Sensor system and method to prevent battery flaming in overcharge
View Patent ↗A sensor system for mitigating a flame condition in a battery subject to an overcharge condition and being charged using a charging current is provided. A temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of at least one component of the battery, and a gas sensor is configured to detect an inflammable gas or vapor. A sensor control is configured to, when the temperature of the at least one component of the battery exceeds a pre-determined temperature threshold and when the gas sensor detects an inflammable gas or vapor, halt the charging current.
1. A sensor system for mitigating a flame condition in a battery subject to an overcharge condition and being charged using a charging current, comprising:
a. a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of at least one component of the battery;
b. a gas sensor configured to detect, in the airspace close to the battery, at least one of an inflammable gas and an inflammable vapor; and
c. a sensor control, the sensor control being configured to, when the temperature of the at least one component of the battery exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold and when the gas sensor detects at least one of an inflammable gas and an inflammable vapor, halt the charging current.
2. The sensor system of claim 1 , including a delay circuit configured to delay an operation of the sensor system for a predetermined delay period.
3. The sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the pre-determined delay period is greater than 15 seconds.
4. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect organic vapors.
5. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of a terminal of the battery.
6. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined temperature threshold is 110 degrees Celsius.
7. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor includes a thermistor.
8. A method for mitigating a flame condition in a battery subject to an overcharge condition and being charged using a charging current, comprising:
a. detecting a temperature of at least one component of the battery;
b. detecting, in the airspace close to the battery, at least one of an inflammable gas and an inflammable vapor; and
c. when the temperature of the at least one component of the battery exceeds a pre-determined temperature threshold and at least one of an inflammable gas and an inflammable vapor is detected, halting the charging current.
9. The method of claim 8 , including delaying detection of at least one of an inflammable gas and an inflammable vapor by a predetermined delay period to compensate for a gas sensor start-up period.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pre-determined delay period is greater than 15 seconds.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting at least one of an inflammable gas and an inflammable vapor includes detecting organic vapors.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting a temperature of at least one component of the battery includes detecting a temperature of a terminal of the battery.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pre-determined temperature threshold is 110 degrees Celsius.
14. The method of claim 8 , including using a thermistor for detecting a temperature of at least one component of the battery.