Integrated DC/DC converter, electrochemical energy storage system, and methods for analyzing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and working state of electrochemical energy storage apparatus

• US 9,897,663 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsinghua University
• Original Assignee: Tsinghua University
• Inventors: Hong, Po, Li, Jian-Qiu, Xu, Liang-Fei, Ouyang, Ming-Gao
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US14/973,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 324430
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/00 Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture H01L22/00; testing line transmission systems H04B3/46
• 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: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• 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 8/04544 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04574 Current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04634 Other electric variables, e.g. resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/00 Conversion of dc power input into dc power output
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An integrated DC/DC converter includes a first DC/DC converter, a second DC/DC converter, a first voltage sensor, a second voltage sensor, a first current sensor, a second current sensor, a third current sensor, and a controller. The first DC/DC converter has an input end and an output end. The input end of the first DC/DC converter is to be electrically connected to an output end of an electrochemical energy storage apparatus. The output end of the first DC/DC converter is to be electrically connected to an input end of an electrical load. The second DC/DC converter connects the first DC/DC converter in parallel.

Claims

1. An integrated DC/DC converter comprising:

a first DC/DC converter comprising a first DC/DC converter input end that is electrically connected to an electrochemical energy storage apparatus, and a first DC/DC converter output end that is electrically connected to an electrical load input end;

a second DC/DC converter connected to the first DC/DC converter in parallel;

a first voltage sensor electrically connected in parallel with the first DC/DC converter input end, the first voltage sensor is capable of detecting an electrochemical energy storage apparatus output voltage;

a second voltage sensor electrically connected in parallel to the first DC/DC converter output end, the second voltage sensor is capable of detecting a first DC/DC converter output voltage;

a first current sensor connected in series to an electrochemical energy storage apparatus output end, the first current sensor is capable of detecting an electrochemical energy storage apparatus output current;

a second current sensor connected in series to a second DC/DC converter input end, the second current sensor is capable of detecting a second DC/DC converter input current;

a third current sensor connected in series to the first DC/DC converter output end, the third current sensor is capable of detecting a first DC/DC converter output current; and

a controller receiving signals from the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor, the first current sensor, the second current sensor, the third current sensor, and the forth current sensor;

the controller is capable of controlling the first DC/DC converter to adjust an output of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus and controlling on and off of the second DC/DC converter, and the controller is also capable of controlling the second DC/DC converter at an on state to adjust the electrochemical energy storage apparatus output current in a current disturbance way to obtain an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus.

2. The integrated DC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein a power of the first DC/DC converter is greater than or equal to 20 kW, and a frequency of the second DC/DC converter is in a range from about 0.1 Hz to about 1 kHz.

3. The integrated DC/DC converter of claim 1 further comprising a voltage inspecting device that is capable of acquiring voltage of each of a plurality of electrochemical energy storage cells in the electrochemical energy storage apparatus, and sending the voltage to the controller.

4. The integrated DC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the second DC/DC converter is a boost DC/DC converter comprising a first inductor (L1), a first diode (D1), a first switch (G1), and a first capacitor (C1);

the first inductor (L1) connects one second DC/DC converter input end with an anode of the first diode (D1);

a cathode of the first diode (D1) is one second DC/DC converter output end;

the first switch (G1) has a base electrically connecting to the controller, a collector electrically connected to the anode of the first diode (D1), and an emitter being both another second DC/DC converter input end and another second DC/DC converter output end;

the first capacitor (C1) has one end electrically connected to the cathode of the first diode (D1), and an opposite end electrically connected to the emitter of the first switch (G1).

5. The integrated DC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the second DC/DC converter is a disturbance source comprising a second inductor (L1a), a second capacitor (C1a), a second switch (G1a), and a second diode (D1a), the second inductor (L1a) electrically connects a second DC/DC converter positive input end with an emitter of the second switch (G1a), the second capacitor (C1a) and the second DC/DC converter input end are electrically connected in parallel, a cathode of the second diode (D1a) is electrically connected to the emitter of the second switch (G1a), an anode of the second diode (D1a) is electrically connected to both one second DC/DC converter negative input end and one second DC/DC converter negative output end, a base of the second switch (G1a) is electrically connected to the controller, a collector of the second switch (G1a) electrically connected to one second DC/DC converter positive output end.

6. The integrated DC/DC converter of claim 1, wherein the second DC/DC converter is a disturbance source comprising a first and second resistors (R1b, R2b), a first transformer (T1b), a third switch (G1b), a fourth switch (G2b), a fifth switch (G3b), and a sixth switch (G4b);

the first transformer (T1b) comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding electrically connected a second DC/DC converter positive input end with the first resistor (R1b);

the primary winding, the first resistor (R1b), and one second DC/DC converter negative input end are connected in series connection;

the secondary winding electrically connects the second resistor (R2b) with an emitter of the fourth switch (G2b);

the secondary winding, the second resistor (R2b), and an emitter of the third switch (G1b) are connected in series connection; and

the third switch (G1b), the fourth switch (G2b), the fifth switch (G3b) and the sixth switch (G4b) form a bridge circuit.

