connected to the auxiliary battery 120, may be on / off controlled by the battery management device 200.

[0068] In the present disclosure, the main battery 110 and the auxiliary battery 120 may be referred to as battery cells or battery assemblies.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the auxiliary battery 120 may be a battery exhibiting an output voltage lower than that of the main battery 110 .

[0070] The battery managing apparatus 200 may correspond to a battery management system (BMS) disposed within the battery system, or may be included in the BMS.

[0071] The battery management device 200 can perform a control operation regarding whether to supply power to the main battery 110 by controlling the on / off operation of the main relay 410. For example, the battery management device 200 can control the main relay 410 to be closed so that the power stored in the main battery 110 is supplied to the power requesting device 300, or control the main relay 410 to be opened so that the power supply from the main battery 110 is blocked.

[0072] The battery management device 200 can control whether to supply power to the auxiliary battery 120 by controlling the on / off operation of the main relay 420. For example, the battery management device 200 can control the auxiliary relay 420 to be closed so that the power stored in the auxiliary battery 120 is supplied to the cooling system 320 or specific components of the cooling system 320, such as the refrigerant circulation pump 323. The battery management device 200 can also control the auxiliary relay 420 to be opened so that the power supply from the auxiliary battery 120 to the cooling system 320 or specific components of the cooling system 320 (such as the refrigerant circulation pump 323) is blocked.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the battery management device 200 can diagnose whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system. Here, the battery management device 200 can collect battery system status information via one or more sensors and determine whether a predetermined abnormal condition has occurred in the battery system based on the collected status information. For example, the battery management device 200 can determine whether an abnormal condition such as overheating, high voltage, high current, short circuit, arcing, or gas discharge has occurred in the battery system.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the battery management device 200 may cooperate with a diagnostic unit of an electric vehicle to identify whether an abnormality has occurred in one or more components included in the electric vehicle. For example, the battery management device 200 may be configured to receive information about an abnormal state of an external component of the battery system from the diagnostic unit of the electric vehicle.

[0075] When an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle, the battery management device 200 may control power supply from the main battery 110 to be blocked and control one or more components provided in the cooling system 320 to operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery 120 .

[0076] For example, when a predetermined abnormal condition is detected in the battery system or in the electric vehicle, the battery management device 200 may switch the main relay 410 from a closed state to an open state, and switch the auxiliary relay 420 from an open state to a closed state. As a result, the power supply from the main battery 110 to the power requesting device 300 is blocked, and at least a portion of the functions of the cooling system 320 (e.g., only the functions of the refrigerant circulation pump 323) may be activated by the auxiliary battery 120. At this time, since the power supply to the heat exchange unit 322 is blocked, the refrigerant C may circulate within the refrigerant circulation path 321 without being cooled by the heat exchange unit 322.

[0077] At the same time, when the auxiliary battery 120 is configured to be directly connected to a specific component of the cooling system 320 (such as the refrigerant circulation pump 323), the battery management device 200 can switch the main relay 410 from a closed state to an open state, and switch the power supply path to the corresponding component so that the corresponding component can operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery 120 instead of the main battery 110.

[0078] Figure 3 is a reference view illustrating a cooling system 320 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0079] refer to Figure 3 , the cooling system 320 may include a refrigerant circulation path 321 through which the refrigerant C circulates. According to one embodiment, the refrigerant C may be cooling water.

[0080] The cooling plate P may be configured to contact at least a portion of the outer surface of the main battery 110, and a portion of the refrigerant circulation path 321 may be accommodated inside the cooling plate P. Here, the refrigerant C may flow inside the cooling plate P and absorb heat generated from the main battery 110. According to one embodiment, the cooling plate P may be the heat exchange unit 322.

[0081] The cooling system 320 may lower the temperature of the refrigerant C via the heat exchange unit 322. Here, the heat exchange unit 322 may allow the first refrigerant C for cooling the main battery 110 to exchange heat with a second refrigerant having a lower temperature than the first refrigerant C, thereby lowering the temperature of the first refrigerant C.

[0082] The refrigerant circulation pump 323 may be disposed in a flow path of the refrigerant C and apply pressure to the refrigerant C so that the refrigerant C circulates in a specific direction within the refrigerant circulation path 321 .

[0083] Return Reference Figure 2 , the auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to supply power to the refrigerant circulation pump 323 provided in the cooling system 320. Here, the auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to supply power only to the refrigerant circulation pump 323, and not to other components such as the heat exchange unit 322.

