Patent Description:
In general, thermal runaway of a battery system is detected as a combination of a voltage drop of the battery cell, a maximum temperature of the battery cell, and a temperature increase rate of the battery cell. For example, thermal runaway may be detected using "voltage drop and temperature rise rate of battery cell' or 'maximum temperature and temperature rise rate of battery cell'. These detection methods have no problem when voltage and temperature are normally measured. However, if the analog front end (AFE) integrated circuit (IC) that measures the voltage and temperature is damaged or the communication line with the AFE IC is damaged, the voltage and temperature cannot be measured or voltage and temperature measured by the AFE IC cannot be obtained. In this case, thermal runaway detection is difficult.

Document <CIT> discloses a thermal runaway detection method capable of effectively detecting thermal runaway of a battery. It determines that thermal runaway has occurred in the battery when at least one parameter (temperature) of the cooling medium of a battery satisfies a preset condition.

At least one of the embodiments is to provide a method and apparatus for detecting thermal runaway of a battery pack capable of detecting thermal runaway even when voltage and temperature of a battery cell cannot be obtained.

According to one aspect, a method for detecting thermal runaway of a battery pack including at least one battery module in a master battery management system (BMS) is provided. The method for detecting thermal runaway includes: detecting a communication error with at least one slave BMS that detects information on the at least one battery module; if a communication error with the at least one BMS is detected, obtaining temperature of a master board from a temperature sensor located on the master board in which the master BMS is installed; and detecting thermal runaway of the battery pack using the temperature of the master board.

The detecting a communication error with the at least one slave BMS may include: checking whether information on the at least one battery module is received from the at least one slave BMS; and determining that a communication error with the at least one slave BMS has occurred if the information on the at least one battery module is not received within a set time.

The method for detecting thermal runaway may further include detecting the thermal runaway using the information on the at least one battery module if information on the at least one battery module is received from the at least one BMS, wherein the information on the at least one battery module may include voltage and temperature.

The detecting of the thermal runaway of the battery pack may include determining that the thermal runaway has occurred if the temperature of the master board exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The master BMS and the at least one slave BMS may be wired or wirelessly connected.

According to another aspect, an apparatus for detecting thermal runaway of a battery pack including at least one battery module is provided. The apparatus for detecting thermal runaway includes: a master board temperature obtainer that obtains a temperature of a master board in which a master battery management system (BMS) is installed or a temperature of the battery coolant; and a controller that checks whether information on at least one battery module is received from at least one slave BMS, and detects thermal runaway of the battery pack using the temperature of the master board or the temperature of the battery coolant if the information on at least one battery module is not received within a set time.

The controller may determine that a communication error with the at least one slave has occurred if the information on the at least one battery module is not received within the set time.

The controller may determine that the thermal runaway has occurred if the temperature of the master board exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The controller may determine that the thermal runaway has occurred if the temperature of the coolant exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The temperature of the coolant may include a temperature of the coolant at an inlet location of a battery cooling line through which the battery coolant is circulated and a temperature of the coolant at an outlet location of the battery cooling line, and the controller may detect the thermal runaway based on a difference between the temperature of the coolant at the inlet location and the temperature of the coolant at the outlet location.

The apparatus for detecting thermal runaway may be implemented in the master BMS.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that a person of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the disclosure. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. In the flowchart described with reference to the drawings in this specification, the order of operations may be changed, several operations may be merged, some operations may be divided, and specific operations may not be performed.

Throughout the specification and claims, when a part is referred to "include" a certain element, it means that it may further include other elements rather than exclude other elements, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

In addition, expressions described in the singular may be interpreted in the singular or plural unless explicit expressions such as "one" or "single" are used.

In addition, terms including an ordinal number, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

Furthermore, when a component is referred to be "connected" with another component, it includes not only the case where two components are "directly connected" but also the case where two components are "indirectly or non-contactedly connected" with another component interposed therebetween, or the case where two components are "electrically connected. " On the other hand, when an element is referred to as "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that no other element exists in the middle.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a battery pack including a battery management device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> may be mounted in various power devices that use electrical energy stored in the battery pack <NUM>, such as an electric vehicle. The battery pack <NUM> may include a plurality of battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c connected in series with each other and the wireless battery management device <NUM>.

