Electric facility operating according to galvanic principles, such as a lithium-ion cell, comprising a control for the operating conditions

• US 8,395,356 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Tim, Gutsch, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/556,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 320/134, 320/136, 320/150, 320/153, 320/154
• US Class Current: 320/134
• 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 10/443 in response to temperature
• 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 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A facility which operates according to galvanic principles, such as in particular a lithium-ion accumulator, and a method for monitoring and controlling an electric operating condition of the facility. The facility comprises at least one galvanic cell and an operating management system for monitoring and controlling the electric operating condition of the facility and for monitoring a representative temperature of the facility. The operating management system is designed to control the electric operating condition of the facility as a function of the temperature. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A facility which operates according to galvanic principles, wherein the facility comprises at least one galvanic cell and an operating management system for monitoring and controlling a discharging current of the facility and for monitoring a representative temperature of the facility, the facility comprising a first temperature threshold T1, a second temperature threshold T2 which is greater than T1, a third temperature threshold T3 which is greater than T2, and a fourth temperature threshold T4 which is greater than T3, and wherein the operating management system is designed:

to limit a discharging set current of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T2 and T3 to a maximum discharging current value I_max,

to limit a discharging set current of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T1 and T2 to a first discharging current value I₁ which is lower than I_max, and

to limit a discharging set current of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T3 and T4 to a second discharging current value I₂ which also is lower than I_max.

2. The facility of claim 1, wherein the facility comprises two or more galvanic cells.

3. The facility of claim 1, wherein the operating management system is further designed:

to limit a discharging set value of the at least one galvanic cell within the temperature interval between T3 and T4 to a third, minimal discharging current value I₃ so that the discharging current within said temperature interval is not lower than I₃ and not higher than I₂.

4. The facility of claim 3, wherein the facility comprises a fifth temperature threshold T5 that is greater than T4, and wherein the operating management system is designed to limit the discharging set current I₄ of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T4 and T5 to a fourth discharging current I₄ which is lower than I₂.

5. The facility of claim 1, wherein I₁ is in the range of from 30% I_max to 90% I_max.

6. The facility of claim 1, wherein the operating management system is designed to regulate the discharging set current as a function of temperature continuously between a discharging set current within a temperature interval below a temperature threshold T1, T2, T3 or T4 and a discharging set current above the temperature threshold T1, T2, T3 or T4 if the temperature is within a temperature transition interval.

7. The facility of claim 1, wherein the facility comprises at least one temperature measurement unit for measuring a temperature of the facility.

8. The facility of claim 7, wherein the at least one temperature measurement unit comprises at least one sensor, at least one associated sensor transferring signal means, and at least one signal analyzing unit.

9. The facility of claim 7, wherein the temperature of the facility is a temperature that is representative for an electrode.

10. The facility of claim 9, wherein the electrode is a cathode.

11. The facility of claim 9, wherein the electrode is an anode.

12. The facility of claim 7, wherein the temperature of the facility is a temperature that is representative for a means for generating an electric operative connection between electrodes.

13. The facility of claim 12, wherein the means comprises an electrolyte.

14. The facility of claim 7, wherein the temperature of the facility is a temperature that is representative for a current conductor of an electrode.

15. The facility of claim 14, wherein the electrode is a cathode.

16. The facility of claim 14, wherein the electrode is an anode.

17. The facility of claim 1, wherein the facility comprises at least one lithium-ion cell.

18. The facility of claim 1, wherein the facility is an accumulator comprising a plurality of galvanic cells.

19. The facility of claim 1, wherein the facility comprises at least four galvanic cells.

20. A method for monitoring and controlling an electric operating condition of a facility that operates according to galvanic principles and comprises at least one galvanic cell, wherein the method comprises:

(1) monitoring a discharging current of the facility,

(2) monitoring a temperature of the facility, and

(3) controlling the discharging current of the facility as a function of the temperature, which controlling comprises

defining a first temperature threshold T1, a second temperature threshold T2 that is greater than T1, a third temperature threshold T3 that is greater than T2, and a fourth temperature threshold T4 that is greater than T3,

limiting a discharging set value of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T2 and T3 to a maximum discharging current value I_max,

limiting a discharging set current of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T1 and T2 to a first discharging current value I₁ that is lower than I_max, and

limiting a discharging current value of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between T3 and T4 to a second discharging current value I₂ that also is lower than I_max.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein (3) further comprises regulating the discharging set current as a function of temperature continuously between a discharging set current within a temperature interval below a temperature threshold T1, T2 T3 or T4 and a discharging set current above the temperature threshold T1, T2, T3 or T4 if the temperature is within a temperature transition interval.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein (2) comprises using at least one temperature measurement unit for measuring a temperature of the facility.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the temperature of the facility is a temperature that is representative for an electrode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the electrode is a cathode.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the electrode is an anode.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the temperature of the facility is a temperature that is representative for a means for generating an electric operative connection between electrodes.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the means comprises an electrolyte.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the temperature of the facility is a temperature that is representative for a current conductor of an electrode.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the electrode is a cathode.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the electrode is an anode.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein (3) further comprises:

defining at least one of a lower temperature threshold (T_uGr) and an upper temperature threshold (T_oGr),

effecting that the facility is not operated if a temperature of the at least one galvanic cell is below the lower temperature threshold (T_uGr) or above the upper temperature threshold (T_oGr).

32. The method of claim 20, wherein (3) further comprises controlling the electric operating condition of the facility also as a function of a representative parameter which is determined by an operating management system for at least one of a charging condition and a health condition of the facility.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the parameter is representative for at least one of a charging condition and a health condition of the at least one galvanic cell.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the facility is an accumulator comprising a plurality of galvanic cells.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein the facility comprises at least four lithium-ion cells.