BATTERY DISCHARGING DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING A BATTERY AND METHOD FOR DISCHARGING A PLURALITY OF BATTERIES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery discharge device (10) for discharging a battery (20), comprising: (a) a first battery connection (12.1) for connecting a first battery (20.1); (b) a second battery connection (12.2) for connecting a second battery (20.2); (c) at least one third battery connection (12.3) for connecting a third battery (20.3); and (d) at least one load connection (14) for a load (16) for consuming electrical power when the battery (20) is discharged. According to the present invention, a (e) discharge circuit (18) is provided, which includes: (i) a first short-circuit switch (24.1); and (ii) a first short-circuit switch (24.1) for connecting a first battery voltage (U) falling through the first battery connection (12.1). 20.1 (iii) a second short-circuit switch (24.2); and (iv) a second battery voltage (U) dropped via the second battery connection (12.2). 20.2 (v) a third short-circuit switch (24.3); and (vi) a third battery connection (12.3) for detecting the battery voltage (U 20.3 (vii) a control unit (27), (f) the control unit (27) is configured to automatically implement a method having the steps of: (i) calculating a respective battery voltage (U) for all voltage measuring devices (22.i); 20.i ) is detected, and (ii) the respective battery voltages (U 20.i ) is the minimum voltage (U min ), the corresponding battery (20.i) is switched into a series circuit with at least one other battery, and (iii) the respective battery voltage (U 20.i ) is the minimum voltage (U min ), the corresponding accumulator (20.i) is disconnected from the series circuit by the corresponding short-circuit switch.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery discharge device for discharging a battery, the device having (a) a first battery connection for connecting a first battery, (b) a second battery connection for connecting a second battery, (c) at least one third battery connection for connecting a third battery, and (d) a load connection for a load for consuming electrical output when the battery is discharged. [Background technology]

[0002] The accumulator, which in one preferred embodiment is a lithium accumulator, is often discharged before recycling. This has the advantage that chemical reactions during recycling are avoided or suppressed. During discharge, it is good to ensure that this does not lead to the destruction of the accumulator.

[0003] The accumulator is usually assembled into a battery module. A battery module of this kind usually contains a number of galvanic cells, which may be grouped together to form sub-units with one another. For example, a battery module for an electric vehicle usually has a number of galvanic cells, each of which has a different state of charge and a different state of wear. In order to prevent a catastrophic failure of one or more galvanic cells of the accumulator, it is highly preferable to avoid a deep discharge of the accumulator.

[0004] During operation, the battery modules are usually charged and discharged by a so-called battery management system in such a way that deep discharge is not possible. However, if a battery module fails, the battery management system is usually no longer available. Moreover, it is often not clear what state of charge the individual accumulators are in. Therefore, the accumulators are discharged individually in order to be able to recycle them.

[0005] For this purpose it is known to connect the accumulators individually to the loads, so that the energy content contained in the accumulators is consumed through the loads, which has the disadvantage that a large number of loads must be provided, which may be, for example, ohmic resistors.

[0006] To avoid this, several accumulators can be connected in parallel, which leads to higher currents so that the time needed for discharge is not too long. A prerequisite for such a method is that the charge states of the accumulators do not differ too much from one another; for example, the charge states may differ from one another by at most 10%.

[0007] It is also known to connect accumulators in series and discharge them together, but this is only possible if the state of charge of the individual accumulators differs very little from one another, in particular less than 1%, but in practice this can only be ensured at high cost, since the state of charge must be known.

[0008] To avoid these problems mentioned above, it has further been proposed to remove the electrolyte before further recycling to prevent thermal runaway.

[0009] It is also known to freeze batteries with liquid nitrogen and then crush them in that state, since no chemical reactions can take place in the frozen state. Such a method has relatively high energy costs.

[0010] JP 2019-71701 A discloses a method for discharging used batteries, in which a large number of waste unit batteries are discharged. In this case, a main circuit resistor is connected between the positive electrode at one end and the negative electrode at the other end of a large number of waste unit batteries connected in series, and a sub-circuit resistor and a sub-switch are connected in series between the positive and negative electrodes of each of the large number of waste unit batteries. This method includes a normal discharge process and a discharge process during polarity reversal of the storage battery, in which batteries that have not been polarity reversal are continuously discharged. For this purpose, a sub-switch connected to the waste unit battery in the polarity reversal state is closed. In this way, the battery does not enter a polarity reversal state, and thermal runaway of the battery is prevented.

[0011] DE 10 2014207239 A1 describes a method for disposing of an energy store having several electrochemical cells, which uses a balancing control device for the energy store in order to precisely deep discharge the energy store. The deep discharge process is initiated from the outside. The energy stored in the galvanic cell is converted into heat via the internal resistance of the cell.

[0012] DE 10 2013108023 A1 deals with a system for increasing the safety of storage batteries installed in electric vehicles. In the event of an accident, the battery cells are precisely discharged with the aid of a cell balancing circuit. The energy content of the battery cells is then converted into heat.

