EV Battery Heating Control via Self-Generated Joule Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems inefficiently consume electric power to heat storage batteries, both when plugged in and parked, leading to performance deterioration at low temperatures, and lack effective control over energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A heating control device that includes a storage battery, a heat generation portion, an effective capacity estimation portion, and a controller to optimize current flow for efficient heating, using stored electric power only when capacity improvement is expected, and adjusting lower limit temperatures based on usage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electric power is supplied from the storage battery to heat the storage battery when the electric vehicle is not plugged in, then the storage battery temperature is maintained, but the effective capacity of the storage battery decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device estimates the effective capacity of the storage battery based on temperature and state of charge, and uses this feedback to determine whether to activate heating. The system continuously monitors temperature changes and adjusts heating control accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents unnecessary heating when it would reduce effective capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by estimating effective capacity as a function of temperature and state of charge, then uses these parameter changes to make intelligent heating decisions. Rather than maintaining a fixed temperature, the system adapts temperature control based on the calculated effective capacity parameters
2Reliability
If the storage battery is heated continuously to maintain performance, then the battery operates reliably, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system applies partial heating only when the estimated effective capacity indicates it is beneficial. The control device determines the minimum necessary heating action based on temperature estimates and effective capacity calculations, avoiding excessive energy consumption while maintaining adequate performance
Solution Approach 2:
The storage battery serves itself by using its own stored energy for heating when necessary, rather than requiring external power sources. The system intelligently manages self-heating by evaluating whether the battery's own energy reserves can support heating without significantly reducing effective capacity
3Productivity
If the storage battery is heated when plugged in, then charging efficiency improves, but electric power from external supply is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating before charging when the effective capacity estimation indicates it will improve charging efficiency. By estimating the benefit of heating in advance and acting beforehand, the system ensures optimal charging conditions without wasting energy on unnecessary preheating
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 efficiently consumes stored electric power to improve battery performance by heating only when necessary, reducing overall energy consumption and extending battery output duration, while minimizing power usage even in low-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generation portion that heats the storage battery using heat generated by current flowing
Data Source
AI summary
A heating control device includes: a storage battery that supplies electric power to an electric motor of an electric vehicle; a heat generation portion that heats the storage battery using heat generated by current flowing; an estimation portion that estimates a change in effective capacity when the heat generation portion heats the storage battery to a target temperature using heat generated by current flowing due to electric power supplied from the storage battery based on an effective capacity corresponding to a temperature and a state of charge of the storage battery; and a controller that causes current flowing from the storage battery to the heat generation portion only in a case where the effective capacity estimated by the estimation portion is expected to be improved.