Modular HV Battery Pack Heating for Uniform Cell Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery electric vehicles (BEVs) lack customization at the battery pack level, leading to inefficient energy management and safety risks due to unintended electrical discharge and battery leakage or fires during collisions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vehicle control module (VCM) and a battery assembly with multiple battery packs electrically coupled in parallel, allowing for real-time temperature monitoring and heat conditioning of battery packs to maintain optimal operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single battery pack is used for all electric vehicles, then the system is simpler and easier to manufacture, but it lacks customization capability to meet different operational needs
Solution Approach 1:
The battery assembly is divided into multiple battery packs (first battery pack, second battery pack, etc.) that can be independently managed and configured. Each battery pack can be customized based on operational requirements, allowing the system to adapt to different vehicle types and usage scenarios while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
2Reliability
If battery packs are monitored and heated conditioned to maintain optimal temperature, then battery performance and safety are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery packs utilize their own internal resistance and circulating current to generate heat for warming the battery cells when temperature is below the threshold. This self-heating approach reduces or eliminates the need for external heating systems, thereby maintaining battery safety and optimal performance while minimizing additional energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as circulating current magnitude and duration based on real-time temperature monitoring. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system ensures battery safety through heating only when necessary (when temperature < threshold), thus avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining reliability
3Productivity
If multiple battery packs are electrically coupled in parallel with individual monitoring, then energy management efficiency and safety are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control module (VCM) performs multiple functions including monitoring temperature of all battery packs, determining when heating is needed, controlling the heating process, and managing the electrical coupling of battery packs. This multi-functional approach consolidates control logic into a single controller, improving energy management efficiency while avoiding the need for separate complex monitoring systems for each battery pack
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
This solution enables customizable battery management, improving energy efficiency, safety, and modularity by allowing for tailored battery specifications based on operational needs and providing redundancy to ensure continued vehicle operation in case of battery pack malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
The battery assembly is configured to measure temperature of each battery cell in each of the at least two battery packs of the battery assembly
Implementation Method 2
the VCM is further configured to heat condition a first battery pack of the at least two battery packs of the battery assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods provide for battery conditioning for high voltage (HV) electrical vehicles. Battery temperatures are monitored, and responsive to one or more battery temperatures falling within designated ranges, one or more battery temperatures may be increased via heating in order to provide for more uniform battery performance and conditioning.