Response to detection of an overcharge event in a series connected battery element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9343911-B2
Application number	US-201213690203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2012
Priority date	Nov 30, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A system and method for identifying and responding to exceptional charge events of series-connected energy storage elements can include: a first charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for a charge imbalance using a first detection modality, said first charge imbalance detection system initiating a reduction of said charge imbalance using a first response modality; a second charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for an exceptional charge event of a particular one battery element of the plurality of battery elements using a second detection modality different from said first detection modality; and a remediation system initiating a response to said exceptional charge event using a second response modality different from said first response modality, said response decreasing a risk associated with said exceptional charge event.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A microprocessor-implemented response system for an exceptional charge event in an energy storage system having a plurality of series-connected battery elements, comprising:
a first charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for a charge imbalance using a first detection modality, said first charge imbalance detection system initiating a reduction of said charge imbalance using a first response modality;
a second charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for an exceptional charge event of a particular one battery element of the plurality of battery elements using a second detection modality different from said first detection modality, wherein said exceptional charge event includes an overcharge of a battery element during a charging event, wherein said first detection modality includes a measurement of a voltage level of each battery element of the plurality of battery elements establishing a plurality of voltage imbalances between individual ones of the plurality of battery elements, wherein said first response modality includes adjusting said voltage levels to reduce said plurality of voltage imbalances, and wherein said second detection modality includes a statistical evaluation of a parameter of each battery element; and
a remediation system initiating a response to said exceptional charge event using a second response modality different from said first response modality, said response decreasing a risk associated with said exceptional charge event, wherein said exceptional charge event is associated with a particular one battery element having a particular charge target and wherein said response includes a reduction of said particular charge target.

2. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said response further includes a suspension of said charging event.

3. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said response further includes setting a service flag.

4. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said response further includes activating a visual indicator.

5. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said response further includes inhibiting any charging event until the energy storage system is serviced.

6. A microprocessor-implemented response system for an exceptional charge event in an energy storage system having a plurality of series-connected battery elements, comprising:
a first charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for a charge imbalance using a first detection modality, said first charge imbalance detection system initiating a reduction of said charge imbalance using a first response modality;
a second charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for an exceptional charge event of a particular one battery element of the plurality of battery elements using a second detection modality different from said first detection modality, wherein said exceptional charge event includes an overcharge of a battery element during a charging event, wherein said first detection modality includes a measurement of a voltage level of each battery element of the plurality of battery elements establishing a plurality of voltage imbalances between individual ones of the plurality of battery elements, wherein said first response modality includes adjusting said voltage levels to reduce said plurality of voltage imbalances, and wherein said second detection modality includes a statistical evaluation of a parameter of each battery element; and
a remediation system initiating a response to said exceptional charge event using a second response modality different from said first response modality, said response decreasing a risk associated with said exceptional charge event, wherein said exceptional charge event is associated with a particular one battery element having a particular charge storage capacity and wherein said response includes use of said first response modality to reduce a stored charge of said particular one battery element to a predetermined fraction of said particular charge storage capacity intentionally creating an imbalance.

7. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 6 wherein predetermined fraction is in the range of 50%+/−10%.

8. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said exceptional charge event is associated with a particular one battery element having a particular charge storage capacity and wherein said response includes use of a response modality similar in operation to said first response modality to directly reduce a stored charge of said particular one battery element responsive to an assumed stored charge and a predetermined impedance electrically communicated to said particular one battery element for a time calculated to reduce said assumed stored charge to a predetermined fraction of said particular charge storage capacity.

9. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 8 wherein predetermined fraction is in the range of 50%+/−10%.

10. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said charging event includes an associated maximum charge target and wherein said response further includes a reduction of said associated maximum charge target.

11. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein said response further includes logging a set of data associated with said exceptional charge event.

12. A microprocessor-implemented response system for an exceptional charge event in an energy storage system having a plurality of series-connected battery elements, comprising:
a first charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for a charge imbalance using a first detection modality, said first charge imbalance detection system initiating a reduction of said charge imbalance using a first response modality;
a second charge imbalance detection system monitoring, using the microprocessor, the energy storage system for an exceptional charge event of a particular one battery element of the plurality of battery elements using a second detection modality different from said first detection modality, wherein said exceptional charge event includes an overcharge of a battery element during a charging event, wherein said first detection modality includes a measurement of a voltage level of each battery element of the plurality of battery elements establishing a plurality of voltage imbalances between individual ones of the plurality of battery elements, wherein said first response modality includes adjusting said voltage levels to reduce said plurality of voltage imbalances, and wherein said second detection modality includes a statistical evaluation of a parameter of each battery element; and
a remediation system initiating a response to said exceptional charge event using a second response modality different from said first response modality, said response decreasing a risk associated with said exceptional charge event, wherein the energy storage system includes a thermal control system providing a temperature control of the plurality of battery elements responsive to a thermal profile and wherein said response includes a modification to said thermal profile actuating said thermal control system at an increased cooling capacity.

13. The microprocessor-implemented response system of claim 1 wherein s

Assignees

• Tesla Motors Inc

Inventors

• Leport Francisco
• Kohn Scott Ira

Classifications

• H02J7/63

  against overdischarge · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title

• H02J7/52 Primary

  for charge balancing, e.g. equalisation of charge between batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/00 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/0014

  Electricity · mapped topic