HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY DISCHARGER

• US 20140117942A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fisher, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,075,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

A battery discharge device using a plurality of power modules for varying a discharge capacity of the device, and its method of use. The device can be used to discharge high-voltage, high-energy density battery packs such as might be used in hybrid or electric vehicles. The device can discharge the energy of the battery pack at a relatively constant power rate.

Claims

1. A battery discharge device comprising:

a plurality of power discharge modules connected in parallel; and

an interface configured to connect an input of each one of the power discharge modules to an output of a battery pack, wherein

each one of the power discharge modules is adapted to be connected to the battery pack such that, over a substantial output voltage range of the battery pack, each one of the power discharge modules consumes power at a substantially constant rate.

2. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted for discharging a battery from a 100% SoC to at least a 0% SoC at a substantially constant range of power consumption that varies by less than about 20% from a maximum steady state power consumption rate.

3. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein each one of the power discharge modules is comprised of at least one resistor in series with at least one thermistor.

4. The battery discharge device of claim 3, further comprising a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage of the battery pack and a fuse configured to protect the device from damage.

5. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein one or more power discharge modules can be removably added to the battery discharge device in parallel with others of the power discharge modules for increasing a power consumption of the battery discharge device for more quickly discharging the battery pack.

6. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein the substantial output voltage range of the battery pack is between about 170V and about 90V.

7. The battery discharge device of claim 6, wherein the substantially constant rate of power consumption is a power consumption rate between about 7.5W and about 6W.

8. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein the substantially constant rate of power consumption is a power consumption rate between about 7.5W and about 6W.

9. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein the power discharge modules are adapted to discharge the battery pack having a rated output voltage of at least 100V.

10. The battery discharge device of claim 1, wherein each one of the power discharge modules is adapted such that, over a substantial output voltage range of the battery pack, the device consumes power at a substantially constant steady-state rate that varies less than about ±

5% of its mean value.

17. A method of discharging a battery pack of a vehicle using the battery discharge device of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the battery discharge device separate from the vehicle;

connecting the battery discharge device to the battery pack of the vehicle;

discharging the battery pack of the vehicle using the battery discharge device until energy stored by the battery pack falls to a desired level; and

disconnecting the battery discharge device from the vehicle.

11. A battery discharge device comprising:

a plurality of power discharge modules, each one of the power discharge modules including at least one resistor in series with at least one thermistor; and

an interface configured to connect the plurality of discharge modules to a battery pack for discharging the battery pack, wherein

the power discharge modules are adapted to discharge the battery pack having a rated output of at least 100V.

12. The battery discharge device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of power discharge modules are connected in parallel and each one of the power discharge modules is adapted such that, over a substantial output voltage range of the battery pack, the device consumes power at a substantially constant steady-state rate that varies less than about ±

5% of the mean value.

13. The battery discharge device of claim 11, further comprising a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage of the battery pack and a fuse configured to protect the device from damage.

14. The battery discharge device of claim 11, wherein one or more power discharge modules can be removably added to the battery discharge device in parallel with others of the power discharge modules for increasing a power consumption of the battery discharge device for more quickly discharging the battery pack.

15. The battery discharge device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of power discharge modules are connected in parallel such that each one of the plurality of power discharge modules, over a substantial output voltage range of the battery pack, consumes power at a substantially constant steady-state rate.

16. The battery discharge device of claim 15, wherein one or more of the power discharge modules can be removably added to the battery discharge device in parallel with others of the power discharge modules for increasing a power consumption of the battery discharge device for more quickly discharging the battery pack.

18. A method of discharging a battery pack of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a battery discharge device separate from the vehicle;

connecting the battery discharge device to the battery pack of the vehicle;

monitoring a charge state of the battery pack;

discharging the battery pack of the vehicle using the battery discharge device by discharging the battery pack at a substantially constant rate of power for a substantial output voltage range of the battery pack; and

disconnecting the battery discharge device from the vehicle when a charge of the battery pack has reached a desired threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the charge state of the battery pack is monitored by monitoring an output voltage of the battery pack.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the battery discharge device includes a plurality of power modules each having at least one resistor in series with at least one thermistor.