BATTERY HEATING CIRCUITS AND METHODS BASED ON BATTERY DISCHARGING USING RESONANCE COMPONENTS IN SERIES

• US 20120024838A1
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BYD Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Inventors: Xu, Wenhui, Han, Yaochuan, Feng, Wei, Yang, Qinyao, Xia, Wenjin, Ma, Shibin
• Granted Patent: US 9,105,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/345 Arrangements for heating thermal treatment apparatus H01L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/651 characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/657 by electric or electromagnetic means
• 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 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• 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

According to certain embodiments, a battery heating circuit is provided, comprising a switch unit 1, a switching control module 100, a damping component R1, and an energy storage circuit; the energy storage circuit is configured to be connected with the battery and comprises a current storage component L1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1, the switch unit 1, the current storage component L1, and the charge storage component C1 are connected in series; the switching control module 100 is connected with the switch unit 1, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit 1, so as to control energy flowing from the battery to the energy storage circuit only. For example, the heating circuit provided in the present invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of the battery, and improve safety when the battery is heated.

Claims

1. A circuit for heating a battery, the circuit comprising:

the battery including a first damping component and a first current storage component, the first damping component and the first current storage component being parasitic to the battery, the battery including a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal;

a switch unit;

a switching control component coupled to the switch unit; and

a first charge storage component, the first charge storage component and the first current storage component being at least parts of an energy storage circuit;

wherein;

the first damping component, the first current storage component, the switch unit, and the first charge storage component are connected in series; and

the switching control component is configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control a current flowing from the battery to the first charge storage component but not to allow any current flowing from the first charge storage component to the battery;

wherein the circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging the battery.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the first damping component is a parasitic resistor of the battery; and

the first current storage component is a parasitic inductor of the battery.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the first charge storage component is a capacitor.

4. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy superposition unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the energy superposition unit includes a polarity inversion unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, invert a voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component.

6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes:

a first single-pole double-throw switch coupled to a first storage terminal of the first charge storage component; and

a second single-pole double-throw switch coupled to a second storage terminal of the second charge storage component;

wherein;

the first single-pole double-throw switch includes a first input wire, a first output wire, and a second output wire;

the first input wire is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the first battery terminal; and

the first output wire and the second output wire are coupled to the first storage terminal and the second storage terminal respectively;

wherein;

the second single-pole double-throw switch includes a second input wire, a third output wire, and a fourth output wire;

the second input wire is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the second battery terminal; and

the third output wire and the fourth output wire are coupled to the second storage terminal and the first storage terminal respectively;

wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by altering connection relationships among the first input wire, the first output wire, the second output wire, the second input wire, the third output wire, and the fourth output wire.

7. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes:

a second current storage component;

a second switch; and

a first one-way semiconductor component connected between the first charge storage component and the second current storage component or between the second current storage component and the second switch;

wherein;

the first charge storage component, the first one-way semiconductor component, the second current storage component, and the second switch are at least parts of a polarity inversion loop; and

the switching control component is coupled to the second switch and is configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by turning on the second switch.

8. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes:

a second charge storage component; and

a first DC-DC module coupled to the second charge storage component and the first charge storage component;

wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first DC-DC module and configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by transferring energy from the first charge storage component to the second charge storage component and then transferring the energy from the second charge storage component back to the first charge storage component.

9. The circuit of claim 4, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.

10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unit configured to regulate the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.

11. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy transfer unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer first energy from the first charge storage component to an energy storage component.

12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein:

the energy storage component includes the battery; and

the energy transfer unit includes an electricity recharge unit coupled to the battery and configured to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

13. The circuit of claim 12 wherein:

the electricity recharge unit includes a DC-DC module coupled to the first charge storage component and the battery; and

the switching control component is coupled to the DC-DC module and configured to control the DC-DC module to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery.

14. The circuit of claim 11, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

15. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the energy transfer unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

16. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off and after the energy transfer unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

17. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unit configured to regulate a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

18. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy transfer and superposition unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer first energy from the first charge storage component to an energy storage component and then adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery.

19. The circuit of claim 18 wherein:

the energy storage component includes the battery;

the energy transfer and superposition unit includes a DC-DC module coupled to the first charge storage component and the battery; and

the switching control component is coupled to the DC-DC module and configured to control the DC-DC module to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery and then adjust the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that the positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the negative voltage terminal of the battery.

20. The circuit of claim 18 wherein:

the energy transfer and superposition unit includes an energy transfer unit and an energy superposition unit;

the energy transfer unit is coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component; and

the energy superposition unit is coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to adjust the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that the positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the negative voltage terminal of the battery.

21. The circuit of claim 20 wherein:

the energy storage component includes the battery; and

the energy transfer unit includes an electricity recharge unit coupled to the battery and configured to transfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

22. The circuit of claim 18, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

23. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the energy transfer and superposition unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

24. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume the second energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off and after the energy transfer and superposition unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storage component to the energy storage component.

25. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unit configured to regulate the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

26. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising:

an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and including a voltage control unit;

wherein;

the voltage control unit includes a second damping component and a first switch connected in series with the second damping component;

the first charge storage component is connected in parallel with a combination of the second damping component and the first switch; and

the switching control component is further coupled to the first switch and configured to turn on the first switch after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.

27. The circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the switch unit includes a first switch and a first one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the first switch; and

the switching control component is coupled to the first switch and configured to turn on and off the switch unit by turning on and off the first switch respectively.

28. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switching control component is configured to, after the switch unit is turned on, turn off the switch unit when or before the current reduces to zero in magnitude.

29. The circuit of claim 28 wherein the switch unit includes:

a first one-way semiconductor component;

a second one-way semiconductor component;

a first switch;

a second damping component connected in parallel with the second one-way semiconductor component; and

a second charge storage component connected in series with a combination of the second damping component and the second one-way semiconductor component;

wherein;

the first switch is connected in parallel with a combination of the second damping component, the second one-way semiconductor component, and the second charge storage component; and

the first one-way semiconductor component is connected in series with a combination of the first switch, the second damping component, the second one-way semiconductor component, and the second charge storage component;

wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first switch and configured to turn off the switch unit by turning off the first switch before the current reduces to zero in magnitude.

30. The circuit of claim 1 is further configured to:

start heating the battery if at least one heating start condition is satisfied; and

stop heating the battery if at least one heating stop condition is satisfied.