Battery Preconditioning for High-Rate Charging Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rechargeable battery packs face temperature extremes during charging, which can limit charging rates and degrade performance, as excessive heat or cold impede efficient energy transfer and battery longevity.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a navigation system to identify charging locations and a thermal regulation system to set and maintain optimal temperatures based on the charging location, pre-conditioning the battery pack by cooling or heating it en route to ensure efficient charging by regulating the battery pack's temperature within an optimal range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If charging rate is increased to reduce charging time, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases causing harmful thermal effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging rateVSAvoidtemperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling of the battery pack before charging begins. A thermal management system activates cooling mechanisms in advance to reduce battery temperature to an optimal range, enabling subsequent high-rate charging without thermal damage. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the battery to withstand higher charging rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by activating cooling mechanisms before thermal damage can occur. The thermal management system detects temperature trends and preemptively activates cooling to counteract the inevitable heat generation from high-rate charging, preventing the harmful thermal effects while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If charging rate is reduced to limit temperature, then temperature is controlled, but charging time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetemperatureVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling of the battery pack before charging begins. By reducing battery temperature to an optimal range in advance, the system enables subsequent high-rate charging without thermal damage, thus reducing overall charging time while maintaining temperature control during the charging process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal management system employs periodic cooling interventions during charging. Instead of continuous cooling, the system periodically activates cooling mechanisms to maintain temperature within optimal ranges, allowing high-rate charging to proceed with minimal temperature excursions, thereby reducing total charging time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Temperature

If battery temperature is cooled en route to charging location, then temperature is optimized for charging, but energy is consumed during travel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the battery pack's own stored energy to cool itself during travel to the charging location. By drawing power from the battery to operate cooling mechanisms, the system eliminates the need for external power sources, making the cooling process self-sufficient and avoiding additional energy consumption requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the otherwise wasted energy capacity in the battery into a beneficial cooling resource. By utilizing the battery's stored energy to power cooling mechanisms during travel, the system transforms idle energy capacity into active thermal management, optimizing battery temperature for subsequent charging without requiring external energy inputs.

Inventive Principle:

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

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 allows for faster charging rates by pre-conditioning the battery pack's temperature, reducing charging time and maintaining optimal performance by preventing overheating or underheating, thus enhancing user experience and battery longevity.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal regulation system to set and maintain optimal temperatures based on the charging location, pre-conditioning the battery pack by cooling or heating it en route

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal regulation: