Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for calculating an aging degree of a battery.

Recently, with the spread of electronic devices such as smart phones and the development of electric vehicles, research on secondary batteries as power supply sources has also been actively conducted. The secondary battery is provided in the form of a battery pack including a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are connected in series and/or in parallel, and a battery management system (BMS) that manages an operation of the battery module.

The battery pack is continuously monitored in terms of an aging degree (an aging state) to ensure that it provides normal performance. The aging degree of the battery pack is estimated based on an internal resistance of a battery cell included in the battery pack, and the internal resistance of the battery cell is highly dependent on temperature. Thus, to accurately estimate the aging degree of the battery pack, accurate measurement of the temperature of the battery cell is required.

<CIT> discloses a method for calculating an ageing degree of a battery. A duration in a non-operational state of a battery is determined and an average temperature is calculated during said duration and based on the calculated temperature, the degradation of the battery is calculated.

The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and provides a method and apparatus for calculating an aging degree in which an appropriate temperature of a battery cell for accurately estimating an aging degree of a battery pack may be calculated to estimate an accurate internal resistance of the battery cell and an accurate aging degree of a battery may be calculated based on the accurate internal resistance.

To solve the foregoing technical problems, according to an aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of calculating an aging degree of a battery, the method including obtaining a duration of the battery in a first state, when a use state of the battery is changed from the first state to a second state, determining whether the obtained duration is greater than or equal to a first reference time, calculating an average temperature of the battery based on a first algorithm when the duration is less than the first reference time, and calculating the average temperature of the battery based on a second algorithm when the duration is greater than or equal to a reference time, and calculating the aging degree of the battery based on the calculated average temperature.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first algorithm may calculate the average temperature value of the battery by using the minimum temperature of the battery calculated before start of the first state of the battery and a temperature measurement value of a temperature sensor mounted on the battery.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second algorithm may calculate the minimum temperature value of the battery based on a temperature measurement value of a first temperature sensor mounted on the battery and a temperature measurement value of a second temperature sensor mounted on a cooling means of the battery, and calculate the average temperature of the battery using the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor and the calculated minimum temperature value.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second algorithm may calculate the minimum temperature value using a value indicating a relationship between a maximum temperature value and the minimum temperature value of the battery, the maximum temperature value and the minimum temperature value being calculated and stored before the start of the first state of the battery.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first temperature sensor may include a sensor arranged in a maximum-temperature region of the battery.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the minimum temperature value of the battery may include a temperature value of a region where the battery is adjacent to the cooling means.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first algorithm and the second algorithm are used for initial value setting when the state of the battery is changed to the second state.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the state of the battery is the second state, the minimum temperature value of the battery is calculated based on a heat transfer model among a first position of the first temperature sensor mounted on the battery, a second position of the second temperature sensor mounted on the cooling means of the battery, and a third position of the battery where the battery and the cooling means contact each other.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, least one of a space between the first position and the third position and a space between the third position and the second position by using a RC model.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the duration is a second reference time longer than the first reference time, an average temperature is calculated by the third algorithm in place of the second algorithm, and the third algorithm uses the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor mounted on the battery, as the average temperature.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first state may include a parking state of an electric vehicle and the second state may include a driving state of the electric vehicle.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first state may include a state in which the battery is used as an output less than a reference output, and the second state may include a state in which the battery is used as an output greater than or equal to the reference output.

To solve the foregoing technical problems, according to another aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for calculating an aging degree of a battery, the apparatus including a time comparing unit determining whether a duration of a first state is greater than or equal to a first reference time, when a use state of the battery is changed from the first state to a second state, an average temperature calculating unit calculating an average temperature of the battery based on a first algorithm when the duration is less than the first reference time, and calculating the average temperature of the battery based on a second algorithm when the duration is greater than or equal to a reference time, and an aging degree calculating unit calculating the aging degree of the battery based on the calculated average temperature.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first algorithm may calculate the average temperature value of the battery by using the minimum temperature of the battery calculated before start of the first state of the battery and a temperature measurement value of the temperature sensor mounted on the battery.

According to another feature of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second algorithm may calculate the minimum tempeature value of the battery based on a temperature measurement value of a first temperature sensor mounted on the battery and a temperature measurement value of a second temperature sensor mounted on a cooling means of the battery, and calculate the average temperature of the battery using the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor and the calculated minimum temperature value.

With a structure described above, an appropriate temperature of a battery cell for accurately estimating an aging degree of a battery pack may be calculated to estimate an accurate internal resistance of the battery cell, and an accurate aging degree of a battery may be calculated based on the accurate internal resistance.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this document, identical reference numerals will be used for identical components in the drawings, and the identical components will not be redundantly described.

For various embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed in this document, specific structural or functional descriptions are only exemplified for the purpose of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, and various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described in this document.

As used in various embodiments, the terms "<NUM>st", "<NUM>nd", "first", "second", or the like may modify various components regardless of importance, and do not limit the components. For example, a first component may be named as a second component without departing from the right scope of the present disclosure, and similarly, the second component may be named as the first component.

Terms used in the present document are used for only describing a specific exemplary embodiment of the disclosure and may not have an intention to limit the scope of other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

<FIG> illustrates a structure of a battery pack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> may include a battery module <NUM> that includes one or more battery cells <NUM> and is chargeable/dischargeable, a switching unit <NUM> serially connected to a positive (+) terminal side or a negative (-) terminal side of the battery module <NUM> to control a charging/discharging current flow of the battery module <NUM>, and a battery management system (BMS) <NUM> for control and management to prevent over-charging and over-discharging by monitoring voltage, current, temperature, etc., of the battery cell <NUM> and/or the battery module <NUM>. The battery pack <NUM> may further include a battery protection unit (BPU) <NUM>.

The battery module <NUM> may include the one or more battery cells <NUM> that are chargeable and dischargeable. In the battery module <NUM>, the plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be connected in series and/or in parallel to each other according to required specifications of the battery pack <NUM>. That is, the number of battery cells <NUM> and the form of connection therebetween may be determined according to a required output (voltage, current, etc.) of the battery pack <NUM>. An output voltage of the battery module <NUM> may be supplied as a pack voltage to an outside through a PACK (+) terminal and a PACK (-) terminal, which are output terminals. The battery cell <NUM> may be a lithium ion (Li-ion) battery, an Li-ion polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, a nickel hydrogen (Ni-MH) battery, etc., and may not be limited thereto when the battery cell <NUM> is a chargeable battery.

The BMS <NUM> may control and manage an overall operation of the battery pack <NUM>. The BMS <NUM> may control an operation of the switching unit <NUM> to control a charging/discharging operation of the battery module <NUM>. In addition, the BMS <NUM> may monitor a voltage, a current, a temperature, etc., of the battery module <NUM> and/or each battery cell included in the battery module <NUM>. A sensor or various measurement modules for monitoring performed by the BMS <NUM>, not shown, may be additionally installed in a random position of the battery module <NUM>, a charging/discharging path, or the battery pack <NUM>, etc. The BMS <NUM> may calculate a parameter indicating a state of the battery module <NUM>, e.g., SOC or SOH, etc., based on a measurement value such as monitored voltage, current, temperature, etc. That is, the BMS <NUM> may function as a voltage measuring unit <NUM>, a current measuring unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM> described below. That is, the BMS <NUM> may function as a voltage measuring unit <NUM>, a current measuring unit <NUM>, a temperature measuring unit <NUM>, a storing unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>.

The BMS <NUM> may include various components such as a memory that stores a computer program that is a command for control and management of an overall operation of the battery pack <NUM>, a micom that executes a program and controls an overall operation of the BMS <NUM> as a controller, an input/output device such as a sensor, a measurement means, etc., and other peripheral circuits, and so forth. Additionally, the BMS <NUM> may include a circuit configuration for monitoring a voltage, a current, a temperature, etc., of the battery cell as described above.

The switching unit <NUM> may be a component for controlling a current flow for charging or discharging of the battery module <NUM>. As the switching unit <NUM>, a semiconductor switching element such as a relay, a MOSTET, etc., may be used. An on/off operation of the switching unit <NUM> may be controlled by the BMS <NUM>.

The battery pack <NUM> may be communicatively connected to an external upper-level controller <NUM>. That is, the BMS <NUM> may transmit various data regarding the battery pack <NUM> to the upper-level controller <NUM>. The BMS <NUM> may receive a control signal regarding an operation of the battery pack <NUM> from the upper-level controller <NUM>. The BMS <NUM> may receive, from the upper-level controller <NUM>, a signal indicating a state of a load that is a device having the battery pack <NUM> mounted thereon. The upper-level controller <NUM> may be a control system provided in the load. The load may be any device in which the battery pack <NUM> is mounted, such as an electric vehicle, an electric bicycle, etc., to operate by using power supplied by the battery pack <NUM>. When the battery pack <NUM> is mounted in the electric vehicle, the upper-level controller <NUM> may be a vehicle controller for controlling driving of the vehicle.

The BPU <NUM> may include components for a stable operation of the battery pack <NUM>. The BPU <NUM> may include a cooling means for regulating a temperature in the battery pack <NUM>. As the cooling means, any method such as water cooling using cooling water, air cooling using a cooling fan, etc., may be used. The BPU <NUM> may also include a fuse for blocking a current path when an overcurrent is generated due to occurrence of a short-circuit or the like.

The BMS <NUM> according to the present disclosure may calculate an appropriate average temperature of the battery pack <NUM> from a temperature of the specific battery cell <NUM> to calculate an accurate aging degree of the battery pack <NUM>. The BMS <NUM> may calculate the average temperature by using a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature of the battery pack <NUM>. The average temperature may be calculated by an algorithm determined according to the state of the battery pack <NUM>. Hereinbelow, a detailed method of calculating an aging degree of a battery in the battery pack <NUM> according to the present disclosure will be described. Herein, when the aging degree of the battery is calculated, it may mean that the aging degree of the battery cell <NUM> is calculated. Alternatively, when the aging degree of the battery is calculated, it may mean that the aging degree of the battery module <NUM> or the battery pack <NUM> is calculated.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the BMS <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the BMS <NUM> may include the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the current measuring unit <NUM>, the temperature measuring unit <NUM>, the storing unit <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM>.

The voltage measuring unit <NUM> may be configured to measure a voltage of the battery module <NUM> and/or the battery cell <NUM>. In addition, the voltage measuring unit <NUM> may measure an open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery cell <NUM>. The voltage measuring unit <NUM> may provide the measured voltage of the battery cell <NUM>, the measured OCV of the battery cell <NUM>, etc., to the control unit <NUM>. The voltage of the battery cell <NUM> may be a discharging voltage or a charging voltage, which is a voltage when a current flows through the battery cell <NUM>. The OCV of the battery cell <NUM> may be a voltage corresponding to a case where a current does not flow through the battery cell <NUM>. The voltage measuring unit <NUM> may store the measured voltage of the battery cell <NUM>, the measured OCV of the battery cell <NUM>, etc., to the storing unit <NUM>. The voltage measuring unit may be configured to measure a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>.

The current measuring unit <NUM> may be configured to measure current output from the battery cell <NUM>. The current measuring unit <NUM> may further include a current sensor provided on a main current path output from the battery module <NUM> to the load. The current measuring unit <NUM> may provide the measured current of the battery cell <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>. In addition, the current measuring unit <NUM> may store the measured current of the battery cell <NUM> in the storing unit <NUM>. While the current measuring unit <NUM> is described as measuring a current of the battery cell <NUM>, the current measuring unit <NUM> may also be implemented as measuring the current of the battery module <NUM>. The current measuring unit <NUM> may be configured to measure current for each of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>.

The temperature measuring unit <NUM> may be configured to measure a temperature of the battery module <NUM> and/or the battery cell <NUM>. The temperature measuring unit <NUM> may measure a temperature of a position where a temperature is expected to be at least maximum among a plurality of positions in the battery module <NUM>. Alternatively, the temperature measuring unit <NUM> may measure a temperature of each of the plurality of positions in the battery module <NUM>. The temperature measuring unit <NUM> may further include a temperature sensor provided in a position where a temperature is to be measured.

The temperature measuring unit <NUM> may be configured to measure a temperature of a predetermined position of a cooling means operating as the BPU <NUM>. The temperature measuring unit <NUM> may measure a temperature of a position where a temperature is expected to be minimum in the cooling means. For example, the position where the temperature is expected to be minimum may be a position where cooling water is introduced. Alternatively, the position where the temperature is expected to be minimum may be a position where the cooling fan is mounted and thus the cooling wind is introduced.

The storing unit <NUM> may store various computer programs required for an operation of the control unit <NUM>. The storing unit <NUM> may store an equation, an algorithm, etc., required for operations of a resistance calculating unit <NUM>, a time comparing unit <NUM>, an average temperature calculating unit <NUM>, and an aging degree calculating unit <NUM> described later. That is, the storing unit <NUM> may store various computer programs required for calculating the aging degree of the battery.

The storing unit <NUM> may store various data generated by an operation of the control unit <NUM>. For example, data regarding a voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, data regarding a current measured by the current measuring unit <NUM>, data regarding a temperature measured by the temperature measuring unit <NUM>, various data calculated by the control unit <NUM> through an operation, etc., may be stored in the storing unit <NUM>.

The storage <NUM> may also store a reference resistance table. The reference resistance table may be a table in which a temperature of a battery and a beginning of life (BOL) internal resistance of the battery are mapped to each other. That is, by using a table, when a temperature is specified, a BOL internal resistance of the battery at the temperature may be obtained.

The control unit <NUM> may control operations of the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the current measuring unit <NUM>, the temperature measuring unit <NUM>, and the storing unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may calculate measurement results of the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the current measuring unit <NUM>, and the temperature measuring unit <NUM> and calculate an aging degree of the battery based on data obtained from the storing unit <NUM>. That is, the control unit <NUM> may perform a function as an apparatus for calculating an aging degree of a battery. The control unit <NUM> may include the resistance calculating unit <NUM>, the time comparing unit <NUM>, the average temperature calculating unit <NUM>, and the aging degree calculating unit <NUM>.