The plurality of battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c connected in series to each other may be connected to an external charging device or load through system terminals T and T-, and may be charged by the charging device or discharged by the load.

The battery module 20a may include a plurality of battery cells 22a electrically connected to each other in series and/or parallel. The battery module 20b may include a plurality of battery cells 22b electrically connected to each other in series and/or parallel. The battery module 20c may include a plurality of battery cells 22c electrically connected to each other in series and/or parallel.

The battery management device <NUM> monitors the voltage, current, and temperature of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c to maintain the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c in optimal conditions. The battery management device <NUM> may include a plurality of slave battery management systems (BMS) 100a, 100b, and 100c and a master BMS <NUM>. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in <FIG>, it will be described that the battery pack <NUM> includes three battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c, and the battery management device <NUM> includes three slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c.

The plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may be installed to correspond to the plurality of battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c included in the battery pack <NUM> on a one-to-one basis. Each of the plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may be electrically connected to any one battery module 20a, 20b, and 20c in which it is installed among the plurality of battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c. For example, the slave BMS 100a may be electrically connected to the battery module 20a, the slave BMS 100b may be electrically connected to the battery module 20b, and the slave BMS 100c may be electrically connected to the battery module 20c.

The plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may include analog front end (AFE) integrated circuits (ICs) 110a, 110b, and 110c, respectively. The AFE ICs 110a, 110b, and 110c included in each of the plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may detect the overall state (e.g., voltage, current, and temperature) of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c electrically connected thereto, and perform various control functions (e.g., charging, discharging, balancing) for adjusting the state of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c. At this time, each control function may be performed by each slave BMS 100a, 100b, and 100c directly based on the state of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c or may be performed according to a command from the master BMS <NUM>.

The AFE IC 110a included in the slave BMS 100a may be electrically connected to at least one temperature sensor 32a. The AFE IC 110b included in the slave BMS 100b may be electrically connected to at least one temperature sensor 32b. The AFE IC 110c included in the slave BMS 100c may be electrically connected to at least one temperature sensor 32c. The at least one temperature sensor 32a may detect the temperature of the cells 22a constituting the battery module 20a. The at least one temperature sensor 32b may detect the temperature of the cells 22b constituting the battery module 20b. The at least one temperature sensor 32c may detect the temperature of the cells 22c constituting the battery module 20c.

In addition, the AFE IC 110a included in the slave BMS 100a may be electrically connected to both ends of the battery module 20a, and may detect the voltage value of the battery module 20a. The AFE IC 110b included in the slave BMS 100b may be electrically connected to both ends of the battery module 20b, and may detect the voltage value of the battery module 20b. The AFE IC 110c included in the slave BMS 100c may be electrically connected to both ends of the battery module 20c, and may detect the voltage value of the battery module 20c. Furthermore, the AFE IC 110a included in the slave BMS 100a may be electrically connected to both ends of each cell 22a constituting the battery modules 20a, and may detect the cell voltage of each cell 22a. The AFE IC 110b included in the slave BMS 100b may be electrically connected to both ends of each cell 22b constituting the battery modules 20b, and may detect the cell voltage of each cell 22b. The AFE IC 110c included in the slave BMS 100c may be electrically connected to both ends of each cell 22c constituting the battery modules 20c, and may detect the cell voltage of each cell 22c.

The master BMS <NUM> receives information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c from the plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c, and performs control functions such as state of charge (SOC), power control, cell balancing control, fault diagnosis control, and cooling control and thermal runaway detection control. In addition, the master BMS <NUM> may control a relay for supplying and blocking the power of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c to the load based on the information of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c.

