Method and apparatus for pulse heating a battery pack for an electric vehicle

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and device for pulse heating a battery pack for a vehicle. In the method for pulse heating a battery pack for a vehicle, the battery pack for a vehicle includes a first battery pack and a second battery pack, and the method includes: in response to a charge-discharge related state of the first battery pack indicating a non-charge-discharge state and a charge-discharge related state of the second battery pack indicating an external charging state or indicating an external discharging state, establishing a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and a motor drive system; disconnecting a second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; and applying a pulse current to the first battery pack by using the motor drive system to heat the first battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of automotive battery technology, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for pulse heating of automotive battery packs. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, the performance degradation of power batteries, as a core component of electric vehicles, under low-temperature conditions has attracted increasing attention. Pulse heating technology, as a battery self-heating method, uses a power conversion device to control the reciprocating flow of high-frequency current between the battery and energy storage components. It utilizes the Joule heat generated by the battery's internal resistance and circuit impedance to heat the battery, thereby increasing its temperature. Currently, pulse heating technology has been applied to low-temperature preheating scenarios in electric vehicle power battery systems to improve battery discharge performance and charge acceptance under low-temperature conditions. However, current pulse heating methods are often only applicable to parked scenarios, significantly limiting their application. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, this disclosure proposes a method and apparatus for pulse heating of automotive battery packs, which broadens the application scenarios of pulse heating function and improves the power guarantee and energy management level of vehicles in low-temperature environments.

[0004] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack is provided, the automotive battery pack including a first battery pack and a second battery pack, the method comprising: in response to a charge-discharge related state indicating a non-charge-discharge state of the first battery pack and a charge-discharge related state indicating an external charging state or an external discharge state of the second battery pack, establishing a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and a motor drive system; disconnecting a second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; and applying a pulse current to the first battery pack using the motor drive system.

[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack is provided, the automotive battery pack including a first battery pack and a second battery pack, the apparatus comprising: a connection control module configured to, in response to a charge-discharge related state indicating a non-charge-discharge state of the first battery pack and a charge-discharge related state indicating an external charging state or an external discharge state of the second battery pack, establish a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system; disconnect a second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; and a pulse control module configured to apply a pulse current to the first battery pack using the motor drive system.

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a processing apparatus is provided, comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations as described above in the method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack.

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a thermal management system is provided, comprising: a processing device as described above; a water pump; a fan; and a heating device.

[0008] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a battery pulse heating system is provided, comprising: a motor drive system having a DC-side positive terminal and a DC-side negative terminal; a charging input terminal; a first battery pack, the positive terminal of the first battery pack being electrically connected to the DC-side positive terminal via a first switching unit; a second battery pack, the positive terminal of the second battery pack being electrically connected to the DC-side positive terminal via a second switching unit, and the second battery pack being electrically connected to the positive terminal of the charging input terminal via a third switching unit, the charging input terminal being used at least for charging the second battery pack, the DC-side negative terminal, the negative terminal of the first battery pack, the negative terminal of the second battery pack, and the negative terminal of the charging input terminal being electrically connected to the same reference potential point; and a processing device as described above.

[0009] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a machine-readable storage medium is provided that stores executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations as described above in the method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack.

[0010] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a computer program product is provided, which includes executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations as described above in the method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack.

[0011] Embodiments of various aspects of this disclosure provide a method for pulse heating of the battery pack while the vehicle is charging, expanding the application scenarios of pulse heating and improving the vehicle's power assurance and energy management level in low-temperature environments. Other advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described below. Attached Figure Description

[0012] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of this application can be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference numerals.

[0013] Figure 1 An exemplary application architecture for pulse-heated automotive battery packs according to an embodiment is shown.

[0014] Figure 2An exemplary flowchart of a method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown.

[0015] Figure 3 Another exemplary flowchart of a method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown.

[0016] Figure 4 This illustrates yet another exemplary application architecture for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 Another exemplary application architecture for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown.

[0018] Figure 6 Another exemplary flowchart of a method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown.

[0019] Figure 7 Another exemplary flowchart of a method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown.

[0020] Figure 8 A schematic block diagram of an apparatus for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown.

[0021] Figure 9 A schematic block diagram of a processing apparatus according to an embodiment is shown.

[0022] Figure 10 A schematic block diagram of a thermal management system according to an embodiment is shown.

[0023] Figure 11 An exemplary electrical architecture diagram of a battery pulse heating system according to an embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The subject matter described herein will be discussed below with reference to exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed merely to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and implement the subject matter described herein, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. The function and arrangement of the elements discussed may be changed without departing from the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. Various processes or components may be omitted, substituted, or added as needed in the various examples. Furthermore, features described in some examples may be combined in other examples.

[0025] As used herein, the term "comprising" and its variations are open terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" mean "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" means "at least one other embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc., may refer to different or the same objects. Other definitions, whether explicit or implicit, may be included below. Unless explicitly indicated by the context, the definition of a term shall remain consistent throughout the specification.

[0026] The flowcharts used in this disclosure illustrate operations implemented according to some embodiments of this disclosure. It should be clearly understood that the operations in the flowcharts may not be implemented sequentially. Instead, the operations may be implemented in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, one or more additional operations may be added to the flowcharts. One or more operations may be removed from the flowcharts.

[0027] Exemplary methods and apparatus for pulse heating of automotive battery packs according to embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 An exemplary application architecture 100 for pulse-heated automotive battery packs is shown according to one embodiment.

