Monitoring device for an energy store of a motor vehicle and method for monitoring an energy store of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a monitoring device (11) for an energy storage device (10) of a motor vehicle, the monitoring device having at least one detection device (14) configured to detect at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device (10). The present invention also relates to a method (100) for monitoring the energy storage device (10) of a motor vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a monitoring device for an energy storage device in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one detection device configured to detect at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device. The invention also relates to a method for monitoring the energy storage device of a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] High-voltage storage devices, also known as power batteries or power storage devices, are known for providing electrical energy to the electric drive systems of motor vehicles. Such high-voltage storage devices typically have an arrangement of battery cells connected in parallel and series by means of contact devices, these cells being housed in a casing. As in most hazardous materials containers, sensing devices for detecting thermal events are also required in high-voltage storage devices. Pressure sensors are used extensively for this purpose. These pressure sensors are configured to reliably detect pressure rises caused by thermal exhaust through the battery cells and can transmit this information to a central controller to trigger additional measures, such as issuing alarms and / or response actions.

[0003] Because such a pressure sensor needs to be housed within the individual cell structure space, or interior, of the high-voltage memory, it is typically mounted in the cell monitoring circuit (“CSC”). This CSC is installed close to the battery cell and is directly supplied with voltage by the battery cell. Therefore, an emergency function is possible even when the vehicle is stationary, as the voltage supply is never interrupted. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Against this backdrop, the objective of this invention is to improve a monitoring device for an energy storage device in a motor vehicle.

[0005] In particular, the monitoring device should be improved in such a way that the power supply of the monitoring device can be improved.

[0006] The task is solved by a monitoring device for an energy storage device of a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1 and a method for monitoring an energy storage device of a motor vehicle having the features of claim 9. The dependent claims relate to advantageous extensions of the invention.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a monitoring device for an energy storage device in a motor vehicle is described, the monitoring device having at least one detection device configured to detect at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device, the detection device being connected to a static current converter for energy supply, the static current converter being configured to reduce the input voltage that can be obtained from the energy storage device and provide an output voltage for the detection device.

[0008] Therefore, the energy supply of the monitoring device can be improved because the detection device can be supplied with energy or voltage by means of a static current converter, and unlike prior art solutions, it does not utilize a predetermined number or arrangement of battery cells in the high-voltage storage unit. In such prior art configurations, the detection device is typically supplied only by a portion of the battery cells, which then discharge. Therefore, it is necessary to bring the remaining battery cells or modules to the same state of charge through so-called "equalization" to allow, for example, a reliable and / or efficient charging process. During this time, energy is released unused. This can be eliminated with current monitoring devices, thus improving the energy utilization and / or energy supply of the high-voltage storage unit.

[0009] Energy storage devices, particularly high-voltage storage devices or power storage devices for motor vehicles, have multiple battery cells. Here, the housing of the high-voltage storage device defines an inner chamber in which the individual battery cells are received or disposed. Cylindrical battery cells are particularly commonly used, and they can be provided in a pack arrangement or cell pack. Needless to say, battery cells with other cross-sections, such as rectangular, hexagonal, or prismatic cross-sections, or pouch cells, can also be used. The vehicle's battery management system (BMS) can be configured to monitor and / or control the individual battery cells of the battery pack or cell pack. Here, the cell monitoring circuit ("CSC") can, for example, monitor (especially in a cell assembly of a predetermined number of battery cells) the voltage, temperature, and / or state of charge of each individual battery cell, and can perform passive or active equalization of the individual battery cells to ensure that all battery cells are at the same voltage level, thereby improving the lifespan of the battery pack or cell pack. Furthermore, the cell monitoring circuit can be configured to detect anomalies, such as overvoltage and / or undervoltage, short circuits and / or thermal problems, and can be configured to implement protective measures, such as disconnecting the battery pack.

[0010] The detection device, in particular a sensor or structural element, is capable of detecting physical and / or chemical parameters from the environment and converting these parameters into signals and / or data. This signal can then be transmitted to a (data) processing device or controller for further processing.

