Battery Temperature Control for Charging Time and Lifespan Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cooling systems in electric vehicles do not effectively balance energy efficiency, battery health, and power delivery, as they often maintain a fixed temperature set point without considering the impact on these factors.

Innovation Solution

A computer system determines a target operating temperature for batteries by minimizing the cumulative cost of resistance and life expectancy, taking into account discharge power, charging time, energy losses, and cooling system energy consumption, using modeling and predictive control to optimize these parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed temperature set point is maintained for battery cooling, then battery health is improved, but energy efficiency and power delivery are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery healthVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic temperature management by continuously adjusting the target battery temperature based on real-time operating conditions (state of charge, ambient temperature, power demand). Instead of maintaining a fixed set point, the system adapts the temperature target to optimize the balance between battery health, energy efficiency, and power delivery for each specific operating scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter dynamically based on operating conditions. The target battery temperature is adjusted as a variable parameter rather than a constant, allowing optimization of energy efficiency and power delivery while maintaining acceptable battery health across different operating scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If cooling is applied to maintain low battery temperature, then battery lifespan is extended, but charging time increases and power delivery decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifespanVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts cooling intensity and target temperature based on charging state and power demand. During fast charging operations, the system allows higher target temperatures to reduce charging time, while during normal operation it maintains lower temperatures to extend battery lifespan, creating a time- and condition-dependent strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies cooling selectively and partially rather than continuously. Cooling is intensified only when necessary to prevent thermal damage, while allowing higher temperatures during controlled charging scenarios where the benefits of faster charging outweigh the temporary increase in thermal stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Power

If aggressive cooling is used to maximize power delivery, then discharge power increases, but energy losses increase and battery health deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge powerVSAvoidenergy losses
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes the target temperature parameter to balance power delivery and energy efficiency. By calculating the optimal target temperature based on current operating conditions, the system achieves sufficient discharge power while minimizing excessive cooling energy losses and avoiding unnecessary thermal management that would reduce overall energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4678466A1Temperature management for batteries
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4678466A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4678466A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4678466A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer system is disclosed for determining a target operating temperature for a battery, the computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to determine a first cost associated with a resistance of the battery, determine a second cost associated with a life expectancy of the battery, and determine a target operating temperature for the battery such that a sum of the first and second costs is below a threshold, wherein the first cost comprises a third cost associated with one or more of increasing a discharge power of the battery and decreasing a charging time of the battery. A computer-implemented method for determining a target operating temperature for a battery is also disclosed.