Battery Switch Resistance Modulation for Lithium Plating Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery systems in vehicles face inefficiencies due to varying voltage requirements, leading to issues like lithium plating and thermal runaway, which existing technologies struggle to mitigate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A battery control system that includes switches and a switch resistance modulation module, which dynamically adjusts switch resistance based on battery parameters and control signals to manage voltage output, mitigate lithium plating, and ensure battery power limits are adhered to, using look-up tables to determine optimal resistance values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery systems operate at varying voltage requirements, then vehicle load efficiency is improved, but lithium plating and thermal runaway risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switch resistance modulation based on real-time battery parameters (state of charge, temperature, current). The controller continuously adjusts switch resistance values during operation to optimize voltage output while preventing lithium plating and thermal runaway, transforming static battery operation into a dynamically adaptive system that responds to changing conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes electrical parameters (switch resistance, voltage output) based on battery state. By modulating switch resistance between 0-100 ohms according to battery parameters, the system optimizes voltage delivery to loads while maintaining safety margins against lithium plating and thermal runaway through parameter-based control strategies
2Device complexity
If existing battery control technologies are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but ability to mitigate lithium plating and thermal runaway is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces switch resistance modulation as an intermediary control mechanism between the battery and the load. This intermediate control layer allows the system to manage current flow and voltage output more precisely, providing an additional safety buffer against lithium plating and thermal runaway without requiring fundamental changes to the battery chemistry or structure
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements feedback control by continuously monitoring battery parameters (state of charge, temperature, current) and adjusting switch resistance accordingly. This closed-loop control system detects potential safety issues and responds by modulating resistance to prevent lithium plating and thermal runaway, creating a self-regulating mechanism that enhances reliability
3Productivity
If switch resistance is dynamically modulated, then battery power management is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating optimal switch resistance values based on battery state before critical conditions occur. The controller proactively adjusts resistance to prevent lithium plating and thermal runaway rather than reacting after problems develop, improving power management efficiency while maintaining manageable control complexity through predictive control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system segments the resistance modulation into discrete control steps based on battery parameter thresholds. By dividing the continuous control space into manageable segments (different resistance ranges for different battery states), the system achieves sophisticated power management through modular control strategies that reduce overall system complexity
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 mitigates lithium plating and thermal runaway, ensures battery power management, and verifies operating conditions in real-time, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of battery systems in vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a switch resistance modulation module configured to modulate a resistance of at least one switch of the plurality of switches between zero ohms and infinity ohms based on a battery parameter and a control signal
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, a battery control system is disclosed. The battery control system can include a plurality of batteries, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The battery control system also includes a plurality of switches configured to connect a first battery of the plurality of batteries to and from the first terminal and the third terminal and to connect a second battery of the plurality of batteries to and from the second terminal and the third terminal. The battery control system also discloses a switch resistance modulation module configured to modulate a resistance of at least one switch of the plurality of switches between zero ohms and infinity ohms based on a battery parameter and a control signal.