EV Battery Self-Heating via Intermittent Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles face challenges in low temperatures due to reduced battery performance, safety risks, and limited discharge capability, as lithium-ion batteries deposit ions at low temperatures, leading to shortened lifespan and potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A power system for electric vehicles that includes a battery heater connected to the battery group, a battery management device to control intermittent heating based on temperature and residual charge, and an isolation inductor to match capacitance, allowing the battery to heat itself through large current discharge without external power, optimizing heating efficiency and extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If external power is used to heat the battery, then heating effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery temperatureVSAvoidheating system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery heater utilizes the battery group's own residual electric quantity to generate heating current, enabling the system to heat itself without requiring external power sources. The battery management device controls the heater to discharge the battery group, and the internal resistance of the battery converts electrical energy into thermal energy for self-heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and utilizes the residual electric quantity already present in the battery group for heating purposes, rather than adding external heating systems. The battery management device directs the battery group's own energy to the heater, which then converts this electrical energy into heat through the battery's internal resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If large current is used to heat the battery, then heating efficiency is improved, but battery damage and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidbattery safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery management device controls the battery heater to operate intermittently rather than continuously. The system activates the heater when the battery temperature is below the first threshold and residual electric quantity is above the electric quantity threshold, then pauses when thresholds are met, creating a periodic heating pattern that prevents overheating and excessive current damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The battery management device continuously monitors the battery group's temperature and residual electric quantity, using this feedback to control the battery heater's operation. When temperature reaches the first threshold or electric quantity drops to the threshold, the device automatically adjusts or stops heating, ensuring safe operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If the battery is charged at low temperature, then battery capacity is improved, but ion deposition and safety hazards occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidion deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating of the battery group before charging operations when the temperature is below the first threshold. By activating the battery heater using the battery's own residual energy, the system raises the battery temperature to an acceptable range prior to charging, preventing ion deposition and safety hazards that would occur with cold-temperature charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 system effectively heats the battery group at low temperatures, ensuring safe and smooth operation, reducing the negative impacts of large current on the battery and prolonging its lifespan while maintaining performance and safety.

Implementation Method 1

configured to charge and discharge the battery group to heat the battery group

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

an isolation inductor, connected between the battery group and the electric distribution box, in which an inductance of the isolation inductor matches with a capacitance of the pre-charging capacitor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductance: Inductor

Data Source

PatentEP2853003B1Power system of electric vehicle, electric vehicle comprising the same and method for heating battery group of electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 BYD CO LTD
  • EP2853003B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2853003B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2853003B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A power system of an electric vehicle, an electric vehicle comprising the same and a method for heating a battery group (101) of the electric vehicle are provided. The power system of the electric vehicle comprises a battery group (101), a battery heater (102) connected with the battery group (101), and a battery management device (103) connected with the battery group (101) and the battery heater (102) respectively. The battery management device (103) is configured to control the battery heater (102) to heat the battery group (101 ) intermittently when the temperature of the battery group (101) is lower than a first temperature threshold and a residual electric quantity of the battery group (101) is larger than an electric quantity threshold. The power system further comprises an electric distribution box (104), a motor (105), a motor controller (106) connected with the motor (105) and the electric distribution box (104) respectively, and an isolation inductor (L2).