Battery Module Self-Heating via Charge-Discharge Loop Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery heating systems require external power sources from the city grid or power grid to function effectively, limiting their ability to heat battery modules in environments without these facilities, such as low temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A self-discharging and self-charging heating module system that utilizes two battery units connected in series with energy storage units and switch units to create heating loops, allowing electric power transfer between units with higher and lower states of charge, enabling continuous charging and discharging to generate heat without external power sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If external power sources (city power or power grid) are used to heat the battery module, then the heating effectiveness is improved, but the adaptability to environments without external power facilities deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating effectivenessVSAvoidadaptability to environments without external power
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module performs self-heating by utilizing its own internal energy storage units and battery units to generate heat through controlled charging and discharging cycles, eliminating the need for external power sources. The system serves itself by converting electrical energy from its own components into thermal energy for heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The battery units serve dual functions: they act as both energy storage elements for power supply and as heating elements when needed. The same battery units that store electrical energy can be switched to generate heat through resistive heating during controlled discharge, making the system universally applicable in both powered and unpowered environments.

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

2Temperature

If resistance elements or heating liquid are used with external power, then the heating performance is improved, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the external power source requirement from the heating system. By removing the dependency on city power or power grid infrastructure, the system becomes self-contained, using only the battery module's own internal components (energy storage units and battery units) to provide both power and heating functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the power supply function and heating function into a single integrated system. The battery units and energy storage units serve both electrical power needs and thermal heating needs, combining what would traditionally be separate systems into one unified self-sufficient unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution allows for efficient heating of battery modules in environments without external power, enhancing adaptability and reducing the need for additional infrastructure, while also simplifying the integration of battery heating functions into vehicles without pre-existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

a first battery unit and a second battery unit connected in series... sequentially switch on, between a first heating loop and a second heating loop, a heating loop where a battery unit with a higher state of charge is located and a heating loop where a battery unit with a lower state of charge is located, so that the battery module is in a state of being continuously charged and discharged and the battery module is heated with electric energy generated during the continuous discharging and charging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical energy conversion: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 2

the battery module is heated with electric energy generated during the continuous discharging and charging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3787097B1Heating module, heating method for battery module, and heating system
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3787097B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3787097B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3787097B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a heating module, a heating method for a battery module, and a heating system. The heating module includes: an energy storage unit, a first switch unit, a second switch unit and a control unit. The energy storage unit, a first battery unit in a battery module and the first switch unit may form a first heating loop; the energy storage unit, a second battery unit in the battery module, and the second switch unit may form a second heating loop. The control unit may control the first switch unit or the second switch unit, so as to sequentially switch on, between the first heating loop and the second heating loop, a heating loop where a battery unit with a higher state of charge is located and a heating loop where a battery unit with a lower state of charge is located, so that the battery module is in a state of being continuously charged and discharged and the battery module is heated by electric energy generated during continuous discharging and charging.