Battery management system, battery, and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery management system for cooling a battery, the system comprising: a heat sink filled with a cooling medium and configured to cool the battery; and a first circulation circuit configured to autonomously circulate the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

Description

Battery Management System, Battery and Automobile

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery management system, a battery, and an automobile.

[0002] This application is a priority application for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0188341 filed on December 17, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of said application are incorporated into this application by reference.

[0003] Secondary batteries, which possess electrical characteristics such as high energy density and high applicability across product groups, are widely applied not only to portable devices but also to electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) powered by electric sources. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for enhancing eco-friendliness and energy efficiency, not only for the primary advantage of drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels but also because they generate no by-products from energy use.

[0004] Currently, widely used types of rechargeable batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium-polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. When high output voltage is required, multiple battery cells are connected in series to form a battery module or battery pack. Additionally, to increase charge / discharge capacity, multiple battery cells are connected in parallel to form a battery module or battery pack.

[0005] When configuring a battery pack by connecting multiple battery cells in series or parallel, it is common practice to first construct a battery module containing at least one battery cell, and then use this at least one battery module to add other components to form a battery pack or battery rack. Alternatively, recently, battery packs in the form of a "Cell-to-Pack," in which multiple battery cells are directly housed in a pack housing without modularization, are also being manufactured.

[0006] However, when a battery contains multiple battery cells or modules as described above, it can be vulnerable to thermal chain reactions. For instance, if an event such as thermal runaway occurs within a single battery module, this runaway can propagate to other battery modules. If the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules is not properly suppressed, an event originating in a specific module can trigger a chain reaction across multiple modules, potentially causing serious problems such as explosions or fires.

[0007] In conventional battery management systems, battery cells or modules inside the battery were cooled using a water-cooling method by circulating coolant to prevent or delay heat propagation. However, existing battery management systems had a problem in that if thermal runaway was not detected in the early stages at the battery cell level, the effectiveness was reduced because initial cooling had to be performed solely using the specific heat of the coolant within the battery.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to develop a structure that can effectively cool the battery without a separate control or power device when thermal runaway occurs within the battery, thereby suppressing or delaying heat propagation within the battery.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a battery management system, a battery, and an automobile, etc., capable of effectively cooling the battery without a separate control or power device when thermal runaway occurs within the battery, thereby suppressing or delaying heat propagation within the battery.

[0010] However, the problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention below.

[0011] To solve the above problem, the present invention provides a battery management system for cooling a battery, comprising: a heat sink configured to be filled with a cooling medium to cool the battery; and a first circulation circuit configured to circulate the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

[0012] The first circulation circuit above may include a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

[0013] The above first circulation circuit may include a self-pulsating pipe.

[0014] A battery management system according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a second circulation circuit configured to cool the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

[0015] The second circulation circuit may include a compressor configured to compress the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink, a condenser configured to condense the cooling medium compressed in the compressor, and an expander configured to expand the cooling medium condensed in the condenser.

[0016] A battery management system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a control unit configured to control whether the cooling medium moves to either the first circulation circuit or the second circulation circuit.

[0017] A battery management system according to one embodiment of the present invention further includes a temperature sensing unit configured to measure the temperature of the battery, and the control unit may be configured to control whether the cooling medium moves to either the first circulation circuit or the second circulation circuit according to the temperature measurement result of the temperature sensing unit.

[0018] A battery management system according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a valve controlled by the control unit and configured to open or close a path through which the cooling medium moves to the second circulation circuit.

[0019] And, the present invention provides an automobile characterized by including a battery management system according to the present invention.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, at the initial stage of thermal runaway of a battery, a cooling medium is naturally circulated using a heat exchanger to cool the battery, and after a certain point in time, the cooling medium is compressed and expanded to rapidly cool the battery, thereby enabling efficient cooling of the battery. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the battery can be improved.

[0021] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, at the initial stage of thermal runaway in a battery, a cooling medium is circulated using a boiling phenomenon, thereby effectively cooling the battery without a separate control or power device. As a result, the propagation of thermal runaway within the battery is prevented or suppressed, ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery.

[0022] In addition to the above, the present invention may have various other effects, which are described in each embodiment, or effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art, etc., will be omitted.

[0023] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further enhance understanding of the technical concept of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention provided below; therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters described in such drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the main components included in a battery management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the main components included in a battery management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an automobile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0028] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0029] In addition, the present invention includes various embodiments. For each embodiment, redundant descriptions of substantially identical or similar configurations are omitted, and the focus is on the differences.

