Battery Aging Estimation via Relaxation Voltage Decay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the state of aging of electrochemical batteries are inefficient, requiring long measurement times and being applicable only at full charge or discharge states, which limits real-time estimation and updating, especially in automotive applications where reduced relaxation phases occur frequently.

Innovation Solution

A method involving continuous measurement of voltage signals during battery relaxation, calculation of a logarithmic signal, and estimation of the aging state parameter using a modeling function and a predetermined map, allowing for the determination of battery aging regardless of the charge level, with reduced computational resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If open-circuit voltage measurement is used to determine battery aging state, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases significantly as equilibrium requires over one hour

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaging state measurement accuracyVSAvoidrelaxation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the relationship between voltage decay characteristics and aging state parameters during battery relaxation. Instead of waiting for full equilibrium, the system performs measurements during the transient relaxation phase and uses pre-stored lookup tables to determine aging state, thereby avoiding the time-consuming wait for thermodynamic equilibrium while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses short-lived voltage transient signals during relaxation that would otherwise be discarded as waste information. By extracting useful aging state data from these temporary, non-equilibrium voltage fluctuations, the system converts what would be considered wasted relaxation time into a productive measurement opportunity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If full charge requirement is imposed for aging determination, then measurement reliability is improved, but applicability to partial charges deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaging state determination reliabilityVSAvoidapplicability to partial charges
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from requiring full charge states to utilizing voltage decay characteristics during relaxation phases. By monitoring the rate and pattern of voltage decay after charge interruption at any state, the system can determine aging state parameters without requiring the battery to be fully charged, thereby extending applicability to partial charge conditions while maintaining reliability through characteristic analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If continuous monitoring during relaxation is implemented, then real-time estimation capability is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time estimation capabilityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating simplified representations of the complex relaxation voltage curve through characteristic parameter extraction. Instead of processing the entire continuous voltage signal, the system identifies key features (initial voltage, decay rate, inflection points) and uses these copied characteristics to query pre-stored lookup tables, thereby achieving real-time estimation with minimal computational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and efficient determination of battery aging in real-time, independent of the battery's state of charge, facilitating improved battery management and integration in on-board applications.

Implementation Method 1

the rate of change of the battery voltage signal during relaxation, when expressed as a logarithmic signal, is proportional to the rate of change of the phase transformation rate (or autocatalysis rate) of the reactants during relaxation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAutocatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

the volumetric concentrations of the reactants evolve in an S-shaped or sigmoid curve with respect to time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase transformation: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP3870986B1Method for determining the state of ageing of an electrochemical battery
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3870986B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3870986B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3870986B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for estimating the state of ageing of an electrochemical battery based on estimating a parameter representative of the autocatalysis speed during relaxation. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of continuously calculating (203), during the relaxation of the battery, a logarithmic signal of the voltage in relaxation, calculating (207) a function for modelling the logarithmic signal, calculating (208) a second parameter representative of the rate of change of the function for modelling the logarithmic signal during relaxation, and estimating (209) the state of ageing parameter as a function of the second parameter and of a predetermined mapping.