APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COOLING CONTROL OF BATTERY PACK
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for diagnosing and
controlling the cooling system of a battery pack, and more particularly, to an apparatus
and method for cooling control of a secondary battery pack used as a driving source of
electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) or the like, which can apply a
differential cooling method depending on temperature conditions of the secondary
battery pack and can minimize a risk to a fault of the cooling system.
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-
0084145 filed in the Republic of Korea on August 30, 2010, the entire contents disclosed
in the specification and drawings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND ART
A secondary battery has high applicability depending on the product group and
excellent electrical characteristics such as high energy density, and thus is commonly
used as an electric power source of electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid vehicles (HV) as well
as mobile devices.
Such a secondary battery significantly reduces the use of the fossile fuels and
does not generate by-products that come with energy consumption, and thus can improve
energy efficiency. For these reasons, a secondary battery is gaining attention as an
alternative energy source.
A battery pack, which is used for electric vehicles, conventionally includes a
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plurality of assemblies consisting of a plurality of unit cells. The cell includes a positive
current collector, a separator, an active material, a liquid electrolyte, an aluminum thin
film layer, etc., so that the structure is capable of charging/discharging by an
electrochemical reaction between components.
In addition to the fundamental structure for charging/discharging, the battery pack
further includes a device for physical protection of cells assembling to become a battery,
various sensing means and a firmware, in which an accurate algorithm is applied to
estimate a state of charge (SOC), etc.
A battery assembled of various chemical elements and electrophysical elements
may not be permanently used due to the fundamental characteristics of an
electrochemical reaction. Also, there are problems to be solved for a battery swelling due
to an electrochemical reaction and a leakage current generated to adversely affect the
safety and stability of the battery.
Fundamental properties of the battery, such as electrochemical and
electrophysical properties, are affected by environmental conditions in which the battery
is used. According to the external exposure environments of the battery, electrochemical
properties inherent in the battery may be rapidly changed to greatly affect the lifetime,
stability and operation performance of the battery.
Particularly, since the charging and discharging process of secondary batteries is
conducted by an electrochemical reaction as mentioned above, the batteries are affected
by surrounding environmental temperature conditions. For example, if the battery is
charged and discharged in a severe temperature condition in which an optimum
temperature has not been maintained, such as an extremely hot or cold temperature, a
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charging/discharging efficiency of the battery is reduced, which makes it difficult to
assure normal operation performance.
The battery has an intrinsic attribute in that its electrophysical properties
deteriorate over time and is susceptible to severe environmental conditions such as
temperature, high current environment, physical impact, overcharging, overdischarging,
submersion, high humidity or the like. If the battery is exposed in such an environment
for a long period of time, its lifetime is rapidly shortened, its operation in a normal range
is not assured for an optimum period and explosion may occur, thereby fatally affecting
the safety of vehicles equipped with the battery.
Therefore, in order to maximize the stable and normal operation of the battery
and optimize the economical efficiency thereof, there is a need to improve a user
interface environment so that environmental factors such as a temperature of the battery
reflect the operation control of the battery and any immediate and preliminary action is
taken when the battery is exposed in a dangerous condition.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the prior art, and
therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for
cooling control of a battery pack, which can apply a cooling control mechanism to
minimize the influence of the battery by environmental conditions, particularly severe
temperature conditions, and can improve a user interface environment to optimize the
stable and normal operation of the battery.
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Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the embodiments of the
present invention. The aspects and advantages of the invention may be realized by means
of instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Technical Solution
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an
apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack, the apparatus including a temperature
sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery pack; a blower module for
introducing a cooling medium into the battery pack by means of fan operation; and a
controller for controlling the operation of the blower module so that the cooling medium
is introduced into the battery pack at a differential flow rate depending on temperature
information input by the temperature sensor.
Also, in the present invention, a plurality of blower modules may be provided and
the controller may adjust the number of operated blower modules depending on the
temperature information.
Furthermore, the present invention may further include a steering module for
adjusting an introducing direction of the cooling medium. The temperature sensors may
be provided in plurality at different positions of the battery pack and the controller may
control the steering module so that the cooling medium is introduced in an amount
relatively more in the direction of the temperature sensor indicative of a relatively higher
temperature among the temperature sensors.
In order to accomplish a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
present invention may further include a database (DB) unit for storing reference flow rate
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information of the cooling medium corresponding to the temperature of the battery pack;
a flow rate sensor for measuring a flow rate of the cooling medium introduced into the
battery pack; and an operation controller for controlling the use of the battery pack to be
restricted when the flow rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature
of the battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information on the basis of the
temperature information of the battery pack, input by the temperature sensor, and the
flow rate information of the cooling medium, input by the flow rate sensor.
Here, the operation controller of the present invention may control the use of the
battery pack to be restricted only in the case that the temperature information input by the
temperature sensor after a reference time is not within the range of the reference
temperature.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the present invention further includes a storage
unit for storing at least one of the temperature information, the flow rate information,
measuring time information and restricted time information at which the use of the
battery pack is restricted.
Also, the operation controller may output risk information through an interface
module when the flow rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature
of the battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information, and in order to
accomplish a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation
controller may output differential risk information depending on a degree that the flow
rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature of the battery pack
deviates from the reference flow rate information, through an interface module.
Meanwhile, in order to accomplish an object according to the other aspect of the
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present invention, there is provided a method for cooling control of the battery pack of
the present invention, the method including measuring the temperature of the battery
pack by a temperature sensor; and controlling the operation of a blower module
introducing a cooling medium into the battery pack by means of fan operation so that the
cooling medium is introduced into the battery pack at a differential flow rate depending
on temperature information input by the temperature sensor.
Advantageous Effects
The apparatus and method for cooling control of a battery pack according to the
present invention can control the battery pack to be differentially cooled depending on a
temperature condition environment in which the battery pack is exposed and depending
on a partial or ununiform overheat of the battery pack, thereby achieving the more
efficient cooling operation of the battery pack and, based on these, improving an
efficiency in a proper application, lifespan extension, management, maintenance and the
like for the battery.
In addition, it is possible to improve a user interface environment, thereby
inducing to take a direct action such as the exchange and repair of a battery as well as a
preliminary or protective action, to achieve a user-oriented battery control apparatus and
method.
From the advantageous effects of the present invention, it is possible to enhance
the lifespan of a battery and reduce unnecessary costs, thereby providing a more
economical and enviroment-friendly battery. Also, an infrastructure for the automatic
control of electric vehicles can be provided to achieve even greater development of
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electric vehicles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present
disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, serve to provide further
understanding of the technical spirit of the present disclosure. However, the present
disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus for cooling
control of a battery pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an apparatus for cooling
control of a battery pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 represents various temperature conditions and controlling factors
corresponding thereto, which are used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 represents data for adjusting an introducing direction of a cooling medium,
which are used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the procedures of a method for cooling control
of a battery pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 represents differential control and differential information message output
depending on the status of an apparatus for cooling a battery pack according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in
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detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description, it should be
understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be
construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the
meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the present invention on the
basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the
best explanation.
Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the
purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the invention, so it should
be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus for cooling
control of a battery pack (hereinafter, refers as ‘control apparatus’) 100 according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the
procedures of a method for cooling control of a battery pack according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The control apparatus and method according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference
to FIGs. 1 and 5.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control apparatus 100 of the present invention may
include a temperature sensor 110, a blower module 120, a steering module 130, a
controller 140, DB unit 150, a flow rate sensor 160, an operation controller 170, a storing
unit 180 and an interface module 190.
The temperature sensor 110 conducts a function of sensing a temperature for the
current status of a battery, and the sensed temperature information is input into the
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controller 140 of the present invention. As described above, in order to achieve the
optimized performance of the battery pack, it is preferred that the battery pack mounted
in electric vehicles is maintained in its proper operation temperature by a cooling airconditioning
system.
The blower module 120 of the present invention, which is part of the cooling airconditioning
system, is a component for introducing a cooling medium (such as air) into
the battery pack by means of fan operation to maintain the temperature of the battery
pack in a consistent optimum level.
Thus, if temperature information for the current status of the battery is measured
by the temperature sensor 110 (S300), the controller 140 of the present invention controls
the blower module 120 to introduce the cooling medium into the battery pack, and more
specifically, controls the operation of the blower module 120 so that the cooling medium
is introduced into the battery pack at a differential flow rate depending on such
temperature information (S310).
As shown in FIG. 2 illustrating one embodiment of the present invention, the
controller 140 of the present invention operates the blower module 120 provided in the
front end of the battery pack to introduce the cooling medium into the battery pack 10
and to cool heat generated by various causes including a charging and discharging
process, thereby assuring the normal operation of the battery. As shown in FIG. 2, in
order to increase an exhaust of warmed air to obtain more efficient air-conditioning
system, it is more preferred to further include an exhaust blower module 135.
The differential operation of the controller 140 according to one embodiment of
the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.3 as follows.
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A reference temperature (Tr) established for the normal operation of the battery
pack is premised to 20 ℃. The reference temperature, of course, has various values
depending on a size and specification of the battery pack, the number of constructed
secondary batteries, instruments environment mounted in electric vehicles or the like.
FIG. 3 represents a look-up table which is stored in a pre-determined storing
medium to be referred automatically by the controller 140 of the present invention,
thereby allowing an operation control depending on temperature conditions.
If the temperature information (Tm) measured by the temperature sensor 110
represents 25 ℃, the difference between Tm and 20 ℃ established as the optimum
reference temperature is 5 ℃ and, in order for the cooling medium to be introduced in a
flow rate (20 cm3/sec) corresponding to such a temperature difference, the controller 140
of the present invention controls the operation voltage of the blower module 120 so that
the operation speed of the blower module 120 is 200 rpm.
As for other example, if a current temperature of the battery pack is 35 ℃ (Δ T=
15), the cooling medium should be introduced in a relatively higher flow rate since the
current temperature is higher as compared to the example described above. Therefore, the
controller 140 of the present invention controls the operation voltage of the blower
module 120 to be increased so that the operation speed of the blower module 120 is 1500
rpm.
Also, if a current temperature measured is 20 ℃, the operation of the blower
module 120 is controlled to turn off since there is no difference from the reference
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temperature.
Thus, in order to maintain the optimum temperature of the battery pack, the
blower module 120 is differentially controlled and selectively operated as needed so that
the higher current temperature of the battery pack allows the higher flow rate of the
cooling medium to be introduced into the battery pack 10, thereby providing a more
economical and optimized cooling control apparatus.
The data on the optimum flow rate of the cooling medium introduced, the
operation speed of the blower module, the relative extent for the operation voltage of the
blower module and the like may be pre-determined by an experiment in consideration of
external environment such as a specification of the battery pack.
In addition, the data on the numerical values is just for the purpose of illustration
only and should not be understood as absolute criteria, which may also be applied in a
method for determining a reference as one numerical value or a certain range, as shown
in FIG. 3.
In order to improve energy efficiency and the cooling efficiency of the battery
pack simultaneously, the blower module 120 of the present invention may be provided in
plurality, and the controller 140 of the present invention may operate a plurality of
blower modules 120 so that the numbers of operated blower modules 120 is controlled
differentially depending on current temperature information.
If a current temperature is not significantly different from an optimum reference
temperature among the plurality of the blower modules 120, only one blower module is
operated. As the current temperature is relatively higher, the number of operated blower
modules 120 is increased to introduce the cooling medium in a higher flow rate into the
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battery pack.
Such a configuration can reduce any risks due to overheat of the blower module
120 as compared to the case only one blower module 120 is used to control its speed as
well as reduce noise or vibration due to high speed rotation.
Meanwhile, the battery pack is in the form of aggregating a certain assembly
consisting of a plurality of secondary unit cells and may include a module such as battery
management system (BMS) consisting of electronic devices for controlling the battery
pack, and a component for electrically connecting between electrodes.
The battery pack including such internal configuration may not have a uniform
temperature distribution due to various causes such as ununiform SOC (state of charge)
between a plurality of secondary batteries, BMS control status, difference of insulation
resistance between electrodes, partial swelling generation. That is, such causes may
relatively overheat a certain part of the battery pack 10 than other parts thereof to form a
higher temperature distribution.
