Device for balancing an energy accumulator
First Claim
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1. A device for balancing an energy accumulator in an onboard power supply system of a vehicle, the device comprising:
- a cell stack comprising a series connection of a plurality of cells;
a plurality of balancing circuits, each balancing circuit being respectively connected to voltage terminals of a cell and comprising a discharge resistor having a temperature dependent resistance characteristic; and
a common heat sink on which each of the discharge resistors of the plurality balancing circuits are mounted, the common heat sink configured to thermally couple all of said discharge resistors,wherein the discharge resistor has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic,wherein the common heat sink is configured with a cooling capacity that corresponds to less than all of the discharge resistors.
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Abstract
A device for balancing an energy accumulator, especially an energy accumulator in an on-board power supply system of a motor vehicle, is provided. The energy accumulator is formed by a cell assembly of a serial connection of a plurality of cell groups, respective balancing circuits being connected to voltage connections of respective cell groups and comprising a discharge resistor. The discharge resistor of a respective balancing circuit has a temperature-dependent resistance characteristic, and the discharge resistors of at least some of the balancing circuits are thermally intercoupled.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device for balancing an energy accumulator in an onboard power supply system of a vehicle, the device comprising:
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a cell stack comprising a series connection of a plurality of cells; a plurality of balancing circuits, each balancing circuit being respectively connected to voltage terminals of a cell and comprising a discharge resistor having a temperature dependent resistance characteristic; and a common heat sink on which each of the discharge resistors of the plurality balancing circuits are mounted, the common heat sink configured to thermally couple all of said discharge resistors, wherein the discharge resistor has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic, wherein the common heat sink is configured with a cooling capacity that corresponds to less than all of the discharge resistors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12)
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5. A method for balancing an energy accumulator in an onboard power supply system of a vehicle, the energy accumulator comprising a cell stack composed of a series connection of a group of cells, wherein a respective balancing circuit is connected to voltage terminals of a respective cell and comprises a discharge resistor, the method comprising the acts of:
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detecting, via the respective balancing circuit, when a defined voltage value for the respective cell is exceeded; thermally intercoupling all of the discharge resistors of said balancing circuits using a common heat sink on which said discharge resistors are mounted; and discharging the respective cell via the discharge resistor having a temperature dependent resistance characteristic, whereby a faster discharge of the group of cells is obtainable due to the temperature dependent resistance characteristic of the discharge resistor, wherein the discharge resistor has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic, wherein the common heat sink is configured with a cooling capacity that corresponds to less than all of the discharge resistors. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 13)
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10. A device for balancing an energy accumulator in an onboard power supply system of a vehicle, the device comprising:
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a cell stack comprising a series connection of a plurality of groups of cells; a plurality of balancing circuits, each balancing circuit being respectively connected to voltage terminals of respective cells and comprising a discharge resistor having a temperature dependent resistance characteristic; and a common heat sink on which each of the discharge resistors of the plurality balancing circuits are mounted, the common heat sink configured to thermally couple all of said discharge resistors, wherein the common heat sink comprises a cooling capacity based on a predefined portion of the discharge resistors, wherein the discharge resistor has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic, wherein the common heat sink is configured with a cooling capacity that corresponds to less than all of the discharge resistors. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification