Battery system and method for increasing an operational life of a battery cell

• US 8,449,998 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Koetting, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): USYATINSKY, ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US13/093,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20120270077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 429/50, 429/61, 429/90, 429/91, 429/99
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• 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 10/48 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• 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 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery system and a method for increasing an operational life of a battery cell are provided. The battery system includes a voltage sensor that generates a first signal indicative of a voltage level output by the battery cell, and a current sensor that generates a second signal indicative of a level of electrical current flowing through the battery cell. The battery system further includes a microprocessor that calculates a resistance level of the battery cell based on the first and second signals, and generates a control signal to induce a fluid supply system to increase a pressure level of the coolant fluid being supplied to the heat exchanger to a first pressure level, based on the resistance level.

Claims

1. A battery system, comprising:

a battery cell;

a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the battery cell;

first and second frame members having the battery cell and the heat exchanger disposed therebetween, the first and second frame members being configured to be coupled together;

a fluid supply system configured to supply a coolant fluid to the heat exchanger and to receive the coolant fluid from the heat exchanger;

a voltage sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a voltage level output by the battery cell over a time interval;

a current sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a level of electrical current flowing through the battery cell over the time interval;

a microprocessor programmed to calculate an electrical resistance level of the battery cell based on the first and second signals; and

the microprocessor programmed to generate a control signal to induce the fluid supply system to increase a pressure level of the coolant fluid being supplied to the heat exchanger to a first pressure level, based on the electrical resistance level, such that an increased force is applied to at least one side wall of the battery cell.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a pouch-type lithium-ion battery cell.

3. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is constructed from flexible side members that define an interior region therebetween, the coolant fluid flowing through the interior region.

4. A method for increasing an operational life of a battery cell in a battery system, the battery system having first and second frame members having the battery cell and the heat exchanger disposed therebetween, the heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the battery cell, a fluid supply system fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger, and a microprocessor, the method comprising:

generating a first signal indicative of a voltage level output by the battery cell over a time interval, utilizing a voltage sensor;

generating a second signal indicative of a level of electrical current flowing through the battery cell over the time interval, utilizing a current sensor;

calculating an electrical resistance level of the battery cell based on the first and second signals, utilizing a microprocessor; and

generating a control signal to induce the fluid supply system to increase a pressure level of the coolant fluid being supplied to the heat exchanger to a first pressure level, based on the electrical resistance level, utilizing the microprocessor, such that the heat exchanger applies a predetermined amount of pressure to at least one side wall of the battery cell.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a difference value indicating a difference between the electrical resistance level and a predetermined electrical resistance level, utilizing the microprocessor;

determining the predetermined amount of pressure to apply to the at least one battery cell by the heat exchanger based on the difference value, utilizing the microprocessor; and

determining the first pressure level of the coolant fluid based on the predetermined amount of pressure, utilizing the microprocessor.

6. A method for increasing an operational life of a battery cell in a battery system, the battery system having first and second frame members having the battery cell and the heat exchanger disposed therebetween, the heat exchanger being disposed adjacent to the battery cell, a fluid supply system fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger, and a microprocessor, the method comprising:

generating a first signal indicative of a voltage level output by the battery cell over a time interval, utilizing a voltage sensor;

generating a second signal indicative of a level of electrical current flowing through the battery cell over the time interval, utilizing a current sensor;

calculating an electrical resistance level of the battery cell based on the first and second signals, utilizing a microprocessor; and

generating a control signal to induce the fluid supply system to increase a pressure level of the coolant fluid being supplied to the heat exchanger to a first pressure level, based on the electrical resistance level, utilizing the microprocessor, such that the heat exchanger applies a predetermined amount of force to at least one side wall of the battery cell, the predetermined amount of force being applied substantially perpendicular to the at least one side wall.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a difference value indicating a difference between the electrical resistance level and a predetermined electrical resistance level, utilizing the microprocessor;

determining the predetermined amount of force to apply to the at least one battery cell by the heat exchanger based on the difference value, utilizing the microprocessor; and

determining the first pressure level of the coolant fluid based on the predetermined amount of force, utilizing the microprocessor.