[0029] like Figure 1As shown, an exemplary application architecture 100 for pulse-heated automotive battery packs may include a motor drive system 110, a battery pack 121, a battery pack 122, and switching assemblies 131 and 132. The motor drive system 110 may be a power conversion device for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. In some examples, the motor drive system 110 may include an inverter (i.e., a DC-AC converter), an inverter control unit, and a motor. In some examples, the inverter control unit may include, for example, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a gate drive circuit, etc. In some examples, the inverter may include, for example, a three-phase bridge circuit composed of multiple switching devices. In one example, the inverter may include three-phase bridge arms, each phase bridge arm including an upper switching device and a lower switching device connected in series. In one example, the high-potential terminal of the upper switching device may be electrically connected to the positive terminal of the DC bus of the electric vehicle, the low-potential terminal of the lower switching device may be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the DC bus of the electric vehicle, and the midpoint of each phase bridge arm may be electrically connected to the corresponding phase winding of the motor. In some examples, the switching device may be at least one of fully controllable power semiconductor devices, such as an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a silicon carbide MOSFET, or a gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor (GaN HEMT). In some examples, the motor may be a permanent magnet synchronous motor or an asynchronous motor with three-phase stator windings. The three-phase stator windings may be connected in a star or delta configuration, for example.

[0030] A switching assembly can refer to a device used to selectively establish or disconnect an electrical connection between two electrical nodes. In some examples, switching assembly 131 may be disposed between battery pack 121 and motor drive system 110 for disconnecting or connecting the electrical connection between battery pack 121 and motor drive system 110. In some examples, switching assembly 132 may be disposed between battery pack 122 and motor drive system 110 for disconnecting or connecting the electrical connection between battery pack 122 and motor drive system 110. In some examples, switching assemblies 131 and 132 may take various forms, for example, they may be relays or manual switches. In some examples, relays may include electromagnetic relays, solid-state relays, etc. In some examples, manual switches may include knife switches, rotary switches, toggle switches, etc.

[0031] The motor drive system 110 can function differently under various operating conditions. For example, in drive mode, the inverter can convert DC power from the connected battery pack into three-phase AC power to drive the motor and output mechanical energy. In generator mode, the inverter can convert the three-phase AC power generated by the motor into DC power to feed energy back to the connected battery pack. In pulse heating mode, the inverter can function as a high-frequency switch, and the motor windings can function as energy storage inductors. By controlling the switching devices in the inverter to alternately conduct at a preset frequency and duty cycle, the motor windings can switch between energy storage and energy release states, causing pulse current to circulate between the connected battery pack and the motor windings. This allows the Joule heating effect generated by the internal resistance of the battery pack to heat it. In one example, the frequency of the pulse current can be, for example, from 1 kHz to 20 kHz.

[0032] The method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to embodiments of this disclosure can be executed by an electronic control unit in the vehicle. The electronic control unit may be, for example, a domain controller, a thermal management system (TMS) controller, a motor drive system controller, a battery management system (BMS) controller, a vehicle control unit (VCU), etc. It is understood that in... Figure 1 The application architecture 100 shown only illustrates components relevant to embodiments of this disclosure. In actual implementation, the above application scenario may include more or fewer components. For example, application architecture 100 may also include a BMS corresponding to a battery pack. For example, a one-to-one correspondence between the BMS and the battery pack can be configured. Alternatively, a one-to-many correspondence between the BMS and the battery pack can also be used. This is for illustrative purposes only. Figure 1 The illustration shows a specific number of battery packs 121, 122 and switch assemblies 131, 132. In actual implementations, the number of these components is not fixed. It is also understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the exemplary architectures described above, but can be applied to any variations of these exemplary architectures and any other applicable scenarios.

[0033] Figure 2 An exemplary process 200 for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. The automotive battery pack may include a first battery pack and a second battery pack.

[0034] like Figure 2As shown, in step S210, the charge / discharge related states of the first battery pack and the second battery pack can be obtained in advance. In this embodiment, the charge / discharge related states can characterize the energy flow relationship between the battery pack and external devices. For example, they can be used to distinguish whether the battery pack is currently in a mode of receiving external electrical energy, a mode of outputting electrical energy to the outside, or a mode of no energy exchange with external devices. In some examples, the charge / discharge related states can indicate an external charging state, an external discharging state, or a non-charge / discharge state. In some examples, the external charging state can characterize the battery pack receiving electrical energy from an external charging device, such as an external DC charging state, an external AC charging state converted to DC charging by an on-board charger, etc. In some examples, the external discharging state can characterize the battery pack outputting electrical energy to an external load (rather than to the electric drive system), such as an external DC discharging state (e.g., external power supply). In some examples, the non-charge / discharge state can characterize the battery pack neither receiving external charging energy nor outputting electrical energy to an external load, such as a static state, a standby state, etc.

[0035] In some examples, the charge / discharge status of the battery pack can be obtained through a BMS corresponding to the battery pack. For instance, the BMS can determine whether the battery pack is currently charging, discharging, or not charging / discharging based on the collected voltage, current direction, and amplitude of the battery pack, combined with the energy flow direction between the battery pack and external devices. In other examples, the charge / discharge status of the battery pack can be obtained by detecting the physical connection status of the charging input and / or discharging output terminals. For instance, the battery pack's charging or discharging status can be determined by detecting whether an external charging device is plugged into the charging input terminal and whether an external electrical device is plugged into the discharging output terminal.