The resistance calculating unit <NUM> may be configured to calculate a current internal resistance of the battery. That is, the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may calculate a parameter indicating a current aging state of the battery. To calculate the internal resistance, the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may receive, as an input, a voltage of the battery cell <NUM> measured by the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the OCV of the battery cell <NUM>, and the current measured by the current measuring unit <NUM>. The resistance calculating unit <NUM> may use a voltage of the battery cell <NUM>, an OCV of the battery cell <NUM>, and a current of the battery cell <NUM> at a specific point in time. Alternatively, the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may use an average value of a voltage of the battery cell <NUM> measured for a predetermined period, an average value of an OCV of the battery cell <NUM> measured for the predetermined period, and an average value of a current of the battery cell <NUM> measured for the predetermined period. In this case, the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may be configured to calculate an average value based on received values and to receive an already calculated average value.

The resistance calculating unit <NUM> may also calculate a current internal resistance, further considering a temperature value measured by the temperature measuring unit <NUM>.

The time comparing unit <NUM> may compare a duration in which a use state of the battery maintains a first state (hereinafter, simply referred to as a 'duration') with a first reference time. To this end, a duration of each state of the battery may be counted by a timer (not shown). The time comparing unit <NUM> may obtain a duration in the first state of the battery and compare the obtained duration with the first reference time when the use state of the battery changes from the first state to a second state. The time comparing unit <NUM> may determine whether the duration is greater than or equal to the first reference time based on the comparison. Herein, the first state may be a parking state of an electric vehicle and the second state may be a driving state of the electric vehicle. Alternatively, the first state may be a state in which the battery is used as an output less than a reference output, and the second state may be a state in which the battery is used as an output greater than or equal to the reference output.

Meanwhile, the control unit <NUM> may receive data regarding a state of a load from the upper-level controller <NUM>. Alternatively, the state of the battery pack <NUM> may be determined by monitoring the output of the battery pack <NUM>. The time comparing unit <NUM> may obtain a duration for states of the battery based on identifying a state of the battery by using the above-described method.

The average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may determine an algorithm for calculating an average temperature based on a comparison result of the time comparing unit <NUM>. Although it has been described that the time comparing unit <NUM> determines whether the duration time is greater than the first reference time, the average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may also perform this operation.

The average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the average temperature of the battery based on a first algorithm when the duration is less than the first reference time. The first algorithm is a scheme to calculate the average temperature value of the battery by using the minimum temperature of the battery calculated before start of the first state of the battery and a temperature measurement value of the temperature sensor mounted on the battery. Herein, the temperature sensor mounted on the battery may be a sensor arranged in a maximum-temperature region of the battery. Alternatively, the temperature sensor mounted on the battery may be a sensor arranged in a region estimated as the maximum-temperature region of the battery.

The average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the average temperature of the battery based on a second algorithm when the duration is greater than or equal to the reference time. The second algorithm may calculate the minimum temperature value of the battery (herein, the minimum temperature value of the battery may be a temperature value of a region in which the battery is adjacent to the cooling means) based on the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor mounted on the battery and the temperature measurement value of the second temperature sensor mounted on the cooling means of the battery. In this case, the minimum temperature value may be calculated using a value (a proportional coefficient) indicating a relationship between the maximum temperature value and the minimum temperature value, calculated before start of the first state and stored, of the battery. Thereafter, the average temperature of the battery may be calculated using the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor and the calculated minimum temperature value.

The average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the average temperature of the battery using the first algorithm or the second algorithm, and set an initial average temperature used when the battery is changed from the first state to the second state. That is, the first algorithm and the second algorithm may be used for initial value setting at the time when the state of the battery is changed into the second state.

The aging degree calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the aging degree of the battery based on the average temperature calculated by the average temperature calculating unit <NUM>. The aging degree calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the aging degree based on an initial internal resistance and a current internal resistance. For example, the aging degree calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the aging degree based on the amount of change of the current internal resistance with respect to the initial internal resistance. More specifically, the aging degree may be calculated by [Equation <NUM>].

A state of health resistance (SOHR), Resistance_current, and Resistance_BOL may indicate an aging degree, a current internal resistance, and an initial internal resistance, respectively.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a method of calculating an aging degree, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The resistance calculating unit <NUM> may receive, as inputs, a voltage of the battery cell <NUM> measured by the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the OCV of the battery cell <NUM>, and the current measured by the current measuring unit <NUM>. The voltage input to the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may be an average cell voltage that is an average voltage of the battery cell <NUM>. The OCV input to the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may be an average value of OCVs of the battery cell <NUM>. The resistance calculating unit <NUM> may calculate a current internal resistance Rcal based on the input voltage, OCV, and current. The resistance calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the current internal resistance further based on the temperature of the battery cell <NUM>. As a method of calculating the internal resistance, various well-known methods may be used. For example, the internal resistance may be calculated by estimating a resistance value of an equivalent circuit model (ECM) through a recursive least square method. However, such a method of calculating the internal resistance may be merely an example and may not be limited thereto.

