Methodology for charging batteries safely
First Claim
1. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that charges a collection of interconnected battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection;
b) a monitoring system evaluating said set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and
c) a controller comparing said set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, said controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when said comparing has a predetermined relationship to said set of predetermined profiles,wherein the set of data parameters is measured during a charge cycle that begins with V<
Vmax and deltaT<
(deltaT)max, wherein deltaT is a maximum difference in temperature between the cells throughout the collection and an ambient temperature, wherein (deltaT)max is a maximum acceptable difference in temperature that affects a change in voltage or current during charging, (deltaT)max being determined through testing and contained in a look-up table, and wherein the controller verifies that a charge current has not decreased or been interrupted, and that no additional load has been introduced, before establishing the internal-short state.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that charges a collection of interconnected battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; b) a monitoring system evaluating said set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and c) a controller comparing said set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, said controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when said comparing has a predetermined relationship to said set of predetermined profiles, wherein the set of data parameters is measured during a charge cycle that begins with V<
Vmax and deltaT<
(deltaT)max, wherein deltaT is a maximum difference in temperature between the cells throughout the collection and an ambient temperature, wherein (deltaT)max is a maximum acceptable difference in temperature that affects a change in voltage or current during charging, (deltaT)max being determined through testing and contained in a look-up table, and wherein the controller verifies that a charge current has not decreased or been interrupted, and that no additional load has been introduced, before establishing the internal-short state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21)
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7. A fault-detection method for a charging system that charges a collection of interconnected battery cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; b) evaluating said set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; c) comparing said set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection; and d) establishing an internal-short state for the collection when said comparing step identifies a predetermined relationship of said set of data parameters to said set of predetermined profiles, wherein the set of data parameters is measured during a charge cycle that begins with V<
Vmax and deltaT<
(deltaT)max, wherein deltaT is a maximum difference in temperature between the cells throughout the collection and an ambient temperature wherein (deltaT)max is a maximum acceptable difference in temperature that affects a change in voltage or current during charging, (deltaT)max being determined through testing and contained in a look-up table, and wherein it is verified that a charge current has not decreased or been interrupted, and that no additional load has been introduced, before establishing the internal-short state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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Specification