System and method for regulating the temperature of an electrochemical battery

• US 9,947,976 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Bui Van, Anh Linh, Ercan, Ali, Perichon, Pierre, Lallich, Sylvain
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff, Mark F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wills, Monique M
• Application Number:
  US14/899,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20160141734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• 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 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• 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 10/637 characterised by the use of reversible temperature-sensitive devices, e.g. NTC, PTC or bimetal devices; characterised by control of the internal current flowing through the cells, e.g. by switching means for preventing undesired use or discharge H01M50/572
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A system and method regulate the temperature of an electrochemical battery. The system can be incorporated in a hybrid or electric motor vehicle including at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements, each element including at least one electrochemical cell. The system increases the intensity of the value of the current flowing through the battery up to a first threshold value and includes a module for disconnecting and connecting an electrical-energy-accumulating element.

Claims

1. A system for regulating temperature of an electrochemical battery of a hybrid or electric motor vehicle, including at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements, each of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements comprising at least one electrochemical cell, the system comprising:

circuitry configured to

determine individual temperature measurements of each of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements, and

selectively set a connection or disconnection state of each of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements to regulate the temperature of the electrochemical battery based on the determined individual temperature measurements of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements,

wherein the circuitry is configured to selectively disconnect at least one of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements to increase a value of an intensity of a current flowing through all connected ones of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements up to a first threshold value.

2. The regulating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine the electrical-energy-accumulating element(s) to be disconnected or connected as a function of the determined temperature of the electrical-energy-accumulating elements measured by a measurement means.

3. The regulating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to selectively set the connection or disconnection state by switching on and switching off the flow of the current in the electrical-energy-accumulating elements.

4. The regulating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cells are lithium-iron cells.

5. The regulating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrochemical battery includes N electrical-energy-accumulating elements, and the circuitry is configured to selectively set the connection or disconnection state of N−

1 energy-accumulating elements.

6. A method for regulating temperature of an electrochemical battery of a motor vehicle having a hybrid or electric power train, including at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements, each of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements comprising at least one electrochemical cell, the method comprising:

determining individual temperature measurements of each of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements; and

selectively setting a connection or disconnection state of each of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements to regulate the temperature of the electrochemical battery based on the determined individual temperature measurements of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements,

wherein said selectively setting the connection or disconnection state includes disconnecting at least one of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements to increase a value of an intensity of a current flowing through all connected ones of the at least two electrical-energy-accumulating elements up to a first threshold value.

7. The temperature-regulating method as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said electrical-energy-accumulating element to be disconnected is determined as a function of a temperature and/or a location in the electrochemical battery and/or a state of health of the electrical-energy-accumulating element.

8. The temperature-regulating method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electrical-energy-accumulating element to be disconnected is determined as the function of power required by a user.

9. The temperature-regulating method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the temperature of the electrical-energy-accumulating element is homogenized relative to the other electrical-energy-accumulating elements by switching a flow of the current in the different electrical-energy-accumulating elements.