Smart battery diagnosis system using ai

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart battery diagnosis system using AI, the smart battery diagnosis system comprising: a battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are arrayed in a unit housing; a sensor unit that detects state information including voltage and temperature of the battery module; and a control unit that diagnoses the state of the battery module by an artificial intelligence module by using information output from the sensor unit, and controls on / off of a unit power switch which is electrically connected to the battery module and is switched on or off, according to the diagnosis result of the state of the battery module.

Description

AI-powered smart battery diagnostic system

[0001] The present invention relates to a smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, and more specifically, to a smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI capable of diagnosing the state of a battery while collecting information on the operating state of the battery.

[0002] Generally, an Energy Storage System (ESS) is a device constructed to store electrical energy in battery modules so that it can be used when needed. Such energy storage systems can promote the stabilization of power supply systems and are utilized as efficient energy sources by being applied to various fields that supply electrical energy.

[0003] Furthermore, rechargeable electrochemical batteries are primarily used in power storage systems. In particular, electrochemical lithium-ion batteries, which store high-density energy, carry a high risk of fire due to their characteristics. Specifically, during thermal runaway—known as a cause of battery fires—lithium-ion batteries not only experience a rise in internal temperature and pressure but also release electrolyte decomposition gases and flammable smoke; if thermal runaway persists, there is a risk of a chain reaction of explosions within the battery system.

[0004] For this reason, various battery diagnostic devices have been proposed, such as Korean Public Patent No. 10-2022-012747, to detect thermal runaway early and take necessary measures or monitor the system so that the battery system can be used safely.

[0005] Meanwhile, most battery modules utilize a structure in which electrodes of batteries are arrayed by welding, as disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-002052; however, this has the disadvantage that defective batteries cannot be replaced individually.

[0006] Furthermore, in the case of energy storage devices with battery arrays, damage and abnormal operation may eventually occur inside the batteries due to continuous electrical, physical, or chemical stress factors applied to the batteries caused by manufacturing defects, carelessness during installation, changes in the operating environment, and disharmony in integrated operation between connected devices and systems, despite the built-in safety management protection functions.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a diagnostic system that can diagnose the battery condition more efficiently and reliably perform protective measures before thermal runaway occurs in the event of an abnormality.

[0008] The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned requirements, and aims to provide a smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI that can diagnose the condition of a battery by an artificial intelligence module, provide diagnostic result information, and support individual replacement of secondary batteries.

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI according to the present invention comprises: a battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are arrayed within a unit housing; a sensor unit that detects state information including voltage and temperature for the battery module; and a control unit that diagnoses the state of the battery module by means of an artificial intelligence module using information output from the sensor unit, and controls the on / off of a unit power switch that is electrically connected to the battery module and switches on or off according to the diagnosis result of the state of the battery module.

[0010] In addition, a fire extinguishing agent spraying unit that is controlled by the control unit and can spray a fire extinguishing agent to the battery module may be further provided.

[0011] In addition, the sensor unit may be configured to detect off-gas generated in the unit housing and current information flowing through the battery module and provide them to the control unit.

[0012] In addition, the artificial intelligence module collects and records status information measured by the sensor unit, calculates the lifespan based on the operating status of the battery module by applying a neural network model based on the collected status information, counts the number of charge and discharge cycles of the battery module, calculates the charge and discharge status based on the voltage and current information of the battery module, and calculates and provides a replacement time based on the counted number of charge and discharge cycles and the charge and discharge status.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the unit housing is formed such that unit cell spaces having openings are separated from each other by partitions so that the secondary battery can be individually accommodated, and first and second contact electrodes are formed on mutually opposing surfaces of the unit cell spaces so as to be electrically contacted at each end of the secondary battery formed in a cylindrical shape, and a first superheat separator formed of a bimetallic material is formed on the bottom surface of the unit cell space so that when the temperature of the secondary battery reaches a set superheat temperature, the secondary battery rises upward to be separated from at least one of the first and second contact electrodes by interference and applies a separation interference force to the secondary battery.

[0014] In addition, the unit cell space of the unit housing may further comprise first and second arc-shaped mounting ledges that are spaced apart from each other along a width direction orthogonal to the length direction of the secondary battery being mounted thereon, and are formed in an arc shape to guide the mounting area by contacting the outer surface of the cylindrical secondary battery, thereby supporting the secondary battery while it is supported by the first and second contact electrodes along the length direction and spaced apart from the bottom surface of the unit cell space. Additionally, the unit housing may further comprise a second overheating separator formed of a bimetallic material, which is installed on the mounting surface of the first and second arc-shaped mounting ledges opposite to the outer surface of the secondary battery mounted on the first and second arc-shaped mounting ledges, and which protrudes upward from the mounting surface of the first and second arc-shaped mounting ledges when the temperature of the secondary battery reaches a set overheating temperature, and rises upward to apply a separation interference force so that the secondary battery is separated from at least one of the first and second contact electrodes by interference.