[0036] In step S220, it can be determined whether the charge / discharge related state of the first battery pack indicates a non-charge / discharge state and whether the charge / discharge related state of the second battery pack indicates an external charging state or an external discharge state.

[0037] If step S220 is determined to be yes, steps S230 to S250 can be executed.

[0038] In step S230, a first electrical connection can be established between the first battery pack and the motor drive system. In this embodiment, the first electrical connection can be a direct electrical connection or an indirect electrical connection, and this is not limited. In some examples, when the first battery pack is connected to the motor drive system via a first switch, the first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system can be established by turning on the first switch. In one example, if the first battery pack is as follows... Figure 1 As shown in battery pack 121, the first switch can be as follows: Figure 1The switch assembly 131 in the middle is shown; if the first battery pack is as Figure 1 As shown in battery pack 122, the first switch can be as follows: Figure 1 The switch assembly 132 is shown in the figure.

[0039] In step S240, the second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system can be disconnected. In this embodiment, the second electrical connection can be a direct electrical connection or an indirect electrical connection, and this is not limited. In some examples, when the second battery pack is connected to the motor drive system via a second switch, the second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system can be disconnected by turning off the second switch. In one example, if the second battery pack is as follows... Figure 1 As shown in battery pack 122, the second switch can be as follows: Figure 1 The switch assembly 132 in the middle is shown; if the second battery pack is as follows Figure 1 As shown in battery pack 121, the second switch can be as follows: Figure 1 The switch assembly 131 is shown in the figure.

[0040] In step S250, a pulsed current can be applied to the first battery pack using the motor drive system. In some examples, the high-frequency switching of the inverter's switching devices can be controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) to alternately put the motor windings into energy storage and release states, thereby forming a high-frequency pulsed current loop between the first battery pack and the motor windings. In some examples, the frequency of the pulsed current can be, for example, from 1kHz to 20kHz. In one example, the pulsed heating process can be specifically represented as follows: the first battery pack discharges, and the current flows into the motor windings through the inverter, where the motor windings store energy in the form of a magnetic field; subsequently, the inverter switches its switching state, the motor windings release energy, and the current is fed back to the first battery pack. This cycle repeats, with the pulsed current flowing through the inside of the first battery pack, using the Joule heat generated by the internal resistance and loop impedance of the first battery pack to heat the first battery pack.

[0041] In some examples, timing can be started at the beginning of applying the pulse current to the first battery pack, thereby determining the duration of the pulse current application. When the duration reaches a preset duration threshold, the application of the pulse current to the first battery pack can be stopped. In some examples, a stop command can be generated to control the switching devices of the inverter in the motor drive system to turn off, thereby cutting off the pulse current loop. In some examples, the preset duration threshold can be an upper limit set for safety and health protection of the first battery pack, for example, to prevent overheating, over-discharging, or accelerated aging of the first battery pack due to excessively long pulse heating time. In some examples, the preset duration threshold can be a fixed value preset based on the actual battery characteristics. In some examples, the preset duration threshold can also be dynamically adjusted based on the real-time status of the first battery pack to obtain the final preset duration threshold. For example, it can be adjusted based on at least one of the following: the current temperature, target temperature, state of charge, health status, pulse current amplitude, and historical heating count of the first battery pack. In one example, when the current temperature of the first battery pack is low or the state of charge is moderate, the preset duration threshold can be appropriately increased; when the health of the first battery pack is low or it is close to full charge, the preset duration threshold can be appropriately decreased. In another example, the preset duration threshold can also be calculated using a lookup table or an empirical formula.

[0042] In some examples, after pulse heating is stopped, the charge / discharge related states of the first battery pack can be switched to a power supply state, a charging state, or kept in a non-charge / discharge state according to control requirements. In some examples, if the current temperature of the first battery pack has not reached the target temperature, the heating requirements can be recalculated and pulse heating can be resumed while meeting the pulse heating interval duration.

[0043] In some examples, it may be determined whether the pulse heating start-up condition is met at least before step S250, and step S250 may be executed in response to the meeting of the pulse heating start-up condition. In some examples, the step of determining whether the pulse heating start-up condition is met may also be executed before step S210.

[0044] In some examples, pulse heating activation conditions may include at least one of the following: the pulse heating function switch is in the ON state; battery operating constraints; electric drive power conversion conditions; and thermal management heat dissipation conditions. In some examples, the pulse heating function switch may include, for example, a user-triggered heating request switch, a pulse heating enable flag automatically generated by the BMS or vehicle controller, or a pulse heating function button on the vehicle's human-machine interface. It is understood that when the function switch is in the OFF state, pulse heating is prohibited from activation to avoid accidental triggering. In some examples, battery operating constraints may include, for example, that the battery pack's state of charge, temperature, and rate of temperature change are within a predetermined range allowing pulse heating (e.g., -30℃ ≤ battery temperature < -5℃, 15% < SOC < 85%); and that the battery pack is fault-free, such as without overvoltage, undervoltage, overtemperature, or insulation faults. In some examples, the conditions for electric drive power conversion may include, for example, that the electric drive system is fault-free, such as the inverter's switching devices, drive circuits, and current sensors are functioning normally; that the three-phase pulse heating function of the electric drive system is available, such as the switching devices of each phase arm of the inverter not exhibiting open-circuit or short-circuit faults; and that the temperature of the electric drive system is within the threshold range that allows pulse heating. In some examples, the conditions for thermal management heat dissipation may include, for example, that the water pumps and fans of the thermal management system are fault-free, and that coolant circulation is normal.

