Control method of battery-system for improving safety

• US 8,212,524 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ha, Jin Woong, Kim, Jeeho, Shin, Yongshik
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/310,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,767 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/118, 320/119, 320/121
• US Class Current: 320/118
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a method of controlling the operation of battery modules in a battery system, which includes two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies, wherein the battery system further includes energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy, and the method includes, when a specific battery module or a specific battery module assembly is abnormally operated, connecting the abnormally operated battery module or the abnormally operated battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy, and a battery system that is capable of performing the battery system control method.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operation of battery modules in a battery system comprising two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies, wherein:

(A) the battery system further comprises energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy, and

(B) the method comprises, when a specific battery module or a specific battery module assembly is abnormally operated, connecting the abnormally operated battery module or the abnormally operated battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy, and

(C) during the abnormal operation of the specific battery module or the specific battery module assembly;

(1) the battery module or the battery module assembly exhibits a voltage difference of 200 mV or more or an abrupt battery capacity reduction of 30% or more as compared to the remaining battery modules or the remaining battery module assemblies, or

(2) the temperature of the battery module or the battery module assembly is increased to 70°

C. or more, or the temperature of the battery module or the battery module assembly is gradually increased and is then sharply increased, or

(3) the communication between a master BMS and the battery module or the battery module assembly is interrupted,

wherein;

(a) each battery module assembly comprises a plurality of battery modules connected in series with each other, the respective battery module assemblies are connected in parallel to the external circuit, and the battery system further includes an upper control unit located at the connection region between the external circuit and the respective battery module assemblies for controlling the operation of the battery module assemblies;

(b) the battery modules, constituting each battery module assembly, comprise lower control units for controlling the operation of the respective battery modules, and the lower control units are connected to the upper control unit; and

(c) when the abnormal operation of a specific battery module is confirmed by the corresponding lower control unit, the upper control unit interrupts the connection between the battery module assembly, to which the abnormally operated battery module belongs, and the external circuit and connects the battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the battery modules are connected in parallel to an external circuit, and

the battery system further includes a control unit located at the connection region between the external circuit and the respective battery modules for controlling the operation of the battery modules.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising

when the abnormal operation of the specific battery module is confirmed, disconnecting the battery module from the external circuit and connecting the battery module to the corresponding energy consuming load by the control unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

performing a cooling process using a cooling unit to remove heat generated during the forcible discharge of the charged energy.

5. A high-output, large-capacity battery system comprising:

two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies;

energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy; and

a control unit for controlling the operation of the battery module assemblies by disconnecting the battery module from the external circuit and connecting the battery module to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy when the abnormal operation of the specific battery module as defined in claim 1 is confirmed, the control unit being located at the connection region between the external circuit and the respective battery module assemblies.

6. The battery system according to claim 5, wherein the battery system is used as a charging and discharging power source for hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, uninterruptible power supplies, idle reduction devices, or energy storage devices.

7. A method of controlling the operation of battery modules in a battery system, comprising two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies, wherein:

(A) the battery system further comprises energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy, and

(B) the method comprises, when a specific battery module or a specific battery module assembly is abnormally operated, connecting the abnormally operated battery module or the abnormally operated battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy, and

(C) during the abnormal operation of the specific battery module or the specific battery module assembly;

(1) the battery module or the battery module assembly exhibits a voltage difference of 200 mV or more or an abrupt battery capacity reduction of 30% or more as compared to the remaining battery modules or the remaining battery module assemblies, or

(2) the temperature of the battery module or the battery module assembly is increased to 70°

C. or more, or the temperature of the battery module or the battery module assembly is gradually increased and is then sharply increased, or

(3) the communication between a master BMS and the battery module or the battery module assembly is interrupted, wherein;

(a) each battery module assembly comprises a plurality of battery modules connected in series with each other, the respective battery module assemblies are connected in parallel to the external circuit, and the battery system further includes an upper control unit located at the connection region between the external circuit and the respective battery module assemblies for controlling the operation of the battery module assemblies;

(b) the battery modules, constituting each battery module assembly, comprise lower control units for controlling the operation of the respective battery modules, and the lower control units are connected to the upper control unit; and

(c) when the abnormal operation of a specific battery module is confirmed by the corresponding lower control unit, the upper control unit interrupts the connection between the battery module assembly, to which the abnormally operated battery module belongs, and the external circuit and connects the battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load; and

wherein each energy consunming load is a flywheel that is capable of backing energy up.