Dual Battery Pack Oscillatory Heating for Cold-Start EV Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle batteries experience decreased charging and discharging performance in low-temperature environments, necessitating improved heating solutions to maintain optimal operation.
Innovation Solution
An energy conversion device utilizing two battery packs with different chemical characteristics that are alternately charged and discharged to generate oscillatory heating, ensuring high system robustness and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single battery pack is used in electric vehicles, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system robustness and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into two independent battery packs (first battery pack and second battery pack) with different chemical characteristics. Each battery pack can operate independently or in combination, providing redundancy and enhanced system robustness while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter characteristics of the battery packs by using two different chemical types (e.g., lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium). This parameter differentiation allows each battery pack to excel in different performance aspects, improving overall system reliability while the controller manages the complexity of coordinating these different chemical types
2Adaptability or versatility
If batteries operate in low-temperature environments, then the vehicle can function in cold weather, but the charging and discharging performance significantly decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic action by alternately controlling the first and second battery packs to charge and discharge in a cycling manner. This periodic switching between battery packs generates oscillatory heating effects that raise battery temperature, thereby maintaining charging and discharging performance in low-temperature environments while preserving cold-weather operability
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating charge-discharge cycles create thermal vibration or oscillatory heating within the battery system. This thermal oscillation prevents the batteries from settling into a stable low-temperature state, continuously activating the electrolyte and electrode materials to maintain high charging and discharging performance despite cold ambient conditions
3Productivity
If oscillatory heating is applied to batteries at low temperatures, then the charging and discharging performance is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by using the batteries' own charge-discharge operations to generate the heating effect. Instead of requiring external heating energy input, the alternating charge-discharge cycles of the two battery packs create internal oscillatory heating that warms the batteries, thereby improving charging and discharging performance without significant additional energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of low temperature (which reduces battery performance) into a beneficial heating mechanism. By exploiting the natural resistance and internal friction during alternating charge-discharge cycles, the system generates useful heat that counteracts the cold environment, turning the performance-degrading cold condition into an opportunity for self-heating and performance recovery
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 device ensures efficient charging and discharging performance of batteries in low-temperature conditions, enhancing vehicle power performance and mile range while maintaining system stability.
Implementation Method 1
control the first bridge arm in a first state to cause the first battery pack and the second battery pack to be charged and discharged alternately to heat the first battery pack and the second battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
An energy conversion device includes: a first battery pack; a first inductor, a first end of the first inductor connected to a positive electrode of the first battery pack; a first bridge arm, a midpoint of the first bridge arm connected to a second end of the first inductor, and a first end of the first bridge arm connected to a negative electrode of the first battery pack; a second battery pack, a positive electrode of the second battery pack connected to a second end of the first bridge arm, and a negative electrode of the second battery pack connected to the first end of the first bridge arm; and a controller connected to the first bridge arm, and configured: in a first state to cause the first and the second battery packs to be charged and discharged alternately to heat the first and the second battery packs.