[0011] This invention is now based, in particular, on the idea that a detection device for monitoring a high-voltage energy storage device or its individual battery cells is not powered by individual battery cells, cell packs, or modules. Therefore, especially when the vehicle is not actively operating but is stationary or under partial load, only these individual battery cells, cell packs, or modules discharge, resulting in uneven charging across the entire cell pack, which needs to be compensated for by "balancing," or the active discharge of the remaining battery cells. For this purpose, it is proposed that such a detection device be powered by a quiescent current converter. Here, the quiescent current converter (transformer) is specifically an appliance or circuit configured to provide, measure, and / or monitor quiescent current, i.e., the current that can flow in the vehicle's standby state. Quiescent current here is particularly the current consumed when the vehicle is disconnected because some electrical systems continue to operate, such as alarm devices and / or central controllers. Here, the quiescent current converter is electrically connected to the energy storage device or the individual battery cell packs of the energy storage device and is configured to convert the current and / or voltage of the energy storage device or cell pack to a lower level. For this purpose, a quiescent current converter is connected to the energy storage device to be monitored and configured to reduce the input voltage obtainable from the energy storage device and provide an output voltage for the detection device. Here, the quiescent current converter may have, for example, a transformer and / or a voltage regulator, configured to convert the high-voltage DC voltage (input voltage) provided by the energy storage device into a low-voltage DC voltage (output voltage). In some embodiments, a buck converter may be configured to reduce the high input voltage to a lower output voltage; and / or an inverter, transformer, and rectifier may be configured to reduce the input voltage and to convert the AC voltage back into DC voltage.

[0012] Furthermore, such a static current converter allows for the separation of high-voltage and low-voltage ranges. Because this static current converter can supply power to all the cells of the high-voltage storage device, or energy storage unit, it allows for uniform discharge of all the cells in the energy storage unit. Therefore, cell equalization caused by the energy supply to the detection device can be eliminated. Moreover, such a static current converter allows for an appropriate voltage supply for the detection device, especially within the inner chamber or casing of the energy storage unit.

[0013] In one embodiment, the quiescent current converter is configured to supply a low-voltage system to the vehicle. Here, the quiescent current converter can be connected to the low-voltage system to provide a converted output voltage, such as 12V, 24V, or 48V. Therefore, even when the vehicle is stationary, the components of the low-voltage system can—especially persistently—be supplied with voltage or current. Because the quiescent current converter is connected across the entire voltage range of the energy storage device, it loads the entirety of the battery cells, rather than discharging only individual cells.

[0014] In one embodiment, the input voltage, particularly on the primary side of the quiescent current converter, can be between 48V and 1000V, and / or the output voltage, particularly on the secondary side of the quiescent current converter, can be between 8V and 60V. Therefore, in some embodiments, a conventional 12V battery can be omitted. Through this wide voltage conversion capability, the detection device can be suitably, or as specified, supplied with energy to maintain reliable operation and / or monitoring of the high-voltage memory, especially when the vehicle is stationary.

[0015] In one embodiment, the quiescent current converter is housed within the energy storage device's casing. This allows for a close-proximity electrical connection between the quiescent current converter and the battery cell or cell pack, thus saving structural space and / or weight.

[0016] In one embodiment, the at least one detection device is disposed within the housing. Because it is disposed within the housing, at least one physical and / or chemical parameter can be reliably monitored within the housing of the energy storage device, thus improving the security of the high-voltage storage device.

[0017] In one embodiment, the at least one detection device is disposed on the quiescent current converter, particularly on the secondary side of the quiescent current converter. Therefore, the detection device can be supplied with power directly by the quiescent current converter. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the detection device can be integrated into the circuit board or carrier board of the quiescent current converter, thus improving the installation of the monitoring device in the high-voltage memory.

[0018] In one embodiment, the detection device is a pressure sensor, wherein the physical parameter can be the internal pressure or pressure change within the inner chamber of the housing. Therefore, pressure changes, particularly those caused by thermal events or thermal venting of individual battery cells, can be converted into a signal and provided to a suitable (data) processing device to trigger appropriate alarms and / or protective measures.

[0019] In another embodiment, the detection device may be, for example, a temperature sensor, an optical sensor, a current and / or voltage sensor, a hydrogen sensor, and / or a carbon monoxide sensor. By incorporating a temperature sensor, the temperature within the high-voltage memory can be monitored, thereby providing improved safety for the high-voltage memory through thermal monitoring. Optical sensors can, for example, detect mechanical damage to the casing of the high-voltage memory, and current and / or voltage sensors can enable current and voltage monitoring, particularly for solar charging. Furthermore, other detection devices and / or sensors may be powered by a static current converter and / or disposed on or beside the static current converter; these can, for example, detect air exchange, humidity, and / or sealing information, particularly within the energy memory. Thus, extensive monitoring of the energy memory is permitted, even when the vehicle is stationary, because the static current converter enables an energy-efficient and / or continuous current supply to the sensors or detection devices. Needless to say, the monitoring device may also include multiple such detection devices to monitor a range of parameters.

