BATTERY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery device (10) for a vehicle, having a main battery system (20) with at least two battery units (BS) and an emergency battery system (30) with at least one battery unit (BS), wherein the main battery system (20) has more battery units (BS) than the emergency battery system (30), wherein the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) furthermore have the same nominal voltage and are electrically connected in parallel with one another, and the main battery system (20) has a main switch (22) for disconnecting the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) has an emergency switch (32), separate from the main switch (22), for disconnecting the emergency battery system (30).

Claims

1. Battery device (10) for a vehicle, having a main battery system (20) with at least two battery units (BS) and an emergency battery system (30) with at least one battery unit (BS), wherein the main battery system (20) has more battery units (BS) than the emergency battery system (30), wherein the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) furthermore have the same nominal voltage and are electrically connected in parallel with one another, and the main battery system (20) has a main switch (22) for disconnecting the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) has an emergency switch (32), separate from the main switch (22), for disconnecting the emergency battery system (30).

2. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the emergency battery system (30) has exactly one battery unit (BS).

3. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the battery units (BS) of the main battery system (20) and the battery units (BS) of the emergency battery system (30) are electrically identical or substantially identical.

4. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) are arranged in a common battery housing (40).

5. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the emergency switch is reduced in design in relation to the main switch (22) at least with regard to one of the following parameters: electrical load limit costs weight electrical fuse protection.

6. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the emergency battery system (30) is arranged adjacent or substantially adjacent to a common control module (50) of the emergency battery system (30) and of the main battery system (20), in particular closer than the main battery system (20).

7. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) have a common contact section (60) for a parallel-connected connection to a consumer.

8. Battery device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that a common control module (50) is provided for the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30), wherein in particular at least one common additional control module (52) is provided for the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30).

9. Method for monitoring a battery device (10) with the features of claim 1, having the following steps: detecting a defect in a battery unit (BS), detecting an assignment of the defective battery unit (BS) to the main battery system (20) or the emergency battery system (30), disconnecting the main battery system (20) or the emergency battery system (30) on the basis of the assignment of the defective battery unit (BS).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that in the case of an assignment of the defective battery unit (BS) to the main battery system (20), the power output of the emergency battery system (30) is limited.

11. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that in normal operation of the battery device (10) the main battery system (20) and the emergency battery system (30) are at least at times operated together.

Description

[0038] Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. In each case schematically:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a battery unit according to the invention,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of two adjacent battery units,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a battery device according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a further representation of a battery device according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a situation during discharging,

[0044] FIG. 6 shows an advanced situation during discharging,

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a situation during charging and

[0046] FIG. 8 shows an advanced situation during charging of the battery device.

[0047] FIGS. 1 and 2 show, schematically, how a battery unit BS can fundamentally be structured. This can be an individual battery unit BS according to FIG. 1. In this case a plurality of battery modules BM is arranged side by side to form the battery unit BS. Each of the individual battery modules BM is designed with a plurality of battery cells BZ which are connected with one another electrically. FIG. 2 shows a battery unit BS which represents a duplication of the embodiment in FIG. 1. It is shown here how the number of battery cells BZ and battery modules BM can be increased accordingly in series connection.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows schematically how a battery device 10 can be structured. It can clearly be seen here that a main battery system 20 and an emergency battery system 30 are asymmetrical in design. The main battery system 20 consists of five battery units BS which are arranged parallel to one another. The emergency battery system 30 consists of only a single battery unit BS. Preferably, all battery units BS, i.e. those of the main battery system 20 and that of the emergency battery system 30, are of identical design. A fundamental distinction can now be made between two defect scenarios. These involve, on the one hand, a defect in the emergency battery system 30, i.e. in this at least one or exactly one battery unit BS.

[0049] This leads to a detection of the defect and a localisation by the control module 50, so that the emergency battery system 30 can then be disconnected via the emergency switch 32. In such a case, there is still enough electrical capacity available in the main battery system 20 to ensure a residual mobility for the vehicle.

[0050] Naturally, in the case of an embodiment according to FIG. 3 for example, a redundant design of the switches 22 and 32 can also be provided. Thus, such a second switch 22 and/or 32 could be provided in each connection line of the main battery system 20 and/or of the emergency battery system 30 in order to create redundancy. It is also conceivable for one or more electrical fuses to be arranged in one or more of these connection lines.

[0051] However, if there is a defect within the main battery system 20, i.e. in at least one of the battery units BS of the main battery system 20, this can also be detected by the control module 50 and assigned accordingly. Following assignment, the main battery system 20 is disconnected from the electrical circuit by the main switch 22. However, in contrast to known solutions, the residual electrical capacity in the emergency battery system 30 is still available to ensure a residual mobility for the vehicle. In both defect scenarios, the corresponding electrical capacity is applied to common contact sections 60.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of a battery device 10 according to the invention. In this case, all battery units BS of the main battery system 20 and of the emergency battery system 30 are integrated in a common battery housing 40. It can also clearly be seen here that the battery unit BS of the emergency battery system 30 is arranged on the far right and thus in immediate proximity to the control module 50, as well as to a redundant additional control module 52. The emergency battery system 30 is thus arranged closer to the control module as well as to the additional control module 52 than is the case for the battery units BS of the main battery system 20.

[0053] FIGS. 5 and 6 show one possibility of a discharge situation. From a fully charged state of the main battery system 20 and emergency battery system 30, a joint and thus parallel discharge takes place according to FIG. 5. As soon as a defined threshold is reached, in order to ensure a residual mobility in the event of a defect only the main battery system 20 can be used to provide drive power on the basis of this threshold. The emergency battery system 30 is disconnected from the circuit, in particular by the emergency switch 32, and therefore remains at this residual state of charge. Following discharge, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be carried out during a charging situation. Thus, according to FIG. 7, the state of charge of the main battery system 20 is first replenished until it corresponds or substantially corresponds to the state of charge of the emergency battery system 30. Only then is the emergency battery system 30 reconnected to the charging process, for example via the emergency switch 32, so that according to FIG. 8 a joint charging of the main battery system 20 and emergency battery system 30 takes place.

[0054] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively in the context of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can, where technically expedient, be freely combined with one another without departing from the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0055] 10 battery device [0056] 20 main battery system [0057] 22 main switch [0058] 30 emergency battery system [0059] 32 emergency switch [0060] 40 battery housing [0061] 50 control module [0062] 52 additional control module [0063] 60 contact section [0064] BS battery unit [0065] BM battery module [0066] BZ battery cell