The master BMS <NUM> may be connected to a plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c through wired communication lines. The plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may be connected in a daisy chain manner. Accordingly, the master BMS <NUM> may be connected to one slave BMS 100a at the top among the plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c through a wired communication line. The master BMS <NUM> may transmit control information to the one slave BMS 100a. The one slave BMS 100a at the top transfers the control information received from the master BMS <NUM> to the slave BMS 100b at the lower, and the slave BMS 100b also transfers the received control information to the slave BMS 100c at the lower. The plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c respectively detect information about the connected battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c in response to the control information. The slave BMS 100c at the lowest transfers the detected information to the slave BMS 100b at the upper, and the slave BMS 100b transfers the detected information and the information received from the slave BMS 100c to the slave BMS100a at the upper, and the slave BMS 100a may deliver the detected information and the information received from the slave BMSs 100b and 100c to the master BMS <NUM>.

Alternatively, the master BMS <NUM> may be connected to a plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c using a wireless network as a connection method.

The master BMS <NUM> may obtain information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c including the voltages, currents, and temperatures of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c detected by the plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c, periodically.

The master BMS <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> using voltages and temperatures of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c. Thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> may include thermal runaway of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c.

On the other hand, due to thermal runaway of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c or other reasons, damage to the communication line between the master BMS <NUM> and the slave BMS 100a, damage to the communication line between the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c, damage to the AFE IC of the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may occur. In this case, since the master BMS <NUM> cannot obtain information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c including the voltages, currents, and temperatures of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c, even if thermal runaway occurs, it cannot be detected.

If the master BMS <NUM> does not obtain information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c from the slave BMS 100a, 100b, and 100c within a set time, the master BMS <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> based on the temperature of the master board where the master BMS <NUM> is located. In addition, the master BMS <NUM> may detect thermal runaway based on the temperature of the battery cooling fluid.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a thermal runaway detection apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the master BMS <NUM> may include a thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> and a temperature sensor <NUM>.

The temperature sensor <NUM> may be used to check the normal operation of the master board in which the master BMS <NUM> is installed, and may be located in the master board. The temperature sensor <NUM> may detect the temperature of the master board. The temperature sensor <NUM> may transmit the detected temperature of the master board to the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM>.

The thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> may include a battery information obtainer <NUM>, a master board temperature obtainer <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

The battery information obtainer <NUM> may obtain information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c including the voltages, currents, and temperatures of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c detected by the plurality of slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c, periodically, and transmit information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c to the controller <NUM>.

The master board temperature obtainer <NUM> may obtain the temperature of the master board detected by the temperature sensor <NUM> and transmit the temperature of the master board to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> based on periodically obtained information of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c.

The controller <NUM> may not be able to obtain information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c due to a communication error with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c. When the information of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c cannot be obtained, the controller <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> based on the temperature of the master board obtained through the master board temperature obtainer <NUM>.

The temperature of the master board detected by the temperature sensor <NUM> may vary depending on various factors such as workload of the master BMS <NUM> or the surrounding temperature. For example, when thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> occurs, the temperature of the master board may increase due to the temperature of the battery pack <NUM>. Accordingly, if the information of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c cannot be obtained, the controller <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> by using the temperature of the master board detected by the temperature sensor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may determine that thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> has occurred if the temperature of the master board exceeds a predetermined threshold. A threshold value for comparison with the temperature of the master board may be set to <NUM> degrees, for example.

In this way, the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> uses the temperature sensor <NUM> located on the master board for detecting thermal runaway, thereby detecting thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> without additional cost when communication errors with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c occur.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for detecting a thermal runaway in the thermal runaway detection apparatus for shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> checks whether information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c is received within a set time (S310).

When information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c is not received within the set time (S320), the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> determines that a communication error with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c has occurred (S330). The set time may be set to, for example, <NUM> second, <NUM> seconds, <NUM> seconds, and the like. The slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c may transmit information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c to the master BMS <NUM> at set intervals (e.g., <NUM> milliseconds). The controller <NUM> may determine that a communication error with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c has occurred if information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c is not received for a set time (e.g., <NUM> second).

