Thermistor Network Thresholding for Battery Temperature Anomaly Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery monitoring systems struggle to reliably detect temperature anomalies in battery modules, particularly thermal runaway conditions, due to reliance on point measurements that are influenced by ambient temperature variations.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system utilizing a network of thermistors thermally connected to battery cells, measuring total resistance to detect deviations from a threshold value, allowing for independent determination of mean temperature and detection of over/undertemperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If point temperature measurements are used in battery monitoring systems, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of temperature anomaly detection deteriorates due to influence from ambient temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple thermistors into a network configuration where each thermistor is thermally connected to a different battery cell. By measuring the total resistance of the network and comparing it against threshold values, the system achieves reliable temperature anomaly detection without requiring individual temperature measurements from each cell, thus maintaining low device complexity while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermistor network serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides temperature monitoring for multiple battery cells, enables detection of temperature anomalies, and determines mean battery temperature all through a single resistance measurement. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a network of thermistors is used for temperature monitoring, then the measurement precision and reliability of temperature anomaly detection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and measurement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple thermistors are merged into a single electrical network configuration (series or parallel) where their combined resistance is measured as one unit. This merging approach maintains reliable temperature anomaly detection across multiple battery cells while reducing the number of separate measurement circuits and processing channels required, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of implementing separate monitoring circuits for each battery cell, the patent uses a simplified resistance measurement circuit that measures the total resistance of the thermistor network. This copying approach allows the same monitoring function to be applied to multiple cells through a single measurement, improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If thermistors are thermally connected to each battery cell, then the detection capability for individual cell temperature anomalies is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to thermal connection consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal monitoring of multiple battery cells into a single electrical measurement by connecting thermistors to each cell and measuring their combined resistance. While individual thermal connections are required, the electrical measurement process is simplified and merged into one operation, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to implementing separate measurement systems for each cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from individual temperature values to total resistance of the thermistor network. This parameter change allows detection of temperature anomalies through resistance variations without requiring precise control or measurement of each individual thermal connection, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining detection capability.
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 detection of temperature anomalies in battery cells, preventing thermal runaway by generating alerts based on relative or absolute resistance changes, enhancing safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
an electric network including a plurality of thermistors, wherein each of the thermistors is thermally connected to a battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring system for monitoring the temperature of a battery module having a plurality of battery cells, the monitoring system including an electric network including a plurality of thermistors, wherein each of the thermistors is thermally connected to a battery cell, a monitoring device that is adapted to measure a total resistance (Rtot) of the electric network including the plurality of thermistors and is further adapted to generate a signal in case of detecting that the value of the total resistance (Rtot) of the electric network traverses a predetermined threshold resistance value, wherein the monitoring system is adapted to determine a mean temperature (Tamb) of the battery module independently from the measurement of the total resistance (Rtot) of the electric network, and wherein the predetermined threshold resistance value is dependent on the mean temperature (Tamb) of the battery module.