Battery Cell Charge-Discharge Control via Dynamic Current Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Thermal Cut Off (TCO) breakers for overtemperature/overcurrent protection in battery cells are costly, consume high power, and have poor accuracy, affecting battery discharge performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect the temperature and current of a battery cell within specific threshold ranges, controlling the charge-discharge process to prevent overcurrent by determining if the current exceeds a threshold value corresponding to the temperature, using a controller, temperature detector, and current detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCO breaker is used for overtemperature/overcurrent protection, then safety protection function is achieved, but power consumption increases and accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical TCO breaker system with an electronic control system comprising a controller, temperature detector, and current detector. This substitution eliminates the high impedance and power consumption of the TCO module while maintaining overcurrent protection functionality through electronic monitoring and control of the charge-discharge process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between the temperature/current detectors and the battery cell. The controller processes detection signals and controls the charge-discharge process, enabling accurate overcurrent protection without the power consumption and impedance issues of direct TCO breaker implementation.
2Reliability
If TCO module is used for protection, then overtemperature/overcurrent protection is provided, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a functional copy of the TCO protection mechanism using software-based temperature and current threshold monitoring in the controller, replacing the expensive hardware TCO module. This software-based approach maintains the protection function while significantly reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it manages battery charge-discharge operations, monitors temperature and current levels, and provides overcurrent protection control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate TCO modules, reducing overall system cost while maintaining protection capabilities.
3Productivity
If TCO breaker allows high current at low temperature, then battery discharge performance is improved, but safety risk increases at high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic current threshold adjustment based on real-time temperature detection. The controller modifies the current threshold value according to the detected temperature, allowing higher current at low temperatures for optimal discharge performance while automatically reducing the threshold at high temperatures to prevent safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors temperature and current levels, feeding this information back to the controller which adjusts the charge-discharge control strategy accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that high current discharge is permitted only when temperature conditions are safe, dynamically balancing performance and safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes detecting a present temperature value of a battery cell of a battery, determining whether the present temperature value is higher than a lowest threshold temperature value and lower than a highest threshold temperature value, detecting a present electric current value of the battery in association with a determination that the present temperature value is higher than the lowest threshold temperature value and lower than the highest threshold temperature value, determining whether the present electric current value is higher than a threshold current value corresponding to the present temperature value, and stopping a charge-discharge process of the battery cell in response to determining that the present electric current value is higher than the threshold current value.