SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY USAGE REGULATION FOR BATTERY LIFE PROTECTION

• US 20170101027A1
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhou, Lining, Books, Martin T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,023,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus of managing the lifespan of a battery are disclosed herein. A method comprises interpreting age data indicative of a current age of a battery, interpreting usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery, comparing the age data to the usage data, and allocating a propelling power from the battery in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) responsive to the comparison.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an age data module structured to interpret age data indicative of a current age of a battery;

a usage data module structured to interpret usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery;

a comparison module structured to compare the age data to the usage data; and

an allocation module structured to allocate a propelling power from the battery in a vehicle responsive to the comparison.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the age data includes a period of time since the battery began use in the vehicle, or a distance that the battery has travelled with the vehicle, or both.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the usage data includes a current cumulative throughput of the battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the usage data includes a current state of health (SOH) of the battery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the comparison module is further structured to determine a first percentage of the current age in a target life expectancy of the battery, to determine a second percentage of the current usage in a target end-of-life total usage of the battery, and to compare the first percentage to the second percentage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the allocation module is further structured to derate a power limit of the battery available to propel the vehicle responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the allocation module is further structured to stop use of the battery in operations that consume battery life quickly responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a collection module structured to collect the age data and the usage data for a period of time, wherein during the period of time, operation of the vehicle is free of regulation of usage of the battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

10. A system, comprising:

a battery;

a battery monitor coupled to the battery; and

a controller communicably coupled to the battery and the battery monitor, the controller structured to;

interpret age data indicative of a current age of the battery received from the battery monitor;

interpret usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery received from the battery monitor;

compare the age data to the usage data; and

allocate a propelling power from the battery in a vehicle responsive to the comparison.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further structured to:

determine a first percentage of the current age in a target life expectancy of the battery;

determine a second percentage of the current usage in a target end-of-life total usage of the battery; and

compare the first percentage to the second percentage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further structured to:

derate a power limit of the battery available to propel the vehicle responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further structured to:

stop use of the battery in operations that consume battery life quickly responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further structured to:

collect the age data and the usage data for a period of time, wherein during the period of time, operation of the vehicle is free of regulation of usage of the battery.

15. A method comprising:

interpreting age data indicative of a current age of a battery;

interpreting usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery;

comparing the age data to the usage data; and

allocating a propelling power from the battery in a vehicle responsive to the comparison.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the first data to the second data includes:

determining a first percentage of the current age in a target life expectancy of the battery;

determining a second percentage of the current usage in a target end-of-life total usage of the battery; and

comparing the first percentage to the second percentage.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said allocating the propelling power from the battery in the vehicle responsive to the comparison includes:

re-allocating the propelling power if the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold; and

maintaining a current allocation of the propelling power if the second percentage does not exceeds the first percentage beyond the threshold.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said allocating the propelling power includes:

derating a power limit of the battery available to propel the vehicle responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said allocating the propelling power includes:

stopping use of the battery in operations that consume battery life quickly responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

collecting the age data and the usage data for a period of time, wherein during the period of time, operation of the vehicle is free of regulation of usage of the battery.