[0084] The auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to exhibit an output voltage lower than that of the main battery 110. For example, the auxiliary battery 120 may be configured as a 12V lead-acid battery or a 48V low-voltage battery configured to activate only the refrigerant circulation function of the cooling system 320.

[0085] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the output of the main battery 110 is blocked due to the occurrence of an abnormal state in the battery system, the battery cooling function may be deactivated, but the refrigerant circulation function of the cooling system 320 may be activated through the auxiliary battery 120, which is, for example, a low-voltage battery. As a result, the temperature of the main battery 110 can be stabilized for at least a specific period of time, and the occurrence of additional abnormal states can be prevented or delayed.

[0086] Figure 4 is an operational flow chart of a method of operating a battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] The method of operating a battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed by a battery management apparatus 200 disposed in an electric vehicle.

[0088] Furthermore, the method of operating a battery system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed in a driving mode of an electric vehicle or in a charging mode of a main battery.

[0089] The battery management device 200 may diagnose whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle (S410). Here, the battery management device 200 may collect battery system status information via one or more sensors and determine whether a predetermined abnormality has occurred based on the collected status information. Furthermore, the battery management device 200 may receive abnormal status information regarding external components of the battery system from a diagnostic unit of the electric vehicle.

[0090] The battery management device 200 may identify whether a predetermined abnormal state has occurred (S420), and if the abnormal state has occurred, the battery management device may control the power supply from the main battery 110 to be blocked (S430). Here, the battery management device 200 may block the output of the main battery 110 by switching the main relay 410 arranged in the power supply path on the output side of the main battery 110 from a closed state to an open state.

[0091] The battery managing apparatus 200 may control a portion of the function of the cooling system 320 to be activated by power of the auxiliary battery 120 ( S440 ).

[0092] For example, the battery managing device 200 may control one or more components provided in the cooling system 320 to operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery 120 , so that at least a portion of the functions of the cooling system 320 may be activated.

[0093] Figure 5 is an operational flow chart of a method for operating a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] The battery management device 200 may diagnose whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle (S510). Here, the battery management device 200 may collect battery system status information via one or more sensors and determine whether a predetermined abnormality has occurred based on the collected status information. Furthermore, the battery management device 200 may receive abnormal status information regarding external components of the battery system from a diagnostic unit of the electric vehicle.

[0095] The battery management device 200 may determine whether a predetermined abnormal state has occurred (S520), and if it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred, the battery management device may control the power supply from the main battery 110 to be blocked (S530). Here, since the heat exchange unit 322 of the battery cooling system 320 is configured to operate by receiving power from the main battery 110, the battery cooling function may be stopped.

[0096] The battery managing apparatus 200 may control only the refrigerant circulation function of the cooling system 320 to be maintained by the power of the auxiliary battery 120 ( S540 ).

[0097] For example, the auxiliary battery 120 can be configured to supply power to a refrigerant circulation unit (e.g., refrigerant circulation pump 323) provided in the cooling system 320. Even when the output of the main battery 110 is blocked due to an abnormality, the refrigerant circulation unit can operate using power from the auxiliary battery 120, thereby maintaining the refrigerant circulation function. In this case, since the power supply to the heat exchange unit 322 is blocked, the refrigerant can circulate within the refrigerant circulation path 321 without being cooled by the heat exchange unit 322.

[0098] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the output of the main battery 110 is blocked due to the occurrence of an abnormal state, the battery cooling function is disabled, but the refrigerant circulation function can be activated by the auxiliary battery 120, which is a low-voltage battery. As a result, the temperature of the main battery 110 can be stabilized for at least a specific period of time, and the occurrence of additional abnormal conditions can be prevented or delayed.

[0099] Figure 6 is an operational flow chart of a method for operating a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] A method of operating a battery system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed in a parking mode of an electric vehicle or a sleep mode of the battery system.

[0101] When the electric vehicle is switched to parking mode or the battery system is switched to sleep mode ( S610 ), the battery management device 200 may switch the main relay 410 from a closed state to an open state ( S620 ), thereby blocking the output power from the main battery 110 .

[0102] Thereafter, the battery management apparatus 200 may be activated at every predetermined time to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system and in the electric vehicle ( S630 ).

[0103] When the battery management device determines that a predetermined abnormal state has occurred, it may maintain the state of blocking the power supply to the main battery 110 (S640). For example, even when the electric vehicle switches from parking mode to driving mode or even when the battery system's sleep mode is released, the battery management device 200 may prevent the main relay 410 from switching to the closed state, so that the main relay 410 remains in the open state.

