Battery Thermistor Network for Ambient-Compensated Anomaly Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting temperature anomalies in battery cells within a battery module are unreliable, as they often rely on measuring a few points and do not account for ambient temperature, leading to inadequate thermal management and potential damage to the battery.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring system utilizing a network of thermistors connected to each battery cell, where the total electric resistance of the network is measured to detect temperature anomalies, with threshold values dependent on the mean temperature of the module, allowing for reliable detection of over or undertemperature conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a network of thermistors is used to monitor temperature in each battery cell, then temperature anomaly detection reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature anomaly detection reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple thermistors are connected in an electric network (series or parallel) to form a single monitoring unit that represents multiple battery cells. The monitoring device measures the combined resistance of the network rather than individual resistors, reducing the number of measurement channels and system complexity while maintaining the ability to detect temperature anomalies across multiple cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermistor network serves multiple functions: it monitors temperature across multiple battery cells simultaneously, provides anomaly detection through resistance threshold comparison, and enables mean temperature determination. This multi-functional approach improves reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If individual temperature sensors are installed in each battery cell, then temperature measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of installing and measuring multiple individual temperature sensors separately, the patent combines multiple thermistors into a single electric network with one monitoring device. This reduces component count, simplifies installation, and lowers manufacturing costs while still providing temperature information for multiple cells through the collective resistance measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses thermistors (temperature-dependent resistors) as a cost-effective alternative to expensive individual temperature sensors. By utilizing the electrical resistance properties of thermistors in a network configuration, the system achieves temperature monitoring capability at lower manufacturing cost while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for anomaly detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If ambient temperature compensation is implemented, then temperature anomaly detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature anomaly detection accuracyVSAvoidcompensation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system determines mean temperature independently from the thermistor network resistance measurement, using this independently obtained temperature information to compensate for ambient temperature effects. This self-service approach allows the system to correct for environmental influences without adding external compensation devices or increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses independently determined mean temperature information as feedback to adjust and refine the temperature anomaly detection process. By comparing the thermistor network resistance against thresholds that account for mean temperature, the system achieves improved detection accuracy while maintaining a relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach provides improved reliability in detecting thermal anomalies, enabling adaptive cooling and preventing damage by accurately monitoring the temperature of individual cells within the battery module, thus extending battery life and ensuring safe operation.

Implementation Method 1

an electric network comprising a plurality of thermistors, wherein each of the thermistors is thermally connected to a battery cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature-dependent resistance (Thermistor effect): Thermistor

Data Source

PatentEP3916880A1Temperature-dependent resistor network for temperature anomaly monitoring in a battery system
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3916880A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916880A1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~3
  • EP3916880A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention refers to a monitoring system for monitoring the temperature of a battery system / battery module, and in particular to a monitoring system comprising a network of temperature-dependent resistors (thermistors). The invention further relates to a battery module comprising that monitoring system, a vehicle comprising such a battery module, and a method for using the monitoring system.