If a communication error occurs with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c, the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> receives the temperature of the master board through the master board temperature obtainer <NUM> (S340).

The controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> based on the temperature of the master board. If the temperature of the master board exceeds the threshold (S350), the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> may determine that thermal runaway has occurred (S360). If the temperature of the master board is less than or equal to the threshold (S350), the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> may determine that thermal runaway has not occurred (S370).

As such, according to one embodiment, if the information of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c cannot be obtained due to a communication error with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c, the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> using the temperature of the master board.

Meanwhile, if information on the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c is received within a set time, the controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus <NUM> may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> using the voltage and temperature information of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c (S380).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a thermal runaway detection apparatus according to another embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> may include various temperature sensors in addition to the temperature sensor <NUM> located in the master board. The temperature detected by at least some of the various temperature sensors may vary depending on whether thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> has occurred.

For example, the battery pack <NUM> may include a battery cooling system <NUM> to prevent overheating of the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c. The battery cooling system <NUM> may include battery cooling line installed below the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c or between the battery modules 20a, 20b, and 20c to circulate battery coolant. In addition, the battery cooling system <NUM> may further include at least one temperature sensor <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the battery coolant. As an example, temperature sensors <NUM> may be mounted at the inlet of the battery cooling line and at the outlet of the battery cooling line.

The at least one temperature sensor <NUM> may detect the temperature of the battery coolant. When the temperature sensors <NUM> are mounted at the inlet of the battery cooling line and the outlet of the battery cooling line, respectively, each temperature sensor <NUM> may detect the temperature of the battery coolant at the corresponding location of the battery cooling line.

When thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> occurs, the temperature of the battery coolant may also increase. The master board temperature obtainer <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus 210a may obtain the temperature of the battery coolant.

The controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detecting apparatus 210a may detect thermal runaway by using the temperature of the battery coolant. The controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus 210a may detect that thermal runaway has occurred if the temperature of the battery coolant exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold for comparison with the temperature of the coolant may be set to <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees.

The controller <NUM> of the thermal runaway detection apparatus 210a may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> based on a difference between the temperature detected at the inlet of the battery cooling line and the temperature detected at the outlet of the battery cooling line. The controller <NUM> may determine that thermal runaway has occurred if the difference between the temperature detected at the inlet of the battery cooling line and the temperature detected at the outlet of the battery cooling line is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference.

As such, the thermal runaway detection apparatus 210a may detect thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM> using the temperature of the coolant when a communication error occurs with the slave BMSs 100a, 100b, and 100c.

The thermal runaway detection apparatuses <NUM> and 210a may represent computing device in which the above-described thermal runaway detection method is implemented. The thermal runaway detection apparatuses <NUM> and 210a may include at least one processor. At least one processor may be implemented as various types such as an application processor (AP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and the like. At least one processor stores program commands for implementing at least some functions of the battery information obtainer <NUM>, the master board temperature obtainer <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> described in <FIG> and <FIG> in a memory, and may perform the thermal runaway detection operation by executing program commands stored in the memory.

According to at least one of the embodiments, thermal runaway may be detected even when the voltage and temperature of the battery cell cannot be obtained due to damage to the AFE IC or damage to a communication line with the AFE IC.

According to at least one embodiment of the embodiments, thermal runaway may be detected using a temperature sensor located on the master board without a pressure sensor or gas sensor.

Claim 1:
A method for detecting thermal runaway of a battery pack (<NUM>) including at least one battery module (20a, 20b, 20c) in a master battery management system, BMS, (<NUM>) the method comprising:
detecting a communication error with at least one slave BMS (100a, 100b, 100c) that is configured to detect information on the at least one battery module;
if a communication error with the at least one BMS is detected, obtaining the temperature of a master board from a temperature sensor (<NUM>) located on the master board in which the master BMS is installed or obtaining the temperature of battery coolant that cools the at least one battery module; and
detecting thermal runaway of the battery pack using the temperature of the master board or the temperature of the battery coolant.