[0104] Furthermore, the battery management device 200 may control the refrigerant circulation unit (e.g., the refrigerant circulation pump 323) to operate using the power of the auxiliary battery 120, thereby activating the refrigerant circulation function of the cooling system 320 (S650). Therefore, even when an abnormal state has occurred, the refrigerant circulation function can be activated by the auxiliary battery 120, so that the temperature of the main battery 110 can be stabilized for at least a specific period of time.

[0105] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a battery management device 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0106] The battery managing apparatus 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may correspond to a battery management system (BMS) disposed within a battery system, or may be included in the BMS.

[0107] The battery management device 200 may include at least one processor 210 , a memory 220 configured to store at least one command to be executed by the processor 210 , and a transceiver 230 connected to a network for communication.

[0108] At least one command may include: a command for diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle; a command for controlling the power supply from the main battery 110 to be blocked when an abnormality is detected; and a command for controlling the auxiliary battery 120 arranged separately from the main battery 110 to supply power to one or more components arranged in the cooling system 320, which is configured to cool the main battery 110.

[0109] The command for controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to one or more components provided in the cooling system 320 may include a command for controlling the auxiliary battery 120 to supply power to a refrigerant circulation unit (e.g., a refrigerant circulation pump 323) that circulates refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path 321.

[0110] The main battery 110 may be configured to supply power to the cooling system 320 , and the auxiliary battery 120 may be configured to supply power only to a refrigerant circulation unit (eg, refrigerant circulation pump 323 ) provided in the cooling system 320 when power supply from the main battery 110 is blocked.

[0111] Cooling system 320 may include a refrigerant circulation path 321 through which refrigerant flows, a heat exchange unit 322 configured to cool the refrigerant, and a refrigerant circulation pump 323 configured to circulate the refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path. The command for controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to one or more components provided in cooling system 320 may include a command for controlling auxiliary battery 120 to supply power to refrigerant circulation pump 323.

[0112] The command for blocking the power supply from the main battery 110 may include a command for blocking the power supply from the main battery 110 to the heat exchange unit 322. Here, the command for supplying power from the auxiliary battery 120 to the refrigerant circulation pump 323 may include a command for operating the refrigerant circulation pump 323 using the power supplied from the auxiliary battery 120 so as to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path 321 without being cooled by the heat exchange unit 322.

[0113] The command for blocking the power supply from the main battery 110 may include a command for switching the main relay 410, which is arranged in the power supply path on the output side of the main battery 110, from a closed state to an open state. Here, the command for supplying power from the auxiliary battery 120 to one or more components of the cooling system 320 may include a command for operating the one or more components using the power supplied from the auxiliary battery 120.

[0114] The command for diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle may include a command for diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle in a driving mode of the electric vehicle or in a charging mode of the main battery 110 .

[0115] The command for diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle may include a command for activating the battery management unit 200 at each predetermined time in the parking mode of the electric vehicle or the sleep mode of the battery system and diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system or in the electric vehicle.

[0116] The battery managing device 200 may further include an input interface device 240 , an output interface device 250 , a storage device 260 , etc. The respective components included in the battery managing device 200 may be connected through a bus 270 to communicate with each other.

[0117] The processor 210 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated processor that executes the methods according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory (or storage device) may include at least one of a volatile storage medium and a non-volatile storage medium. For example, the memory may be configured with at least one of a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).

[0118] The operation of the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented as a computer-readable program or code on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include all types of recording devices that store data readable by a computer system. In addition, the computer-readable recording medium can be distributed on a computer system connected to a network so that the computer-readable program or code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0119] Although some aspects of the present disclosure have been described in the context of devices, these aspects also represent descriptions of corresponding methods, where blocks or devices correspond to method steps or features of method steps. Similarly, aspects described in the context of methods also represent descriptions of corresponding blocks, items, or features of corresponding devices. Some or all of the method steps can be performed by (or using) hardware devices such as microprocessors, programmable computers, or electronic circuits. In some embodiments, one or more of the method steps can be performed by these devices.

[0120] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery system in an electric vehicle, the battery system comprising: Main battery; a battery management device configured to control power supply from the main battery to be blocked when an abnormality has occurred in one or more components included in the electric vehicle; and An auxiliary battery is provided separately from the main battery and is configured to supply power to one or more components provided in a cooling system that cools the main battery when power supply from the main battery is blocked.

2. The battery system according to claim 1, wherein: The auxiliary battery is configured to supply electric power to a refrigerant circulation pump that circulates refrigerant within a refrigerant circulation path.

