Battery Pack Air Cooling System with Degradation-Based Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack air cooling systems fail to effectively address degradation variations among secondary batteries, leading to uneven battery degradation despite the use of cooler outside air.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack air cooling system that includes a controller to monitor battery and outside air temperatures, calculate degradation amounts, and adjust air flow to send outside air based on temperature differences and degradation thresholds, ensuring that outside air is directed to the battery pack to minimize temperature variations and degradation differences among batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooler outside air is sent to the battery pack, then battery temperature is reduced, but degradation variations among secondary batteries are not eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different cooling strategies to different batteries based on their individual degradation states. The controller identifies specific batteries with degradation variations and directs cooling air preferentially to those batteries, rather than applying uniform cooling to the entire battery pack. This localized approach addresses the root cause of degradation variations while maintaining overall temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts cooling parameters (air flow distribution, cooling intensity) based on real-time monitoring of battery temperatures and degradation states. By changing cooling parameters adaptively rather than maintaining fixed conditions, the system can respond to varying thermal and degradation conditions across different batteries, effectively reducing degradation variations.
2Temperature
If outside air temperature is lower than battery temperature, then battery cooling is effective, but uneven degradation among batteries persists
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors battery temperatures and degradation states, using this feedback information to adjust cooling air distribution. The controller receives real-time data from temperature sensors and degradation detectors, processes this information to identify batteries requiring additional cooling, and dynamically redirects air flow accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that cooling effectiveness is optimized while addressing degradation variations.
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
The system effectively reduces degradation variations among secondary batteries by optimizing air flow, thereby extending the lifespan and performance of the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
an air sending device having an air inlet through which outside air is introduced, and configured to send the outside air, introduced through the air inlet, to the battery pack
Implementation Method 2
a battery temperature sensor configured to, when at least part of the plurality of secondary batteries is set as target batteries, detect a battery temperature of each target battery; and an outside air temperature sensor configured to detect an outside air temperature of outside air that is introduced into the air inlet
Implementation Method 3
outside air having an outside air temperature lower than a battery temperature is sent to the battery, with the result that an increase in battery temperature is suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
A controller of a battery pack air cooling system is configured to calculate a degradation amount of each target battery based on integrated temperature information of each target battery that makes up a battery pack, calculate degradation variations in the battery pack based on the degradation amount of each target battery, when it is determined that a detected battery temperature of any one of the target batteries is higher than an outside air temperature, cause an air sending device to send outside air to the battery pack, and, when it is determined that the detected battery temperature is lower than or equal to the detected outside air temperature and it is determined that the degradation variations in the battery pack are greater than or equal to a threshold, cause an air sending device to send outside air to the battery pack.