Battery Pack Charging Control for Micro-Short Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion secondary batteries in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles face issues with micro-short circuits due to uneven distribution of active materials and separator malfunction, leading to potential fires and reduced battery life, especially when charged quickly or under varying conditions.
Innovation Solution
A neural network-based anomaly detection system monitors the condition of each secondary battery, identifying micro-short circuits and isolating affected batteries from the charging and discharging system using electric switches, preventing further damage and ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple secondary batteries are connected in series or parallel to form a battery pack, then the power storage capacity and output are improved, but the balance between individual batteries is disturbed leading to excessive charging or discharging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into multiple independent battery units, each equipped with its own protective circuit and monitoring system. This segmentation allows individual batteries to be managed separately, preventing balance disturbances while maintaining high power storage capacity through series/parallel connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the ECU continuously monitors the state of charge and performance of each individual battery. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts charging and discharging currents to maintain balance across all batteries, preventing excessive charging or discharging of any single unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual batteries with different characteristics are used in a battery pack, then the adaptability to different usage conditions is improved, but the balance is disturbed reducing apparent capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing customized protective circuits and control parameters for each individual battery based on its specific characteristics. Each battery can be optimized for its performance profile while maintaining overall pack functionality, allowing different batteries to operate at their optimal levels without compromising total capacity.
3Productivity
If quick charging is performed to reduce charging time, then the productivity is improved, but the degradation and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic charging control where the charging current is continuously adjusted based on real-time monitoring of battery temperature, state of charge, and individual battery characteristics. This dynamic approach enables quick charging when conditions permit while automatically reducing current when safety thresholds are approached, balancing speed and safety.
4Reliability
If micro-short circuits are detected early, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to monitoring systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service monitoring system where each battery unit includes built-in protective circuits that automatically detect anomalies such as micro-short circuits. The batteries essentially monitor themselves and trigger protective actions without requiring complex external monitoring equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A highly safe power storage system is provided. If n (n is an integer over or equal to three) secondary batteries are used in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, a circuit configuration is used with which the condition of each secondary battery is monitored using an anomaly detection unit; and if an anomaly such as a micro-short circuit is detected, only the detected anomalous secondary battery is electrically separated from the charging system or the discharging system. At least one microcomputer monitors anomalies in n secondary batteries consecutively, selects the anomalous secondary battery or the detected secondary battery which causes an anomaly, and gives an instruction to bypass the secondary battery with each switch.