Battery pack safety and thermal management apparatus and method

• US 8,084,154 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Frederick Scheucher
• Original Assignee: Karl Frederick Scheucher
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Cantelmo, Gregg
• Application Number:
  US12/102,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20080213652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,353 Days
• Field of Search: 429 96-100, 429/62, 429/90
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0455 Removal or replacement of the energy storages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 : Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• 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 10/441 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 : Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 : Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 : Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 : characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 : Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 : arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 : with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6571 : Resistive heaters arrangements for heating the battery by its resistance to the internal current H01M10/637
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 : the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 : adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 : Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 : Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A process of controlling the temperature of a battery pack includes the steps of determining the operating mode and present temperature of the battery pack. Optimal temperature for the battery pack depends on the operating mode and the difference between the present temperature and the previously identified optimal temperature. The battery pack is warmed if the temperature difference (measured minus optimal) is large. The optimal time interval over which the battery pack should be warmed is a function of the operating mode and the previously calculated temperature difference. A heater is switchably operated enabling and disabling the heat generating element to warm the pack to the previously identified optimal temperature.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising:

one or more battery cells;

a pack positive electrical contact;

a pack negative electrical contact;

a fuse;

a fuse receptacle;

said fuse removably inserted into said fuse receptacle;

said fuse protecting said battery cells when said fuse is inserted in said receptacle;

said fuse rendering said battery cells in safe mode when said fuse is removed from said fuse receptacle;

a microcontroller;

said microcontroller measuring when said fuse is inserted in said receptacle;

said microcontroller measuring when said fuse is removed from said receptacle;

said microcontroller communicates with an external controller in regard to insertion status of said fuse in said receptacle and removal status of said fuse from said receptacle;

said battery pack includes hazardous material;

said microcontroller determines the amount of hazardous material in said battery pack;

and, said microcontroller communicates said amount of hazardous material in said battery pack to said external controller.

2. A battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuse receptacle is in series between said one or more battery cells and said pack positive electrical contact.

3. A battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuse receptacle is in series between said one or more battery cells and said pack negative electrical contact.

4. A battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hazardous material comprises equivalent lithium content by weight.

5. A battery pack as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a heater, a power source, a switch, said switch being under the control of said microcontroller and switchably connecting said power source to said heater.

6. A battery pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said power source is the battery cells within said battery pack.

7. A battery pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said power source is an external source selected from the group of a battery charger, an external battery, and a power supply.

8. A battery pack as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a temperature sensor;

said microcontroller measuring battery pack temperature by interrogating said temperature sensor.

9. A battery pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said microcontroller controls a first time during which said switch is closed and power is applied to said heater;

and, a second time during which said switch is open and power is removed from said heater.

10. A plurality of battery packs, each battery pack includes:

one or more battery cells;

a pack positive contact;

a pack negative electrical contact;

a fuse;

a fuse receptacle;

said fuse removably inserted into said fuse receptacle;

said fuse protecting said battery cells when said fuse is inserted in said receptacle;

said fuse rendering said battery cells in safe mode when said fuse is removed from said fuse receptacle;

each of said battery packs includes;

a microcontroller;

said microcontroller measuring when said fuse is inserted in said receptacle, and, said microcontroller measuring when said fuse is removed from said receptacle;

said microcontroller of each of said battery packs communicates with an external controller in regard to insertion status of said fuse in said receptacle and removal status of said fuse from said receptacle;

each of said battery packs includes;

hazardous material, said microcontroller determines said amount of hazardous material in said battery pack;

and, said microcontroller communicates said amount of hazardous material in said battery pack to said external controller.

11. A plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said battery packs includes said fuse receptacle in series between said battery cells and said pack positive electrical contact.

12. A plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said battery packs includes said fuse receptacle in series between said battery cells and said pack negative electrical contact.

13. A plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 10 wherein said hazardous material comprises equivalent lithium content by weight.