3. The battery system according to claim 2, wherein: The main battery is configured to supply power to the cooling system, and The auxiliary battery is configured to supply power only to the refrigerant circulation pump provided in the cooling system when power supply from the main battery is blocked.

4. The battery system according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling system comprises: a refrigerant circulation path in which the refrigerant flows; a heat exchange unit configured to cool the refrigerant; and a refrigerant circulation pump configured to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path, and The auxiliary battery is configured to supply power to the refrigerant circulation pump when power supply from the main battery is blocked.

5. The battery system according to claim 4, wherein: When the abnormality has occurred in the one or more components, The power supply from the main battery to the heat exchange unit is blocked, and The refrigerant circulation pump is operated using power supplied from the auxiliary battery to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path without being cooled by the heat exchange unit.

6. The battery system according to claim 1, wherein: The auxiliary battery is configured to exhibit an output voltage lower than an output voltage of the main battery.

7. The battery system according to claim 1, wherein: When the abnormality has occurred in the one or more components, The battery management device switches a main relay arranged in a power supply path on the output side of the main battery from a closed state to an open state, and One or more components provided in the cooling system are controlled to operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery.

8. The battery system according to claim 1, wherein: The battery management device diagnoses whether the abnormality has occurred in the battery system in the driving mode of the electric vehicle or the charging mode of the main battery, and when the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, controls the power supply from the main battery to be blocked and controls the power supply from the auxiliary battery to be allowed.

9. The battery system according to claim 1, wherein: The battery management device is activated at each predetermined time in a parking mode of the electric vehicle or in a sleep mode of the battery system, and diagnoses whether the abnormality has occurred in the battery system, and when the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, controls the power supply from the main battery to remain blocked and controls the power supply from the auxiliary battery to be allowed.

10. A method for operating a battery system by a battery management device arranged in an electric vehicle, the method comprising: diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system; When the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, controlling the power supply from the main battery to be blocked; as well as When power supply from the main battery is blocked, an auxiliary battery provided separately from the main battery is controlled to supply power to one or more components included in a cooling system configured to cool the main battery.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: Controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to the one or more components provided in the cooling system includes: The auxiliary battery is controlled to supply electric power to a refrigerant circulation pump configured to circulate refrigerant within the refrigerant circulation path.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The main battery is configured to supply power to the cooling system, and When the power supply from the main battery is blocked, the auxiliary battery is configured to supply power only to the refrigerant circulation pump provided in the cooling system.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The cooling system comprises: a refrigerant circulation path in which the refrigerant flows; a heat exchange unit configured to cool the refrigerant; and a refrigerant circulation pump configured to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path, and Wherein, controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to the one or more components provided in the cooling system includes: The auxiliary battery is controlled to supply electric power to the refrigerant circulation pump.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein Controlling the power supply from the main battery to be blocked includes: controlling the power supply from the main battery to the heat exchange unit to be blocked; and Wherein, controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to the refrigerant circulation pump includes: A refrigerant circulation pump is operated by power supplied from the auxiliary battery to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path without being cooled by the heat exchange unit.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein The auxiliary battery is configured to exhibit an output voltage lower than an output voltage of the main battery.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein Controlling the blocking of the power supply from the main battery includes: switching a main relay arranged in a power supply path on the output side of the main battery from a closed state to an open state, and Wherein, controlling the auxiliary battery to supply power to the one or more components includes: The one or more components are controlled to operate using power supplied by the auxiliary battery.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein Diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system includes: It is diagnosed whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system in a driving mode of the electric vehicle or in a charging mode of the main battery.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein Diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system includes: The battery management device is activated at every predetermined time in a parking mode of the electric vehicle or in a sleep mode of the battery system, and diagnoses whether an abnormality has occurred in the battery system.

19. A battery system in an electric vehicle, the battery system comprising: a main battery configured to supply power to the electric vehicle; a battery management device configured to control power supply from the main battery to be blocked when an abnormality has occurred in one or more components included in the electric vehicle; and an auxiliary battery provided separately from the main battery and configured to supply power directly only to specific components among one or more components provided in a cooling system that cools the main battery, without supplying power to the remaining components of the cooling system, when power supply from the main battery is blocked.

20. The battery system according to claim 19, wherein: The cooling system comprises: a refrigerant circulation path in which the refrigerant flows; a heat exchange unit configured to cool the refrigerant; and a refrigerant circulation pump configured to allow the refrigerant to circulate within the refrigerant circulation path, and Wherein, when the power supply from the main battery is blocked, the auxiliary battery is configured to supply power only to the refrigerant circulation pump of the cooling system.

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