[0013] DE 10 2016206919 A1 deals with balancing the battery state of charge, for which purpose the batteries of each set are interconnected via an external balancing circuit in order to generate an external current transient between the batteries of the respective set.

[0014] From German Patent Publication No. 10 2016224002 A1 it is known that in order to discharge a battery module, the battery cells of the battery module to be discharged are electrically coupled selectively in sequence to a discharge device by a cell switching unit, starting from a specific battery cell, in order to discharge the battery module. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-71701 A [Patent Document 2] German Patent Publication No. 102014207239A1 [Patent Document 3] German Patent Publication No. 102013108023A1 [Patent Document 4] German Patent Publication No. 102016206919A1 [Patent Document 5] German Patent Publication No. 102016224002A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] The object of the invention is to improve the discharge of storage batteries, in particular within the framework of a disposal method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] The present invention solves the problem by a battery discharge device belonging to the art, which comprises: (e) a discharge circuit; (i) a first short-circuit switch; (ii) a first voltage meter arranged to measure the first battery voltage dropped through the first battery connection; (iii) a second short-circuit switch; (iv) a second voltage meter arranged to measure the second battery voltage dropped through the second battery connection; (v) a third short-circuit switch; (vi) a third voltage meter arranged to measure the second battery voltage dropped through the third battery connection; and (ii) a control and (f) the control unit is configured for automatically implementing the method having the steps of: (i) detecting the respective accumulator voltage for all voltage measuring devices; (ii) switching (and / or keeping switched) the respective accumulator battery into a series circuit with at least one other accumulator battery, in particular by means of a corresponding short-circuit switch, when the respective accumulator battery voltage is above a predetermined minimum voltage; and (iii) removing the respective accumulator battery from the series circuit, in particular by means of a corresponding short-circuit switch, when the respective accumulator battery voltage is not above the minimum voltage.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the problem is solved by a method for discharging a plurality of batteries, which automatically performs the following steps: (a) continuously measuring the battery voltages of the plurality of batteries, respectively; (b) switching the batteries whose battery voltages are not below a predetermined minimum voltage into a series circuit, thereby discharging the batteries; and (c) disconnecting the batteries whose battery voltages are below a predetermined minimum voltage, thereby removing the batteries from the series connection.

[0019] An advantage of the present invention is that the accumulators can be discharged automatically: it may only be necessary to manually connect the accumulators to the respective accumulator connections.

[0020] Furthermore, it has the advantage that only a few loads need to be provided. It is possible, but not necessary, to use several loads. In particular, it is possible to reuse the energy still stored in the accumulator as useful energy. In other words, it is possible, but not essential, for the electrical energy contained in the accumulator to be consumed as heat. In particular, it can be supplied as electrical energy to the power consumers.

[0021] Discharging the battery can usually be advantageously done very safely, since it is ensured that it does not fall below a certain minimum voltage, which is preferably selected so as to avoid thermal runaway of the battery, e.g. the minimum voltage is zero volts.

[0022] It is also advantageous that the battery charging device can discharge batteries of any state of charge and / or residual voltage, so that the operator of the battery discharging device typically does not need to have any knowledge of the battery to be discharged, and furthermore the probability of operational errors is typically low.

[0023] In the context of this description, an accumulator is understood to mean a component for electrochemically storing electrical energy. An accumulator comprises at least one galvanic cell, preferably a number of galvanic cells. In other words, an accumulator is a battery, i.e. a complex of several galvanic cells, in particular a series circuit. Furthermore, it is possible for an accumulator to comprise two or more independent batteries.

[0024] The accumulators are preferably at least predominantly, in particular exclusively, lithium accumulators. By lithium accumulators is meant in particular accumulators whose electrochemical reactions are based on lithium. The lithium accumulators are preferably lithium-ion accumulators. Alternatively, the accumulators do not have to be lithium accumulators, the invention being applicable to other types of accumulators as well. Furthermore, it is possible, but not essential, for all the accumulators to have the same type. In particular, it is also possible for accumulators of different types to be connected.

[0025] By short-circuit switch is meant in particular a device by means of which the current through the corresponding accumulator can be blocked. In particular, the short-circuit switch is configured to bridge the respective accumulator connection. In this way, the poles of the first accumulator connection can be short-circuited to each other by the first short-circuit switch, for example when the minimum voltage is zero volts. Each accumulator connection has at least two poles, which can also be called connection contacts.

[0026] The short-circuit switch is, for example, a relay, but any other non-potential change-over switch or potential change-over switch, in particular a semiconductor switch, can also be used as the short-circuit switch.

[0027] By series circuit is meant in particular a circuit in which the voltages of at least two accumulators are added together, in particular the voltages of several accumulators electrically connected together in a circuit. It is possible, but not essential and usually not meaningful, for two or more accumulators to be connected in parallel.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the accumulator discharger has an indicator for indicating which accumulators the respective accumulator voltages do not exceed a minimum voltage and / or which accumulator connections have their connection contacts bridged. This has the advantage that the operator of the accumulator discharger can see which accumulators can be removed. It should be pointed out here that the indicator for indicating which accumulators the respective accumulator voltages do not exceed a minimum voltage can also be embodied by indicating which accumulators the respective accumulator voltages are below a minimum voltage and / or by indicating which accumulator contacts have their connection terminals not bridged. From the absence of such a signal, it can be deduced that for the corresponding accumulators the accumulator voltages do not exceed a minimum voltage and / or that the corresponding connection contacts are bridged.

[0029] By indicator is meant in particular a device with which the operator can obtain information as to which accumulator connections are below the minimum voltage or which connection contacts of the accumulator connections are short-circuited. Such an indicator can be an optical indicator emitting an optical signal. Alternatively, the indicator can be an electrical, tactile or other indicator. In particular, the indicator can only emit an electrical signal, so that a robot, which in a preferred embodiment is part of the accumulator discharge device, can automatically disconnect the corresponding accumulator that is below the minimum voltage from its accumulator connection. The robot can in particular be designed to automatically place the discharged accumulator at a predefined location. Such a location can be, for example, a separate container or a transport device, which transports the discharged accumulator for further processing.

[0030] Advantageously, the battery discharge device comprises a polarity confusion prevention circuit, which is in particular configured for automatically detecting a battery connected with an incorrect polarity, and advantageously, the polarity confusion prevention circuit is configured for outputting a polarity confusion warning message and / or for connecting a battery connected with an incorrect polarity with the correct polarity.

[0031] For example, the polarity confusion prevention circuit may include a polarity reversal circuit configured for automatic polarity reversal of the voltage applied to the connection contacts of each battery contact, so that the batteries that were initially connected with the wrong polarity are now connected with the correct polarity. In such a case, there is no need to worry if the batteries are connected with the wrong polarity to the respective battery connection contacts, because the polarity reversal circuit acts to ensure that the batteries are connected in the series circuit with the correct polarity.

[0032] A polarity confusion warning message is meant in particular to mean a message coding at which accumulator connection the accumulator is connected with the wrong polarity. The polarity confusion warning message may be perceptible or not perceptible to a human being. It may in particular be an optical, acoustic or electrical polarity confusion warning message.

[0033] Alternatively or additionally, the polarity confusion prevention circuit may be configured to prevent batteries connected with incorrect polarity from being connected in a series circuit.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured for automatically implementing a method having the steps of: (i) determining a battery voltage change over time of the battery voltage; and (ii) disconnecting the corresponding battery from the series circuit by a corresponding short-circuit switch and / or outputting a voltage drop warning message when the battery voltage change over time is outside a predefined tolerance interval. A too strong battery pressure change over time indicates a malfunction of the corresponding battery. In order to prevent a current through the battery from leading to a fault in the battery or aggravating an existing fault, the corresponding battery is preferably bridged, i.e. no current flows through the battery connection to this battery.

[0035] The control unit is preferably configured to reconnect the accumulator, i.e. to switch the accumulator into the series circuit. If a time-dependent voltage change outside a predefined tolerance interval occurs again, the corresponding accumulator can then be bridged again and / or a voltage drop warning message can be output. Reconnection in particular means that the corresponding accumulator is reconnected in a series circuit with at least one other accumulator. This is carried out by means of a corresponding short-circuit switch. Release of the contact in particular means removal from the series circuit.

[0036] The control unit is preferably configured for automatically implementing the method, which comprises the step of additionally connecting some of the accumulator batteries in the series circuit, so that the sum of the accumulator voltages is within a predefined target voltage interval. When two or more combinations of accumulator voltages are within the target voltage interval, a further number of combinations of accumulator voltages are preferably selected. When the sum of all accumulator voltages is below the lower interval limit of the target voltage interval, all accumulator batteries whose accumulator voltages are above the minimum voltage are preferably connected in series. In this way, a voltage usually within the target voltage interval is applied at the load connection. Such a voltage can be particularly easily further processed.

[0037] The additional accumulator batteries are in particular already connected to the accumulator discharger before the additional connection, but are not connected in a series circuit, in other words they do not release electrical energy. The more connections there are in the accumulator discharger, the less frequently the accumulator batteries to be newly discharged have to be connected to the accumulator discharger, which simplifies the operation.

[0038] The upper interval limit of the target voltage interval is preferably at most 60 volts. In this case, special protective measures such as protective clothing can usually be omitted.

[0039] Preferably the number of accumulator connections is greater than 5, in particular greater than 10. It is often advantageous to have a number of accumulator connections less than 150, in particular less than 30.

[0040] In one preferred embodiment, the battery discharger comprises a load for consuming the electrical output of the battery when it is discharged. For example, the load is an inverter for generating an AC voltage of a given frequency and voltage from a DC voltage applied to the load connections. Alternatively, the load is a DC voltage converter for generating a DC voltage of a given voltage from a DC voltage applied to the load connections. The inverter may be, for example, a switching power supply.