A maximum temperature value Tcell_max and a minimum temperature value Tcell_min of the battery cell <NUM>, and a temperature value Tcoolant in the cooling means may be input to the average temperature calculating unit <NUM>. The average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may calculate an average temperature Tcell_avg through the first algorithm or the second algorithm by using the foregoing input values based on a comparison result of the time comparing unit <NUM>. The calculated average temperature may be set to the initial average temperature value in the second state when the state is changed from the first state to the second state.

Rcal that is the current internal resistance value calculated by the resistance calculating unit <NUM> may be input to the aging degree calculating unit <NUM>. Tcell_avg that is the average temperature value calculated by the average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may be input to the aging degree calculating unit <NUM>. The aging degree calculating unit <NUM> may search for and obtain an initial internal resistance Rref of the battery at a corresponding temperature from a reference resistance table <NUM> by using Tcell_avg that is the average temperature value. Finally, the aging degree calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the aging degree based on the current internal resistance Rcal and the reference internal resistance Rref.

In the present disclosure, it is described that the control unit <NUM> corresponds to an apparatus for calculating an aging degree of a battery, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a component further including at least some of the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the current measuring unit <NUM>, the temperature measuring unit <NUM>, and the storing unit <NUM> may be understood as corresponding to the apparatus for calculating the aging degree of the battery.

In the method of calculating the aging degree, conventionally, the reference internal resistance has been calculated using a measurement value of a specific temperature sensor in the battery without any change thereto. As a result, the accurate lifespan of the battery may not be determined because the inaccurate aging degree is calculated. Also, conventionally, the accurate aging degree may not be calculated in a sense that the aging degree of the battery is calculated regardless of the state of the battery.

However, in calculating the average temperature of the battery as described above, the apparatus for calculating the aging degree of the battery according to the present disclosure, when the state of the battery is changed from the first state to the second state, according to the duration in the first state, a different algorithm for calculating the average temperature of the battery is used. In addition, the apparatus for calculating the aging degree of the battery according to the present disclosure may calculate the minimum temperature of the battery by using an RC heat transfer model to calculate the average temperature of the battery, thereby accurately measuring the appropriate average temperature of the battery for calculating the aging degree.

Hereinbelow, the method of calculating the minimum temperature of the battery will be described in detail.

<FIG> conceptually illustrates heat transfer inside the battery module <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a first temperature sensor <NUM> may be provided at a first position in an upper end of the battery module <NUM>. The first position may be a position where the temperature is expected to be maximum in the battery module <NUM>. The first temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged in the maximum-temperature region of the battery module <NUM>. In a side of the battery module <NUM>, a cooling means <NUM> for cooling the battery module <NUM> may be provided. The cooling means <NUM> may be a cooling device of a water-cooling type, and overheating of the battery module <NUM> may be prevented as the cooling water flows through a flow path. A second temperature sensor <NUM> may be provided at a second position where the cooling water is introduced in the cooling means <NUM>. The second position may be a position where the temperature is expected to be minimum in the battery pack <NUM>. The second temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged in the minimum-temperature region of the battery pack <NUM>.

Assuming such an inner side of the battery pack <NUM>, heat transfer may occur from the first position of the battery module <NUM> to a third position corresponding to a region where the battery module <NUM> and the cooling means <NUM> are adjacent to each other, and thereafter, heat transfer may occur from the third position to the second position of the cooling means <NUM>. The third position may be a position where the temperature is expected to be minimum in the battery module <NUM>. Herein, the first position may be indicated as a first node n1, the second position as a second node n2, and the third position as a third node n3.

Heat transfer from the first node n1 to the second node n2 and heat transfer from the second node n2 to the third node n3 may be interpreted as heat transfer between two solid bodies contacting each other. Heat transfer between solid bodies may be described as below.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram for describing heat transfer modeling. Referring to <FIG>, it may be assumed that a temperature of a solid body B is constant (T∞), and heat transfer may occur on a contact surface A with a solid body A. A relationship between a change rate Ein of internal energy of the solid body A and a surface heat transfer rate Eout may be expressed as below. <MAT>
or
<MAT>.

Herein, k may indicate a thermal conductivity (W/m·k), L may indicate a distance (m) between two solid bodies (centers), and ρ, V, and c may indicate a density (kg/m<NUM>), a volume(m<NUM>), and a specific heat (J/kg·K) of the solid body A, respectively.

A temperature difference provided in [Equation <NUM>] may be defined as [Equation <NUM>] provided below.

In the case of (dθ/dt) = (dT/dt) and constant T∞, [Equation <NUM>] may be expressed as [Equation <NUM>].

[Equation <NUM>] may be obtained by separating variables in [Equation <NUM>] and integrating with respect to an initial condition T(<NUM>) = T_i for time t = <NUM>.

Herein, [Equation <NUM>] or [Equation <NUM>] may be obtained by θi = Ti - T∞ and performing integration. <MAT>
<MAT>.

