Battery Reserve Capacity Control for Cold Weather Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery systems in vehicles can be damaged or lose capacity due to low temperatures and insufficient charge levels, especially when parked or stored in remote locations where maintenance is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A battery management system that communicates with weather information sources to adjust the reserve capacity level of the battery system, using a thermal system to maintain optimal temperature and a charger to ensure sufficient charge levels, thereby preventing damage from adverse weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery system is parked or stored at low temperatures with low charge level, then the vehicle can be stored remotely without maintenance, but the battery system becomes damaged and loses capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The battery controller receives weather forecast information indicating cold temperatures ahead and proactively increases the charge level of the battery system before the cold weather arrives. This preliminary charging action ensures the battery has sufficient capacity to withstand the upcoming cold temperature stress, preventing damage that would occur if the battery remained at low charge level.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery management system autonomously monitors weather forecasts and automatically adjusts the battery charge level without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by detecting cold weather conditions and independently managing the charging process to maintain battery health, enabling remote storage without owner involvement.
2Reliability
If the reserve capacity level is increased to protect against cold weather, then the battery operational condition is maintained, but the available capacity for vehicle operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery management system dynamically adjusts the reserve capacity level based on real-time weather forecast information. When cold temperatures are forecasted, the system increases the reserve capacity to protect the battery. When favorable conditions exist, the system reduces the reserve capacity back to normal levels, maximizing available battery capacity for vehicle operation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the reserve capacity adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the battery management system based on weather conditions. Specifically, the reserve capacity threshold parameter is adjusted upward when cold weather is forecasted and returned to normal when conditions improve. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both battery protection and available capacity depending on environmental conditions.
3Reliability
If the battery system is maintained at high charge level continuously, then the battery is protected from cold damage, but energy is wasted through self-discharge and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining high charge level continuously, the battery management system implements periodic charging actions triggered by weather forecast events. When cold temperatures are forecasted, the system charges the battery to the protective charge level. When no cold weather is anticipated, the system allows the battery to operate at normal charge levels. This periodic, event-driven charging approach provides battery protection only when necessary, minimizing energy waste from continuous charging maintenance.
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 the operational condition of the battery system by preemptively heating and charging it based on weather forecasts, preventing damage and capacity loss due to cold temperatures and power outages.
Implementation Method 1
using a thermal system to maintain optimal temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include systems, vehicles, and computer-implemented methods for maintaining the operational condition of a battery system incorporated in a vehicle or otherwise stored and, based on weather information, to adjust reserve capacity in the battery system prevent damage as a result of weather conditions. In an illustrative embodiment, a system includes a communications interface configured to communicate with a weather information source over a network to receive data on anticipated weather conditions; and a battery controller configured to interoperate with the communications interface and to control a reserve capacity level for a battery system, wherein the battery controller is configured to: determine whether the reserve capacity level is sufficient to maintain operational condition of the battery system under the anticipated weather conditions; and modify the reserve capacity level responsive to a determination that the reserve capacity level is sufficient to maintain the operational condition of the battery system.