[0030] Meanwhile, although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back may be used in the present invention, these terms are used merely for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the object or the position of the observer, as is obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention.

[0031]

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the main components included in a battery management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] The battery management system (1) according to the present invention is a battery management system for cooling a battery (B).

[0034] The battery (B) in the present invention may include a single battery module or two or more battery modules. When the battery (B) includes a plurality of battery modules, the plurality of battery modules may be connected in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel.

[0035] Each battery module may include an assembly of two or more battery cells. If a battery module includes multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells may be connected in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel. In this specification, a battery cell refers to a basic unit of a storage element capable of independent charging and discharging, and is not particularly limited as long as it is rechargeable, such as a lithium-ion cell, for example.

[0036] Although the battery (B) and the battery management system (1) are shown as physically independent in FIG. 1, the battery management system (1) may be included as a sub-component of the battery (B).

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery management system (1) according to the present invention includes a heat sink (10) and a first circulation circuit (100).

[0038] The heat sink (10) may be configured to cool the battery (B). The heat sink (10) may be configured to be filled with a cooling medium inside. The cooling medium may be provided with insulating oil or cooling water, etc.

[0039] A heat sink (10) may be provided on the outside of the battery (B). The heat sink (10) may be connected to the battery (B) and configured to introduce a cooling medium into the interior of the battery (B). Thus, the battery (B) can be cooled by the specific heat of the cooling medium.

[0040] Alternatively, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat sink (10) may be provided inside the battery (B). The heat sink (10) may be placed for each unit battery cell or battery module.

[0041] The first circulation circuit (100) can be configured to self-circulate the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink (10). The cooling medium flowing through the first circulation circuit (100) can be naturally circulated. That is, the cooling medium in the first circulation circuit (100) can be circulated without a separate power device. In the first circulation circuit (100), the cooling medium can cool the battery (B) using a phase change.

[0042] In particular, the first circulation circuit (100) can be operated in a normal state of the battery (B) that is not in a situation such as charging or thermal runaway. Additionally, the first circulation circuit (100) can be operated at the beginning of the occurrence of thermal runaway. The beginning of the occurrence of thermal runaway may be a time before the thermal runaway is detected by the BMS of the battery (B).

[0043] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the battery can be effectively cooled without a separate control or power device by naturally circulating the cooling medium. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the battery (B) can be improved.

[0044] In addition, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, the cooling medium can delay the temperature rise of the battery (B) even in the normal state of the battery (B) or at the initial stage of thermal runaway, thereby preventing a rapid temperature rise of the battery (B). As a result, the propagation of thermal runaway inside the battery (B) is prevented or suppressed, and the safety and reliability of the battery (B) can be ensured.

[0045]

[0046] The first circulation circuit (100) may include a heat exchanger (110). The heat exchanger (110) may be configured to be connected to a heat sink (10). The heat exchanger (110) may be configured to exchange heat with a cooling medium discharged from the heat sink (10).

[0047] Specifically, the cooling medium can absorb heat from the battery (B) in the heat sink (10) (endothermic reaction) and vaporize. At the same time, the battery (B) can be cooled. Subsequently, the cooling medium in a high-temperature gaseous state can exchange heat with the outside air or external cooling water, etc., in the heat exchanger (110). Accordingly, the cooling medium can change into a low-temperature liquid state. This low-temperature liquid cooling medium can then be moved back to the heat sink (10) to cool the battery (B). In the first circulation circuit (100), the circulation of this cooling medium can be repeated.

[0048] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the battery (B) can be cooled by naturally circulating a cooling medium without a separate control or power device by using the heat exchanger (110) of the first circulation circuit (100). As a result, the cooling efficiency of the battery can be improved.

[0049] In particular, in the early stages of thermal runaway in the battery (B), the temperature rise of the battery (B) is often not detected, so it is difficult to suppress or prevent thermal runaway because it must be addressed solely by the specific heat of the cooling medium of the heat sink (10). However, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, even if the high temperature of the battery (B) is not detected in the early stages of thermal runaway in the battery (B) or in the normal state of the battery (B), the battery (B) can be cooled using a naturally circulating cooling medium. By doing so, the safety and reliability of the battery (B) can be guaranteed.

[0050] The first circulation circuit (100) may include a self-pulsating pipe (120). The self-pulsating pipe (120) may be a pipe connecting the heat sink (10) and the heat exchanger (110). The self-pulsating pipe (120) may be referred to as a Pulsating Heat Pipe (PHP). The self-pulsating pipe (120) has a structure in which a cooling medium vibrates internally to transfer heat, and can maximize heat transfer by utilizing the self-generated vibration of the fluid. The self-pulsating pipe (120) can induce natural resonance to continuously maintain vibration without using additional energy.

