Battery Thermal Control Using Degradation-Based Temperature Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery thermal control systems in electric vehicles and power storage applications struggle to balance performance characteristics such as battery degradation, driving range, and power draw, particularly affecting new or nearly new batteries, with temperature-related degradation being a significant factor.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an inverted degradation model and a nonlinear model predictive control module to determine an optimal battery core temperature based on various sensor inputs, including power state, temperature, degradation status, age, and load, and adjust thermal management systems accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery temperature is reduced to extend battery lifetime, then battery degradation is reduced, but driving range and power draw are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic thermal management that adjusts battery temperature targets in real-time based on operating conditions, battery age, and degradation rates. The system transitions from static temperature control to dynamic adjustment, allowing the battery to operate at higher temperatures when performance is prioritized and lower temperatures when longevity is prioritized, thus resolving the contradiction between lifetime and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter dynamically based on battery state and operational requirements. By adjusting the target temperature range according to battery age, state of charge, and performance demands, the system optimizes the balance between degradation reduction and performance maintenance, allowing temporary temperature increases for range enhancement while managing long-term degradation
2Productivity
If battery temperature is increased to improve power draw and driving range, then performance is improved, but battery degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary thermal conditioning of the battery before high-power demands occur. By pre-heating or pre-cooling the battery to optimal temperature ranges before intensive discharge events, the system enables higher power draw while minimizing the degradation impact of extreme temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability
3Reliability
If aggressive thermal control is applied to new batteries to prevent degradation, then battery lifetime is extended, but performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial thermal control to new batteries, using moderate temperature management rather than aggressive cooling. By applying just enough thermal control to prevent excessive degradation during early battery life when sensitivity is highest, while avoiding over-cooling that would compromise performance, the system resolves the contradiction between extending lifetime and maintaining productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes implementing an inverted degradation model to determine an optimal battery core temperature. The inverted degradation model receives as inputs one or more of a power state value indicating whether the battery is currently in a high-power state or a low power state, a battery temperature value representing a current battery core temperature, a battery degradation value representing a battery degradation status, a battery age indicator representing a current age of the battery, a state of charge value representing a remaining battery charge and a battery current load value representing a current draw from the battery by the electric vehicle. The inverted degradation model outputs a desired battery core temperature value. The method includes operating the battery thermal system in order to achieve the desired battery core temperature.