Motor vehicle, battery, and method for controlling a battery

• US 9,744,875 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schmidt, Ralph, Hasenkopf, Dirk, Butzmann, Stefan, Fink, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBER, TAMARA L
• Application Number:
  US14/369,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• 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 comprises a number n of battery module strings, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two. The battery module strings have several battery modules, and one battery module has a coupling unit. The coupling unit is configured as a voltage transformer and couples the battery modules to each other. A method of controlling the battery includes supplying a load connected to the battery with a predefined and substantially constant total power. The total power corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings. The method further includes setting n−1 string voltages, which are each present at the n−1 battery module strings, according to the total power, the load, and by defining a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase position. At least two of the n individual powers are asymmetrical to each other.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a battery comprising a number n of battery module strings which have a plurality of battery modules, each battery module having a coupling unit configured as a voltage converter and configured to couple the battery modules to one another, the method comprising:

supplying a load, which is connected to the battery, with a predetermined and substantially constant total power, the total power corresponding to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings; and

adjusting n−

1 string voltages which are present in each case at n−

1 battery module strings, by the total power, the load and by setting a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase relation,

wherein at least two of the n individual powers are unbalanced with respect to one another, and

wherein n is a natural number and is greater than or equal to two.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the n battery module strings is charged by the other battery module strings via the load.

3. A battery comprising:

a number n of battery module strings which have a plurality of battery modules, each battery module having a coupling unit configured as a voltage converter and configured to couple the battery modules to one another,

wherein n is a natural number and is greater than or equal to two,

wherein the battery is configured to supply a connected load with a predetermined and substantially constant total power which corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings,

wherein the battery is configured to adjust n−

1 string voltages which are present in each case at the n−

1 battery module strings, by the total power, the connected load, and by setting a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase relation, and

wherein at least two of the n individual powers are unbalanced with respect to one another.

4. The battery as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling unit is further configured such that either (i) a positive battery module voltage and a voltage of 0 volt can optionally be output, or (ii) a positive battery module voltage, a negative battery module voltage, and a voltage of 0 volt can be output.

5. The battery as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the n battery module strings form a polyphase system, and

a battery module string in each case corresponds to a phase.

6. The battery as claimed in claim 3, wherein n equals three battery module strings configured to form a three-phase system, which is connected to a load configured as a three-phase machine.

7. The battery as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery module comprises at least one battery cell, which is connected to the coupling unit.

8. The battery as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery modules of the n battery module strings are in each case connected in series.

9. A motor vehicle comprising:

an electric drive motor configured to drive the motor vehicle; and

a battery connected to the electric drive motor, the battery including a number n of battery module strings which have a plurality of battery modules each battery module having a coupling unit configured as a voltage converter and configured to couple the battery modules to one another,

wherein n is a natural number and is greater than or equal to two,

wherein the battery is configured to supply a connected load with a predetermined and substantially constant total power which corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings,

wherein the battery is configured to adjust n−

1 string voltages which are present in each case at the n−

1 battery module strings, by the total power, the connected load, and by setting a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase relation, and

wherein at least two of the n individual powers are unbalanced with respect to one another.