Battery Pack Self-Heating via Internal Resistance Pulse Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries face reduced low-temperature performance and capacity due to high internal resistance, and existing methods to improve this either compromise high-temperature performance or consume excessive power with additional heating apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack system that includes a battery module, a temperature sensor, an auxiliary power unit, and a controller to supply charge and discharge pulse current when the temperature is below a set point, utilizing the battery's internal resistance as a heating element to rapidly increase the temperature without significant power consumption, and disconnecting when the temperature reaches the set point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If additional heating apparatus is used to increase battery temperature at low temperature, then low temperature performance is improved, but power consumption increases and heating time is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery temperatureVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module heats itself by utilizing its own internal resistance to convert electrical energy into thermal energy during charge and discharge operations, eliminating the need for external heating apparatus and reducing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of internal resistance (which causes power loss and heat generation) into a beneficial heating effect by controlling charge and discharge operations to raise battery temperature when needed, transforming a disadvantage into an advantage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Temperature

If charge and discharge pulse current is supplied to increase battery temperature, then low temperature performance is improved, but internal power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery temperatureVSAvoidinternal power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters (current magnitude, pulse duration, frequency) based on real-time battery temperature measurements, optimizing the balance between heating efficiency and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature sensor provides real-time feedback to the charging controller, which adjusts charge and discharge operations to maintain optimal temperature while minimizing energy loss, creating a closed-loop control system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Power

If battery capacity is increased to provide heating power, then heating capability is improved, but battery size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating powerVSAvoidbattery capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module serves dual functions: providing power for external devices and generating heat for self-warming, eliminating the need for separate heating elements and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The charging system acts as an intermediary that converts electrical energy from the battery into thermal energy through controlled charge and discharge cycles, efficiently transferring energy between different forms without requiring additional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach enhances low-temperature performance by rapidly increasing the battery module's temperature while minimizing power consumption, maintaining high-temperature performance and capacity without the need for additional heating, thus optimizing operating efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

large internal resistance of the battery module serves as a heating body to increase the temperature of the battery module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2518817B1Battery pack system for improving operating performance using internal resistance of battery

Publication Date: 2018.01.10 LG CHEM LTD

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AI summary

Disclosed herein are a battery pack system to supply current necessary to operate an external device, the battery pack system including a battery module including a plurality of battery cells which can be charged and discharged, the battery module to supply power to the external device, a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the battery module, an auxiliary power unit to supply a charge and discharge pulse current to the battery module, and a controller to connect the auxiliary power unit to the battery module so that the charge and discharge pulse current is supplied to the battery module when a measured temperature (Tbat) of the battery module is less than a set temperature (Tcrit) based on information detected by the temperature sensor before the battery module is electrically connected to the external device and to interrupt the supply of the charge and discharge pulse current to the battery module when the temperature of the battery module becomes equal to or greater than the set temperature (Tcrit) and an operating method of the same.