[0015] In addition, the sensor unit receives sound output from the unit housing and provides it to the control unit, and if the control unit determines from the sound information output from the sensor unit that a separation sound generated when the secondary battery is separated from either of the first and second contact terminals due to interference from at least one of the first overheating separator and the second overheating separator has been received, it provides secondary battery separation status information due to overheating through the display unit.

[0016] According to the smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI according to the present invention, it provides diagnostic information regarding the condition of the battery and also offers the advantage of improving stability by supporting the automatic mechanical disconnection from the power supply circuit system individually when the battery overheats.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI according to the present invention, and

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a unit housing applied to the battery module of FIG. 1, and

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion cut along line AA to show a first superheated separator mounted on the unit housing of FIG. 2, and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the state in which the first superheated separator of FIG. 3 is raised so that the secondary battery is separated from the first contact electrode, and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second overheat separator is embedded in the arc-shaped seating ledge of the unit housing of FIG. 1, and

[0022] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state in which the second overheating separator of FIG. 5 is raised and the secondary battery is separated from the contact electrode.

[0023] Hereinafter, a smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI according to the present invention.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the smart battery diagnostic system (100) utilizing AI according to the present invention comprises a battery module (110), a sensor unit (140), a unit power switch (150), a fire extinguishing agent spraying unit (160), and a control unit (180).

[0026] The battery module (110) has a plurality of secondary batteries (10) arranged in an array within a unit housing (120), and the detailed structure is explained with reference to FIG. 2.

[0027] The battery module (110) is equipped with a unit housing (120), first and second contact terminals (125) (126), a connecting bar (127), and an arc-shaped partition (128).

[0028] The unit housing (120) is formed such that unit cell spaces (121) having an opening (121a) to accommodate a secondary battery (10) individually are separated from each other through first and second partitions (120c) (120d). When the unit housing (120) is divided, it is constructed with a bottom plate (120a) forming a bottom surface, a side plate (120b) having a rectangular frame shape that extends vertically along the edge of the bottom plate (120a), a first partition (120c) that extends parallel to one side plate (120b) along a first direction inside the side plate (120b), and a plurality of second partitions (120d) that extend in both directions along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from the first partition (120c), are spaced apart from each other along the length direction of the first partition (120c), and are connected to the side plate (120b).

[0029] In the illustrated example, the unit housing (120) is formed to have unit cell spaces (121) that are symmetrically arranged vertically with respect to the bottom plate (120a).

[0030] In each unit cell space (121) of the unit housing (120), first and second contact electrodes (125) (126) are formed on mutually opposing surfaces of the unit cell space (121) so as to be electrically contacted with the positive terminal (11) and negative terminal (12) of the secondary battery (10) formed in a cylindrical shape. In the illustrated example, the first contact electrode (125) is formed as a terminal with a fixed position that protrudes into the unit cell space (121), and the second contact electrode (126) is formed as a coil-shaped terminal that can be extended in length and protrudes into the unit cell space (121).

[0031] Additionally, in the unit cell space (121) of the unit housing (120), first and second arc-shaped mounting ledges (128) (129) are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other along the width direction orthogonal to the length direction of the cylindrical secondary battery (10) to be mounted, and are formed in an arc shape to guide the mounting area by contacting the outer surface of the cylindrical secondary battery (10), thereby supporting the secondary battery (10) so as to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the unit cell space (121) while the secondary battery (10) is supported by the first and second contact electrodes (125) (126) along the length direction.

[0032] The connecting electrodes protruding from the outer surface of the unit housing (120) are connected in series with each other through the connecting bar (127).

[0033] These unit housings (120) can be mounted to be housed within a housing (130).

[0034] The housing (130) may be formed to have a receiving space in which elements of the unit housing (120) and the sensor unit (140) described later can be mounted.

[0035] Reference numerals 131 and 132 are main charge / discharge lines that are respectively connected to charge / discharge terminals drawn from the battery module (110) to support the charge / discharge of the battery module (110).

[0036] Accordingly, the battery module (110) can be charged through the main charging / discharging line (131)(132), or the power charged in the battery module (110) can be discharged through the main charging / discharging line (131)(132).

[0037] Multiple such battery modules (110) may be applied. In the illustrated example, each of the multiple battery modules (110) is connected in parallel to the main charging / discharging line (131)(132).

[0038] The sensor unit (140) is installed within the housing (130) and detects status information including voltage (V), temperature (T), off gas (G), current (I), and sound (S) for the battery module (110), and provides this information to the control unit (180).

