Battery heating circuits and methods based on battery discharging and charging using resonance components in series and current limiting components

• US 9,209,103 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BYD Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Inventors: Xu, Wenhui, Han, Yaochuan, Feng, Wei, Yang, Qinyao, Xia, Wenjin, Ma, Shibin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US13/187,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/129
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 the battery including parasitic damping and current storage components, a switch unit, a switching control component coupled to the switch unit, a charge storage component, and a current limiting circuit. The damping component, current storage component, switch unit, and charge storage component are connected. The switching control component is configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control a first current flowing from the battery to the first charge storage component and a second current flowing from the first charge storage component to the battery. The current limiting circuit is configured to limit the second current flowing from the charge storage component to the battery. The circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging and charging the battery.

Claims

1. A circuit for heating a battery, the circuit comprising:

the battery including a first damping component and a first current storage component, the first damping component and the first current storage component being parasitic to the battery, the battery including a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal;

a switch unit;

a switching control component coupled to the switch unit;

a first charge storage component including a first storage terminal and a second storage terminal, the first charge storage component and the first current storage component being at least parts of an energy storage circuit; and

a current limiting circuit;

wherein;

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

the switching control component is configured to turn on the switch unit so as to control a first current flowing from the battery to the first charge storage component and a second current flowing from the first charge storage component to the battery; and

the current limiting circuit is configured to limit the second current flowing from the first charge storage component to the battery;

wherein the circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging and charging the battery;

wherein the switch unit includes a first branch circuit for conduction in a first direction and a second branch circuit for conduction in a second direction, the first direction being from the battery to the first charge storage component, the second direction being from the first charge storage component to the battery;

wherein the current limiting circuit includes a second current storage component connected in series with the second branch circuit;

wherein;

the first branch circuit includes a first switch and a first one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the first switch, the first switch being coupled to the switching control component; and

the second branch circuit includes a second one-way semiconductor component;

wherein the switching control component is further configured to turn on and off the first branch circuit by turning on and off the first switch respectively;

the second branch circuit further includes a second switch coupled to the switching control component and connected in series with the second one-way semiconductor component;

wherein the switching control component is further configured to turn on and off the second branch circuit by turning on and off the second switch respectively;

the circuit for heating the battery further comprising;

a third one-way semiconductor component coupled to the second switch and the second current storage component;

a fourth one-way semiconductor component coupled to the second one-way semiconductor component and the second current storage component;

a third switch coupled to the third one-way semiconductor component and the battery; and

a fourth switch coupled to the fourth one-way semiconductor component and the battery;

wherein;

the switching control component is coupled to the third switch and further configured to turn on and off the third switch; and

the switching control component is coupled to the fourth switch and further configured to turn on and off the fourth switch.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the first damping component is a parasitic resistor of the battery; and

the first current storage component is a parasitic inductor of the battery.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the first charge storage component is a capacitor.

4. The circuit of claim 1 and further comprising a freewheeling circuit configured to allow a freewheeling current to flow to the battery after the second branch circuit is turned off.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the freewheeling circuit is coupled to the battery and the second branch circuit, and is configured to allow the freewheeling current to flow through the current limiting circuit.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switching control component is further configured to:

turn on the first switch to allow the first current to flow from the battery to the first charge storage component;

turn off the first switch and turn on the second switch to allow the second current to flow from the first charge storage component to the battery;

if a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component drops to a predetermined voltage level in magnitude, turn off the second switch and turn on the third switch; and

if a third current flowing through the second current storage component reaches zero in magnitude, turn off the third switch and turn on the second switch and the fourth switch to invert a voltage polarity of the storage voltage.

7. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switching control component is further configured to:

turn on the first switch to allow the first current to flow from the battery to the first charge storage component;

turn off the first switch and turn on the second switch to allow the second current to flow from the first charge storage component to the battery;

if a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component drops to a predetermined voltage level in magnitude, turn off the second switch and turn on the third switch;

if a third current flowing through the second current storage component drops to a first predetermined current level in magnitude, turn off the third switch and turn on the second switch and the fourth switch, the first predetermined current level being larger than zero in magnitude;

if the third current rises to a second predetermined current level in magnitude, turn off the fourth switch so that the third current flows to the battery, the second predetermined current level being larger than the first predetermined current level in magnitude; and

if the third current reaches zero in magnitude, turn on the second switch and the fourth switch to invert a voltage polarity of the storage voltage.

8. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy superposition unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery.

9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the energy superposition unit includes a polarity inversion unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, invert a voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component.

10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes:

a first single-pole double-throw switch including a first input wire, a first output wire, and a second output wire, the first input wire being coupled, directly or indirectly, to the first battery terminal, the first output wire and the second output wire being coupled to the first storage terminal and the second storage terminal respectively; and

a second single-pole double-throw switch including a second input wire, a third output wire, and a fourth output wire, the second input wire being coupled, directly or indirectly, to the second battery terminal, the third output wire and the fourth output wire being coupled to the second storage terminal and the first storage terminal respectively;

wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by altering connection relationships among the first input wire, the first output wire, the second output wire, the second input wire, the third output wire, and the fourth output wire.

11. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes:

a third current storage component;

a fifth switch; and

a fifth one-way semiconductor component connected between the first charge storage component and the third current storage component or between the third current storage component and the fifth switch;

wherein;

the first charge storage component, the fifth one-way semiconductor component, the third current storage component, and the fifth switch are at least parts of a polarity inversion loop; and

the switching control component is coupled to the fifth switch and is configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by turning on the fifth switch.

12. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes:

a second charge storage component; and

a first DC-DC module coupled to the second charge storage component and the first charge storage component;

wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first DC-DC module and configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by transferring energy from the first charge storage component to the second charge storage component and then transferring the energy from the second charge storage component back to the first charge storage component.

13. The circuit of claim 8, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.

14. The circuit of claim 13 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unit configured to regulate the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.

15. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the voltage control unit includes:

a second damping component; and

a fifth switch connected in series with the second damping component;

wherein the first charge storage component is connected in parallel with a combination of the second damping component and the fifth switch.

16. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switching control component is configured to:

turn on the switch unit to allow at least the second current to flow from the first charge storage component to the battery; and

then, turn off the switch unit when or after the second current decreases to zero in magnitude.

17. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy transfer unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer first energy from the first charge storage component to an energy storage component.

18. The circuit of claim 17 wherein:

the energy storage component includes the battery; and

the energy transfer unit includes an electricity recharge unit coupled to the battery and configured to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

19. The circuit of claim 18 wherein:

the electricity recharge unit includes a DC-DC module coupled to the first charge storage component and the battery; and

the switching control component is coupled to the DC-DC module and configured to control the DC-DC module to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery.

20. The circuit of claim 17, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

21. The circuit of claim 20 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the energy transfer unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

22. The circuit of claim 20 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off and after the energy transfer unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

23. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy transfer and superposition unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer first energy from the first charge storage component to an energy storage component and then adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery.

24. The circuit of claim 23 wherein:

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

the energy transfer unit is coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component; and

the energy superposition unit is coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to adjust the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that the positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the negative voltage terminal of the battery.

25. The circuit of claim 24 wherein:

the energy storage component includes the battery; and

the energy transfer unit includes an electricity recharge unit coupled to the battery and configured to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

26. The circuit of claim 23 wherein:

the energy storage component includes the battery;

the energy transfer and superposition unit includes a DC-DC module coupled to the first charge storage component and the battery; and

the switching control component is coupled to the DC-DC module and configured to control the DC-DC module to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery and then adjust the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that the positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the negative voltage terminal of the battery.

27. The circuit of claim 23, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

28. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the energy transfer and superposition unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

29. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off and after the energy transfer and superposition unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

30. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

31. The circuit of claim 30 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unit configured to regulate a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

32. The circuit of claim 1 is further configured to:

start heating the battery if at least one heating start condition is satisfied; and

stop heating the battery if at least one heating stop condition is satisfied.