Battery pack management device and operation method thereof

Abstract

A battery pack management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document includes a communication unit that receives the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors that measure the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups, and a controller that calculates a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, calculates voltage deviations of multiple battery cells of the plurality of battery cell groups from the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, compares the voltage deviations of each of the multiple battery cells with a threshold value, and diagnoses whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0151065, filed November 11, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery pack management device and a method of operation thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] An energy storage system (ESS) stores large amounts of electrical energy in multiple battery packs, each consisting of multiple battery cells connected in series and / or parallel. The battery packs in an energy storage system can generate heat due to chemical reactions during the charging and discharging process, which can impair the performance and lifespan of the battery pack. Therefore, a battery pack management system (PBMS) monitors the temperature, voltage, and current of the battery pack to predict the state of the battery pack and manage it.

[0003] To ensure mass production, battery packs are manufactured by combining multiple battery cells with the same design. Abnormal voltage behavior in a specific individual cell within a battery pack can lead to a chain reaction of fires within the battery pack, so a battery pack management device must diagnose the battery cell where the abnormal voltage behavior occurred. However, conventional methods for detecting abnormal voltage behavior in battery cells using battery pack management devices calculate the rate of decrease in the average battery cell voltage relative to the voltage of a single battery cell or measure sudden changes in temperature, but may not detect voltage fluctuations due to noise within the battery pack or instantaneous voltage fluctuations of the battery cells, making it difficult to detect abnormal voltage behavior in battery cells. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One objective of the embodiments disclosed in this document is to provide a battery pack management device and an operating method thereof that can detect instantaneous voltage fluctuations of battery cells based on the median voltage of a battery cell group and diagnose abnormal battery cells early.

[0005] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A battery pack management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document includes a communication unit that receives the voltage of any one of a plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors that measure the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups, and a controller that calculates a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, calculates voltage deviations of multiple battery cells of the plurality of battery cell groups from the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, compares the voltage deviations of each of the multiple battery cells with a threshold value, and diagnoses whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the communication unit receives, from each of the plurality of sensors, the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors, and the controller calculates a median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups and determines whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups is within a threshold range.

[0008] According to the embodiment, the controller may calculate the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups when the median voltage of the plurality of battery cell groups is within the threshold range.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the controller calculates the voltage deviation of the multiple battery cells in each of the multiple battery cell groups relative to the median voltage of each of the multiple battery cell groups, and can obtain the maximum positive deviation and the maximum negative deviation from the voltage deviations of the multiple battery cells in the multiple battery cell groups.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the controller can determine whether the maximum value of the positive deviation for each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold, and determine whether the maximum value of the negative deviation for each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the controller can diagnose a battery cell as abnormal if the maximum value of the positive deviation of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold and the maximum value of the negative deviation of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold.

[0012] An operating method of a battery pack management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document includes the steps of receiving the voltage of one of a plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors, calculating a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, calculating a voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells from the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups, and comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value to diagnose whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the step of receiving the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups from each of the plurality of sensors can include receiving the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors, calculating a median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups, and determining whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups is within a threshold range.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the step of calculating the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups can calculate the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups if the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups is within the threshold range.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the step of calculating the voltage deviations of the plurality of battery cells relative to the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups can obtain the maximum positive deviation and the maximum negative deviation among the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells of the plurality of battery cell groups.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the step of comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value and diagnosing whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells can determine whether or not the maximum value of the positive deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold value, and determine whether or not the maximum value of the negative deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold value.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the step of comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value and diagnosing whether or not any one of the plurality of battery cells has an abnormality can diagnose the battery cell as having an abnormality if the maximum value of the positive deviation of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold value and the maximum value of the negative deviation of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to one embodiment of the battery pack management device and its operating method disclosed in this document, it is possible to detect instantaneous voltage fluctuations of battery cells based on the median voltage of a battery cell group and diagnose abnormal battery cells early. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a battery pack according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document. [Figure 3] 1 is a graph illustrating the change in median voltage over time for a group of battery cells according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for analyzing voltage deviations of battery cells in a controller according to an embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computing system that realizes a battery pack management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Some embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail below with reference to exemplary drawings. When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as long as possible when they appear in other drawings. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a detailed description of related known structures or functions is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0021] In describing components of the embodiments disclosed herein, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. Such terms are merely used to distinguish the component from other components and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments disclosed herein pertain. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to one embodiment disclosed herein. Referring to FIG. 1 , a battery pack 1000 according to one embodiment disclosed herein may include a plurality of battery cells 100, a charging / discharging device (not shown), a plurality of sensors 200, and a battery pack management device 300.

[0023] The battery pack 1000 can supply power to a target device (not shown). To this end, the battery pack 1000 can be electrically connected to the target device. Here, the target device can include an electrical, electronic, or mechanical device that operates by receiving power from the battery pack 1000. For example, the target device can be, but is not limited to, an energy storage system (ESS) or an electric vehicle (EV).

[0024] According to an embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be composed of a plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Although FIG. 1 illustrates three battery cell groups, the present invention is not limited to this, and the plurality of battery cells 100 may be composed of n (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) battery cell groups.

[0025] For example, if the plurality of battery cells 100 includes 42 battery cells, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include three battery cell groups 110, 120, 130, and each of the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 may include 14 battery cells.

[0026] Also, for example, if the plurality of battery cells 100 includes 28 battery cells, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include two battery cell groups 110, 120, and each of the battery cell groups 110, 120 may include 14 battery cells.

[0027] The plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 may include a plurality of battery cells. A battery cell is a basic unit of a battery that can be used by charging and discharging electrical energy, and may be, but is not limited to, a lithium ion (Li-ion) battery, a lithium ion polymer (Li-ion polymer) battery, a nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery, etc.

[0028] The battery cells can be manufactured through a series of manufacturing processes including an electrode manufacturing process, an assembly process, and a chemical formation process, and the manufactured battery cells can be connected to each other in series or parallel and embedded in a case structure to realize the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. The completed battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 can be connected to each other in series or parallel and embedded in a case structure to realize the battery pack 1000.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 may have a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or parallel. Also, according to an embodiment, the number of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 may be the same.

[0030] According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 may be implemented in the form of a Battery Monitoring Integrated Circuit (BMIC) that monitors the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of a plurality of battery cells. Hereinafter, an example in which each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 is implemented as a BMIC will be described.

[0031] Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can measure the voltage of one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Specifically, each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can be matched one-to-one with each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 as being three, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 can be configured to include n sensors (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2).

[0032] For example, if the plurality of battery cells 100 includes three battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, the plurality of sensors 200 may include three sensors 210, 220, and 230. Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 is matched one-to-one with a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, and may measure the voltage of the matched battery cell group among the battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. For example, the first sensor 210 may measure the voltage of the first battery cell group 110, the second sensor 220 may measure the voltage of the second battery cell group 120, and the third sensor 230 may measure the voltage of the third battery cell group 130.

[0033] Furthermore, for example, if the plurality of battery cells 100 is composed of two battery cell groups 110, 120, the plurality of sensors 200 may be composed of two sensors 210, 220. Each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220 is matched one-to-one with the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and can measure the voltage of the matched battery cell group among the battery cell groups 110, 120.

[0034] Each of the sensors 210, 220, 230 is electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of each of the battery cells, and can repeatedly measure the voltage of each of the battery cells at a specific interval. Each of the sensors 210, 220, 230 can repeatedly measure the voltage of each of the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 at a fixed interval and generate voltage change data for each of the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130.

[0035] Each of the multiple sensors 210, 220, 230 can transmit information relating to the measured voltage, current, temperature, etc. of any one of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 to the battery pack management device 300.

