Battery system and driving method thereof

• US 9,246,197 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoon, Jihyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohaddes, Ladan
• Application Number:
  US12/817,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20110189511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 429/50, 429/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4228 Leak testing of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/60 Heating or cooling; Temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/61 Types of temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• 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 battery system capable of cooling overheated battery packs among a plurality battery packs each mounted in a battery case by measuring temperatures of the battery packs is disclosed, and a driving method thereof is provided. In one embodiment, the battery system includes a plurality of battery packs, an air compressor for supplying a compressed cooling air to the plurality of battery packs, a gas dividing unit coupled between the plurality of battery packs and the air compressor and including a plurality of valves, and a controller for controlling opening and closing of each of the plurality of valves according to temperatures of the plurality of battery packs.

Claims

1. A battery system comprising:

a plurality of battery packs;

an air compressor configured to supply a compressed cooling air to the plurality of battery packs;

a gas dividing unit coupled between the plurality of battery packs and the air compressor, the gas dividing unit comprising a plurality of valves, each of the valves being located between a corresponding one of the battery packs and the air compressor; and

a controller configured to control opening and closing of each of the plurality of valves according to temperatures of the plurality of battery packs,

wherein the controller is configured to open a corresponding one of the valves when a temperature of a battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is higher than a first reference temperature, and

wherein a first battery pack of the plurality of battery packs comprises a plurality of battery cells, an entrance part for receiving a gas into the first battery pack, an exit part for discharging a gas out of the first battery pack, and a distribution member located inside the entrance part, the distribution member being configured to cause the gas to directly contact the battery cells in the first battery pack,

wherein a second battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is located farther from the gas dividing unit than the first battery pack and comprises an entrance part for receiving a gas into the second battery pack,

the battery system further comprising;

a first entrance pipe coupled to the entrance part of the first battery pack, the first entrance pipe being configured to receive gas from the gas dividing unit and to distribute gas to the first battery pack, and

a second entrance pipe coupled to the entrance part of the second battery pack, the second entrance pipe being configured to receive gas from the gas dividing unit and to distribute gas to the second battery pack,

the second battery pack being farther from the gas dividing unit than the first battery pack,

a diameter of the second entrance pipe being larger than a diameter of the first entrance pipe,

wherein the gas dividing unit further comprises an extinguishing unit for supplying a compressed extinguishing gas to the plurality of battery packs,

wherein the controller is configured to open a valve of the extinguishing unit when a temperature of at least one of the plurality of battery packs is higher than a second reference temperature, the second reference temperature being higher than the first reference temperature.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open a valve of the air compressor when a temperature of at least one of the plurality of battery packs is higher than a first reference temperature.

3. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open a corresponding one of the valves when a gas is generated from a battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.

4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open a valve of the air compressor when a gas is generated from at least one of the plurality of battery packs.

5. The battery system of claim 1, further comprising a first exit pipe, coupled to the exit part of the first battery pack, for discharging gas out of the first battery pack, wherein a diameter of the first exit pipe is equal to or greater than a diameter of the first entrance pipe.

6. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open a corresponding one of the plurality of valves when a temperature of a battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is higher than a second reference temperature.

7. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the extinguishing gas is a compressed incombustible gas selected from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), argon (Ar), neon (Ne), helium (He), krypton (Kr), and a combination thereof.