Battery Pack Layout Using Internal Heat for Low-Temperature Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion secondary batteries face challenges in maintaining stable charge and discharge characteristics at low and high temperatures without external heat sources, leading to increased costs and risks of malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A power storage device is designed with a secondary battery capable of operating at low temperatures, acting as an internal heat source, and a temperature sensor and control circuit to regulate the temperature of another secondary battery, ensuring stable performance across varying environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is provided around the secondary battery to maintain temperature, then charge and discharge characteristics at low temperatures are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by enabling the secondary battery to heat itself through internal heat generation during charge and discharge cycles. The control unit manages the charge and discharge processes to generate sufficient heat, eliminating the need for external heaters and reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable charge and discharge characteristics at low temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the charge and discharge rates to control heat generation. By adjusting these operational parameters, the system can generate adequate heat during cold conditions without requiring additional heating components, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Reliability
If a heater is provided around the secondary battery to maintain temperature, then charge and discharge characteristics at low temperatures are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the secondary battery's own operational energy to generate heat, making it self-sufficient and eliminating the need for separate heating components. This approach reduces manufacturing costs while ensuring reliable charge and discharge characteristics in cold environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heating function from a separate external component (heater) and integrates it into the existing charge and discharge process of the battery. By taking out the dedicated heater and using the battery's operational heat instead, the system reduces cost while maintaining performance.
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 provides a cost-effective and safe power storage device with reduced risk of malfunction, capable of maintaining stable performance and high safety standards by utilizing internal heat sources for temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
heat generated by charge and discharge of the secondary battery capable of being charged and discharged even at low temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage device that is less likely to be influenced by an ambient temperature is provided. The power storage device capable of being charged and discharged even in a low-temperature environment is provided. A first secondary battery capable of being charged and discharged even at low temperatures and a general second secondary battery are adjacent to each other in the power storage device. The power storage device having such a structure can use, as an internal heat source in a low-temperature environment, heat generated by charge and discharge of the secondary battery capable of being charged and discharged even at low temperatures. Specifically, the power storage device includes the first secondary battery and the second secondary battery adjacent to each other, the first secondary battery has flexibility, and a value of discharge capacity in discharge at −40° C. is higher than or equal to 50% of a value of discharge capacity in discharge at 25° C.