By using [Equation <NUM>], a time required for a solid body to reach a certain temperature T may be obtained. Conversely, by using [Equation <NUM>], a temperature reached by a solid body at a certain time t can be calculated. From [Equation <NUM>], as the time t approaches infinity, a temperature difference Θ between the solid body A and the solid body B maintaining a constant temperature may decrease exponentially and thus become <NUM>. That is, as the time t approaches infinity, the temperature of the solid body A may approach the temperature T∞ of the solid body B. The corresponding behavior is shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a graph for describing a temperature change calculated by a heat transfer model. <FIG> shows a transient temperature response of the solid body A with respect to a thermal time constant.

From [Equation <NUM>], (<NUM>/(kA/L))(ρVc) may be interpreted as a thermal time constant and may be expressed as below.

Rth may indicate a thermally conductive resistance, and Cth may indicate a lumped thermal capacitance of the solid body A. An increase in Rth or Cth may mean that a solid body slowly reacts to a change in a thermal environment. Such a phenomenon may be very similar to a voltage reduction occurring when a capacitor is discharged through a resistor in an electrical RC circuit.

By applying a solid heat transfer model based on the foregoing heat transfer principle to a battery module (or a battery pack), the temperature of the battery cell may be calculated.

Referring back to <FIG>, a description will be made continuously.

A region expected to have the minimum temperature in the battery module <NUM> may be a lower end portion (a region indicated by a dotted line) (the third node n3) of the lower end of the outermost battery cell <NUM> in the battery module <NUM>. As indicated by an arrow, a heat transfer path may be simplified from the first node n1 to the third node n3 and from the third node n3 to the second node n2. Then, heat transfer between the first node n1 and the third node n3 may be interpreted as heat transfer between two solid bodies. That is, the two solid bodies may be a virtual solid body indicating a temperature value of the battery module <NUM> and the lower end portion of the outermost battery cell <NUM>. Heat transfer between the third node n3 and the second node n2 may be interpreted as heat transfer between two different solid bodies. That is, the two solid bodies may be the lower end portion of the outermost battery cell <NUM> and the virtual solid body indicating the temperature of the cooling water. The first node n1, the second node n2, and the third node n3 may be expressed in the form of an electrical RC circuit.

<FIG> illustrates an RC heat transfer model according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Cth described above may correspond to a concentrated heat capacity of the lower end portion of the outermost battery cell <NUM>, such that Cth may be equal in two capacitors. On the other hand, R1 and R2 may be different from each other because a thermal conductive resistance is determined by characteristics of two virtual solid bodies <MAT>.

To calculate a temperature in real time by the BMS <NUM>, a differential form with respect to time in [Equation <NUM>] needs to be used, resulting in [Equation <NUM>].

A heat transfer path has been simplified, such that a difference may occur between a theoretical value and an actual value of τth. Therefore, additional correction may be required using the heat-dissipation/cooling condition test results of the battery, etc. To minimize such correction factors, it is necessary to perform modeling without missing a heat transfer key path that dominates a temperature change while simplifying the heat transfer key path.

An equation corrected finally may be as shown in [Equation <NUM>].

By applying the battery module <NUM> to a <NUM> RC model simplified as shown in <FIG> by using Equation <NUM>, the <NUM> RC model may be expressed as [Equation <NUM>]. Meanwhile, in a heat transfer model of a virtual model, the solid temperature is assumed to be constant, but in reality, a temperature at the first position and a temperature at the second position may change over time. However, by reducing Δt, two temperatures may be regarded constant in a minute time difference.

Tn1 and Tn2 may indicate the temperatures at the first position and the second position, respectively.

The temperature of the outermost cell of battery cell <NUM> to be obtained may be as below.

As a result, it may be seen that this equation is a function regarding two temperature values Tn1, Tn2, and Tn-<NUM> (an outermost cell temperature calculated in the previous step) measured using the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.

The minimum temperature may be calculated in the battery module <NUM> based on such an RC model. In addition, an average temperature may be calculated based on the calculated minimum temperature. For example, the average temperature calculating unit <NUM> may calculate the average temperature as below.

Tcell_max may be a temperature value measured by the first temperature sensor provided in the first position. In addition, in the equation of the RC model derived above, Tcell_max may correspond to Tn1. Tcell_min may be a temperature of the third position. In addition, in the equation of the RC model derived above, Tcell_min may correspond to Tn.

<FIG> illustrates parameters used by a method of calculating an aging degree, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

① indicates a temperature value of the first temperature sensor, which is the maximum temperature, ② indicates a temperature value of the second temperature sensor, which is the temperature of the cooling means, ③ indicates the minimum temperature value of the battery module <NUM> estimated by the RC model, and ④ indicates the minimum temperature value (a true value of the minimum temperature value) of the battery module <NUM>, and ⑤ indicates the average temperature value.

