Method and device for localizing a defect in an electrochemical store and defect localization system

• US 9,709,455 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sahner, Kathy, Liemersdorf, Dirk, Grimminger, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, RYAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/394,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/002 by using thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4228 Leak testing of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for localizing a defect in an electrochemical store (165). The method includes a step of controlling the temperature of a subarea (145, 150, 155, 160, 170) of the electrochemical store (165) to increase an internal pressure of the subarea (145, 150, 155, 160, 170), a step of detecting a measured value which represents an escape of a component from the subarea (145, 150, 155, 160, 170) occurring in response to the increased internal pressure of the subarea (145, 150, 155, 160, 170), and a step of localizing the defect in the subarea (145, 150, 155, 160, 170) when the measured value is in a predetermined relation to a comparison value.

Claims

1. A method for localizing a defect in an electrochemical store, the method comprising:

controlling a temperature of a subarea of the electrochemical store to increase an internal pressure of the subarea, wherein the controlling of the temperature of the subarea is performed in a targeted manner, such that at least one further subarea of the electrochemical store is excluded;

detecting a measured value representing an escape of a component from the subarea occurring in response to the increased internal pressure of the subarea; and

localizing the defect in the subarea when the measured value is in a predetermined relation to a comparison value.

2. A defect localization system, comprising:

a device for localizing a defect in an electrochemical store, the device including;

an interface for outputting a temperature control signal for controlling a temperature of at least one of a subarea and at least one further subarea of the electrochemical store to increase an internal pressure of the at least one of the subarea and the at least one further subarea in response to the temperature control signal;

an interface for at least one of;

reading in a measured value representing an escape of a component from the subarea occurring in response to the increased internal pressure of the subarea, and

reading in at least one further measured value representing an escape of a component from the at least one further subarea occurring in response to the increased internal pressure of the at least one further subarea, and an interface for outputting at least one of;

a piece of localization information about a localization of the defect in the subarea when the measured value is in a predetermined relation to a comparison value, and

a piece of localization information about a localization of the defect in the at least one further subarea when the at least one further measured value is in a predetermined relation to the comparison value; and

a temperature control device for controlling one of the temperature of the subarea and the at least one further subarea in response to the temperature control signal, wherein the temperature control device includes an interconnecting device for interconnecting the subarea and the at least one further subarea of the electrochemical store in different interconnection states, wherein in a first interconnection state the subarea and the further subarea are situated in a load path to which an electrical current is appliable, and wherein in a second interconnection state only the subarea is situated in the load path to which the electrical current is applicable.

3. The defect localization system as recited in claim 2, wherein, in the second interconnection state, a third subarea of the electrochemical store is situated in the load path to which the electrical current is appliable.

4. The defect localization system as recited in claim 3, wherein, in a third interconnection state, a fourth subarea of the electrochemical store is situated in the load path to which the electrical current is appliable.