[0020] In one embodiment, the monitoring device includes a storage device connected to a static current converter for power supply and configured to at least temporarily store data or signals detected by the detection device or provided based on the detected parameters. This enables the analysis of the detected measurements and / or data, which can also be stored while the vehicle is stationary, as the static current converter provides an energy-efficient current supply to the storage device.

[0021] According to another aspect, an energy storage device or high-voltage storage device for a motor vehicle is described, comprising a cell pack of battery cells received by a housing, a static current converter electrically connected to the cell pack, and a monitoring device suggested herein. It goes without saying that, by means of such a high-voltage storage device, the effects and / or advantages described herein can be utilized.

[0022] According to another aspect, a method for monitoring the energy storage device of a motor vehicle is proposed, the method comprising the steps of: reducing an input voltage obtainable from the energy storage device by means of a static current converter; providing the reduced input voltage as an output voltage by means of the static current converter; supplying at least one detection device by means of the output voltage; and detecting at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device by means of the at least one detection device. The method can be performed, in particular, by means of the monitoring device described herein. With the proposed method, the effects and advantages already described and explained below can be realized and utilized accordingly.

[0023] In one embodiment, the method includes the additional step of transmitting the data detected by the detection device to a processing device. Here, the measured values ​​detected by the detection device can be converted into signals and / or data, which are processed directly by the processing device to enable timely responses to potentially critical detection values. In particular, the monitoring of the energy storage device can be improved so that the electrical energy provided or available by the energy storage device can be utilized more effectively.

[0024] In one embodiment, the method includes the additional step of transmitting the detected data to a storage device, which can be powered, in particular, by means of a static current converter. Therefore, the possibility of subsequent data processing and / or analysis of the measured values, especially time-related measurements, can be realized, thereby enabling improvements in the safety and / or operating parameters of high-voltage storage devices and / or motor vehicles.

[0025] In one embodiment, the method includes an additional step: when the detection device detects that a threshold value for the detected parameter has been exceeded, it outputs its signal via an output device. Here, the data processing device, particularly based on the measured value and / or signal, can utilize the output device to, for example, output a visual and / or acoustic alarm, and / or trigger countermeasures, such as cooling and / or disconnection of the energy storage and / or the relevant battery cell or cell pack area. Here, the threshold value can be, in particular, a predetermined limit value, which can, for example, characterize pressure and / or temperature exceeding limits. Therefore, timely alarms and / or countermeasures can be implemented.

[0026] In one implementation, the method is applied when the vehicle is stationary or operating under partial load. This allows for monitoring of the high-voltage memory, which can operate energy-efficiently because the energy supply for the detection device is provided by a static current converter, offering potential savings compared to the conventional energy supply for sensors within the energy memory.

[0027] In another aspect, a motor vehicle is described, which has the monitoring device suggested herein and / or the high-voltage memory suggested herein, and / or is equipped for implementing the methods described herein. Therefore, the described effects and / or advantages can be utilized. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Other advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an energy storage device for a motor vehicle, the energy storage device having a monitoring device according to the invention.

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic flowchart of a method for monitoring the energy storage device of a motor vehicle according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Figure 1 The schematic diagram shows an energy storage device 10 for a motor vehicle, which has a monitoring device 11 for the energy storage device 10 of the motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] The energy storage device 10, or high-voltage storage device, has a cell pack 20 and / or battery pack containing multiple (not shown) battery cells, configured to provide a voltage of 400V, 800V, or higher for operating and / or driving a motor vehicle. The cell pack 20 is housed within a chamber 13 of the energy storage device 10, together with a static current converter 30 electrically connected to the cell pack, the chamber being defined by a housing 12 of the energy storage device 10. Here, the static current converter 30 is configured to reduce the input voltage obtainable from the energy storage device 10, or cell pack 20, and provide it as an output voltage. The static current converter 30 may be configured to convert an input voltage of approximately 48V to 1000V into an output voltage between 8V and 60V, and thus supply electrical energy of appropriate voltage to the low-voltage system 40 of the motor vehicle.