Conventionally, by using the temperature value of the first temperature sensor, indicated by ①, the aging degree of the battery has been calculated. However, in embodiments of the present disclosure, ③ may be estimated using an RC model and the average temperature value indicated by ⑤ may be calculated using ③, after which the aging degree of the battery is calculated based on the calculated average temperature value.

<FIG> illustrates an aging degree calculated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The aging degree of the battery calculated according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be indicated by a triangle. The aging degree of the battery calculated according to the conventional art may be indicated by a rectangle. When compared to the aging degree of the battery calculated according to the conventional art, the aging degree of the battery calculated according to embodiments of the present disclosure has a low error rate.

<FIG> illustrate various modified examples of an RC model according to the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the state of the battery is the second state, the minimum temperature value of the battery may be calculated based on a heat transfer model among the first position of the first temperature sensor mounted on the battery, the second position of the second temperature sensor mounted on the cooling means of the battery, and the third position of the battery where the battery and the cooling means contact each other. In this case, least one of a space between the first position and the third position and a space between the third position and the second position by using a RC model.

Although not shown, it may be understood that an appropriate number of temperature sensors may be added in appropriate positions to apply the model shown in <FIG>. For example, a plurality of temperature sensors provided in a plurality of positions in the battery module <NUM> may be further used, and additionally/alternatively, a plurality of temperature sensors provided in a plurality of positions of the cooling means <NUM> may be used.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of calculating an aging degree, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, when an electric vehicle is used in operation S100, power for driving may be supplied from a battery to a vehicle. During driving of the vehicle, a temperature of a first position of the battery may be measured in operation S101. The first position may be a position where the temperature is expected to be maximum in the battery. A temperature of a second position of the battery may be measured in operation S102. The second position may be a position where the temperature is expected to be minimum in the battery. For example, the second position may be a part of the cooling means. The temperature of the third position of the battery may be calculated based on the temperature of the first position, the temperature of the second position, and RC modeling. The third position may be a position where the temperature is expected to be minimum among the battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM>. The third position may be a region where the battery module <NUM> is adjacent to the cooling means <NUM>.

When the temperature of the third position is calculated, an average temperature may be calculated using the temperature of the first position and the temperature of the third position in operation S104, and obtain a reference internal resistance based on the calculated average temperature in operation S105.

Meanwhile, simultaneously with or before or after calculation of the average temperature, an operation of calculating a current internal resistance may be performed. To this end, a voltage and a current of the battery may be measured in operation S106. Then, by using the measured voltage value and current value, the current internal resistance of the battery may be estimated in operation S107.

In operation S108, an aging degree of the battery may be calculated based on the reference internal resistance obtained in operation S105 and the current internal resistance estimated in operation S107.

As such, the method of calculating the aging degree of the battery according to the present disclosure may calculate the minimum temperature of the battery by using an RC heat transfer model to calculate the average temperature of the battery, thereby accurately measuring the appropriate average temperature of the battery for calculating the aging degree. As a result, the accurate reference internal resistance of the battery may be obtained, thereby calculating the accurate aging degree of the battery.

In the above-described situation, i.e., when the state of the battery is the first state or the second state, that is, when there is no state change, the average temperature of the battery cell may be calculated through heat transfer analysis based on the RC model. On the other hand, when state change occurs like when the state of the battery is changed from the first state to the second state, initial temperature setting for calculating the average temperature needs to be different. Thus, in embodiments of the present disclosure, an initial average temperature may be calculated using at least two different algorithms as below.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of calculating an aging degree, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Before <FIG> is described, the control unit <NUM> may perform an end process to be described below when a load such as a vehicle, etc., enters the first state. The end process may be performed when the vehicle enters a parking state. Alternatively, the end process may be performed when the output of the battery is less than the reference output.

The end process may store data regarding an initial minimum temperature value to be used when the vehicle is changed from the first state to the second state. In the end process, the following proportional factor may be calculated and stored in the storing unit <NUM>.

Tn may indicate the temperature of the third position, that is, the minimum temperature value. Tn may correspond to Tcell_min in <FIG>. Tn1 may indicate the temperature of the first position, that is, the maximum temperature value. Tn1 may correspond to Tcell_max in <FIG>. Tn2 may indicate the temperature of the second position. Tn2 may correspond to Tcoolant in <FIG>.

The control unit <NUM> may store the calculated proportional coefficient and the minimum temperature value Tn in the storing unit <NUM>.

The proportional coefficient and the minimum temperature value may be stored as described above, and the control unit <NUM> may continue monitoring the state of the vehicle in operation S200. When the state of the vehicle is monitored, it may mean that the state of the battery is monitored. Alternatively, when the state of the vehicle is monitored, it may mean that a signal regarding the state of the vehicle is received from the upper-level controller <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may count a duration in which the first state is maintained, in operation S201. The control unit <NUM> may monitor whether the state is changed from the first state to another state, and when determining that the state is changed from the first state to another state (No in operation S201), the control unit <NUM> may determine whether the vehicle is changed to the second state, in operation S202. When the control unit <NUM> determines that the vehicle is changed to the second state (Yes IN operation S202), the control unit <NUM> obtains a duration in which the battery is maintained in the first state, in operation S203.

