Method for extending the useful life of a chargeable energy storage unit

• US 8,802,252 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Froeschl, Joachim, Scharner, Sebastian, Christ, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, KWANG S
• Application Number:
  US12/371,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20090208817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/06 with one of the electrodes allowing ions to be reversibly doped thereinto, e.g. lithium ion capacitors [LIC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

A method is provided for extending the useful life of a rechargeable energy storage unit for use in a motor vehicle, such as, in particular, a double layer capacitor, a lithium ion storage unit, a lithium ion capacitor or a NiMH storage unit, which exhibits a plurality of storage cells. In order to extend the useful life of the energy storage unit, it is proposed that the temperature and/or storage capacity of each of the storage cells be measured. If the temperature of a storage cell exceeds a reference value for the temperature of the storage cell on the storage cell is partially discharged, and, in this way, its voltage is reduced.

Claims

1. A method for extending a useful life of a rechargeable energy storage unit having a plurality of storage cells, comprising:

measuring a temperature of each of the storage cells, wherein each of the storage cells is provided with a respective temperature monitor;

determining whether the measured temperatures from the respective temperature monitors exceed a reference value for the temperature of each respective storage cell; and

if the temperature of at least one of the plurality storage cells exceeds its respective reference value, determining which storage cell of the at least one of the plurality of storage cells which exceeds its temperature reference value has the highest temperature of all of the plurality of storage cells;

partially discharging only the storage cell having the highest temperature of all of the plurality of storage cells to reduce the voltage of the storage cell having the highest temperature; and

increasing voltages of the remaining storage cells by a voltage that is determined by dividing the amount of voltage decrease of the storage cell with the highest temperature by (n−

1), where n is the number of storage cells in the plurality of storage cells.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the storage cell of the plurality of storage cells having at least one of the highest temperature and the lowest capacity has a predetermined maximum voltage and predetermined minimum voltage, respectively.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the predetermined maximum voltage of the storage cell of the plurality of storage cells having the highest temperature and/or the predetermined minimum voltage of the storage cell of the plurality of storage cells having the lowest capacity are different from the voltages of the remaining storage cells of the plurality of storage cells.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of storage cells is provided with a discharge unit which discharges to ground,

further comprising determining with at least one discharge unit an actual voltage of at least one of the plurality of storage cells and minimum and maximum voltages during operation of the at least one of the plurality of storage cells.

5. A system for supplying voltage to a vehicle, comprising:

a rechargeable energy storage unit having a plurality of storage cells, wherein each of the storage cells is provided with a respective temperature monitor,

wherein the rechargeable energy storage unit is configured to

measure a temperature of each of the storage cells from the respective temperature monitors;

determine whether the measured temperatures exceed a reference value for the temperature of each respective storage cell;

if the temperature of at least one of the plurality storage cells exceeds its respective reference value, determine which storage cell of the at least one of the plurality of storage cells which exceeds its temperature reference value has the highest temperature of all of the plurality of storage cells;

partially discharge only the storage cell having the highest temperature of all of the plurality of storage cells that exceeds its respective reference value to reduce the voltage of the storage cell having the highest temperature; and

increase voltages of the remaining storage cells by a voltage determined by dividing the amount of voltage decrease of the storage cell with the highest temperature by (n−

1), where n is the number of storage cells in the plurality of storage cells.