[0041] The requirement that a load, in particular an inverter, is connected to a load connection is understood to mean, in particular, that the inverter is electrically connected to the load connection. It is possible, but not essential, that the load connection is a special device, such as a socket, for example. In particular, the load connection may be formed by two or more electrical conductors, by means of which a load can be connected.

[0042] Advantageously, the inverter is connected to the public power grid in order to feed electrical energy back into the public power grid.

[0043] The inverter is preferably connected to a power grid - which may be, but not necessarily is, a public power grid - to which power consumers are connected. For example, the at least one consumer is part of a lithium battery recycling facility for reusing lithium batteries. In particular, the at least one power consumer may be a crushing facility for crushing lithium batteries, a pump, e.g. a vacuum pump, a motor, etc.

[0044] In one preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured for automatically implementing a method having the steps of: (i) detecting a target power discharge of the battery discharge device; and (ii) reducing the discharge power of the battery when the actual power discharge exceeds the target power discharge. The target power discharge can be read, for example, by an input instrument or from a memory, or can be detected by a power measurement device.

[0045] It is particularly advantageous for the detection of the target power discharge to be the detection of the current power demand of the power consumers of the power grid. Technical installations, such as lithium battery recycling installations, require a variable amount of electrical power output. When the actual power discharge of the battery discharger, i.e. the currently discharged electrical power output, is greater than the current power demand of the power consumers of the power grid, the electrical power output is usually fed into the public power grid. The compensation for the electrical energy sent back in this way is relatively low. It may therefore be desirable to reduce the power discharge of the battery discharger when it exceeds the current power demand of the power consumers of the power grid.

[0046] In one preferred embodiment, the battery discharger comprises an electrical buffer storage, preferably wired such that the electrical energy drawn from the battery by the battery discharger is at least partially and / or at least temporarily stored in the buffer storage.

[0047] Advantageously, the buffer storage has a storage capacity of at least 10 kWh, or at least 30 kWh, in particular at least 50 kWh. Usually, the buffer storage has a storage capacity of less than 10 MWh.

[0048] The control unit is preferably configured for automatically implementing a method having the following steps: (i) a target power discharge of the accumulator discharge device is detected, and (ii) a buffer storage is charged, whereby the actual power discharge is not above the target power discharge. In other words, the control unit is configured for storing electrical energy not required by consumers of the power grid in the buffer storage.

[0049] Advantageously, the accumulator discharge device comprises at least one accumulator battery connected to the first accumulator battery connection, in particular the accumulator battery discharge device comprises a number of accumulator batteries each connected to one accumulator battery connection.

[0050] The accumulator discharge device preferably has at least one thermal sensor, in particular a thermal imaging camera, arranged to detect the temperature of at least one of the accumulator batteries. If the accumulator battery is subjected to too strong heating, this may lead to thermal runaway, i.e. a catastrophic failure of the accumulator battery due to its self-intensifying discharge. To avoid such a case, in one preferred embodiment, the temperature of the accumulator battery is continuously detected. If the temperature exceeds a warning temperature, the control unit automatically removes the corresponding accumulator battery from the series circuit. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may:

number

number

[0051] The control unit is preferably configured to automatically carry out a method comprising the steps of: (a) connecting the accumulator connection to a minimum voltage U min and (b) a first switching member of the short-circuit switch of the accumulator connection, in particular a short-circuit relay, is closed or kept closed.

[0052] The method preferably comprises a step (c) in which the second switching member of the short-circuit switch of the accumulator connection, in particular the additional connection relay, is closed or remains closed.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the method preferably includes a step (d) in which a signal is output coding that the accumulator can be removed.

[0054] Advantageously, the control device is configured for automatically carrying out the method, preferably after the three steps mentioned above, with the following steps: (a) it is detected that no accumulator is connected to the accumulator connection, (b) the second switching member is opened or held open, and optionally (c) the first switching member is opened or held open, thereby reducing or preventing the formation of an arc at the first switching member. The method further comprises a step (c) in which the additional connection relay is closed or held closed. Steps (b) and (c) are preferably carried out within at most 1 second, in particular within at most 0.1 seconds.

[0055] The detection that no accumulator is connected to the accumulator connection is effected, for example, by a respective voltage meter or by reading a user input of an operating member, for example a switch or button.

[0056] The detection that no accumulator is connected to the accumulator connection is effected, for example - in particular if the voltage meter is not measuring the voltage applied to the accumulator connection - by applying a voltage pulse, preferably of at most 60 volts, to the accumulator connection, so that if no current flows as a result, no accumulator is connected.

[0057] The first switching elements are in particular wired in such a way that the series circuit is closed only when all the first switching elements are closed. In particular, the first switching elements are wired in such a way that the output voltage U A is applied to the battery in series circuit such that the battery can be discharged accordingly.

[0058] The second switching elements are in particular wired in such a way that it applies for each switching element that the accumulator connected to the corresponding accumulator connection can be discharged only when the second switching element is closed, regardless of the switching state of the first switching element.

[0059] The method according to the invention preferably comprises the steps described above within the framework of the preferred embodiment of the control unit.

[0060] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0061] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a battery discharge device according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a battery discharge device according to the present invention, according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] 4 is an alternative embodiment of a battery discharge device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] 1 shows an accumulator discharge device 10 according to the invention, with accumulator connections 12.i (i=1, 2, ..., N; here: N=4). The accumulator discharge device 10 furthermore has a load connection 14 to which a load 16, in the form of an inverter 17 in this example, is connected. The inverter 17 supplies an alternating voltage U with a given frequency f, for example 50 or 60 Hz. AC The voltage connection 18 has an alternating voltage U AC is, for example, 230 volts or 110 volts, or other voltages are possible.

[0063] The discharge circuit 18 detects for each battery connection 12.i the battery voltage U 20.iThe discharge circuit 18 further comprises a voltage measuring instrument 22 for measuring the voltage Vcc of the respective accumulator connection 12. Furthermore, the discharge circuit 18 comprises a short-circuit switch 24.i for each accumulator connection 12.i. By means of each short-circuit switch 24.i, the respective accumulator connection 12.i can be short-circuited. In other words, the respective connection contacts 26a.i, 26b.i of the accumulator connection 12.i are connected to the same potential. In this way, no current flows through the corresponding accumulator 20.i.

[0064] The battery discharge device 10 has a control unit 27 connected to all voltage measuring instruments 22.i, whereby the control unit 27 measures all battery voltages U 20.i Furthermore, the control unit 27 is connected to all the short-circuit switches 24.i for control purposes, in other words the control unit 27 can automatically open or close each short-circuit switch 24.i.

[0065] The battery discharge device 10 may have an indicator 28, which is connected to the control unit 27 by wire or wirelessly and which indicates a predetermined minimum voltage U min 1. The minimum voltage is, for example, Min=0 Volts, and is configured to indicate which battery connections 12.i are being supplied with a lower battery voltage 20.i than 0.001V or to indicate which battery connections 12.i have a respective short-circuit switch 24.i closed. The operator of the battery discharge device 10 can then remove the corresponding battery 12.i, since this battery is discharged.

[0066] It is also possible, but not essential, for the accumulator discharge device 10 to have a polarity-mix-up prevention circuit 30.i for at least one accumulator connection, in particular for each and every accumulator connection 12.i. If the voltage measuring device 22.i measures an incorrect polarity of a connected accumulator, i.e. if the accumulator is connected with the wrong polarity, the control unit 27 controls the polarity-mix-up prevention circuit 30.i, which then reverses the polarity so that the correct polarity is again applied at the polarity-reversal circuit connections 32a.1, 32b.1.

[0067] The control unit 27 detects the battery voltage U 20.i The battery voltage U 20.i is the minimum voltage U min When all battery voltages U are above the threshold, the control unit 27 keeps the respective short-circuit switch 24.i open. 20.i is the minimum voltage U min When the battery voltage U is higher than 1 V, all short-circuit switches 24.i are closed and all storage batteries 20.i are connected in series with each other. 20.i are added together to produce the output voltage U A which is applied to the load connection 14, and in the case of no load, this corresponds to the total battery voltage U 20.i It is equivalent to the sum of.

[0068] For one battery 20.i, the battery voltage U 20.i is the minimum voltage U min If the minimum voltage U falls below this value, the control unit 27 closes the respective short-circuit switch 24.i, so that the corresponding accumulator 20.i is bridged. No current then flows through the corresponding accumulator 20.i. min If is not selected to zero volts, the discharge circuit 18 has for each accumulator connection 12.i another switch which disconnects one of both connection contacts 26a.i or 26b.i from the rest of the circuit.

[0069] Output voltage U A In order to ensure that the voltage V is always within the predetermined multi-voltage interval Z, the control unit 27 may be configured to connect only some of the storage batteries 20.i in a series circuit to bridge the remaining storage batteries, so that the corresponding output voltage U A is realized.

[0070] The indicator 28 is too strong for the control unit 27

number

number

[0071] A thermal sensor 34, in the form of a thermal imaging camera 34 in whose field of view S the accumulator 20.i is located, measures the respective temperatures T i The thermal sensor 34 is connected to the control unit 27. The temperature T i is the predetermined warning temperature T warn above the threshold voltage Vcc, the control unit 27 releases the corresponding accumulator 20.i. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 27 switches the corresponding accumulator 20.i back into the series circuit after a predefined waiting time. As an alternative to a thermal imaging camera, the thermal sensor can also comprise, for example, a thermocouple.

[0072] 2 shows a circuit diagram of an inventive accumulator discharge device 10 according to a second embodiment. The short-circuit switch 24.i in this embodiment has a first switching element 36a.i and a second switching element 36b.i. The switching elements 36a.i, 36b.i are, for example, relays. In this way, the accumulator 20.i is connected to its accumulator voltage U 20.i U min When the voltage drops below the minimum voltage of min ≠ 0V holds.

