Method for Heating Energy Storage Cells of an Energy Storage System, and Heatable Energy Storage System

• US 20150044520A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Feuerstack, Peter, Partes, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 9,413,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• 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: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/637 characterised by the use of reversible temperature-sensitive devices, e.g. NTC, PTC or bimetal devices; characterised by control of the internal current flowing through the cells, e.g. by switching means for preventing undesired use or discharge H01M50/572
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/65 Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method for heating energy storage cells of an energy storage system configured to generate an n-phase supply voltage. The energy storage system including n energy supply branches connected in parallel. Each energy supply branch coupled between an output connection and an equipotential frame, and each of the energy supply branches including a plurality of series-connected energy storage modules. Each energy storage module including an energy storage cell module having at least one energy storage cell and a coupling device having coupling elements configured to selectively connect or bridge the energy storage cell module in a respective energy supply branch. The method includes connecting the output connections of the energy storage system to input connections of an n-phase electrical machine, and coupling the output connections via a neutral point of the electrical machine.

Claims

1. A method for heating energy storage cells of an energy storage device configured to generate an n-phase supply voltage, wherein n≧

1, the energy storage device including n parallel-connected energy supply branches each coupled between an output connection and a reference potential rail, wherein each of the energy supply branches includes a multiplicity of series-connected energy storage modules, each energy storage module including (i) an energy storage cell module having at least one energy storage cell, and (ii) a coupling device having coupling elements configured to selectively switch the energy storage cell module into a respective energy supply branch or to bypass the respective energy supply branch, the method comprising;

connecting the output connections of the energy storage device to input connections of an n-phase electric machine and coupling the output connections via a neutral point of the electric machine; and

actuating the coupling devices of at least one energy storage module of a first energy supply branch to switch respective energy storage cell modules into the first energy supply branch, and simultaneously actuating the coupling devices of at least one energy storage module of a second energy supply branch to switch respective energy storage cell modules into the second energy supply branch for a first predetermined time period.

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

actuating the coupling devices of the at least one energy storage module of the second energy supply branch to bypass the respective energy storage cell modules in the second energy supply branch for a second predetermined time period, after the first predetermined time period has elapsed.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined time period is shorter than a quotient of an inductance and a nonreactive resistance of the inductive components of the electric machine.

4. The method as claimed in any of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the at least one energy storage module of the first energy supply branch and the at least one energy storage module of the second energy supply branch to provide the n-phase supply voltage for the electric machine.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method is performed if a temperature of the energy storage cells falls below a first predetermined limit value.

6. The method as claimed in any of claim 5, wherein the actuating the coupling devices of the at least one energy storage module of the second energy supply branch to switch the respective energy storage cell modules into the second energy supply branch and the actuating the coupling devices of the at least one energy storage module of the second energy supply branch to bypass the respective energy storage cell modules in the second energy supply branch are alternated until a temperature of energy storage cells of at least one energy storage module in question exceeds a second predetermined limit value.

7. A system, comprising:

an n-phase electric machine, wherein n≧

1;

an energy storage device configured to generate an n-phase supply voltage, the energy storage device including n parallel-connected energy supply branches each coupled between an output connection and a reference potential rail, each of the energy supply branches including a multiplicity of series-connected energy storage modules, each energy storage module including (i) an energy storage cell module having at least one energy storage cell, and (ii) a coupling device having coupling elements configured to selectively switch the energy storage cell module into a respective energy supply branch or to bypass the respective energy supply branch;

n phase lines each configured to couple one of the output connections of the energy storage device to one of n phase connections of the n-phase electric machine; and

a control device is configured to perform a method for heating the energy storage cells of the energy storage device including

connecting the output connections of the energy storage device to input connections of the n-phase electric machine and coupling the output connections via a neutral point of the electric machine, and

actuating the coupling devices of at least one energy storage module of a first energy supply branch to switch respective energy storage cell modules into the first energy supply branch, and simultaneously actuating the coupling devices of at least one energy storage module of a second energy supply branch to switch respective energy storage cell modules into the second energy supply branch for a first predetermined time period.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coupling devices comprise coupling elements in a full-bridge circuit.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coupling devices comprise coupling elements in a half-bridge circuit.

10. The system as claimed in any of claim 7, wherein the energy storage cells comprise lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.