Vehicle Battery Thermal Management by State-of-Charge Draining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrified vehicles face challenges in managing battery thermal events, which can lead to thermal runaway, and existing solutions are inadequate in effectively preventing or mitigating these events.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control system that detects thermal events in the energy storage system, allowing for the electrical coupling of the energy storage system to an external load to drain its state of charge, or operating onboard equipment to consume energy and reduce the charge level, thereby mitigating thermal issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the energy storage system maintains a high state of charge to ensure adequate power supply for vehicle operations, then the power availability is improved, but the risk of thermal runaway increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the state of charge and thermal conditions of the energy storage system, and proactively drains excess charge or activates cooling systems before thermal runaway conditions develop, preventing the harmful effect rather than responding after it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors and state of charge monitors to provide real-time feedback to the control system, which adjusts power management and cooling operations dynamically to maintain safe operating conditions while maximizing power availability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the state of charge is reduced to mitigate thermal events, then the thermal safety is improved, but the power availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the state of charge based on real-time thermal conditions, vehicle power demands, and environmental factors, rather than maintaining a fixed charge level, allowing optimal balance between safety and power availability under varying operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes operational parameters such as state of charge thresholds, cooling flow rates, and power discharge limits based on thermal event detection and severity, enabling adaptive response that maintains power availability while ensuring thermal safety
3Object-affected harmful factors
If active cooling systems are implemented to prevent thermal runaway, then the thermal management capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system includes self-monitoring sensors and automated control logic that detect thermal conditions and activate cooling operations without external intervention, allowing the system to manage its own thermal state while minimizing the need for complex external control infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
An electrified fire fighting vehicle includes an energy storage system, a water tank configured to store water, a pump fluidly coupled to the water tank, a motor electrically coupled to the energy storage system and mechanically coupled to the pump, and a control system. The control system is configured to detect an onset of a thermal event in the energy storage system, control the motor to drive the pump such that the water can be recirculated out of and back into the water tank to facilitate draining a state of charge of the energy storage system, and provide a notification to electrically couple the energy storage system to an external load to facilitate draining the state of charge of the energy storage system.