[0039] The sensor unit (140) may be constructed with a voltage sensor (not shown) for detecting voltage of the battery module (110), a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting temperature, a gas detection sensor (not shown) for detecting off-gas, a current sensor (not shown) for detecting current flowing through the battery module (110), a microphone (not shown) for detecting sound, and a transmitter (not shown) that collects information received from these and provides it to the control unit (180).

[0040] Gas detection sensors that detect off-gases can be applied to detect hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas.

[0041] A unit power switch (150) is electrically connected in series on a connecting line that electrically connects the battery module (110) and the main charging / discharging line (131)(132) so as to be able to turn the electrical connection state on or off. The unit power switch (150) is switched on or off by a control unit (180).

[0042] The fire extinguishing agent spraying unit (160) is controlled by the control unit (180) to spray a fire extinguishing agent into the battery module (110). Reference numeral 162 is a spray nozzle that can spray the fire extinguishing agent supplied from the fire extinguishing agent spraying unit (160) into the unit housing (120) of the battery module (110). The fire extinguishing agent spraying unit (160) can be constructed so that the fire extinguishing agent is supplied through a ventilation hole (123) formed to penetrate the unit cell space (121) of the unit housing (120).

[0043] The control unit (180) diagnoses the state of the battery module (110) by means of an artificial intelligence (AI) module (190) using information output from the sensor unit (140), and controls the unit power switch (150) on / off according to the diagnosis result of the state of the battery module (110).

[0044] The control unit (180) is constructed with an operating unit (182), a display unit (184), and a main control unit (185).

[0045] The control unit (182) is configured to be used to set supported functions under the support of the main control unit (185).

[0046] The display unit (184) is controlled by the main control unit (185) to display display information.

[0047] The main control unit (185) processes the signal received from the sensor unit (140), controls the on / off of the unit power switch (150), and controls the operation of the fire extinguishing agent spray unit (160).

[0048] The main control unit (185) has an artificial intelligence (AI) module built in.

[0049] The artificial intelligence module (190) can be configured to collect state information measured by the sensor unit (140) and record it in a memory unit (not shown), calculate the usage period based on the operating state of the battery module (110) by applying a neural network model based on the collected state information, count the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery module (110), calculate the charge / discharge state based on the voltage (V) and current (I) information of the battery module (110), and calculate and provide a replacement time based on the counted number of charge / discharge cycles and the charge / discharge state.

[0050] In this case, the control unit (180) can be configured to provide replacement timing information calculated by the artificial intelligence module (190) through the display unit (184).

[0051] Additionally, the main control unit (185) can be configured to provide information on the charge amount of the battery module (110) through the display unit (184) using information from the sensor unit (140) during charging and discharging, and to control the unit power switch (150) so as to automatically cut off the charging and discharging current when the voltage of the battery module (110) drops above or below a certain value due to overcharging or over-discharging.

[0052] Additionally, the main control unit (185) controls the fire extinguishing agent to be injected from the fire extinguishing agent injection unit (160) to the corresponding battery module (110) when the off-gas detected by the sensor unit (140) corresponds to the fire extinguishing agent supply condition.

[0053] Meanwhile, the secondary battery (10) mounted in the unit cell space (121) can be configured to automatically separate from the first and second contact electrodes (125) (126) when the temperature reaches a set overheating temperature, and an example thereof is explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4. Elements having the same function as those in the previously illustrated drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0054] The first superheating separation piece (210) is installed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate (120a) of the unit cell space (121) and is formed of a bimetallic material so that when the temperature of the secondary battery (10) reaches a set superheating temperature, the secondary battery (10) rises upward to be separated from at least one of the first and second contact electrodes (125) (126) by interference, thereby applying a separation interference force to the secondary battery (10).

[0055] The first superheat separator (210) is installed such that the first bimetal piece (212) extends from the fixing part (211) along the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery (10) within an inlet groove formed within the bottom surface of the unit cell space (121). The first bimetal piece (212) may be formed by joining two metal pieces with different coefficients of thermal expansion together and being formed to bend upward to protrude when the temperature rises.

[0056] Accordingly, when the temperature of the secondary battery (10) reaches a set overheating temperature, the first bimetal piece (212) rises upward so that the positive terminal (11) of the secondary battery (10) is separated from the first contact electrode (125) by interference, as can be seen through FIG. 4. In this case, the battery module (110) is electrically separated from the main charge / discharge line (131)(132), thereby stopping the charge / discharge and suppressing the occurrence of thermal runaway.

[0057] In addition, to further improve the separation efficiency when the secondary battery (10) overheats, a second overheating separation piece (220) may also be applied to the first and second type mounting ledges (128) (129) as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0058] The second superheat separator (220) is installed on a mounting surface facing the circular outer surface of the secondary battery (10) mounted on the first and second type mounting ledges (128) (129), and is formed of a bimetallic material so that when the temperature of the secondary battery (10) reaches a set superheat temperature, it protrudes upward from the mounting surface of the first and second type mounting ledges (128) (129) and rises upward to apply a separation interference force so that the secondary battery (10) is separated from at least one of the first and second contact electrodes (125) (126) by interference.

