Vehicle Battery Pressure-Balance Control at High Elevation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary battery systems in vehicles face challenges in maintaining internal and external pressure differences, especially when traveling to high elevations where external atmospheric pressure decreases, leading to potential space loss within the battery due to pressure imbalances.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle secondary battery system that utilizes a processor to control battery temperature based on historical and present external atmospheric pressure data, along with usage time and warranty time, to maintain pressure differences, incorporating a cooling mechanism and adjusting current inputs/output to manage temperature effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery is moved to a high elevation environment, then the external atmospheric pressure decreases, but the internal pressure remains high due to deterioration, causing pressure imbalance and space loss inside the battery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure difference maintenanceVSAvoidenvironmental adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating a reference temperature in advance based on traveling history and atmospheric pressure data before the battery is actually affected by pressure changes. This allows the control system to proactively adjust temperature to maintain pressure balance, rather than reacting after space loss has occurred.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring atmospheric pressure, calculating reference temperatures based on historical data, comparing with actual battery temperature, and adjusting cooling/heating operations accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures the battery maintains optimal pressure difference across varying environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the battery temperature is controlled to maintain pressure difference, then the internal pressure can be reduced, but this requires complex temperature control based on traveling history and present position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure difference maintenanceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing atmospheric pressure sensor used for other vehicle functions is utilized multi-functionally to also detect atmospheric pressure for temperature control purposes. This eliminates the need for separate sensors and reduces system complexity while maintaining the ability to calculate reference temperatures based on traveling history and present position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vehicle's existing traveling history data and position information, which are already collected for navigation and routing purposes, to calculate reference temperatures for battery control. This self-service approach avoids additional data collection systems and reduces overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the battery operates beyond warranty time, then the internal pressure increases due to deterioration, but temperature control can only be applied when usage time exceeds warranty time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure difference maintenanceVSAvoidbattery usage duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates a reference temperature in advance based on the battery's traveling history and atmospheric pressure data before the battery actually exceeds warranty time. This preliminary calculation allows the control system to be ready to adjust temperature immediately when usage time exceeds warranty time, maintaining pressure balance without delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reference temperature is dynamically adjusted based on the battery's actual traveling history and present atmospheric pressure conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt temperature control strategies to the specific deterioration pattern and environmental conditions, optimizing pressure difference maintenance throughout the battery's extended usage life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 system effectively maintains internal and external pressure differences by dynamically controlling battery temperature, ensuring the battery's structural integrity and performance even under varying environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling mechanism configured to cool the battery in accordance with a control result

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat removal: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP4375116A1Secondary battery system of vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4375116A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4375116A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4375116A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A secondary battery system of a vehicle includes a battery (21) in which a function is maintained by a differential pressure between an internal pressure and an external atmospheric pressure, and a CPU (201) that controls a temperature of the battery based on information related to an average of external atmospheric pressures of the battery based on a traveling history of the vehicle, and information related to a present external atmospheric pressure of the battery based on a present position of the vehicle.