Battery Temperature Control Device Using Predictive Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery temperature control devices for electric vehicles fail to prevent battery electrolyte freezing when outside air temperatures drop, leading to a power-disabled state due to inadequate heating initiation during the initial stages of ignition switch turn-OFF, especially when the heater remains deactivated despite falling temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A battery temperature control device that predicts a predictive time based on battery and outside air temperatures to initiate heating only when necessary, ensuring the battery remains above a predetermined temperature, thereby preventing freezing and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heater is activated only when the outside air temperature falls below a preset minimum temperature at ignition switch turn-OFF, then the battery can be heated to prevent freezing, but the heater remains deactivated even when the outside air temperature subsequently falls below the freezing point, leading to battery electrolyte freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The controller predicts the future battery temperature based on current temperature and outside air temperature, then activates the heater in advance before the battery temperature reaches the freezing point. This preliminary action ensures the heater is on before freezing occurs, even if the temperature threshold wasn't immediately crossed at ignition turn-OFF.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors both battery temperature and outside air temperature, using this feedback to dynamically adjust heater activation decisions. The prediction mechanism creates a feedback loop that anticipates temperature changes and triggers heating before critical thresholds are reached.
2Reliability
If the heater is activated continuously to ensure battery temperature remains above freezing, then freezing prevention is guaranteed, but unnecessary power consumption occurs when heating is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The controller predicts when heating will be needed based on current temperature conditions and activates the heater only in advance of predicted temperature drops. This avoids continuous operation by triggering heating only when and before it becomes necessary, optimizing power usage while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater activation strategy transitions from static threshold-based control to dynamic prediction-based control. The system adapts heater operation based on predicted temperature trajectories, activating only when prediction indicates future freezing risk, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining protection.
3Reliability
If the heater is activated early based on predicted temperature drop, then freezing prevention is improved, but the heater operates longer than necessary, increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The controller activates the heater in advance based on predicted temperature drops, but only when such early activation is necessary to prevent freezing. The prediction mechanism calculates the optimal activation timing to provide just enough advance notice without excessive early operation, balancing reliability improvement against power consumption.
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
Effectively prevents battery electrolyte freezing by ensuring timely heating, maintaining vehicle power functionality, and optimizing electric power usage by initiating heating only when required.
Implementation Method 1
temperature control by heating the battery (1) with the heater (2)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
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AI summary
Provided is a battery temperature control device configured to automatically heat a battery (1) with a battery-driven heater (2) so that the battery does not freeze at a minimum electric power consumption when the battery is out of use. The battery temperature control device predicts, based on a combination of a battery temperature Tbat and an outside air temperature Tatm, a predictive time that the battery temperature Tbat is likely to be less than a first set temperature Tbat1, while the battery temperature Tbat is higher than or equal to the first set temperature Tbat1 at which there is no risk of freezing (step S13), and sets the predictive time as the next controller startup time Δt (step S14), and determines whether or not the battery temperature has fallen to below the first set temperature (i.e., Tbat<Tbat1) with a control program wakeup indicated in the drawing when the predictive time Δt has expired, and battery-drives the heater when the battery temperature fall has occurred, to heat the battery 1 (step S19).