Based on this phenomenon, it is preferred to normally maintain the overall
operation performance of the battery pack 10 and induce more efficient energy
application.
For this, the present invention provides a plurality of temperature sensors 110 at
different positions from each other so as to sense temperature informations of areas
different from each other.
When the temperature information of a plurality of areas are sensed, the sensed
temperature information are input into the controller 140 of the present invention, as
mentioned above. The controller 140 of the present invention compares a plurality of the
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temperature information and controls the introducing direction of the cooling medium so
that an amount relatively more of the cooling medium is introduced in the direction
provided with the temperature sensor indicative of a relatively higher temperature (S320).
In order to efficiently achieve this step, as shown in FIG.2, a steering module 130
being capable of adjusting the direction of the cooling medium is provided, and the
controller 140 controls the direction of the steering module 130 so that the cooling
medium may be relatively concentrated at a certain position of the battery pack 10.
The steering module 130 may be independently operated in up-and-down or leftand-
right direction, and in order to enhance a correlation with the plurality of the blower
modules 120, it is more preferred that the steering module 130 is independently provided
in each of the blower modules 120.
In accordance with such configuration, it is possible to introduce the cooling
medium into the battery pack 10 to maintain an optimum temperature, by adjusting to
introduce an even greater amount of the cooling medium into the area having a relatively
higher temperature in the battery pack, thereby providing a more efficient cooling control
apparatus.
Thus, the method for differentially introducing the cooling medium into each
certain areas in which the temperature sensors are respectively provided is applicable in
various manners, known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including the adjustment of
direction and flow rate.
In one embodiment illustrating such method, as shown in FIG. 4, the position
information of the temperature sensor is pre-stored in connection with the identification
information of the relevant temperature sensor and is transmitted together with the
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identification information of the relevant temperature sensor on the transmission of the
temperature information thereof. The controller 140 of the present invention may identify
the identification information of the temperature sensor during identifying and analyzing
the temperature information and adjust the direction of the steering module so that an
introducing direction of the cooling medium is adjusted into the identified position of the
temperature sensor.
The direction adjustment of the steering module is preferably conducted by using
a stepper motor so as to enhance the accuracy of the direction adjustment.
Hereinafter, as another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an
embodiment for the operation control of the battery and a user interface will be described
in detail.
The DB unit 150 of the present invention stores reference flow rate information
of the cooling medium corresponding to the temperature of the battery pack. The
reference flow rate information may determine a flow rate of the cooling medium which
should be introduced at a current temperature of the battery pack so as to maintain an
optimum temperature of the battery pack.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, if a current temperature information represents 22 ℃,
the cooling medium should be introduced in a flow rate of 20 cm3/sec so as to maintain
the optimum temperature of 20 ℃, and if a current temperature information represents
35 ℃, the cooling medium should be introduced in a flow rate of 150 cm3/sec so as to
maintain the optimum temperature of 20 ℃. Thus, the reference flow rate information is
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the flow rate information of the cooling medium which is required to maintain the
optimum temperature of the battery pack.
The reference flow rate information may also be varied depending on a
specification, installed or mounted environment, stable operation criterion or the like in a
level known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
As mentioned above, the rotation operation of the blower module 120 is
differentially controlled correspondingly to the measured temperature, and for this, the
operation voltage provided in the blower module 120 is differentially controlled.
The rotation speed of the blower module 120 may be determined based on a
reference flow rate information (an optimum flow rate) required to maintain the optimum
temperature. Based on such information, a signal is input into the blower module 120
from the controller 140. However, an intended flow rate of the cooling medium may not
be introduced or the cooling medium itself may not be introduced by various causes such
as rotation hindrance due to a fault of the blower module itself, fan damage, surrounding
dust and foreign substances.
Accordingly, in order to efficiently reflect the problem generated in a cooling
system such as the blower module 120 in the operation control of the battery pack and a
user interface, in the present invention, a flow rate sensor 160 is provided in the battery
pack to measure a flow rate of the cooling medium actually introduced into the battery
pack (S330).
The flow rate sensor 160 may be in the form of a fan and functionally convert the
rotation number, rotated by the cooling medium introduced, per a unit time. Or, it may be
in other various forms which can measure a flow rate of the cooling medium.
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The flow rate information measured by the flow rate sensor 160 is input in the
operation controller 170 of the present invention, and the operation controller 170
monitors and inspects whether the cooling medium is introduced in an actually intended
flow rate into the battery pack on the basis of such information.
For this, the operation controller 170 compares the reference flow rate
information corresponding to a current temperature read from the DB unit 150 with the
measured flow rate information which is input from the flow rate sensor 160 (S340), and
if the flow rate information of the cooling medium on the current temperature of the
battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information, since it is regarded that a
fault is generated in the cooling system, the operation controller 170 controls the use of
the battery pack (S360).
If the blower module 120 according to the present invention rotates at a rotation
speed corresponding to a current temperature to introduce the cooling medium in an
optimum flow rate into the battery pack 10, the temperature information input from the
temperature sensor 110 may be expected to be lowered over time to an optimum
temperature level.
In the case of extensively applying such method, it is possible to data-process the
time required for time information required to be lowered to an optimum temperature
level through an experiment and a statistical process thereof. Herein, a reference time
means an information on the time required for time information to be lowered to the
optimum temperature level, as mentioned above.
In order to efficiently use the reference time to accurately check an actual fault
and reflect the operation control of the battery pack, even if the reference time has been
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elapsed, when the temperature information input from the temperature sensor 110
deviates from the range of the reference temperature, i.e., it is not lowered to the
reference temperature, the operation controller 170 of the present invention may control
the use of the battery pack to be restricted (S350).
That is, even though a predetermined reference time has been elapsed, if the
temperature of the battery pack is not lowered to an optimum level to deviate from the
range of a reference temperature, it is regarded that there is an actual fault in the cooling
system and a risk for the stable operation of the battery pack. Under this circumstance,
the operation controller 170 of the present invention conducts a process for restricting the
use of the battery pack, as mentioned above.
An embodiment for restricting the use of the battery pack may be provided in
various manners known to those of ordinary skill in the art, for example, a method of
turning the power supply relay off so that the battery pack is not used, a method of
partially restricting charge or discharge or restricting the function of the battery pack as a
power source so that the battery pack operates only within a certain reference value based
on SOC (stage of charge), output voltage, or the like, a method of selectively inactivating
only certain battery pack in the case of electric vehicles consisting of a plurality of
battery packs, a method of operating only gasoline engine as a power source in the case
of hybrid vehicles, etc.
Also, in order to conduct a function such as a black box to use as history data, it
is more preferred to store in a memory unit 180 at least one of measured temperature
information, flow rate information, measured time information and time information at
which the use of battery pack is restricted (S370).
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In addition, if the flow rate information corresponding to a current temperature of
the battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information or the reference
temperature range during the reference time, it is more preferred that the operation
controller 170 of the present invention outputs risk information thereon into a predetermined
interface module 190 (S380) to provide to a driver or a user.
The interface module 190 may be in the form of a visual (display device such as
LCD) or auditory (audio unit such as speaker) medium.
In order to accomplish a more preferred embodiment, it is more preferred that the
operation controller 170 of the present invention outputs differential risk information into
an interface module depending on a degree that the flow rate information corresponding
to a current temperature of the battery pack deviates from the reference flow information.
Such differential risk information may, as shown in FIG. 6, for example,
information indicative of emergency situation that the actual operation of a battery is
expected to be immediately interrupted or information indicative of a risk level for
warning to a user may be variously provided.
According to such an interfacing process, a user can recognize whether there is a
problem of a cooling system, the magnitude of the problem or risk level thereof and take
preliminary or immediate action, so user convenience is provided and the safety accident
of a battery is protected.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present disclosure has been described in detail. However, it should be
understood that the detailed description, specific examples and drawings, while
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indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only,
since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Meanwhile, each component of the cooling apparatus 100 of the present invention
shown in FIG. 1 should be understood as a logic component, rather than a physically
distinguishable component.
