Battery Pack Heating via Direct Energy Transfer
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack heating methods suffer from low heating efficiency due to indirect heating schemes, which are inefficient and require additional power sources.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack heating apparatus and method that utilizes a portable, external setup with an electrical energy conversion component, forming heating loops between an energy storage device and the battery pack, allowing for direct electrical energy transfer to generate heat, eliminating the need for additional power sources and enhancing compatibility across various vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If indirect heating scheme is used with built-in heating device, then heating function is achieved, but heating efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack uses its own internal energy storage devices (capacitors) to generate heating current, eliminating the need for external power sources. The control unit manages the charging and discharging of capacitors to produce heating current directly within the battery pack, enabling self-service heating that improves both heating efficiency and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is extracted from the traditional indirect heating system and integrated directly into the battery pack's control unit. The heating element and energy storage devices are incorporated within the battery pack structure, allowing direct heating current generation without external heating devices, thereby improving heating efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If built-in lead acid battery or AC commercial electricity is used as power source, then heating device can operate, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack utilizes its own existing energy storage devices (capacitors C1, C2, C3, C4) to provide power for heating, eliminating the need for separate lead acid batteries or AC power sources. The control unit manages the charging and discharging of these capacitors to generate heating current, simplifying the overall system by using already-present components.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage devices (capacitors) in the battery pack serve multiple functions: they store electrical energy for normal battery operations and simultaneously function as power sources for the heating element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated heating power sources, reducing system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If indirect heating method is used, then heating function is provided, but additional power sources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack generates its own heating current through the control unit's management of internal capacitors, eliminating the need for external power sources. The heating element is powered directly by the battery pack's own energy storage devices, making the system self-sufficient and reducing component complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is merged with the battery pack's existing electrical architecture. The heating element is integrated into the battery pack structure, and the energy storage devices (capacitors) that originally served battery functions are also used to power the heating element, combining multiple functions into a unified system.
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 solution improves heating efficiency by directly utilizing the battery pack's energy for heating, reducing costs and expanding applicability to multiple vehicles, while ensuring safe and controlled energy transfer processes.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical energy conversion component including an energy storage device C1, a first set of switches 112 and a second set of switches 113; a heating interface 120 connected to the energy storage device C1 via the first set of switches 112 to form a first heating loop and connected to the energy storage device C1 via the second set of switches 113 to form a second heating loop
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery pack heating apparatus and a method of battery pack heating control. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery pack heating apparatus is provided. The battery pack heating apparatus is applicable portably and externally to a vehicle and includes: an electrical energy conversion component, including an energy storage device, a first set of switches and a second set of switches; a heating interface connected to the energy storage device via the first set of switches to form a first heating loop and connected to the energy storage device via the second set of switches to form a second heating loop, the heating interface being configured to be connected to a battery pack of one vehicle; and a heating control module configured to control a direction of electrical energy transfer between the battery pack and the energy storage device. Hence, the solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of solving the problem in the related art that an indirect heating scheme has low heating efficiency.