Battery Control Apparatus for Rapid Low-Temperature Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low-temperature environments, secondary batteries experience increased impedance, preventing efficient charging and discharging due to uneven heating when external heaters are used, leading to power loss and extended heating times.
Innovation Solution
A secondary battery control apparatus that includes a voltage detector, temperature detector, charger/discharger, and charge/discharge controller, which manages charging and discharging between multiple batteries to rapidly raise the temperature by switching operations based on detected voltage and temperature thresholds, ensuring efficient energy transfer without power loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heater installed outside the battery is used to raise the temperature of a secondary battery, then the temperature can be increased, but the heater produces power loss and cannot evenly raise the temperature within a short time outside and inside the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The battery serves itself by using its own internal resistance to generate heat through controlled charging and discharging cycles. The charge/discharge controller manages the battery to perform charging and discharging operations that produce internal heat, eliminating the need for external heaters and associated power losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller alternates between charging and discharging modes in periodic cycles. During charging, energy is stored; during discharging, heat is generated through internal resistance. This periodic switching continues until the target temperature is reached, enabling efficient and even heating throughout the battery.
2Temperature
If a heater installed outside the battery is used to raise the temperature, then the temperature can be increased, but it is impossible to evenly raise the temperature within a short time outside and inside the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The battery generates heat internally through its own electrochemical reactions during charging and discharging cycles. This internal heat generation occurs throughout the entire battery volume simultaneously, ensuring even temperature distribution and eliminating the time delay associated with external heat conduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements periodic charging and discharging cycles that continuously generate heat within the battery. This sustained periodic action rapidly raises the temperature uniformly throughout the battery in a short time period.
3Productivity
If charging and discharging are performed between multiple secondary batteries, then the temperature can be rapidly increased and impedance reduced, but the voltage must be monitored to prevent overcharging or over-discharging
Solution Approach 1:
The charge/discharge controller continuously monitors voltage, current, and temperature parameters during charging and discharging operations. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the charging/discharging rates and switches between batteries to maintain safe operating conditions while achieving rapid heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge/discharge controller performs multiple functions: it manages charging, discharging, temperature control, and safety monitoring within a single integrated system. This multi-functionality handles the increased control complexity through a unified control architecture.
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
This solution allows for rapid temperature increase of secondary batteries in low-temperature conditions, reducing impedance and enhancing power output and energy capacity by efficiently managing charging and discharging operations between batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a method of raising the temperature of a secondary battery by using a heater installed outside the battery is adopted. However, the heater produces a power loss
Implementation Method 2
The temperature detector detects a temperature of the secondary battery
Implementation Method 3
The voltage detector detects voltages of the secondary battery and one or more cells of the secondary battery
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a secondary battery control apparatus includes a charger/discharger and a charge/discharge controller. The charger/discharger connects a plurality of secondary batteries, and charges one secondary battery by electric power discharged by another secondary battery. The charge/discharge controller controls the charger/discharger such that charging and discharging are performed between the plurality of secondary batteries by using the charger/discharger if battery temperature information detected by temperature detector is lower than a preset threshold temperature, wherein the charging is stopped and switched to discharging or pause if voltage information detected by the voltage detector reaches the upper limit voltage of the secondary battery, and the discharging is stopped and switched to charging or pause if the voltage information detected by the voltage detector reaches the lower limit voltage of the secondary battery.