In other words, each component corresponding to an element logically
distinguished for realizing the spirit of the present invention, so each component should
be understood as being included in the scope of the present invention if it may realize its
logic function though it is separately implemented or integrated with another component,
and components realizing their same or similar function should be understood as being
included in the scope of the present invention even though their designations are different.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack, the apparatus
comprising:
a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery pack;
a blower module for introducing a cooling medium into the battery pack by
means of fan operation; and
a controller for controlling the operation of the blower module so that the cooling
medium is introduced into the battery pack at a differential flow rate depending on
temperature information input by the temperature sensor.
2. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the
controller controls the rotation speed of the blower module to be adjusted depending on
the temperature information.
3. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the
blower module is provided in plurality, and the controller adjusts the number of operated
blower modules depending on the temperature information.
4. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 1, further
comprising a steering module for adjusting an introducing direction of the cooling
medium,
wherein the temperature sensor is provided in plurality at different positions of
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the battery pack, and
wherein the controller controls the steering module so that the cooling medium is
introduced in an amount relatively more in the direction of the temperature sensor
indicative of a relatively higher temperature among the temperature sensors.
5. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 1, further
comprising
a database (DB) unit for storing reference flow rate information of the cooling
medium corresponding to the temperature of the battery pack;
a flow rate sensor for measuring a flow rate of the cooling medium introduced
into the battery pack; and
an operation controller for controlling the use of the battery pack to be restricted
when the flow rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature of the
battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information on the basis of the
temperature information of the battery pack, input by the temperature sensor, and the
flow rate information of the cooling medium, input by the flow rate sensor.
6. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the
operation controller controls the use of the battery pack to be restricted only in the case
that the temperature information input by the temperature sensor after a reference time is
not within the range of the reference temperature.
7. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 6, further
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comprising a storage unit for storing at least one of the temperature information, the flow
rate information, measuring time information and restricted time information at which
the use of the battery pack is restricted.
8. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the
operation controller outputs risk information through an interface module when the flow
rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature of the battery pack
deviates from the reference flow rate information.
9. The apparatus for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the
operation controller outputs differential risk information depending on a degree that the
flow rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature of the battery pack
deviates from the reference flow rate information, through the interface module.
10. A method for cooling control of a battery pack, the method comprising:
measuring the temperature of the battery pack by a temperature sensor; and
controlling the operation of a blower module introducing a cooling medium into
the battery pack by means of fan operation so that the cooling medium is introduced into
the battery pack at a differential flow rate depending on temperature information input by
the temperature sensor.
11. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 10, wherein in
the control step, the rotation speed of the blower module is adjusted depending on the
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temperature information.
12. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 10, wherein
the blower module is provided in plurality, and in the control step, the number of
operated blower modules is adjusted depending on temperature information.
13. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 10, further
comprising adjusting an introducing direction of the cooling medium by a steering
module,
wherein the temperature sensor is provided in plurality at different positions of
the battery pack, and
wherein in the control step, the steering module is controlled so that the cooling
medium is introduced in an amount relatively more in the direction of the temperature
sensor indicative of a relatively higher temperature among the temperature sensors.
14. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 10, further
comprising:
measuring a flow rate of the cooling medium introduced into the battery pack by
a flow rate sensor; and
operation controlling for restricting the use of the battery pack when the flow rate
information of the cooling medium on a current temperature of the battery pack deviates
from the reference flow rate information on the basis of the temperature information of
the battery pack, input by the temperature sensor, and the flow rate information of the
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cooling medium, input by the flow rate sensor.
15. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 14, wherein in
the operation controlling step, the use of the battery pack is restricted only in the case
that the temperature information input by the temperature sensor after a reference time is
not within the range of the reference temperature.
16. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 15, further
comprising storing at least one of the temperature information, the flow rate information,
measuring time information and restricted time information at which the use of the
battery pack is restricted.
17. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 14, wherein
the operation controlling step further includes outputting risk information through an
interface module when the flow rate information of the cooling medium on a current
temperature of the battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information.
18. The method for cooling control of a battery pack according to claim 17, wherein in
the information output step, differential risk information is output depending on a degree
that the flow rate information of the cooling medium on a current temperature of the
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battery pack deviates from the reference flow rate information, through the interface
module.
Dated this 26th day of March 2013
To
The Controller of Patents
The Patent Office
Delhi