Heating circuits and methods based on battery discharging and charging using resonance components in series and freewheeling circuit components

• US 8,941,357 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BYD Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (BYD Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Inventors: Xu, Wenhui, Han, Yaochuan, Feng, Wei, Yang, Qinyao, Xia, Wenjin, Ma, Shibin
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US13/184,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 320/129, 320/118
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/345 Arrangements for heating thermal treatment apparatus H01L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/651 characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/657 by electric or electromagnetic means
• 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 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A circuit for heating a battery includes a switch unit, switching control module, damping component, energy storage circuit, and freewheeling circuit. The energy storage circuit is connected with the battery, and includes a current storage component and charge storage component. The damping component, switch unit, current storage component, and charge storage component are connected in series. The switching control module is connected with the switch unit, and is configured to control switching on and off of the switch unit so that current can flow back-and-forth between the battery and energy storage circuit when the switch unit switches on, and amplitude of the current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery can be controlled. The freewheeling circuit is configured to sustain the current flowing to the battery when there is current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery and after the switch unit switches off.

Claims

1. A battery heating circuit, comprising:

a switch unit, a switching control module, a damping component, an energy storage circuit, and a freewheeling circuit, wherein;

the energy storage circuit is connected with the battery in a first loop, and comprises a current storage component and a charge storage component;

the damping component, the switch unit, the current storage component, and the charge storage component are connected in series;

the switching control module is connected with the switch unit, and is configured to control switching on and off of the switch unit so that current can flow back-and-forth between the battery and the energy storage circuit when the switch unit switches on, and amplitude of the current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery can be controlled;

the freewheeling circuit is connected with the battery in a second loop, and is configured to sustain the current flowing to the battery when there is current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery and after the switch unit switches off.

2. The heating circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the damping component is a parasitic resistance in the battery, and the current storage component is a parasitic inductance in the battery.

3. The heating circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the damping component is a resistor, the current storage component is an inductor, and the charge storage component is a capacitor.

4. The heating circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the switch unit comprises a first one-way branch configured to enable current flow from the battery to the energy storage circuit and a second one-way branch configured to enable current flow from the energy storage circuit to the battery;

the switching control module is connected to the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch respectively, and is configured to control turning on and off of the connected branches.

5. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the freewheeling circuit is connected in parallel between the ends of the battery.

8. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the freewheeling circuit comprises a switch and a one-way semiconductor component connected in series with each other;

the switching control module is connected with the switch, and is configured to control the switch to switch on when there is current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery and after the switch unit switches off, and control the switch to switch off when the current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery reaches a predetermined current value.

9. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy superposition unit, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery after the switching control module controls the switch unit to switch on and then to switch off.

10. The heating circuit according to claim 9, wherein:

the energy superposition unit comprises a polarity inversion unit, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off.

11. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy transfer unit, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to an energy storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off.

12. The heating circuit according to claim 11, wherein:

the energy storage component is the battery, and the energy transfer unit comprises an electricity recharge unit, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to the energy storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off.

13. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy superposition and transfer unit connected with the energy storage circuit; and

the energy superposition and transfer unit is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to an energy storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and then superpose the remaining energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery.

14. The heating circuit according to claim 13, wherein:

the energy superposition and transfer unit comprises an energy superposition unit and an energy transfer unit;

the energy transfer unit is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to an energy storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off; and

the energy superposition unit is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose the remaining energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery after the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer.

15. The heating circuit according to claim 14, wherein:

the energy storage component is the battery, and the energy transfer unit comprises an electricity recharge unit, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to the energy storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off; and

the energy superposition unit comprises a polarity inversion unit, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component after the electricity recharge unit performs energy transfer.

16. The heating circuit according to claim 13, wherein:

the energy superposition and transfer unit comprises a DC-DC module, which is connected with the charge storage component and the battery respectively;

the switching control module is also connected with the DC-DC module, and is configured to control the operation of the DC-DC module to transfer the energy in the charge storage component to the energy storage component, and then superpose the remaining energy in the charge storage component with the energy in the battery.

17. The heating circuit according to claim 10, wherein:

the polarity inversion unit comprises a first single-pole double-throw switch and a second single-pole double-throw switch located on the two ends of the charge storage component respectively;

the input wires of the first single-pole double-throw switch are connected in the energy storage circuit, the first output wire of the first single-pole double-throw switch is connected with the first pole plate of the charge storage component, and the second output wire of the first single-pole double-throw switch is connected with the second pole plate of the charge storage component;

the input wires of the second single-pole double-throw switch are connected in the energy storage circuit, the first output wire of the second single-pole double-throw switch is connected with the second pole plate of the charge storage component, and the second output wire of the second single-pole double-throw switch is connected with the first pole plate of the charge storage component;

the switching control module is also connected with the first single-pole double-throw switch and second single-pole double-throw switch respectively, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component by altering the connection relationships between the respective input wires and output wires of the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch.