The control unit <NUM> may determine whether the obtained duration is greater than or equal to the first reference time in operation S204. The reference time may be, for example, <NUM> minutes. However, this is merely an example, and the reference time may be a random proper time such as <NUM> minute, <NUM> minutes, <NUM> minutes, <NUM> minutes, <NUM> hour, etc..

When the duration is less than the first reference time, the control unit <NUM> may calculate the average temperature by using the first algorithm. The first algorithm may calculate the average temperature value of the battery by using the minimum temperature of the battery calculated before start of the first state of the battery and a temperature measurement value of the temperature sensor mounted on the battery. That is, in the first algorithm, the minimum temperature value of the battery, calculated and stored before start of the first state, is used.

When the duration is greater than or equal to the first reference time, the control unit <NUM> may calculate the average temperature by using the second algorithm in operation S207. The second algorithm may calculate the minimum tempeature value of the battery based on the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor and the temperature measurement value of the second temperature sensor mounted on the cooling means of the battery. In this case, the minimum temperature value may be calculated using the proportional coefficient calculated and stored before the battery starts the first state. For example, based on calculation such as Tn = Tn2 + k(Tn1 - Tn2), the minimum temperature value may be calculated. Thereafter, in the second algorithm, the average temperature of the battery may be calculated using the temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor and the calculated minimum temperature value.

As an additional embodiment, as shown in operation S206 of <FIG>, when the duration is determined to be greater than or equal to the first reference time, it may be further determined whether the duration is greater than nor equal to the second reference time. The second reference time may be longer than the first reference time. When the duration is determined to be greater than or equal to the second reference time in operation S206, the average temperature may be calculated using the third algorithm instead of the second algorithm, in operation S208. The third algorithm may use a temperature measurement value of the first temperature sensor mounted on the battery, as the average temperature. For example, when the vehicle is maintained in the parking state for a long time, the maximum temperature value of the battery, the minimum temperature value of the battery, and the temperature value of the cooling means may be actually equal to each other. Thus, when the time in which the first state is maintained is longer than the second reference time, the maximum temperature value may be used as the average temperature.

When the average temperature is calculated by any one of the first through third algorithms, the reference internal resistance may be calculated in the same manner as described above based on the calculated average temperature in operation S209. Then, by using the calculated reference internal resistance and current internal resistance, the aging degree of the battery may be calculated in operation S210.

As such, in calculating the average temperature of the battery as described above, the method and apparatus for calculating the aging degree of the battery according to the present disclosure, when the state of the battery is changed from the first state to the second state, according to the duration in the first state, a different algorithm for calculating the average temperature of the battery may be used, thereby accurately calculating the average temperature of the battery. Therefore, the accurate aging degree of the battery may be calculated.

<FIG> shows a hardware configuration of the BMS <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the BMS <NUM> may include a controller (micro control unit (MCU)) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a communication interface <NUM>, and an input/output <NUM>.

The MCU <NUM> may process various operations and calculations in the BMS <NUM> and control each component.

In the memory <NUM>, an operating system program and a program for performing a function of the MCU <NUM> may be recorded. The memory <NUM> may include a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. For example, at least one of various storage media such as a semiconductor memory like random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc., and a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc., may be used as the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may be a memory embedded in the MCU <NUM> or an additional memory installed separately from the MCU <NUM>.

The communication I/F <NUM> may be a component that is capable of wiredly and/or wirelessly communicating with an outside.

The input/output I/F <NUM> may perform inputting/outputting of various input signals and output signals.

As the MCU <NUM> executes a program stored in the memory <NUM>, the MCU <NUM> may perform a function of each component included in the control unit <NUM> of the BMS <NUM>. In addition, the MCU <NUM> may function as the voltage measuring unit <NUM>, the current measuring unit <NUM>, and the temperature measuring unit <NUM>, based on a program stored in the memory <NUM> and various measurement signals received through the input/output I/F <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may function as the storing unit <NUM>. The MCU <NUM> may function as a communication means communicating with the upper-level controller <NUM> by operating together with the communication I/F <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method of calculating an aging degree of a battery (<NUM>), the method comprising:
obtaining (S203) a duration of the battery (<NUM>) in a first state, when a use state of the battery (<NUM>) is changed from the first state to a second state;
determining (S204) whether the obtained duration is greater than or equal to a first reference time;
calculating (S205) an average temperature of the battery (<NUM>) based on a first algorithm when the duration is less than the first reference time, and calculating the average temperature of the battery based on a second algorithm when the duration is greater than or equal to a reference time ; and
calculating (S210) the aging degree of the battery (<NUM>) based on the calculated average temperature.