BATTERY TARGET TEMPERATURE METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20140210481A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: BUFORD, KEITH D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,531,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining a target temperature and/or adjusting a temperature associated with a battery, such as a vehicle battery. In some implementations of such methods, a temperature-scaled battery capacity of at least a portion of a battery may be determined at a measured temperature. The temperature-scaled battery capacity may be compared with a capacity threshold and, upon determining that the temperature-scaled battery capacity is below the capacity threshold, a target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the battery may be determined and/or set.

Claims

1. A method for determining a target battery temperature, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a state of health of at least a portion of a battery;

receiving a measured temperature associated with the at least a portion of the battery;

calculating a temperature-scaled battery capacity of the at least a portion of the battery at the measured temperature;

comparing the temperature-scaled battery capacity with a capacity threshold; and

upon determining that the temperature-scaled battery capacity is below the capacity threshold, determining a target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable energy storage system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable energy storage system for an extended-electric vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the battery.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising calculating a conditioning energy comprising an estimate of the energy needed to recondition the at least a portion of the battery to the target battery temperature.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising calculating an efficiency energy comprising an estimate of the energy savings attributable to operating the battery at the target battery temperature in comparison to operating the battery at the measured temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

comparing the conditioning energy with the efficiency energy; and

upon determining that the efficiency energy exceeds the conditioning energy, setting the target battery temperature.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the efficiency energy exceeds the conditioning energy comprises determining that a ratio of the efficiency energy to the conditioning energy exceeds a threshold ratio.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising reconditioning the at least a portion of the battery to the target battery temperature after setting the target battery temperature.

10. A method for modifying a vehicle battery temperature, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a state of health of at least a portion of a vehicle battery;

receiving a measured temperature associated with the at least a portion of the vehicle battery;

calculating a temperature-scaled battery capacity of the at least a portion of the vehicle battery at the measured temperature and at the determined state of health of the vehicle battery;

comparing the temperature-scaled battery capacity with a capacity threshold;

upon determining that the temperature-scaled battery capacity is below the capacity threshold, determining a target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the vehicle battery;

calculating a conditioning energy comprising an estimate of the energy needed to recondition the at least a portion of the vehicle battery to the target battery temperature;

calculating an efficiency energy comprising an estimate of the energy savings attributable to operating the vehicle at the target battery temperature in comparison to operating the vehicle at the measured temperature;

comparing the conditioning energy with the efficiency energy;

upon determining that a ratio of the efficiency energy to the conditioning energy exceeds a threshold ratio, setting the target battery temperature to recondition the at least a portion of the vehicle battery to the target battery temperature.

11. A system for modifying a vehicle battery temperature, comprising:

a vehicle battery system comprising at least one vehicle battery;

a battery temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of at least a portion of the vehicle battery system;

a battery conditioning system configured to receive information from the battery temperature sensor and modify a temperature of the at least a portion of the vehicle battery system,

wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to calculate a temperature-scaled battery capacity of the at least a portion of the battery at the sensed temperature,

wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to compare the temperature-scaled battery capacity with a capacity threshold, and

wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to, upon determining that the temperature-scaled battery capacity is below the capacity threshold, determining a target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the battery.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the battery conditioning system, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data used to determine a state of health of the vehicle battery, and wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to use the state of health of the vehicle battery to calculate the temperature-scaled battery capacity.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the battery conditioning system is further configured to calculate a conditioning energy comprising an estimate of the energy needed to recondition the at least a portion of the vehicle battery to the target battery temperature.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an ambient temperature sensor configured to sense an ambient temperature associated with the vehicle, wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to calculate the conditioning energy using at least the ambient temperature, a current temperature of at least a portion of the vehicle battery system sensed from the battery temperature sensor, and the target battery temperature.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the battery conditioning system is further configured to calculate an efficiency energy comprising an estimate of the energy savings attributable to operating the vehicle at the target battery temperature in comparison to operating the vehicle at the sensed temperature.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to calculate the efficiency energy using at least an estimated change in a battery capacity of the at least one vehicle battery between the sensed battery temperature and the target battery temperature.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the battery conditioning system is further configured to compare the conditioning energy with the efficiency energy and, upon determining that the efficiency energy exceeds the conditioning energy, set the target battery temperature to recondition the at least a portion of the vehicle battery to the target battery temperature.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery conditioning system is configured to compare the conditioning energy with the efficiency energy and, upon determining that a ratio of the efficiency energy to the conditioning energy exceeds a threshold ratio, set the target battery temperature to recondition the at least a portion of the vehicle battery to the target battery temperature.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a battery heating system communicatively coupled with the battery conditioning system and configured to modify a temperature of at least a portion of the vehicle battery.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the battery heating system comprises:

a heat transfer fluid;

a pump configured to pump the heat transfer fluid through the vehicle battery system; and

a heater configured to heat the heat transfer fluid.