[0036] The sensors 210, 220, 230 may manage and / or control the status and / or operation of the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. For example, the sensors 210, 220, 230 may manage and / or control the status and / or operation of the battery cells included in the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. The sensors 210, 220, 230 may manage the charging and / or discharging of the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130.

[0037] The plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230 may monitor the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 and / or each of the plurality of battery cells included in the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. In addition, for monitoring via the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230, sensors and various measurement sensors (not shown) may be further provided in the charge / discharge paths of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 or at any position.

[0038] The plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230 may be configured to communicate with the battery pack management device 300. The plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230 may receive control signals, such as commands for controlling the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130, from the battery pack management device 300. The plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230 may transmit measured values ​​obtained by the above-described monitoring and parameters calculated therefrom to the battery pack management device 300.

[0039] A battery pack management system (PBMS) 300 controls the overall operation of the battery pack 1000 and can manage the state of the battery pack 1000 .

[0040] Specifically, the battery pack management device 300 may be configured to communicate with the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230. The battery pack management device 300 may receive various data related to the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 from the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230. The battery pack management device 300 may monitor the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 and / or the plurality of battery cells included in the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 based on measured values ​​of voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 received from the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230.

[0041] The battery pack management device 300 can calculate parameters indicating the state of the monitored battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 and / or the battery cells included in the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130, such as SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health).

[0042] The battery pack 1000 can diagnose whether any one of the multiple battery cells has an abnormality based on measured values ​​such as voltage, current, and temperature of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 received from the multiple sensors 210, 220, and 230, and directly calculated parameters indicating the state of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 and / or the multiple battery cells included in the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, such as SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health).

[0043] Furthermore, the battery pack management device 300 can transmit various control signals for controlling the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 to the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230. That is, the battery pack management device 300 can function as a higher-level controller for the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230. Furthermore, the battery pack management device 300 can function as a master controller when communicating with the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230 within the system.

[0044] The battery pack management device 300 can also control the operation of the charging / discharging device. For example, the battery pack management device 300 can monitor the voltage of the battery pack 1000 and monitor for failures in the charging / discharging device or the like.

[0045] The battery pack management device 300 can control the operation of a relay (not shown). For example, the battery pack management device 300 can short-circuit the relay 300 to supply power to a target device. In addition, the sensor can short-circuit the relay when a charging device is connected to the battery pack 1000.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document. The configuration of the battery pack management device 300 will be specifically described below with reference to Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 2, the battery pack management device 300 may include a communication unit 310 and a controller 320.

[0047] The communication unit 310 can receive the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230. Specifically, the communication unit 310 can receive, from each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230, the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 measured by each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230.

[0048] The communication unit 310 may be connected to the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 via a wired / wireless network. For example, the communication unit 310 may be connected to each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 via Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, ZigBee, CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, or Ethernet communication.

[0049] The controller 320 can calculate the median of the voltages of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. That is, the controller 320 can calculate the median of the voltages of all the multiple battery cells 100. The controller 320 can determine whether the median of the voltages of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 is within a threshold range. For example, the controller 320 can determine whether the median of the voltages of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 is higher than 3.4 V and lower than 4.2 V, which is the threshold range.

[0050] The controller 320 can calculate the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 if the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 is within the threshold range.

[0051] For example, if 42 battery cells are configured into a total of three battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130, and each battery cell group 110, 120, and 130 includes 14 battery cells, the first battery cell group 110 can measure the voltages of the first to fourteenth battery cells, the second battery cell group 120 can measure the voltages of the fifteenth to twenty-eighth battery cells, and the third battery cell group 130 can measure the voltages of the twenty-ninth to forty-second battery cells.

[0052] Here, the controller 320 can calculate the median value of the voltages of the first to fourteenth battery cells included in the first battery cell group 110, the median value of the voltages of the fifteenth to twenty-eighth battery cells included in the second battery cell group 120, and the median value of the voltages of the twenty-ninth to forty-second battery cells included in the third battery cell group 130. In other words, the controller 320 can calculate the median value of the voltages of each of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 measured in real time.

