Battery Watering Event Detection using a Temperature Sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018309173-A1
Application number	US-201816024216-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system of battery cell monitoring includes at least one battery, at least one temperature sensor disposed within a battery cell within the at least one battery, a processor configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, the signal comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor, detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor, and determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor, and a memory configured to store received signals over a period of time, and store determined watering events.

First claim

What is claimed, is:

1 . A system comprising:
at least one battery; at least one temperature sensor disposed within a battery cell within the at least one battery; a processor configured to:
receive a signal from the temperature sensor, the signal comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor;
detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor; and
determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor; and
a memory configured to:
store received signals over a period of time; and
store determined watering events.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, controller or central processing unit (CPU).

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery charger.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery monitor.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater than one degree Celsius (C) per minute.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater is 4 to 7 degrees C. over 5 to 10 minutes.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a time and date of the determined watering event.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the temperature sensor measures electrolyte temperatures of the battery cell near a top portion of the battery cell.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a total number of occurrences of the determined watering event for the energy storage device.

10 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a signal from the temperature sensor, when a temperature sensor is present, the signal comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor;
detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor;
determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, controller or central processing unit (CPU).

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery charger.

13 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery monitor.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater than one degree Celsius (C) per minute.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensor is at least partially immersed in an electrolyte of a battery cell.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a time and date of the determined watering event.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the temperature sensor measures electrolyte temperatures of the battery cell near a top portion of the battery cell.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a total number of occurrences of the determined watering event for the energy storage device.

19 . The system of claim 10 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater is 4 to 7 degrees C. over 5 to 10 minutes.

20 . A system comprising:
at least one battery; at least one temperature sensor disposed within a battery cell within the at least one battery wherein the at least one temperature sensor is capable of producing a plurality of signals comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor; a memory: a processor configured to:
receive a plurality of signals from the temperature sensor;
store the received plurality of signals in the memory;
detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor;
determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor;
store the determined watering events in the memory; and
determine whether the battery cell has been adequately maintained over time based on the stored watering events.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Dickinson Blake Edward

Classifications

• G01R31/36 Primary

  Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC] · CPC title

• H01M10/484 Primary

  for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity · CPC title

• H01M10/486

  for measuring temperature · CPC title

• H01M10/4257

  Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title