Method for Adjusting a DC Intermediate Circuit Voltage

• US 20130285617A1
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Butzmann, Stefan, Fink, Holger
• Application Number:
  US13/825,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for adjusting a voltage of a DC intermediate circuit in a battery system composed of a battery and a drive system. The battery is connected to the drive system via the DC intermediate circuit and comprises at least one battery module that has a coupling unit and at least one battery cell connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit. In a first method step, the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module is decoupled during a first variable time period by emitting a corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module, and the at least one battery module is bridged on the output side so that an output voltage of the battery becomes zero.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a voltage of a DC intermediate circuit in a battery system including a battery and a drive system, wherein the battery is connected to the drive system via the DC intermediate circuit and includes at least one battery module, wherein the at least one battery module comprises a coupling unit and at least one battery cell, and wherein the at least one battery cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit, the method comprising:

a) during a first variable timespan, decoupling the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module by outputting a corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module and bridging, on the output side, the at least one battery module, with the result that an output voltage of the battery becomes zero;

b) during a second variable timespan, coupling the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module and ending the bridging, on the output side, of the at least one battery module by ending the output of the corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module, with the result that a magnitude of the output voltage of the battery becomes greater than zero; and

c) repeating steps a) and b) until a voltage of the DC intermediate circuit reaches a setpoint operating voltage.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setpoint operating voltage is equal to a maximum output voltage of the battery.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring the voltage of the DC intermediate circuit.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first variable timespan and the second variable timespan are determined depending on a difference between the setpoint operating voltage and the voltage of the DC intermediate circuit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a present charging current.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

comparing the measured present charging current with a maximum permissible charging current,

wherein step b) is ended when the present charging current is greater than the maximum permissible charging current.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

determining an average charging current and

comparing the average charging current with a setpoint charging current,

wherein the first variable timespan is extended and/or the second variable timespan is shortened if the average charging current is greater than the setpoint charging current, and

wherein the first variable timespan is shortened and/or the second variable timespan is extended when the average charging current is lower than the setpoint charging current.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the setpoint charging current is adjusted constantly until the voltage of the DC intermediate circuit reaches the setpoint operating voltage.

9. A battery comprising:

a control unit and

at least one battery module including a coupling unit and at least one battery cell,

wherein the at least one battery cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to implement a method for adjusting a voltage of a DC intermediate circuit in a battery system,

wherein the DC intermediate circuit is configured to connect the battery to a drive system,

wherein the method includes

a) during a first variable timespan, decoupling the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module by outputting a corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module and bridging, on the output side, the at least one battery module, with the result that an output voltage of the battery becomes zero,

b) during a second variable timespan, coupling the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module and ending the bridging, on the output side, of the at least one battery module by ending the output of the corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module, with the result that a magnitude of the output voltage of the battery becomes greater than zero, and

c) repeating steps a) and b) until a voltage of the DC intermediate circuit reaches a setpoint operating voltage.

10. A battery system comprising:

a battery including a control unit and at least one battery module including a coupling unit and at least one battery cell;

a DC intermediate circuit connected to the battery; and

a drive system connected to the DC intermediate circuit,

wherein the at least one battery cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to implement a method for adjusting a voltage of the DC intermediate circuit,

wherein the method includes

a) during a first variable timespan, decoupling the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module by outputting a corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module and bridging, on the output side, the at least one battery module, with the result that an output voltage of the battery becomes zero,

b) during a second variable timespan, coupling the at least one battery cell of the at least one battery module and ending the bridging, on the output side, of the at least one battery module by ending the output of the corresponding control signal to the coupling unit of the at least one battery module, with the result that a magnitude of the output voltage of the battery becomes greater than zero, and

c) repeating steps a) and b) until a voltage of the DC intermediate circuit reaches a setpoint operating voltage.