[0045] In some examples, after step S250, pulse heating-related information can be displayed via a Human-Machine Interface (HMI). In some examples, the HMI may include at least one of the following: a vehicle central control display, an instrument panel, a mobile terminal application interface, a head-up display, or an entertainment screen. In some examples, pulse heating progress information can be displayed, such as a text prompt "Battery pulse heating in progress," a progress bar, or a dynamic icon, to visually indicate to the user that the battery is currently in the pulse heating stage. In some examples, status parameters related to pulse heating can be further displayed, such as the current temperature of the battery pack, the target temperature, the remaining heating time, the state of charge change, and at least one of the following: the pulse current amplitude or heating power of the electric drive system, so that the user can monitor the heating progress in real time.

[0046] If step S220 determines otherwise, the corresponding operation can be performed according to the pre-set rules. In some examples, if the charging / discharging status of the first or second battery pack indicates that it is supplying power to the motor drive system, such as driving the vehicle, the current electrical connection status can be maintained. In some examples, if the vehicle speed is below a preset threshold and the current temperature is below a predetermined temperature, steps S230 to S250 can also be executed. In some examples, in other scenarios, refer to the following text. Figure 7 Detailed description of the embodiments.

[0047] The embodiments of this disclosure, by setting at least two relatively independent battery packs and configuring corresponding switching components, enable the second battery pack to independently perform the function of supplying power or receiving charging while the first battery pack is pulse-heated, thereby broadening the application scenarios of the pulse heating function and improving the power guarantee and energy management level of the vehicle in low-temperature environments.

[0048] It should be understood that all steps and their order in method 200 are exemplary, and embodiments of this disclosure will also cover any modifications to method 200. For example, in some implementations, step 240 may be performed first, followed by step S230. As another example, in some implementations, other operations may be performed before step S210, as detailed below. Figure 3 and Figure 7 The corresponding description of the embodiments. For example, in some implementations, other operations can be performed after step S240, as detailed below. Figure 6 The corresponding description of the embodiments.

[0049] Figure 3 Another exemplary flowchart 300 for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 3 It can be based on Figure 2 Another exemplary implementation of method 200 is shown. Figure 3 Steps S330 to S370 shown can be referred to respectively. Figure 2 Steps S210 to S250 are shown in the diagram. To avoid repetition, only the differences will be described here.

[0050] In step S310, it can be determined whether a charging command for the vehicle battery pack has been received. In some examples, the charging command can be a user-triggered charging request, such as a charging start command issued through the vehicle's human-machine interface, a mobile terminal application, or a charging card authentication device. In some examples, the charging command can be a connection confirmation signal issued by an external charging device, such as a connection confirmation signal generated by the charging input terminal after the charging gun is inserted. In some examples, the charging command can be a scheduled charging command, such as a charging start command automatically generated by the vehicle controller or BMS according to a preset charging plan (such as timed start or triggering during off-peak electricity periods).

[0051] If step S310 is determined to be yes, steps S311 to S312 can be executed.

[0052] In step S311, a third electrical connection can be established between the second battery pack and the charging input terminal. In this embodiment, the third electrical connection can be a direct electrical connection or an indirect electrical connection, and is not limited here. In some examples, the charging input terminal can refer to a port used to receive DC charging energy. For example, the charging input terminal can be an interface that is directly connected to an external DC charging device; it can also be a port connected to the DC output terminal of the vehicle inverter to receive DC charging energy output after the AC power has been converted by the vehicle inverter.

[0053] In some examples, when there are multiple vehicle battery packs, the second battery pack can be predetermined or dynamically determined. In some examples, the second battery pack can be a battery pack with a controllable on / off connection to the charging input; the second battery pack can also be a battery pack with a relatively large rated capacity to ensure continuous charging; the second battery pack can also be a battery pack pre-calibrated as the main power supply pack. In one example, the calibration of the main power supply pack can be achieved through a preset address or configuration parameters of the BMS. In some examples, when multiple battery packs have on / off connections to the charging input, the second battery pack can also be dynamically determined. In some examples, the second battery pack can be dynamically selected from multiple battery packs based on the real-time status parameters of each battery pack. For example, real-time status parameters may include at least one of current voltage, current state of charge, current temperature, and health status. In one example, the second battery pack may be determined as the battery pack whose current voltage is within a preset voltage range, current state of charge is within a preset remaining capacity range, current temperature is within a preset temperature range, or optimal health status, to achieve efficient charging while protecting the battery pack.

[0054] In step S312, the charge / discharge related status of the second battery pack can be updated to indicate the external charging status. In some examples, after establishing a third electrical connection between the second battery pack and the charging input terminal, if a preset low-temperature condition is met, the second battery pack can be heated using non-pulse heating. For example, at least one of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, a heating film, a liquid thermal heater, or warm air heating can be used to heat the second battery pack. Thus, the second battery pack can achieve stable and continuous heating without occupying the hardware resources of the electric drive system or consuming its own electrical energy during charging, thereby improving low-temperature charging efficiency and charging safety.

[0055] In step S320, it can be determined whether an external discharge command for the vehicle battery pack has been received. In some examples, the external discharge command can be a discharge request actively triggered by the user, such as an external discharge start command issued through the vehicle's human-machine interface, mobile terminal application, or physical switch. In some examples, the external discharge command can be a connection confirmation signal issued by an external electrical device or discharge connection device, such as a connection confirmation signal generated by the discharge output terminal after an external load device or discharge connection device is connected. In some examples, the external discharge command can also be a scheduled discharge command, such as a discharge start command automatically generated by the vehicle controller or BMS according to a preset discharge plan (such as timed start or triggering during peak electricity price periods).

[0056] In some examples, step S320 can be executed if the result in step S310 is negative. In some examples, step S320 can be executed first, followed by step S310. In some examples, step S310 can be executed only if the result in step S320 is negative.

[0057] If step S320 is determined to be yes, steps S321 to S322 can be executed.

[0058] In step S321, a fourth electrical connection can be established between the second battery pack and the discharge output terminal. In this embodiment, the fourth electrical connection can be a direct electrical connection or an indirect electrical connection, which is not limited here. In some examples, the discharge output terminal can refer to a port used to output DC power. For example, the discharge output terminal can be an interface that is directly connected to an external DC power device; it can also be a port connected to the DC input terminal of an on-board converter to output power to an external AC load through the on-board converter. In some examples, the charging input terminal and the discharge output terminal can be independent physical ports, or they can be integrated into the same charging and discharging port, which is not limited here.

[0059] Similarly, in some examples, the second battery pack can be a battery pack with a controllable on / off connection to the discharge output terminal; the second battery pack can also be a battery pack with a relatively large rated capacity to ensure continuous power supply; the second battery pack can also be a battery pack pre-calibrated as the main power supply pack. In one example, the calibration of the main power supply pack's battery pack can be achieved through the BMS's preset address or configuration parameters. In some examples, when multiple battery packs have on / off connections to the discharge output terminal, the second battery pack can also be dynamically determined. In some examples, the second battery pack can be dynamically selected from multiple battery packs based on the real-time status parameters of each battery pack. For example, real-time status parameters may include at least one of current voltage, current state of charge, current temperature, and health status. In one example, the second battery pack may be determined as the battery pack whose current voltage is within a preset voltage range, current state of charge is within a preset remaining charge range, current temperature is within a preset temperature range, or health status is optimal, to achieve stable discharge while protecting the battery pack.

[0060] In step S322, the charge / discharge related status of the second battery pack can be updated to indicate the external discharge status.

[0061] By using the above methods, the current energy exchange mode of each battery pack can be accurately distinguished, preventing conflicts between pulse heating and charging / discharging conditions, and enabling flexible scheduling and coordination among multiple battery packs, thereby improving the operational reliability and energy management efficiency of the multi-battery pack system.

[0062] Figure 4 Another exemplary application architecture 400 for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 4 It can be based on Figure 1 Another exemplary implementation of the exemplary application architecture 100 shown. Figure 4 The motor drive system 110, battery pack 121, battery pack 122, and switch assembly 131 shown herein can be referenced. Figure 1 The corresponding descriptions are provided below. To avoid repetition, only the differences will be described here.

[0063] like Figure 4 As shown, battery pack 121 can be connected to motor drive system 110 via switch 131, and battery pack 122 can be connected to motor drive system 110 via switches 432 and 131. When battery pack 121 is used as the first battery pack, switch 131 can function as the first switch; when battery pack 122 is used as the second battery pack, the combination of switches 432 and 131 can function as the second switch 132. Battery pack 122 can be connected to charging input terminal 440 via switch 433. Battery pack 122 can be connected to discharging output terminal 450 via switch 434.

[0064] In some examples, the electrical connection between battery pack 121 and motor drive system 110 can be established by turning on switch 131, and the electrical connection between battery pack 122 and motor drive system 110 can be disconnected by turning off switch 431. In some examples, the electrical connection between battery pack 122 and charging input terminal 440 can be established or disconnected by turning on or off switch 433. In some examples, the electrical connection between battery pack 122 and discharge output terminal 450 can be established or disconnected by turning on or off switch 434. Figure 4 As shown, battery pack 121 can be used as a first battery pack, and battery pack 122 can be used as a second battery pack. In some examples, the rated capacity of battery pack 122 can be greater than the rated capacity of battery pack 121. In some examples, battery pack 122 can be a pre-calibrated main battery pack.

[0065] It should be understood that all components and their connections in architecture 400 are exemplary, and embodiments of this disclosure will also cover any modifications to architecture 400. For example, in some implementations, the first switch component 131 may also have other forms, as can be seen below. Figure 5 Description of the embodiments.

[0066] Figure 5 Another exemplary application architecture 500 for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 5 It can be based on Figure 4 This is yet another exemplary implementation of the exemplary application architecture 400 shown. Figure 5 The motor drive system 110, battery pack 121, battery pack 122, charging input terminal 440, and discharging output terminal 450 shown herein can be referenced. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The corresponding descriptions are provided below. To avoid repetition, only the differences will be described here.

[0067] like Figure 5 As shown, battery pack 121 can be connected to motor drive system 110 via switches 531 and 533, and battery pack 122 can be connected to motor drive system 110 via switches 532 and 533. Battery pack 121 can be connected to charging input terminal 440 via switches 534 and 536. Battery pack 122 can be connected to charging input terminal 440 via switches 535 and 536. Battery pack 121 can also be connected to discharge output terminal 450 via switches 534 and 537. Battery pack 122 can also be connected to discharge output terminal 450 via switches 535 and 537.