[0073] The switching member 36a may also be called a short-circuit relay. The switching member 36b.i may also be called an additional connection relay. Switching the additional connection relay The control unit 27 stores a target voltage interval Z. The control unit 27 automatically connects in series such a number of accumulators 20.i that the resulting total voltage falls within the target voltage interval Z. The additional connection of an accumulator 20.i is effected by opening the corresponding short-circuit relay 36a.i and closing the connecting relay 36b.i, whereby the accumulator releases electrical energy. This is preferably, but not necessarily, effected automatically by the control unit 27, for example.

[0074] The disconnection of the accumulator 20.i is effected by (a) closing or keeping closed the corresponding short-circuit relay 36a.i and (b) closing or keeping closed the additional connection relay 36b.i. After the accumulator is removed from its accumulator connection 12.i, the additional connection relay 36b.i is opened. Then another accumulator 20'.i is connected to the accumulator connection 12.i. Then, insofar as necessary, the corresponding short-circuit relay 36a.i is opened and the connection relay 36b.i is closed. This is also preferably, but not necessarily, effected automatically, for example by the control unit 27. Then the new accumulator 20'i is connected.

[0075] The number N of the accumulator connections is preferably selected such that not all accumulators have to be connected in series in order for the total voltage to fall within the target voltage interval Z. The number N is preferably selected such that at most half, in particular at most one third, of the accumulator connections must be in contact in order for the total voltage to fall within the target voltage interval Z.

[0076] One battery has a minimum voltage U min When this voltage is reached or falls below this voltage, the accumulator is bridged as explained above. It is then expedient, but not essential, for the control unit 27 to output a signal, by which the corresponding accumulator can be removed.

[0077] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a battery discharger 10 according to the invention, the inverter 17 of which is connected to a public power grid 38' for feeding back electrical energy.

[0078] Alternatively or additionally, the inverter 17 is connected to a power grid 38 which is connected to power consumers 40.j (j=1, 2, ... J). 40 can be measured in a time-dependent manner.

[0079] The control unit 27 determines the target power discharge P of the battery discharge device 10. soll Represents the electrical output P 40 The actual power output P of the battery data device 10 is automatically detected. ist That is, the actual power output is smaller than the target power output P soll When the actual power discharge P ist is the target output P soll , the electrical power output is fed into the public power grid 38'. To prevent this, the control unit may adjust the actual power output P ist may be configured to reduce

[0080] Alternatively or additionally, the battery discharger 10 may have an electrical buffer storage 44. The buffer storage 44 may be, for example, a battery. The buffer storage 44 is wired such that the electrical energy drawn by the battery discharger 10 from the battery 20 can be at least partially and / or at least temporarily stored in the buffer storage.

[0081] For example, the control unit 27 may soll is the actual output P ist3. The system is configured to inject electrical power into the buffer storage 44 when the load is below 30 V. For example, an amount of electrical power is injected into the buffer storage 40 such that the electrical energy injected into the utility grid 38' is minimized. The invention as originally claimed in the present application is set forth below. [1] A battery discharge device (10) for discharging a battery (20), comprising: (a) a first battery connection (12.1) for connecting a first battery (20.1); (b) a second battery connection (12.2) for connecting a second battery (20.2); (c) at least one third battery connection (12.3) for connecting a third battery (20.3); (d) at least one load connection (14) for a load (16) for consuming electrical power when the battery (20) is discharged, (e) a discharge circuit (18), the discharge circuit comprising: (i) a first shorting switch (24.1); (ii) the first accumulator voltage (U 20.1 a first voltage measuring device (22.1) arranged to measure the (iii) a second shorting switch (24.2); (iv) the second battery voltage (U 20.2 a second voltage measuring device (22.2) arranged to measure the (v) a third shorting switch (24.3); (vi) the battery voltage (U 20.3 a third voltage measuring device (22.3) arranged to measure the (vii) a control unit (27), (f) the control unit (27) is configured to automatically carry out a method having the steps of: (i) For all said voltage measuring devices (22.i), measure the respective battery voltages (U 20.i ) is detected, (ii) The voltage of each battery (U 20.i ) is a given minimum voltage (U min ), the corresponding accumulator battery (20.i) is switched into a series circuit with at least one other accumulator battery, (iii) The voltage of each battery (U 20.i ) is the minimum voltage (U min ), the corresponding accumulator (20.i) is disconnected from the series circuit by the corresponding short-circuit switch. [2] From the DC voltage applied to the load connection portion (14), (a) AC voltage of a given frequency (f) and voltage (U AC ) and / or in the form of an inverter (17) for generating (b) in the form of a DC voltage converter for generating a DC voltage of a predetermined voltage; The battery discharge device (10) according to [1], characterized in having a load (16) connected to the load connection portion (14). [3] Each battery voltage (U 20.i ) is the minimum voltage (U min 13. The battery discharge device (10) according to claim 12, further comprising an indicator (28) for indicating a battery (20.i) whose capacity is below 100 mA and / or a battery connection (14.i) whose connection contacts (26) are short-circuited. [4] Automatically, (i) for detecting a battery (20) connected with incorrect polarity and outputting a polarity confusion warning message; and / or (ii) to connect the storage battery (20) in the correct polarity when the storage battery (20) is connected in the wrong polarity; 10. A battery discharge device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a polarity confusion prevention circuit (30). [5] The control unit (27) is configured to automatically carry out a method having the steps of: (i) Battery voltage (U 20 ) the battery voltage change over time is determined; (ii) Temporal