[0051] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, a self-pulsating pipe (120) is provided in the first circulation circuit (100), so that the cooling medium can flow between the heat sink (10) and the heat exchanger (110) by voluntarily vibrating without energy consumption. In addition, the heat transfer coefficient of the cooling medium can be increased, and the heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

[0052]

[0053] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the main components included in a battery management system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery management system (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a second circulation circuit (200). The second circulation circuit (200) may be configured to cool a cooling medium discharged from a heat sink (10). The second circulation circuit (200) may be configured to mechanically cool the cooling medium. In the second circulation circuit (200), the cooling medium may be compressed and expanded to cool the battery (B).

[0055] For example, the second circulation circuit (200) may be an air conditioner circulation circuit. The second circulation circuit (200) may use the air conditioning line of an external device, such as a car, in which a battery (B) is interposed.

[0056] The cooling medium flowing through the second circulation circuit (200) can be rapidly cooled. The time it takes for the cooling medium flowing through the second circulation circuit (200) to cool to a specific temperature may be shorter than the time it takes for the cooling medium flowing through the first circulation circuit (100) to cool to a specific temperature.

[0057] The second circulation circuit (200) can be activated during rapid charging of the battery (B) or when thermal runaway occurs in the battery (B). The second circulation circuit (200) can be activated when thermal runaway is detected by the BMS of the battery (B), etc.

[0058] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, in specific situations such as when the battery (B) is in a high-temperature state, the cooling medium can be compressed and expanded to rapidly cool the battery (B), thereby allowing the battery (B) to be cooled more quickly.

[0059] In particular, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery (B), the temperature rise of the battery (B) is delayed, thereby preventing a rapid temperature rise of the battery (B). As a result, the propagation of thermal runaway within the battery (B) is prevented or suppressed, and the safety and reliability of the battery (B) can be ensured.

[0060] The second circulation circuit (200) may include a compressor (210), a condenser (220), and an expander (230). The compressor (210) may be configured to compress the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink (10). The condenser (220) may be configured to condense the cooling medium compressed in the compressor (210). The expander (230) may be configured to expand the cooling medium condensed in the condenser (220).

[0061] Specifically, the high-temperature, low-pressure gaseous cooling medium discharged from the heat sink (10) can be compressed in the compressor (210) to change into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state. This high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous cooling medium can be condensed in the condenser (220) to change into a low-temperature, high-pressure liquid state. Additionally, the cooling medium can be expanded in the expander (230) to change into a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid state. This low-temperature, low-pressure liquid cooling medium can then be moved back to the heat sink (10) to cool the battery (B). In the second circulation circuit (200), the circulation of this cooling medium can be repeated.

[0062] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, when it is detected that the battery (B) is in a high-temperature state during a thermal runaway state of the battery (B), the battery (B) can be cooled using the second circulation circuit (200). By doing so, the safety and reliability of the battery (B) can be guaranteed.

[0063]

[0064] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery management system (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a control unit (20). The control unit (20) may be configured to be electrically or telecommunicationally connected to a control device of the battery (B), such as a Battery Management System (BMS).

[0065] The control unit (20) may be configured to control whether the cooling medium moves to either the first circulation circuit (100) or the second circulation circuit (200). That is, the cooling medium may move to either the first circulation circuit (100) or the second circulation circuit (200) by the control unit (20).

[0066] For example, the control unit (20) can control the cooling medium to move to the first circulation circuit (100) in the normal state or the initial state of thermal runaway of the battery (B). Additionally, the control unit (20) can control the cooling medium to move to the second circulation circuit (200) in the state of thermal runaway or rapid charging of the battery (B).

[0067] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the cooling medium is configured to move to the first circulation circuit (100) or the second circulation circuit (200) depending on the state of the battery (B), thereby allowing the battery (B) to be cooled more efficiently. In particular, even if thermal runaway of the battery (B) is not detected, the temperature rise of the battery (B) can be delayed to prevent a rapid temperature rise of the battery (B). As a result, the propagation of thermal runaway inside the battery (B) is prevented or suppressed, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery (B).

[0068]

[0069] As an example, with reference to FIG. 2, a battery management system (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a temperature sensing unit (30). The temperature sensing unit (30) may be configured to measure the temperature of the battery (B) directly or indirectly. The temperature sensing unit (30) may be configured to measure the temperature around the battery (B). Alternatively, the temperature sensing unit (30) may be configured to measure the internal temperature of the battery (B).