[0068] In some examples, the first battery pack and the second battery pack can be determined based on at least one of the rated capacity of battery packs 121 and 122, the current voltage, and the current temperature. In some examples, the battery pack with the smaller rated capacity can be designated as the first battery pack, and the battery pack with the larger rated capacity can be designated as the second battery pack. In some examples, when about to charge, the battery pack with the larger current voltage can be designated as the first battery pack, and the battery pack with the smaller current voltage as the second battery pack; when about to discharge, the battery pack with the smaller current voltage can be designated as the first battery pack, and the battery pack with the larger current voltage as the second battery pack. In some examples, the battery pack with the lower temperature can be designated as the first battery pack, and the battery pack with the higher temperature as the second battery pack.

[0069] In some examples, when battery pack 121 is used as the first battery pack, the combination of switches 531 and 533 can serve as the first switch 131; when battery pack 122 is used as the second battery pack, the combination of switches 532 and 533 can serve as the second switch 132. In some examples, the electrical connection between battery pack 121 and charging input terminal 440 can be established or disconnected by controlling the on / off state of switches 534 and 536; the electrical connection between battery pack 121 and discharge output terminal 450 can be established or disconnected by controlling the on / off state of switches 534 and 537. In some examples, the electrical connection between battery pack 122 and charging input terminal 440 can be established or disconnected by controlling the on / off state of switches 535 and 536; the electrical connection between battery pack 122 and discharge output terminal 450 can be established or disconnected by controlling the on / off state of switches 535 and 537. Figure 4 As shown, battery pack 121 can be used as the first battery pack, and battery pack 122 can be used as the second battery pack.

[0070] It should be understood that all components in architecture 500 and their connection methods are exemplary, and embodiments of this disclosure will also cover any modifications to architecture 500. For example, in some implementations, switches 534 to 537 may also have other forms, such as being integrated into a single switch component.

[0071] Figure 6 Another exemplary flowchart 600 for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 6 It can be based on Figure 2 Another exemplary implementation of method 200 is shown. Figure 6 Steps S610 to S650 shown can be referred to respectively. Figure 2 Steps S210 to S250 are shown in the diagram. To avoid repetition, only the differences will be described here.

[0072] like Figure 6 As shown, in step S660, battery monitoring data of the first battery pack during the pulse heating process can be acquired. In some examples, the battery monitoring data may refer to parameters characterizing the operating state of the first battery pack during the pulse heating process, such as at least one of the following: cell voltage, cell temperature, total voltage, total current, state of charge, and health. In some examples, the battery monitoring data may be acquired, for example, through a BMS corresponding to the first battery pack.

[0073] In step S670, pulse heating monitoring data of the motor drive system during the pulse heating process can be acquired. In some examples, the pulse heating monitoring data may refer to parameters characterizing the operating state of the motor drive system during the pulse heating process, such as at least one of the following: pulse current amplitude, frequency, duty cycle, inverter bus voltage, switching device temperature, and motor winding temperature. In some examples, the pulse heating monitoring data may be acquired, for example, by the control unit of the motor drive system.

[0074] In step S680, status monitoring data of the thermal management system corresponding to the vehicle battery pack during the pulse heating process can be acquired. In some examples, the status monitoring data may refer to parameters characterizing the heat dissipation capacity of the thermal management system during pulse heating, such as at least one of coolant temperature, coolant flow rate, water pump speed, fan speed, and ambient temperature. In some examples, the status monitoring data can be acquired, for example, through the controller of the thermal management system, or by receiving status information fed back by the thermal management system via the vehicle's CAN bus.

[0075] In step S690, it can be determined whether any one of the battery monitoring data, pulse heating monitoring data, and status monitoring data meets a preset pulse heating stop condition. In some examples, the pulse heating stop condition may include at least one of the following: battery monitoring data indicates that the battery temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold; battery monitoring data indicates that the battery's state of charge is greater than a preset upper limit or less than a preset lower limit; pulse heating monitoring data indicates that the electric drive pulse function is abnormal; and status monitoring data indicates that the thermal management system is malfunctioning. In some examples, the predetermined temperature threshold may be, for example, 0°C. In some examples, the preset upper limit of the state of charge may be, for example, 85%, and the preset lower limit of the state of charge may be, for example, 15%. In some examples, the abnormal state of the electric drive pulse function may include, for example, overheating of the inverter's switching devices, overheating of the motor windings, deviation of the pulse current amplitude or frequency from a preset range, or abnormal fluctuations in the inverter's DC bus voltage. In some examples, the abnormal function of the thermal management system may include, for example, overheating or underheating of the coolant, pump or fan failure, blockage of the cooling pipes, or the ambient temperature exceeding the thermal management system's design heat dissipation capacity.

[0076] If step S690 determines that at least one condition is met, then in step S691, the application of pulse current to the first battery pack can be stopped. Through this method, abnormal operating conditions in any component of the battery, electric drive system, or thermal management system can be identified in real time during pulse heating, and heating can be terminated promptly. This effectively reduces the risk of battery overheating, damage to electric drive components, or thermal runaway caused by continued heating, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the multi-battery pack pulse heating system.

[0077] It is understandable that the execution order of steps S660 to S680 can be adjusted.

