Method for Regenerating NIMH Batteries

• US 20160322675A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bluelife Battery S.L.
• Original Assignee: Bluelife Battery S.L.
• Inventors: GOMEZ PEREZ, Rodrigo, MAZRTIN, Alfredo Omaa
• Application Number:
  US15/106,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20160322675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4242 Regeneration of electrolyte or reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/253 adapted for specific cells, e.g. electrochemical cells operating at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for regenerating a Ni-Mh battery with a plurality of modules. The method comprises the steps of: performing, by at least one discharger, a first discharge of each of the battery modules at a first discharge rate until each module reaches a first predetermined cut-off voltage; performing, by at least one discharger, a second discharge at a second discharge rate, less than that used in step a), until each module passes from the first cut-off voltage to a second predetermined cut-off voltage; after the second discharge, cooling the modules for a determined cooling time until the temperature of the modules is below a threshold temperature; and after cooling, fully charging said modules at a determined charging current by means of at least one charger.

Claims

1. A method for the regeneration of a Ni-Mh battery with a plurality of modules, said method being characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

a) performing, by means of at least one discharger, a first discharge of each of the battery modules at a first discharge rate until each module reaches a first predetermined cut-off voltage;

b) performing, by means of at least one discharger, a second discharge, at a second discharge rate, lower than that used in step a), until each module passes from the first cut-off voltage to a second predetermined cut-off voltage;

c) after the second discharge, cooling the modules, establishing a first determined rest period, until the temperature of the modules is below a threshold temperature;

d) once the modules are cooled, fully charging said modules to a determined charge rate, by at least one charger.

2. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises the step of:

e) once completed the charge of step d), cooling the modules for a second determined rest period until their temperature is below the temperature threshold.

3. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises the prior steps of:

fully charging the plurality of battery modules in the same way as step d);

after charging, cooling the modules for a third determined rest period before performing the discharge of step a) so that said modules can lower their temperature to at least the temperature threshold.

4. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises the balancing of the battery, for said balancing the discharge of step a) is repeated and it is verified that the modules have a similar capacity and with no great amperage differences between them, 0.3A being the maximum acceptable amperage difference.

5. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the temperature threshold is established at 20 degrees Celsius.

6. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the Ni-Mh battery to be regenerated has a total voltage of 201 volts and 6.5 Ah capacity.

7. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the first discharge rate of step a) is 6.5 amperes and the first cut-off voltage is set at 5.4 volts.

8. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the second discharge rate of step b) is 0.60 amperes and the second cut-off voltage is set at 2.4 volts.

9. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the first rest period of step c) so that the modules lower their temperature to the threshold is set at, at least, 2 hours.

10. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the charging current of step d) is in a range of 0.5 amperes to 5 amperes.

11. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the second rest period so that the modules lower their temperature below the threshold is set at, at least, 48 hours.

12. The method, according to claim 1, characterised in that the third rest period so that the modules lower their temperature below the threshold is set at, at least, 24 hours.

13. The method, according to claim 5, characterised in that the capacity and the total battery voltage is achieved by 28 elements connected in series, each element having 6 cells connected in turn in series with a 1.2 V voltage and 6.5 Ah capacity each.

14. The method, according to claim 13, characterised in that the battery is connected to a hybrid vehicle that can be electrically powered.

15. A computer program characterised in that it comprises adapted program code means to perform the steps of the method, according to claim 1, when said program is run on a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an FPGA, an ASIC, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or any other form of programmable hardware.