[0053] The controller 320 can calculate the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 if the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 is within the threshold range.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the change in median voltage over time for a group of battery cells according to one embodiment disclosed herein. 3, the controller 320 can calculate the change in the median voltage over time for each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. For example, the controller 320 can calculate the change in the median voltage for each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 during a rest period (A) after discharging, a charge period (B), a rest period (C) after charging, and a discharge period (D) of the battery pack 1000.

[0055] The controller 320 can calculate the voltage deviation of the plurality of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 relative to the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130.

[0056] Specifically, the controller 320 can calculate the voltage deviation of each battery cell included in the battery cell group from the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130.

[0057] For example, the controller 320 can calculate a first median, which is the median of the voltage as a function of time for the first battery cell group 110, a second median, which is the median of the voltage as a function of time for the second battery cell group 120, and a third median, which is the median of the voltage as a function of time for the third battery cell group 130.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, the controller 320 can calculate the voltage deviation of each of the first to fourteenth battery cells belonging to the first battery cell group 110 from the first median, calculate the voltage deviation of each of the fifteenth to twenty-eighth battery cells belonging to the second battery cell group 120 from the second median, and calculate the voltage deviation of each of the twenty-ninth to forty-second battery cells belonging to the third battery cell group 130 from the third median.

[0059] For example, the controller 320 can calculate a voltage deviation of the first battery cell by comparing the voltage of the first battery cell with a median value of the voltages of the first battery cell group 110. For example, the controller 320 can calculate a voltage deviation of the first battery cell with respect to a first median value of the first battery cell group 110 during the rest period after discharging (A), the charge period (B), the rest period after charging (C), and the discharge period (D) of the battery pack 1000.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for analyzing voltage deviation of battery cells in a controller according to an embodiment disclosed herein. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, a method in which the controller 320 diagnoses the battery cells based on the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells will be specifically described.

[0061] First, in step S101, the controller 320 can calculate the median value of the voltage of all the battery cells 100. In step S101, the controller 320 can determine whether the median value of the voltages of the battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 is within a threshold range.

[0062] In step S102, the controller 320 can calculate the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 if the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 is within the threshold range.

[0063] In step S103, the controller 320 can calculate the voltage deviation of the plurality of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 from the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130.

[0064] In step S104, the controller 320 can obtain the maximum positive deviation (+) and the maximum negative deviation (-) among the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. Here, a positive deviation can be calculated when the voltage of a battery cell exceeds the median voltage of the battery cell group, and a negative deviation can be calculated when the voltage of a battery cell is less than the median voltage of the battery cell group.

[0065] In step S104, for example, the controller 320 may classify the voltage deviation of the first battery cell with respect to the first median value of the first battery cell group 110 into a positive deviation and a negative deviation. Here, a positive deviation may be calculated when the voltage of the first battery cell exceeds the first median value of the first battery cell group 110. A negative deviation may be calculated when the voltage of the first battery cell is less than the first median value of the first battery cell group 110.

[0066] In step S104, referring back to FIG. 3, for example, the controller 320 may determine the deviation of the "rest period (A) after discharge" of the battery pack 1000.

[0067]

number

[0068] ", "Deviation of charging section (B)

[0069]

number

[0070] ", "Discharge section (D) deviation

[0071]

number

[0072] " and "Discharge section (D) deviation

[0073]

number

[0074] " can be calculated as a negative deviation of the battery cell. In step S104, for example, the controller 320 may also calculate "deviation in charging section (B)" as a negative deviation of the battery cell.

[0075]

number

[0076] ", "Deviation of the rest section (C) after charging

number

[0077] " and "Deviation of the rest period after charging (C)

[0078]

number

[0079] " can be calculated as the positive deviation of the battery cell.

[0080] In step S104, the controller 320 can obtain the maximum positive deviation and the maximum negative deviation from among the voltage deviations of the plurality of battery cells. In step S104, for example, the controller 320 can obtain the "deviation in charging section (B)" calculated as the positive deviation of the battery cell.

[0081]

number

[0082] ", "Deviation of the rest section (C) after charging

[0083]

number

[0084] " and "Deviation of the rest period after charging (C)

[0085]

number

[0086] In step S104, for example, the controller 320 calculates the maximum positive deviation of the "deviation in the pause section (C) after charging".

[0087]

number

[0088] " can be calculated as the maximum positive deviation of the battery cell.

[0089] In step S104, for example, the controller 320 calculates the “deviation of the rest section (A)” calculated as a negative deviation of the battery cell.

[0090]

number

[0091] ", "Deviation of charging section (B)

[0092]

number

[0093] ", "Discharge section (D) deviation

[0094]

number

[0095] " and "Discharge section (D) deviation

[0096]

number

[0097] For example, the controller 320 may calculate the maximum negative deviation from the absolute value of "the deviation in the pause section (A)".

[0098]

number

[0099] " can be calculated as the maximum negative deviation of the battery cell.

[0100] In step S105, the controller 320 compares the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 with a threshold value, and can diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells 100 has an abnormality.

[0101] Specifically, in step S105, the controller 320 can determine whether the maximum value of the positive deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 exceeds an upper threshold. In step S105, the controller 320 can also determine whether the maximum value of the negative deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 is less than a lower threshold. Here, the upper threshold and the lower threshold can be set based on the SOH of the plurality of battery cells 100 that has already been calculated by the controller 320.

[0102] In step S105, for example, the controller 320 calculates the maximum positive deviation of the battery cell, i.e., the deviation of the rest period (C) after charging.

[0103]

number

[0104] In step S105, the controller 320 also determines whether the "deviation in the rest section (A)" exceeds the upper limit threshold.

[0105]

number

[0106] is less than the lower threshold.

[0107] In step S106, if the maximum value of the positive deviation of any one of the multiple battery cells 100 exceeds the upper threshold and the maximum value of the negative deviation of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold, the controller 320 can diagnose the battery cell as abnormal.

[0108] As described above, the battery pack management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document can detect instantaneous voltage fluctuations of battery cells based on the median voltage of a battery cell group, and can diagnose abnormal battery cells early.

[0109] Furthermore, the battery pack management device 300 can calculate the voltage change for each battery cell group and diagnose the state of multiple battery cell groups. In addition, the battery pack management device 300 calculates the voltage deviation of the battery cells based on the median voltage of the battery cell group, and can prevent erroneous diagnosis of the battery cells due to the voltage deviation of the battery cells that occurs as the deterioration of normal battery cells progresses.

[0110] The battery pack management device 300 compares the voltage change of each of the plurality of battery cells with the voltage change of the plurality of battery cell groups, and can diagnose an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells.

[0111] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein. The battery pack management device 300 is substantially similar to the battery pack management device 300 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and therefore will be described briefly below to avoid duplication of description.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 5, the operating method of the battery pack management device includes the steps of receiving voltages of a plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from a plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230 (S201); calculating a median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 (S202); calculating a voltage deviation of a plurality of battery cells of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 (S203); and comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value to diagnose whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells (S204).

[0113] Steps S201 to S204 will be specifically described below. In step S201, the communication unit 310 can receive the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 from the plurality of sensors 210, 220, and 230.

[0114] Specifically, in step S201, the communication unit 310 can receive, from each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230, the voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 measured by each of the plurality of sensors 210, 220, 230.

[0115] In step S201, the controller 320 can calculate the median of the voltages of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130. In other words, the controller 320 can calculate the median of the voltages of the multiple battery cells 100 as a whole.

[0116] In step S201, the controller 320 can determine whether the median value of the voltages of the multiple battery cell groups 110, 120, and 130 is within a threshold range.