[0033] Furthermore, a monitoring device 11 is installed in the inner chamber 13. This monitoring device 11 has a detection device 14 configured to detect at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device 10, here configured as, for example, a pressure sensor. In other embodiments, the detection device 14 may be configured as a temperature sensor, an optical sensor, a current / voltage sensor, or the like, and / or multiple detection devices 14 may be provided. The detection device 14 is connected to the static current converter 30 for energy supply and is supplied with energy by means of the output voltage provided by the static current converter 30. Here, the detection device 14 is disposed on the static current converter 30, or, as illustrated here, on the circuit board 31 of the static current converter.

[0034] Furthermore, the monitoring device 11 has a storage device 15, which is connected to the static current converter 30 for energy supply and is configured to receive and at least temporarily store data detected by the detection device 14 (described herein by dashed lines). Additionally, the storage device 15 and / or the detection device 14 can be connected to a processing device 50, which is configured to monitor and / or process the detected measurements and, when necessary, output signals via an output device, for example, when the detection device 14 detects that a threshold for the detected physical parameter has been exceeded. Therefore, especially in the stationary state of a motor vehicle, the monitoring of the energy storage device, and thus the safety of the energy storage device, can be improved.

[0035] exist Figure 2 The schematic flowchart of the method for monitoring the energy storage device of a motor vehicle according to the present invention is described in particular by means of... Figure 1 Monitoring device 11.

[0036] For example, in the stationary state or under partial load operation of the vehicle, in step a, the input voltage that can be obtained from the energy storage 10 or the cell pack 20 is reduced by means of a static current converter 30. In step b, the reduced input voltage is provided as an output voltage by means of the static current converter 30. In step c, the at least one detection device 14 is supplied with electrical energy by means of the output voltage, and in step d, at least one physical parameter of the energy storage 10 is detected by means of the at least one detection device 14, particularly for detecting thermal events or thermal exhaust of the battery cells.

[0037] In step e, the detected physical parameters of the energy storage device 10 can be transmitted as data or signals to the processing device 50, and furthermore, the data or signals can be transmitted to the storage device 15. In step g, when the detection device 14 detects that a threshold for the detected physical parameter has been exceeded, or when the processing device 50 determines that such an exceedance has occurred, a signal, particularly an acoustic and / or optical signal, can be output by means of the vehicle's output device 16. Therefore, the monitoring of energy storage devices in motor vehicles can be improved.

[0038] List of reference numerals

[0039] 10 Energy Storage

[0040] 11. Monitoring devices

[0041] 12. Shell

[0042] 13. Interior

[0043] 14. Detection device

[0044] 15 Storage devices

[0045] 16 Output Devices

[0046] 20 individual packs

[0047] 30 Static Current Converter

[0048] 40 Low Voltage Systems

[0049] 50 processing devices

[0050] 100 methods

Claims

1. A monitoring device (11) for an energy storage device (10) of a motor vehicle, the monitoring device having at least one detection device (14) configured to detect at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device (10), the detection device (14) being connected to a static current converter (30) for energy supply, the static current converter being configured to reduce the input voltage that can be obtained from the energy storage device (10) and provide an output voltage for the detection device (14).

2. The monitoring device (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The static current converter (30) is configured to supply the low voltage system (40) of the motor vehicle.

3. The monitoring device (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The input voltage is between 48V and 1000V, and / or the output voltage is between 8V and 60V.

4. The monitoring device (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The static current converter (30) is disposed within the housing (12) of the energy storage device (10).

5. The monitoring device (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one detection device (14) is disposed within the housing (12).

6. The monitoring device (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one detection device (14) is disposed on the static current converter (30).

7. The monitoring device (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The detection device (14) is a pressure sensor.

8. The monitoring device (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The monitoring device (11) has a storage device (15) which is connected to the static current converter (30) for power supply and is configured to store data detected by means of the detection device (14) at least temporarily.

9. A method (100) for monitoring the energy storage device (10) of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: a) The input voltage that can be obtained from the energy storage (10) is reduced by means of a static current converter (30); b) Provide the reduced input voltage as the output voltage; c) At least one detection device (14) is supplied by means of the output voltage; d) Detect at least one physical parameter of the energy storage device (10) by means of the at least one detection device (14).

10. The method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the method comprises the additional step: e) The detected data is transmitted to the processing device (50).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the method comprises the additional step: f) Transmit the detected data to the storage device (15).

12. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding three claims, the method comprising the additional step of: g) When the detection device detects that a threshold for the detected physical parameter has been exceeded, it outputs a signal via the output device (16).

13. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding four claims, wherein, The method is applied when the motor vehicle is stationary or under partial load.

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