[0059] The second superheat separation piece (220) is installed such that the second bimetal piece (222) extends from the fixing part (221) along the longitudinal direction of the seating surface in an inlet groove formed to be inserted inwardly into the seating surface of the first and second type seating ledges (128) (129). The second bimetal piece (222) may be formed by joining two metal pieces with different coefficients of thermal expansion together and being formed to bend so as to protrude upward from the seating surface when the temperature rises.

[0060] When these first and second superheated separation pieces (210)(220) are applied, a separation sound is generated when the secondary battery (10) is separated from the first and second contact electrodes (125)(126), and the control unit (180) performs a corresponding processing when the separation sound is received from the sensor unit (140).

[0061] That is, the control unit (180) processes the secondary battery (10) to provide information on the secondary battery separation status due to overheating through the display unit (184) when it determines that the separation sound generated when the secondary battery (10) is separated from either of the first and second contact terminals (125) (126) due to interference from at least one of the first overheating separation piece (210) and the second overheating separation piece (220) is received from the sound information output from the sensor unit (140).

[0062] In this case, the user can receive information about the separation state of the secondary battery (10) due to overheating, and can easily perform corresponding measures.

[0063] According to the AI-based smart battery diagnostic system described above, it provides diagnostic information on the condition of the battery and also offers the advantage of improving stability by supporting the automatic mechanical disconnection from the power supply circuit system individually when the battery overheats.

Claims

1. A battery module in which multiple secondary batteries are arrayed within a unit housing; A sensor unit that detects state information including voltage and temperature for the above battery module; A smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, characterized by comprising: a control unit that diagnoses the state of the battery module by means of an artificial intelligence module using information output from the sensor unit, and controls the on / off of a unit power switch that is electrically connected to the battery module and switches on or off according to the diagnosis result of the state of the battery module.

2. A battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, characterized in that, in claim 1, it further comprises a fire extinguishing agent spraying unit controlled by the control unit to spray a fire extinguishing agent into the battery module.

3. A smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, characterized in that, in paragraph 2, the sensor unit detects off-gas generated in the unit housing and current information flowing through the battery module and provides it to the control unit.

4. In paragraph 3, the AI-based smart battery diagnostic system is characterized in that the AI ​​module collects and records status information measured by the sensor unit, calculates the usage period based on the operating status of the battery module by applying a neural network model based on the collected status information, counts the number of charge and discharge cycles of the battery module, calculates the charge and discharge status based on the voltage and current information of the battery module, and calculates and provides a replacement time based on the counted number of charge and discharge cycles and the charge and discharge status.

5. In paragraph 1, the unit housing is A unit cell space having an opening so that the above secondary battery can be individually accommodated is formed so as to be separated from one another by a partition, and first and second contact electrodes are formed on mutually opposing surfaces of the unit cell space so as to be electrically contacted at each end of the cylindrical secondary battery. A smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, characterized in that a first superheat separator formed of a bimetallic material is formed on the bottom surface of the unit cell space, so that when the temperature of the secondary battery reaches a set superheat temperature, the secondary battery rises upward to be separated from at least one of the first and second contact electrodes by interference, thereby applying a separation interference force to the secondary battery.

6. In claim 5, the unit cell space of the unit housing is provided with first and second arc-shaped mounting ledges that are spaced apart from each other along the width direction orthogonal to the length direction of the secondary battery to be mounted, and are formed in an arc shape to guide the mounting area by contacting the outer surface of the cylindrical secondary battery, thereby supporting the secondary battery spaced apart from the bottom surface of the unit cell space while the secondary battery is supported by the first and second contact electrodes along the length direction. A smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, further comprising: a second overheating separator formed of a bimetallic material, which is installed on the mounting surface of the first and second type mounting ledges opposite to the outer surface of the secondary battery mounted on the first and second type mounting ledges, and which protrudes upward from the mounting surface of the first and second type mounting ledges when the temperature of the secondary battery reaches a set overheating temperature, and rises upward to apply a separation interference force so that the secondary battery is separated from at least one of the first and second contact electrodes by interference.

7. In paragraph 6, the sensor unit receives sound output from the unit housing and provides it to the control unit, A smart battery diagnostic system utilizing AI, characterized in that the control unit provides information on the secondary battery separation status due to overheating through a display unit when it is determined from acoustic information output from the sensor unit that a separation sound generated when the secondary battery is separated from either of the first and second contact terminals due to interference from at least one of the first overheating separator and the second overheating separator is received.

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