[0117] In step S201, if the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 is within a threshold range, the controller 320 can calculate the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. In step S201, that is, the controller 320 can calculate the median value of the voltages of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 measured in real time.

[0118] In step S202, the controller 320 can calculate the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 if the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 is within the threshold range.

[0119] In step S203, the controller 320 can calculate the voltage deviation of the plurality of battery cells included in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130 from the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130.

[0120] Specifically, in step S203, the controller 320 may calculate the voltage deviation of each battery cell included in the battery cell group 110, 120, 130 from the median voltage of each of the battery cell groups 110, 120, 130.

[0121] In step S203, for example, the controller 320 can calculate a first median, which is the median of the voltage according to time for the first battery cell group 110, calculate a second median, which is the median of the voltage according to time for the second battery cell group 120, and calculate a third median, which is the median of the voltage according to time for the third battery cell group 130.

[0122] Also in step S203, for example, the controller 320 can calculate the voltage deviation of each of the first to fourteenth battery cells belonging to the first battery cell group 110 from the first median, calculate the voltage deviation of each of the fifteenth to twenty-eighth battery cells belonging to the second battery cell group 120 from the second median, and calculate the voltage deviation of each of the twenty-ninth to forty-second battery cells belonging to the third battery cell group 130 from the third median.

[0123] In step S203, the controller 320 can obtain the maximum positive deviation (+) and the maximum negative deviation (-) among the voltage deviations of each of the plurality of battery cells in each of the plurality of battery cell groups 110, 120, 130. Here, a positive deviation can be calculated when the voltage of a battery cell exceeds the median voltage of the battery cell group, and a negative deviation can be calculated when the voltage of a battery cell is less than the median voltage of the battery cell group.

[0124] In step S203, for example, the controller 320 may classify the voltage deviation of the first battery cell with respect to the first median value of the first battery cell group 110 into a positive deviation and a negative deviation. Here, a positive deviation may be calculated when the voltage of the first battery cell exceeds the first median value of the first battery cell group 110. A negative deviation may be calculated when the voltage of the first battery cell is less than the first median value of the first battery cell group 110.

[0125] In step S204, the controller 320 compares the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 with a threshold value, and can diagnose whether any one of the plurality of battery cells 100 has an abnormality.

[0126] Specifically, in step S204, the controller 320 can determine whether the maximum value of the positive deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 exceeds an upper threshold. In step S204, the controller 320 can also determine whether the maximum value of the negative deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells 100 is less than a lower threshold. Here, the upper threshold and the lower threshold can be set based on the SOH of the plurality of battery cells 100 that has already been calculated by the controller 320.

[0127] In step S204, if the maximum value of the positive deviation of any one of the multiple battery cells 100 exceeds the upper threshold and the maximum value of the negative deviation of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold, the controller 320 can diagnose the battery cell as abnormal.

[0128] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computing system that realizes a battery pack management device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document. Referring to FIG. 6, a computing system 2000 according to one embodiment disclosed herein may include an MCU 21000, a memory 2200, an input / output I / F 2300, and a communication I / F 2400.

[0129] The MCU 21000 may be a processor that executes various programs (e.g., operating programs for the battery pack management device) stored in the memory 2200, processes various data through such programs, and performs the functions of the battery pack management device 300 shown in Figure 1 described above.

[0130] The memory 2200 can store various programs related to the operation of the battery pack management device 300. The memory 2200 can also store operation data for the battery pack management device 300.

[0131] A plurality of such memories 2200 may be provided as necessary. The memories 2200 may be volatile memories or nonvolatile memories. The volatile memories 2200 may be RAM, DRAM, SRAM, etc. The nonvolatile memories 2200 may be ROM, PROM, EAROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc. The examples of the memories 2200 listed above are merely illustrative and are not limited to these examples.

[0132] The input / output I / F 2300 can provide an interface that connects input devices (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, and output devices such as a display (not shown), to the MCU 21000, enabling data to be sent and received.