[0070] The temperature sensing unit (30) may be configured to be electrically or communically connected to the control unit (20). The control unit (20) may be configured to receive temperature information of the battery (B) measured by the temperature sensing unit (30).

[0071] In particular, the control unit (20) may be configured to control whether the cooling medium moves to either the first circulation circuit (100) or the second circulation circuit (200) according to the temperature measurement result of the temperature sensing unit (30).

[0072] That is, the control unit (20) receives temperature information of the battery (B) measured by the temperature sensing unit (30) and can control the cooling medium to move to the first circulation circuit (100) or the second circulation circuit (200) according to the temperature of the battery (B) measured by the temperature sensing unit (30).

[0073] For example, the control unit (20) may be configured to move the cooling medium to the first circulation circuit (100) when the temperature of the battery (B) measured by the temperature sensing unit (30) is below a specific temperature. In addition, the control unit (20) may be configured to move the cooling medium to the second circulation circuit (200) when the temperature of the battery (B) measured by the temperature sensing unit (30) is above a specific temperature. Here, the specific temperature may be the temperature at which thermal runaway occurs in the battery (B). For example, the specific temperature may be approximately 200°C or higher. This specific temperature is not limited thereto and may be set according to the thermal runaway experiment of the battery (B).

[0074] Even if the second circulation circuit (200) is not operated when the temperature of the battery (B) is below a certain temperature, the first circulation circuit (100) is operated so that the cooling medium can be naturally circulated. As a result, the battery (B) can be effectively cooled, and the propagation of thermal runaway of the battery (B) can be prevented or suppressed.

[0075]

[0076] As an example of an embodiment, referring to FIG. 2, a battery management system (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a valve (40). The valve (40) may be configured to be controlled by a control unit (20). The valve (40) may be configured to be electrically or telecommunicationally connected to the control unit (20). The valve (40) may be provided at a point where the first circulation circuit (100) and the second circulation circuit (200) branch off. The valve (40) may be provided between the heat sink (10) and the heat exchanger (110) in the first circulation circuit (100). The valve (40) may be provided between the heat sink (10) and the compressor (210) in the second circulation circuit (200).

[0077] This valve (40) may be configured to open and close the path through which the cooling medium travels to the second circulation circuit (200). For example, if the control unit (20) determines that the battery (B) needs to be rapidly cooled, the control unit (20) may be configured to operate the valve (40) to open the second circulation circuit (200). By doing so, the cooling medium can move toward the second circulation circuit (200) and be compressed and expanded.

[0078] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, since the valve (40) is provided, the cooling medium can be selectively moved to the first circulation circuit (100) or the second circulation circuit (200), thereby preventing energy waste caused by unnecessarily using the power of the second circulation circuit (200). As a result, the energy efficiency of the battery management system (1) can be improved.

[0079]

[0080] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an automobile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 3, a vehicle (V) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a battery management system (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention. In addition, it may include one or more batteries (B) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] The vehicle (V) according to the present invention may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle (V) may include a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle. The vehicle (V) may operate by receiving power from a battery (B) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] The vehicle (V) may be equipped with a cooling system of a second circulation circuit (200). That is, the second circulation circuit (200) of the battery management system (1) may use the cooling system of the vehicle (V).

[0084]

[0085] Although the present invention has been described above by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is obvious that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

Claims

1. As a battery management system for cooling the battery, A heat sink configured to be filled with a cooling medium to cool the battery; and A battery management system characterized by including a first circulation circuit configured to self-circulate the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above first circulation circuit is A battery management system characterized by including a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

3. In Paragraph 1, A battery management system characterized in that the above-mentioned first circulation circuit includes a self-pulsating pipe.

4. In Paragraph 1, A battery management system characterized by further including a second circulation circuit configured to cool the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above second circulation circuit is A compressor configured to compress the cooling medium discharged from the heat sink, A condenser configured to condense the cooling medium compressed in the above compressor, and A battery management system characterized by including an expander configured to expand the cooling medium condensed in the condenser.

6. In Paragraph 4, A battery management system characterized by including a control unit configured to control whether the cooling medium moves to either the first circulation circuit or the second circulation circuit.

7. In Paragraph 6, It further includes a temperature sensing unit configured to measure the temperature of the battery, and A battery management system characterized in that the control unit is configured to control whether the cooling medium moves to either the first circulation circuit or the second circulation circuit according to the temperature measurement result of the temperature sensing unit.

8. In Paragraph 6, A battery management system characterized by further including a valve controlled by the above-mentioned control unit and configured to open and close the path through which the cooling medium moves to the second circulation circuit.

9. An automobile characterized by including a battery management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images