7. An electrochemical energy storage system comprising an electrochemical energy storage apparatus, a control system, and an integrated DC/DC converter, the control system is capable of maintaining a stable electric energy output of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus, the integrated DC/DC converter comprising:

a first DC/DC converter having a first DC/DC converter input end and a first DC/DC converter output end, the first DC/DC converter input end is electrically connected to an electrochemical energy storage apparatus, the first DC/DC converter output end is electrically connected to an electrical load;

a second DC/DC converter connecting the first DC/DC converter in parallel, the second DC/DC converter having a second DC/DC converter input end and a second DC/DC converter output end;

a first voltage sensor electrically connected in parallel with the first DC/DC converter input end to detect an electrochemical energy storage apparatus output voltage;

a second voltage sensor electrically connected in parallel to the first DC/DC converter output end, the second voltage sensor is capable of detecting a first DC/DC converter output voltage;

a first current sensor connected to the electrochemical energy storage apparatus in series, the first current sensor is capable of detecting an output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus;

a second current sensor connected to the second DC/DC converter input end in series, the second current sensor is capable of detecting a second DC/DC converter input current;

a third current sensor connected to the first DC/DC converter output end in series, the third current sensor is capable of detecting a first DC/DC converter output current; and

a controller receiving signals from the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor, the first current sensor, the second current sensor, and the third current sensor, the controller controlling the first DC/DC converter, the controller is capable of adjusting an output of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus and controlling on and off of the second DC/DC converter, and the controller is also capable of controlling the second DC/DC converter at an on state to adjust an electrochemical energy storage apparatus output current in a current disturbance way to obtain an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus.

8. The electrochemical energy storage system of claim 7 further comprising a second electrochemical energy storage apparatus connected to the integrated DC/DC converter output end, and the electrical load is connected to the second electrochemical energy storage apparatus in parallel.

9. The electrochemical energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the electrical load is an electric motor.

10. The electrochemical energy storage system of claim 7, wherein the electrochemical energy storage apparatus comprises an electrochemical energy storage cell.

11. The electrochemical energy storage system of claim 10, wherein the electrochemical energy storage cell is at least one of a fuel cell, a lithium battery, and a supercapacitor.

12. A method for analyzing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of an electrochemical energy storage apparatus comprising:

S1, supplying an electric current to a second DC/DC converter to generate a current disturbance signal;

S2, disturbing an output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus by the current disturbance signal;

S3, detecting a disturbed output current and disturbed output voltage of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus;

S4, calculating an impedance corresponding to a frequency of the current disturbance signal based on the current disturbance signal, the disturbed output current, and the disturbed output voltage; and

S5, varying the frequency of the current disturbance signal and disturbing again the output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of generating the current disturbance signal comprising:

S11, deciding whether or not to perform an analyzing of electrochemical impedance, wherein

if an answer is yes, the second DC/DC converter is electrically conducted, and meanwhile step S12 is performed, and

if the answer is no, the second DC/DC converter is not electrically conducted;

S12, selecting a frequency used in the analyzing of the electrochemical impedance;

S13, determining a current disturbance signal amplitude corresponding to the frequency;

S14, defining the current disturbance signal having the current disturbance signal amplitude and the frequency;

S15, detecting the output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus and a second DC/DC converter input current; and

S16, judging whether the second DC/DC converter input current is substantially equal to the current disturbance signal, wherein if the second DC/DC converter input current is not substantially equal to the current disturbance signal, then the on and off of switches in the second DC/DC converter is controlled by a controller to achieve the current disturbance signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step S12 further comprises a step of deciding whether the frequency used in the analyzing of the electrochemical impedance is a single frequency, wherein

if the frequency is a single frequency, then the steps in blocks S13 to S16 are performed;

and

if there are multiple frequencies, then steps S12a to S12d are performed;

S12a, determining each amplitude of the current disturbance signal corresponding to each of the multiple frequencies;

S12b, forming a plurality of current disturbance signals;

S12c, superpositioning the plurality of current disturbance signals into a mixed current disturbance signal; and

S12d, performing steps in blocks S15 to S16.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein a value of the amplitude of the current disturbance signal is 1% to 10% of the output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein step S3 comprises the following steps:

S31, continuously recording the output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus and the second DC/DC converter input current of the for a period of time;

S32, deciding whether or not being capable of analyzing current disturbance signal based on recorded currents, to calculate the electrochemical impedance, wherein if an answer is no, then performing again step S31, and if the answer is yes, then performing step S33;

S33, further continuously recording the output current and output voltage of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus for a further period of time; and

S34, calculating the electrochemical impedance and phase at selected frequency based on the output current and output voltage.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising wave filtering and Fourier transforming to the recorded output current and output voltage step S33 before step S34.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the disturbed output current i satisfies equation (3), wherein equation (3) is i=I₁+Δ

I×

sin(2π

f×

t+φ

₁),

wherein, I₁ is the output current of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus, Δ

I is the amplitude of the current disturbance signal, f is the frequency of the current disturbance signal, t is a period of time, and φ

₁ is an original phase of the current disturbance signal;

disturbed output voltage u responded to the current disturbance signal satisfies equation (4), wherein equation (4) is u=U₁+Δ

U×

sin(2π

f×

t+φ

₁+φ

),

wherein U₁ is the output voltage of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus, Δ

U is an amplitude of the voltage response disturbance signal to the current disturbance signal, f is the frequency of a response signal, which is equal to a selected frequency of the current disturbance signal, t is a period of time, φ

₁ is an original phase of the current disturbance signal, the φ

is a lacking phase of the response signal comparing to the current disturbance signal; and

the electrochemical impedance of the electrochemical energy storage apparatus at the selected frequency f is calculated by equation (5), wherein equation (5) is

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrochemical energy storage apparatus comprises a plurality of electrochemical energy storage cells, the output voltage and output current of each of the plurality of electrochemical energy storage cells are detected, and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of each of the electrochemical energy storage cells are achieved respectively.