[0133] The communication I / F 2400 is configured to be able to send and receive various data to and from a server, and may be any device that supports wired or wireless communication. For example, programs for measuring resistance and diagnosing abnormalities and various data can be sent and received from a separately provided external server via the communication I / F 2400.

[0134] The above description merely exemplifies the technical concept of the present disclosure, and various modifications and variations are possible by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains, without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure.

[0135] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this disclosure are intended to illustrate, not limit, the technical idea of ​​the disclosure, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the disclosure is not limited by such embodiments. The scope of protection of the disclosure should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of rights of the disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1000: Battery pack 100: Multiple battery cells 110: First battery cell group 120: Second battery cell group 130: Third battery cell group 120: Sensor 210: First sensor 220: Second sensor 230: Third sensor 300: Battery pack management device 310: Communications Department 320: Controller 2000: Computing Systems 21000:MCU 2200:Memory 2300: Input / output interface 2400:Communication I / F

Claims

1. a communication unit that receives a voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups from each of a plurality of sensors that measure the voltage of the any one of the plurality of battery cell groups; calculating a median value of the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; calculating a voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells in the plurality of battery cell groups from a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; a controller that compares the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value and diagnoses whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells; A battery pack management device comprising:

2. the communication unit receives, from each of the plurality of sensors, a voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors; 2. The battery pack management device according to claim 1, wherein the controller calculates a median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups and determines whether the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups is within a threshold range.

3. 3. The battery pack management device according to claim 2, wherein the controller calculates the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups when the median voltage of the plurality of battery cell groups is within the threshold range.

4. the controller calculates a voltage deviation of the plurality of battery cells in each of the plurality of battery cell groups from a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; 4. The battery pack management device according to claim 3, wherein a maximum positive deviation and a maximum negative deviation are obtained from the voltage deviations of the plurality of battery cells in the plurality of battery cell groups.

5. 5. The battery pack management device according to claim 4, wherein the controller determines whether or not a maximum value of the positive deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper threshold, and determines whether or not a maximum value of the negative deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower threshold.

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

7. receiving a voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups from each of the plurality of sensors; calculating a median value of the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; calculating a voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells from a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups; comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value to diagnose whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells; A method for operating a battery pack management device, comprising:

8. The step of receiving a voltage of any one of the plurality of battery cell groups from each of the plurality of sensors includes: receiving a voltage of any one of the battery cell groups measured by each of the plurality of sensors among the plurality of battery cell groups; 8. The method for operating a battery pack management device according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: calculating a median voltage of the plurality of battery cell groups; and determining whether the median voltage of the plurality of battery cell groups is within a threshold range.

9. The step of calculating the median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups includes: If the median value of the voltages of the plurality of battery cell groups is within the threshold range, The method for operating a battery pack management device according to claim 8 , further comprising calculating a median value of the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups.

10. The step of calculating a voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells from a median voltage of each of the plurality of battery cell groups includes:

10. The method for operating a battery pack management device according to claim 9, further comprising: acquiring a maximum positive deviation and a maximum negative deviation from the voltage deviations of the plurality of battery cells in the plurality of battery cell groups.

11. The step of comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value and diagnosing whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells includes:

11. The method for operating a battery pack management device according to claim 10, further comprising determining whether or not a maximum value of the positive deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells exceeds an upper limit threshold, and determining whether or not a maximum value of the negative deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than a lower limit threshold.

12. The step of comparing the voltage deviation of each of the plurality of battery cells with a threshold value and diagnosing whether or not there is an abnormality in any one of the plurality of battery cells includes:

12. The method of claim 11, wherein when the maximum value of the positive deviation of any one of the plurality of battery cells exceeds the upper threshold and the maximum value of the negative deviation of the battery cell is less than the lower threshold, the battery cell is diagnosed as abnormal.

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