Bi-Directional DC/DC Battery Charging Cycles to Prevent Overheating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charging technologies lead to issues such as heating, lithium-ion clustering, and potential combustion or explosion due to continuous charging, affecting the security and service life of batteries.
Innovation Solution
A charging and discharging apparatus equipped with a bi-directional DC/DC converter and a control unit that manages charging and discharging based on currents transmitted by a battery management system (BMS), including controlled discharging to an energy storage battery when certain thresholds are met, to prevent overheating and lithium-ion clustering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous charging is applied to the battery, then charging speed is improved, but battery security deteriorates due to heating and lithium-ion clustering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic charging and discharging cycles instead of continuous charging. The control unit switches between charging mode (absorbing current from grid) and discharging mode (releasing current to battery) at predetermined intervals, creating a rhythmic pattern that prevents continuous heat accumulation and lithium-ion clustering while maintaining efficient charging throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an energy storage battery as an intermediary component between the grid and the target battery. This intermediary absorbs charging current during charging phases and releases it during discharging phases, acting as a buffer that prevents direct continuous charging of the target battery, thereby reducing thermal effects and improving security while maintaining charging speed.
2Productivity
If fast charging current is applied to the battery, then charging efficiency is improved, but battery life deteriorates due to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies high-current charging and discharging in periodic cycles rather than continuous operation. During charging phases, high current is applied to achieve fast charging; during discharging phases, the battery rests and cools down. This periodic high-power operation maintains charging efficiency while preventing cumulative thermal damage that would reduce battery lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by immediately transitioning from charging to discharging modes without idle periods. The energy storage battery continuously cycles between absorbing and releasing current, ensuring the target battery receives consistent charging attention while being protected from continuous high-current stress, thereby extending battery life.
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
The solution ensures battery security by preventing overheating and lithium-ion clustering, extends battery life, and enables fast charging by cyclically charging and discharging, avoiding energy waste and ensuring efficient use of battery capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a bi-directional DC/DC converter and a control unit; where the control unit is configured to: receive a first charging current transmitted by a battery management system (BMS) of a battery and control the bi-directional DC/DC converter based on the first charging current to charge the battery through an energy storage battery
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present application provide a charging and discharging apparatus and a battery charging method, which are capable of ensuring security performance of a battery. The apparatus comprises a bi-directional DC/DC converter and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to: receive a first charging current transmitted by a battery management system (BMS) of a battery, control the bi-directional DC/DC converter based on the first charging current to charge the battery through an energy storage battery; receive a first discharging current transmitted by the BMS and control the bi-directional DC/DC converter based on the first discharging current to discharge a battery capacity of the battery to the energy storage battery; and receive a second charging current transmitted by the BMS and control the bi-directional DC/DC converter based on the second charging current to charge the battery through the energy storage battery.