number

[10] (a) an electrical buffer storage (42); (b) the control unit (27) is configured to automatically carry out a method having the steps of: (i) the target power discharge (P soll ) is detected, (ii) The buffer storage (42) is charged, thereby reducing the actual power delivery (P ist ) is the target power release (P soll ) should not be exceeded. 4. A battery discharge device according to any one of the preceding claims.

[11] A method for discharging a plurality of batteries (20), comprising the automatically performed steps of: (a) Battery voltage (U 20 ) are continuously measured, (b) Battery voltage (U 20 ) is a given minimum voltage (U min ) is switched into the series circuit, thereby discharging the battery (20); (c) Battery voltage (U 20 ) is a given minimum voltage (U min ) is disconnected, thereby no longer being connected in series.

[12] Each battery voltage (U 20.i ) is a given minimum voltage (U min ) and / or coding an accumulator connection (14.i) whose connection contacts (26.i) are short-circuited.

[13] The method includes the steps of: (i) a battery (20) connected with incorrect polarity is detected and a polarity confusion warning message is output; and / or (ii) A storage battery (20) connected with incorrect polarity is connected with the correct polarity. The method according to

[11] or

[12] , [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10... battery discharge device, 12... battery connection, 14... load connection, 16... load, 17... inverter, 18... discharge circuit, 20... battery, 22... voltage measuring instrument, 24... short-circuit switch, 26... connection contact, 27... control unit, 28... display, 30... polarity confusion prevention circuit, 32... polarity confusion circuit connection, 34... thermal imaging camera, 36a... first switching element, short-circuit relay, 36b... second switching element, additional connection relay, 38... power grid, 38'... public power grid, 40... consumer, 42... output measuring instrument, 44... buffer storage, f... frequency, i... battery connection subscript, j... consumer subscript, N... number of battery connections, P soll …Target output release, P ist …actual power discharge, S…field of view, Ti…temperature of the i-th battery, T warn …warning temperature, U AC …AC voltage, U 20.i … battery voltage, U min …minimum voltage, U A …output voltage, Z…target voltage interval,

number

Claims

1. A battery discharge device (10) for discharging a battery (20) for recycling, comprising: (a) a first battery connection (12.1) for connecting a first battery (20.1); (b) a second battery connection (12.2) for connecting a second battery (20.2); (c) at least one third battery connection (12.3) for connecting a third battery (20.3); (d) a load connection (14) for a load (16) for consuming electrical power when the battery (20) is discharged, (e) a discharge circuit (18), the discharge circuit comprising: (i) the first battery voltage (U ２０．１ a first voltage measuring device (22.1) arranged to measure the (ii) the second battery voltage (U ２０．２ a second voltage measuring device (22.2) arranged to measure the (iii) the battery voltage (U ２０．３ a third voltage measuring device (22.3) arranged to measure the (iv) a control unit (27), (f) said control unit (27) is configured for automatically carrying out a method having the steps of: (i) measuring the battery voltage (U ２０．ｉ ) is detected, (ii) The respective battery voltages (U ２０．ｉ ) is a specified minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ ), the corresponding storage battery (20.i) is switched into and / or remains connected in series with at least one other storage battery, (iii) Each battery voltage (U ２０．ｉ ) is the minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ ), the corresponding storage battery (20.i) is removed from the series circuit, (g) the minimum voltage (U min ) is selected to avoid runaway of the accumulator; (h) the discharge circuit (18) (i) a first shorting switch (24.1); (ii) a second shorting switch (24.2); (iii) a third shorting switch (24.3), (iv) configured to remove the corresponding accumulator from the series circuit by the corresponding shorting switch (24.1, 24.2, 24.3); (i) the short-circuit switches (24.1, 24.2, 24.3) each have a first switching element (36a.1, 36a.2, 36a.3) and are connected such that the series connection of the short-circuit switches is closed only when the first switching elements are all closed, (j) the short-circuit switches (24.1, 24.2, 24.3) each have a second switching element (36b.1, 36b.2, 36b.3), which are connected in such a way that the accumulator connected to the corresponding accumulator connection is discharged only when the second switching element is closed, regardless of the switching state of the first switching element.

2. An AC voltage (U ＡＣ 2. The battery discharge device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a load (16) connected to the load connections (14) in the form of an inverter (17) for generating a current (V) from the load connection (14).

3. A battery discharge device (10) as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the load (16) is a DC voltage converter that generates a DC voltage of a predetermined voltage from the DC voltage acting on the load connection portion (14).