[0078] Figure 7 Another exemplary flowchart 700 for a method of pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 7 It can be based on Figure 2 Another exemplary implementation of method 200 is shown. Figure 7 Steps S730 to S743 shown can be referred to respectively. Figure 2 Steps S210 to S250 are shown in the figure. Figure 7 Steps S720 and S751 shown can be referred to respectively. Figure 2 The corresponding descriptions in the embodiments. To avoid repetition, only the differences will be described here.

[0079] like Figure 7 As shown, in step S710, a remote start command for the vehicle containing the vehicle battery pack can be received. In some examples, the remote start command can refer to a control command issued by an external device of the vehicle and transmitted to the vehicle via a wireless communication link, used to request the start of a certain function of the vehicle. For example, it can be a remote preheating command issued via Bluetooth or a mobile network through a mobile terminal application; it can also be a pulse heating start command issued by a cloud server via vehicle network communication; or it can be a remote power-on and heating request command issued by a smart key or near-field communication device.

[0080] In step S720, it can be determined whether the pulse heating start-up conditions are met.

[0081] If step S720 is determined to be yes, steps S730 to S740 can be executed.

[0082] If step S740 determines no, in step S750, it can be determined whether the charge / discharge related status of the first battery pack indicates a non-charge / discharge state and whether the charge / discharge related status of the second battery pack indicates a non-charge / discharge state.

[0083] If step S750 is determined to be yes, steps S751 to S753 can be executed.

[0084] In step S751, a first electrical connection can be established between the first battery pack and the motor drive system.

[0085] In step S752, a second electrical connection can be established between the second battery pack and the motor drive system. In some examples, when the second battery pack is connected to the motor drive system via a second switch, the second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system can be established by turning on the second switch. In one example, if the second battery pack is as follows... Figure 1 As shown in battery pack 122, it can be connected. Figure 1 The switch component 132 in the middle. In one example, if the second battery pack is as follows: Figure 4 As shown in battery pack 122, it can be connected. Figure 4 Switches 432 and 131 are included. In one example, if the second battery pack is as follows... Figure 5 As shown in battery pack 122, it can be connected. Figure 5 Switches 532 and 533 are included. In one example, if the second battery pack is as follows... Figure 5 As shown in battery pack 121, it can be connected. Figure 5 Switches 531 and 533 are included.

[0086] In step S753, a pulse current can be applied using the motor drive system. The control principle of step S753 can refer to step S743, only requiring adjustments to the heating of both the first and second battery packs simultaneously, with adaptive adjustments made to the amplitude of the pulse current, duty cycle, and specific control strategy.

