Vehicle Battery Charge-Time Prediction With Electrothermal Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating the charging time of vehicle batteries are inaccurate due to rapid changes in temperature and voltage, especially with the step charging method, making it difficult to predict charging time consistently across various conditions without extensive database creation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a measuring device, an electrical behavior predictor, and a thermal behavior predictor to accurately predict terminal voltage, state of charge, and temperature changes, allowing a controller to determine the estimated charging time based on these predictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the battery energy is increased to improve mileage, then the capacity and energy density of the battery are improved, but the charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic charging current adjustment based on real-time battery temperature and voltage measurements. The controller continuously monitors battery state and adapts the charging current profile, transitioning from static to dynamic charging control to optimize charging speed while managing thermal effects of high-capacity batteries
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes charging parameters (current, voltage) based on battery state of charge, temperature, and voltage levels. By dynamically adjusting these parameters throughout the charging process, the system achieves faster charging times for high-capacity batteries without causing overheating or excessive voltage rise
2Productivity
If the step charging method is used to reduce charging time, then the charging speed is improved, but the charging time estimation accuracy deteriorates due to rapid changes in charging current
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures battery temperature and voltage during charging and feeds this information back to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts the charging current in real-time and updates the charging time estimation, maintaining accuracy despite dynamic charging conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurements of battery temperature and voltage before and during charging steps. These preliminary actions provide baseline data that improve the accuracy of charging time predictions by accounting for the specific battery state at the start of each charging phase
3Measurement precision
If the database is created by performing tests for each charging condition to estimate charging time, then the estimation accuracy is improved, but the complexity and time required for database creation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the battery's own real-time measurements of temperature and voltage during normal operation to estimate charging time. Instead of relying on pre-created databases from extensive testing, the system self-calibrates and provides accurate estimates using onboard sensors and real-time data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of creating physical databases through extensive testing with a computational model that calculates charging time based on real-time battery parameters. This substitution eliminates the need for large pre-collected datasets while maintaining or improving estimation accuracy
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
Enables precise estimation of charging time by predicting terminal voltage, state of charge, and temperature changes, reducing the need for extensive database creation and improving accuracy across varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical behavior predictor configured to predict at least one of a terminal voltage of the battery after an amount of unit time has changed, a state of charge (SOC), or an amount of heat generated
Implementation Method 2
a thermal behavior predictor configured to predict, when the charging current is applied to the battery, the temperature of the battery after the amount of unit time has changed over time of the battery and coolant using the amount of heat generated predicted by the electrical behavior predictor
Data Source
AI summary
A system for estimating a charging time of a vehicle battery includes: a measuring device configured to measure a temperature and a voltage of the battery; an electrical behavior predictor configured to predict, when a charging current according to the measured temperature and voltage of the battery is applied to the battery, at least one of a terminal voltage of the battery after an amount of unit time has changed, a state of charge (SOC), or an amount of heat generated; a thermal behavior predictor configured to predict, when the charging current is applied to the battery, the temperature of the battery after the amount of unit time has changed over time of the battery and coolant using the amount of heat generated predicted by the electrical behavior predictor; and a controller configured to determine an estimated charging time of the vehicle based on at least one of the predicted terminal voltage, the SOC, the amount of heat generated, or the temperature of the battery after the amount of unit time has changed over time of the battery and the coolant.