Battery Management Apparatus Balancing Resistor Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, the imbalance of residual capacities among connected battery modules leads to unstable power supply due to overcharging or overdischarging, posing safety risks and affecting performance.

Innovation Solution

A battery management apparatus that uses first and second switching units to direct power from battery modules to balancing resistors and fans, respectively, for balancing and cooling, with a control unit determining which module to balance based on residual capacity and substrate temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power is supplied to balancing resistor to balance battery module capacities, then residual capacity balance is improved, but substrate temperature increases causing overheating risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery module capacity balanceVSAvoidsubstrate temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fan as an intermediary cooling device between the balancing resistor and the environment. The fan dissipates heat generated by the balancing resistor through forced convection, preventing substrate overheating while maintaining the balancing function. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding a heat dissipation pathway without interfering with the capacity balancing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful heat effect into a beneficial cooling mechanism by using the heat generated during balancing to drive a thermoelectric cooler (Peltier device). The Peltier device uses the temperature differential created by balancing operations to actively cool the substrate, transforming the waste heat into a useful cooling effect that prevents overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Temperature

If multiple switching units and power paths are added for balancing and cooling control, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate temperature controlVSAvoidswitching unit configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, managing both the first switching units for capacity balancing and the second switching units for temperature control through a single integrated controller. This universal control approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control functions rather than requiring separate control systems for balancing and cooling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary temperature assessment before initiating balancing operations. The control unit evaluates substrate temperature conditions and pre-configures the appropriate cooling strategy (fan activation, Peltier device activation, or passive dissipation), which simplifies real-time control decisions and reduces the complexity of dynamic switching control during balancing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively balances battery module capacities and cools generated heat, ensuring stable power supply and protecting components from overheating.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of second power paths configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules to a fan for cooling a substrate at which the balancing resistor is mounted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

control a plurality of first switching units to supply a power of a battery module to be balanced to a balancing resistor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10576844B2Battery management apparatus, and battery pack and vehicle including the same

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery management apparatus, which includes: a plurality of first power paths configured to electrically connect a plurality of battery modules and a balancing resistor; a plurality of first switching units configured to electrically connect or disconnect the plurality of first power paths; a plurality of second power paths configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules to a fan for cooling a substrate at which the balancing resistor is mounted; a plurality of second switching units configured to electrically connect or disconnect the plurality of second power paths; a residual capacity calculating unit configured to calculate a residual capacity of each of the plurality of battery modules; a determining unit configured to determine a battery module to be balanced among the plurality of battery modules based on the residual capacity; and a control unit configured to control the plurality of first switching units.