[0087] It is understandable that step S750 can be executed first, and step S740 can be executed after the result is negative in step S750. The above method automatically triggers pulse heating of the battery pack before the user's departure, raising the battery temperature in advance and improving battery discharge performance and usable capacity in low-temperature environments. This ensures vehicle power output and driving range, significantly enhancing the driving experience in low temperatures. Simultaneously, because voltage differences easily form between individual cells within the battery pack during pulse heating, using a combination of a first and second battery pack reduces these voltage differences compared to using a single, integrated battery pack, thus extending the battery pack's lifespan. Figure 8 A schematic block diagram of an apparatus 800 for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to an embodiment is shown. The automotive battery pack may include a first battery pack and a second battery pack. like Figure 8 As shown, the apparatus 800 for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack may include: a connection control module 810 configured to establish a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system in response to a charge-discharge related state indicating a non-charge-discharge state of the first battery pack and an external charging state or an external discharge state of the second battery pack; disconnect a second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; and a pulse control module 820 configured to apply a pulse current to the first battery pack using the motor drive system. Furthermore, the apparatus 800 for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack may also include any other modules configured to perform any operation of the method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above. Figure 9 A schematic block diagram of a processing apparatus 900 according to an embodiment is shown. The processing apparatus or processing system 900 may include one or more control units or processors 910 that execute one or more machine-readable instructions stored in a machine-readable storage medium (i.e., memory 920). In one embodiment, the processor 910 is configured to execute the instructions in conjunction with the above when executing program instructions. Figures 1 to 7 The various operations and functions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatus described in the embodiments of this disclosure may also include various other components, such as various communication modules, bus modules, and possibly user interface modules. According to one embodiment, the processing device 900 may be an on-board electronic control unit, such as at least one of a domain controller, a thermal management system controller, a motor drive system controller, a battery management system controller, and a vehicle controller. Figure 10 A schematic block diagram of a thermal management system 1000 according to an embodiment is shown. The thermal management system 1000 may include: the processing device 900 as described above; the water pump 1020; the fan 1030; and the heating device 1040. Figure 11 An exemplary electrical architecture diagram of a battery pulse heating system 1100 according to an embodiment is shown. like Figure 11As shown, the battery pulse heating system 1100 may include: a motor drive system 110, a charging input terminal 440, a first battery pack 121, a second battery pack 122, and a processing device 900. The motor drive system 110 has a DC-side positive terminal and a DC-side negative terminal. The positive terminal of the first battery pack 121 is electrically connected to the DC-side positive terminal via a first switching unit 131. The positive terminal of the second battery pack 122 is electrically connected to the DC-side positive terminal via a second switching unit 132, and the second battery pack 122 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the charging input terminal 440 via a third switching unit 133. The charging input terminal 440 is used at least to charge the second battery pack 122. The DC-side negative terminal, the negative terminal of the first battery pack 121, the negative terminal of the second battery pack 122, and the negative terminal of the charging input terminal 440 are electrically connected to the same reference potential point. The processing device 900 can be referred to the foregoing description. According to one embodiment, a machine-readable storage medium is provided. This readable medium may store executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, can perform the above-described combinations of various embodiments of this disclosure. Figures 1 to 7 The various operations and functions described. According to one embodiment, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes machine-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, are capable of performing the above-described combinations in various embodiments of this disclosure. Figures 1 to 7 The various operations and functions described. The specific embodiments described above with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary embodiments, but do not represent all embodiments that can be implemented or fall within the scope of the claims. The term "example" as used throughout this disclosure means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration" and does not imply that it is "preferred" or "advantageous" compared to other embodiments. Specific details are included to provide an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described embodiments. In some cases, the actions or steps described in the claims can be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and still achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous. Not all steps and units in the above process and system structure diagrams are mandatory; some steps or units can be omitted as needed. The execution order of each step is not fixed and can be determined as required. The device structure described in the above embodiments can be a physical structure or a logical structure. That is, some units may be implemented by the same physical entity, or some units may be implemented by multiple physical entities, or they may be jointly implemented by certain components in multiple independent devices. The foregoing description of this application is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to implement or use the application. Various modifications to the application will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is consistent with the widest scope of the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack, the automotive battery pack comprising a first battery pack and a second battery pack, the method comprising: In response to the charge / discharge related state of the first battery pack indicating a non-charge / discharge state and the charge / discharge related state of the second battery pack indicating an external charging state or an external discharge state, Establish a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system; Disconnect the second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; as well as The motor drive system is used to apply a pulse current to the first battery pack.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein, The first battery pack is connected to the motor drive system via a first switch, and the second battery pack is connected to the motor drive system via a second switch. Establishing the first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system includes: Turn on the first switch. Disconnecting the second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system includes: Disconnect the second switch.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: In response to receiving a charging command for the vehicle battery pack, Establish a third electrical connection between the second battery pack and the charging input terminal; Update the charge / discharge related status of the second battery pack to indicate the external charging status; In response to receiving an external discharge command for the vehicle battery pack, Establish a fourth electrical connection between the second battery pack and the discharge output terminal; and Update the charge / discharge status of the second battery pack to indicate external discharge status.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The rated capacity of the second battery pack is greater than the rated capacity of the first battery pack, or the current temperature of the second battery pack is higher than the current temperature of the first battery pack.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: Acquire battery monitoring data of the first battery pack during the pulse heating process; Acquire pulse heating monitoring data of the motor drive system during the pulse heating process; Acquire the status monitoring data of the thermal management system corresponding to the vehicle battery pack during the pulse heating process; as well as In response to at least one of the battery monitoring data, pulse heating monitoring data, and status monitoring data satisfying a preset pulse heating stop condition, the application of pulse current to the first battery pack is stopped.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The pulse heating stop condition includes at least one of the following: The battery monitoring data indicates that the battery temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold. The battery monitoring data indicates that the battery's state of charge is greater than a preset upper limit or less than a preset lower limit; The pulse heating monitoring data indicates that the electric drive pulse function is abnormal. as well as The status monitoring data indicates a malfunction in the thermal management system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: In response to the duration of applying pulse current to the first battery pack reaching a preset duration threshold, the application of pulse current to the first battery pack is stopped.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: Determine whether the pulse heating start-up conditions are met, and The pulse current is applied in response to the fulfillment of the pulse heating start-up condition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pulse heating start-up condition includes at least one of the following: The pulse heating function switch is in the ON position; Battery operating constraints; Electric drive power conversion conditions; and Thermal management and heat dissipation conditions.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: Receive a remote start command for the vehicle where the vehicle battery pack is located; In response to the charge / discharge related state indicating a non-charge / discharge state of the first battery pack and the charge / discharge related state indicating a non-charge / discharge state of the second battery pack, Establish a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system; Establish a second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; In response to the fulfillment of the pulse heating start-up condition, a pulse current is applied using the motor drive system to heat the first battery pack and the second battery pack.

11. An apparatus for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack, the automotive battery pack comprising a first battery pack and a second battery pack, the apparatus comprising: The connection control module is configured to establish a first electrical connection between the first battery pack and the motor drive system in response to a charge / discharge related state indication of a non-charge / discharge state for the first battery pack and an external charging state or an external discharge state indication for the second battery pack. Disconnect the second electrical connection between the second battery pack and the motor drive system; as well as The pulse control module is configured to apply a pulse current to the first battery pack using the motor drive system.

12. A processing apparatus, comprising: processor; as well as A memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations in the method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A thermal management system, comprising: The processing apparatus as described in claim 12; Water pump; fan; as well as Heating device.

14. A battery pulse heating system, comprising: A motor drive system having a DC-side positive terminal and a DC-side negative terminal; Charging input terminal; The first battery pack, wherein the positive terminal of the first battery pack is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the DC side via a first switching unit; A second battery pack, the positive terminal of which is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the DC side via a second switching unit, and the second battery pack is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the charging input terminal via a third switching unit, the charging input terminal being used at least to charge the second battery pack, the negative terminal of the DC side, the negative terminal of the first battery pack, the negative terminal of the second battery pack, and the negative terminal of the charging input terminal being electrically connected to the same reference potential point; and The processing apparatus as described in claim 12.

15. A computer program product comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations in the method for pulse heating of an automotive battery pack as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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