18. The heating circuit according to claim 10, wherein:

the polarity inversion unit comprises a one-way semiconductor component, a second current storage component, and a third switch;

the charge storage component, the second current storage component, and third switch are connected sequentially in series to form a loop;

the one-way semiconductor component is connected in series between the charge storage component and the second current storage component or between the second current storage component and the third switch; and

the switching control module is also connected with the third switch, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component by controlling the third switch to switch on.

19. The heating circuit according to claim 10, wherein:

the polarity inversion unit comprises a DC-DC module and a second charge storage component;

the DC-DC module is connected with the charge storage component and the second charge storage component respectively; and

the switching control module is also connected with the DC-DC module, and is configured to transfer the energy in the charge storage component to the second charge storage component by controlling the operation of the DC-DC module, and then transfer the energy in the second charge storage component back to the charge storage component, so as to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component.

20. The heating circuit according to claim 12, wherein:

the electricity recharge unit comprises a DC-DC module (3), which is connected with the charge storage component and the battery respectively; and

the switching control module (100) is also connected with the DC-DC module, and is configured to transfer the energy in the charge storage component to the battery by controlling the operation of the DC-DC module.

21. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storage component and configured to consume the energy in the charge storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off.

22. The heating circuit according to claim 21, the energy consumption unit comprises a voltage control unit, which is configured to convert the voltage across the charge storage component to a predetermined value of voltage after the switch unit switches on and then switches off.

23. The heating circuit according to claim 9, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storage component, and is configured to consume the energy in the charge storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and before the energy superposition unit performs energy superposition.

24. The heating circuit according to claim 23, wherein:

the energy consumption unit comprises a voltage control unit, which is connected with the charge storage component, and is configured to convert the voltage across the charge storage component to a predetermined value of voltage after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and before the energy superposition unit performs energy superposition.

25. The heating circuit according to claim 11, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storage component, and is configured to consume the energy in the charge storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and before the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer, or consume the energy in the charge storage component after the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer.

26. The heating circuit according to claim 25, wherein:

the energy consumption unit comprises a voltage control unit, which is connected with the charge storage component, and is configured to convert the voltage across the charge storage component to a predetermined value of voltage after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and before the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer, or convert the voltage across the charge storage component to a predetermined value of voltage after the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer.

27. The heating circuit according to claim 13, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storage component, and is configured to consume the energy in the charge storage component after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and before the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energy transfer, or consume the energy in the charge storage component after the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energy transfer and before the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energy superposition.

28. The heating circuit according to claim 27, wherein:

the energy consumption unit comprises a voltage control unit, which is connected with the charge storage component, and is configured to convert the voltage across the charge storage component to a predetermined value of voltage after the switch unit switches on and then switches off and before the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energy transfer, or convert the voltage across the charge storage component to a predetermined value of voltage after the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energy transfer and before the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energy superposition.

29. The heating circuit according to claim 22, wherein:

the voltage control unit comprises a second damping component and a fourth switch, the second damping component and the fourth switch are connected with each other in series, and then connected in parallel across the charge storage component; and

the switching control module is further connected with the fourth switch, and is configured to control the fourth switch to switch on after the control switch unit switches on and then switches off.

30. The heating circuit according to claim 9, wherein:

the switching control module is configured to control the switch unit to switch off when or after the current flow through the switch unit reaches zero after the switch unit switches on.

31. The heating circuit according to claim 4, wherein:

the heating circuit further comprises an energy limiting circuit, which is configured to limit the magnitude of the current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery.

32. The heating circuit according to claim 31, wherein:

the energy limiting circuit comprises a third current storage component, which is connected in series in the second one-way branch of the switch unit.

6. A battery heating circuit, comprising:

a switch unit, a switching control module, a damping component, an energy storage circuit, and a freewheeling circuit, wherein;

the energy storage circuit is connected with the battery, and comprises a current storage component and a charge storage component;

the damping component, the switch unit, the current storage component, and the charge storage component are connected in series;

the switching control module is connected with the switch unit, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit so that the energy can flow back-and-forth between the battery and the energy storage circuit when the switch unit switches on, and amplitude of the current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery can be controlled;

the freewheeling circuit is configured to sustain the current flowing to the battery when there is current flowing from the energy storage circuit to the battery and after the switch unit switches off;

the switch unit comprises a first one-way branch configured to enable energy flow from the battery to the energy storage circuit and a second one-way branch configured to enable energy flow from the energy storage circuit to the battery;

the switching control module is connected to the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch respectively, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the connected branches;

the switch unit comprises a first switch, a second switch, a first one-way semiconductor component, and a second one-way semiconductor component;

the first switch and the first one-way semiconductor component are connected in series with each other to form the first one-way branch, and the second switch and the second one-way semiconductor component are connected in series with each other to form the second one-way branch; and

the switching control module is connected with the first switch and the second switch to control ON/OFF of the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch by controlling ON/OFF of the first switch and the second switch.

7. The heating circuit according to claim 6, wherein:

one end of the freewheeling circuit is connected between the second switch and the second one-way semiconductor component in the second one-way branch, and the other end of the freewheeling circuit is connected to the battery.