Battery Pack Self-Heating via Alternating Charge Discharge Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs used in low-temperature environments, such as those below 0°C, experience reduced performance and require lengthy preheating using existing methods like battery separator heating, which affects their usability.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack system that alternately cycles discharging and charging phases to generate heat internally, with the discharge phase lasting longer than the charging phase, allowing for faster and more efficient heating by circulating electricity between the battery pack and an energy storage unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If battery separator heating method is used to preheat the battery pack, then the battery pack can be heated in low temperature environment, but it takes several hours to increase the temperature from -30°C to 0°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic charging and discharging cycles of the battery pack itself to generate heat through internal resistance. By alternately charging and discharging the battery cells, the system creates periodic current flow that generates heat via Joule heating, rapidly raising the battery temperature from -30°C to 0°C in a matter of minutes rather than hours
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack uses its own electrical energy to heat itself through internal resistance during charging and discharging cycles. This self-heating mechanism eliminates the need for external heating plates or heating films, and the battery serves both as the power source and the object to be heated, significantly reducing preheating time
2Temperature
If battery separator heating method is used, then the battery pack can be preheated, but external heating plates or heating films are required which increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external heating components (heating plates, heating films, and associated control systems) from the battery pack structure. Instead of adding external heating devices, the system extracts and utilizes the battery's own electrical energy to generate heat through its internal resistance, thereby simplifying the overall system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack performs its own heating function using its inherent electrical properties. The battery cells' internal resistance serves as the heating element, and the battery's own charge and discharge cycles provide the current necessary for heating, eliminating the need for separate heating subsystems and reducing device complexity
3Temperature
If battery separator heating method is used, then the battery pack can be heated, but energy utilization is low as external heating sources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack uses its own stored electrical energy to generate heat through internal resistance during charging and discharging cycles. This self-heating approach achieves high energy utilization efficiency by directly converting the battery's electrical energy into thermal energy within the battery cells themselves, without energy loss associated with external heating transfers
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic charging and discharging cycles to efficiently convert electrical energy to thermal energy. During each discharge phase, current flows through the battery cells generating heat via Joule heating; during charging, the process repeats. This periodic conversion maximizes energy utilization by continuously cycling between energy storage and thermal generation
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 method significantly reduces the time required to heat the battery pack, ensuring quicker operation in low-temperature conditions and improving energy utilization by generating heat internally, leading to uniform heating of the battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
the discharge circuit unit and the charge circuit unit are alternately turned on in each of heating cycles... enable electricity of the battery pack to flow into the energy storage unit in the discharging phase... enable electricity of the energy storage unit to flow into the battery pack in the charging phase
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack system, a control method thereof and a management device are provided. A battery pack is connected in series with a discharge circuit unit and a charge circuit unit; a battery management unit is to monitor a temperature of the battery pack, to periodically send, when the temperature of the battery pack is lower than a threshold, a turn-on-instruction to the discharge circuit unit and the charge circuit unit alternately to control the discharge circuit unit and the charge circuit unit to be alternately turned on in heating cycles; the discharge circuit unit is to be turned on according to the turn-on-instruction to enable electricity of the battery pack to flow into the energy storage unit in discharging-phase; and the charge circuit unit is to be turned on according to the turn-on-instruction to enable electricity of the energy storage unit to flow into the battery pack in charging-phase.