4. Each battery voltage (U ２０．ｉ ) is the minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ 4. The battery discharge device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator (28) for indicating a battery (20.i) whose current is below 0.01 V and / or a battery connection (14.i) whose connection contacts (26) are short-circuited.

5. Automatically, (i) for detecting a battery (20) connected with incorrect polarity and outputting a polarity confusion warning message; and / or (ii) to connect a storage battery (20) connected in the wrong polarity in the correct polarity; 5. The battery discharge device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a polarity confusion prevention circuit (30).

6. The control unit (27) is configured for automatically implementing a method having the following steps: (i) Battery voltage (U ２０ ) over time is determined, (ii) when the change in the accumulator voltage (U) over time is outside a predefined tolerance interval, the corresponding accumulator (20) is bridged by a corresponding short-circuit switch (24) and / or a voltage drop warning message is output. A battery discharge device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

7. The control unit (27) is configured for automatically carrying out a method comprising the steps of: A part of the storage batteries (20.i) is additionally connected to the series circuit, so that the storage battery voltage (U ２０．ｉ ) is made to be within a predetermined target voltage interval (Z), and the battery voltage (U ２０．ｉ When two or more combinations of the battery voltages (U) are within the target voltage interval (Z), the maximum number of battery voltages (U ２０．ｉ ) is selected. A battery discharge device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

8. The temperature (T ｉ 8. The battery discharge device (10) of claim 1, further comprising at least one thermal sensor (34) arranged to detect a temperature difference between the discharged battery and the discharged battery.

9. The control unit (27) is configured to automatically carry out a method having the following steps: (a) a minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ ) is detected, (b) the first switching member (36a.i) of the short-circuit switch (24.i) of the battery connection (12.i) is closed or remains closed, (c) the second switching member (36b.i) of the short-circuit switch (24.i) of the battery connection (12.i) is closed or remains closed, (d) a signal is output coding that the battery may be removed; (e) detecting that none of the batteries (20.i) is connected to the battery connection (12.i); (f) the second switching member (36b.i) is opened or held open, after which (g) the first switching member (36a.i) is opened or held open, after which (h) the second switching member (36b.i) is closed A battery discharge device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it

10. (a) the inverter (17) is connected to a power grid (38, 38') to which a power consumer (40.j) is connected; (b) said control unit (27) is configured for automatically carrying out a method having the steps of: (i) the target power discharge (P ｓｏｌｌ ) is detected, (ii) Actual power release (P ｉｓｔ ) is the target power release (P ｓｏｌｌ ) the discharge output of the storage battery (20) is reduced.

3. The battery discharge device according to claim 2 .

11. (a) an electrical buffer storage (44); (b) said control unit (27) is configured for automatically carrying out a method having the steps of: (i) the target power discharge (P ｓｏｌｌ ) is detected, (ii) The buffer storage (44) is charged, thereby reducing the actual power delivery (P ｉｓｔ ) is the target power release (P ｓｏｌｌ ) should not be exceeded.

11. A battery discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that

12. A method for discharging a plurality of batteries (20), comprising the automatically performed steps of: (a) The battery voltage (U ２０ ) are continuously measured, (b) Battery voltage (U ２０ ) is a specified minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ ) is connected to a series circuit, thereby discharging the battery (20); (c) Battery voltage (U ２０ ) is a specified minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ ) is released from contact and is no longer connected in series; (d) short-circuiting at least one battery connection (12.1) to which the battery (20) is connected and / or the minimum voltage (U min ) is 0 volts, (e) disconnecting the accumulator (20.1) when the accumulator voltage (U 20.1 ) falls below a predetermined minimum voltage (U min ) and the accumulator (20.1) can no longer be connected in series, comprises closing the first switching member (36a.i) of the short-circuit switch (24.1); (f) the method comprises the step of closing or keeping closed second switching members (36b.i) of the short-circuit switches (24.i) of the accumulator connections (12.i), the second switching members (36b.i) being connected such that the accumulator connected to a corresponding accumulator connection can only be discharged when the second switching members (36b.i) are closed, regardless of the switching state of the first switching members (36a.i).

13. (a) detecting that a storage battery (20.i) is not connected to the storage battery connection portion (12.i); (b) opening or leaving open said second switching member (36b.i), and then (c) opening or leaving open the first switching member (36a.i), and then (d) closing the second switching member.

13. The method of claim 12.

14. Each battery voltage (U ２０．ｉ ) is a specified minimum voltage (U ｍｉｎ 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of outputting a signal coding an accumulator (20) whose connection contacts (26.i) are short-circuited and / or coding an accumulator connection (14.i) whose connection contacts (26.i) are short-circuited.

15. The method includes the steps of: (i) a battery (20) connected with an incorrect polarity is detected and a polarity confusion warning message is output; and / or (ii) A storage battery (20) connected with incorrect polarity is connected with the correct polarity.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the discharging of the storage battery (20) is a step in a recycling process.

Images