Apparatus and method for managing battery pack
View Patent ↗The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for managing a battery pack, which can rapidly and accurately diagnose the coupling state of a bus bar to battery modules in the battery pack. In accordance with the present invention, provided is an apparatus for managing a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules and a bus bar coupled between the battery modules to electrically connect the battery modules, the apparatus comprising a coupling detection unit for detecting the coupling state of the bus bar to the battery modules; and a controlling unit for determining whether the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect on the basis of the coupling state detected by the coupling detection unit.
1. An apparatus for managing a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules and a bus bar coupled between the battery modules to electrically connect the battery modules, the apparatus comprising:
a coupling detection unit configured to detect the coupling state of the bus bar to the battery modules, wherein the coupling detection unit includes a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage at both ends of the bus bar; and
a controlling unit configured to:
determine whether the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect on the basis of the coupling state detected by the coupling detection unit, and
determine that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect when a voltage at both ends of the bus bar measured by the voltage sensor exceeds a reference voltage range.
2. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling detection unit comprises a pressure sensor.
3. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensor is a thin film-type pressure sensor.
4. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the controlling unit determines that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect when a pressure detected by the pressure sensor is lower than a reference pressure.
5. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling unit determines that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect when a resistance of the bus bar calculated from a voltage detected by the voltage sensor is higher than a reference resistance.
6. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 , further comprising a warning unit for informing a user that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect, when the controlling unit determines that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect.
7. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling unit interrupts a charge/discharge current of the battery modules when it has been determined that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect.
8. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling unit comprises a battery management system (BMS).
9. The apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is used for vehicles.
10. A battery pack comprising the apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 .
11. A vehicle comprising the apparatus for managing a battery pack according to claim 1 .
12. A method for managing a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules and a bus bar coupled between the battery modules to electrically connect the battery modules, the method comprising:
detecting the coupling state of the bus bar; and
determining whether the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect on the basis of the coupling state of the bus bar detected,
wherein the detection step for the coupling state of the bus bar is conducted by a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage at both ends of the bus bar, and, in the defect-determination step, it is determined that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect when a voltage at both ends of the bus bar measured by the voltage sensor exceeds a reference voltage range.
13. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the detection step for the coupling state of the bus bar is conducted by a pressure sensor.
14. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 13 , wherein the pressure sensor is a thin film-type pressure sensor.
15. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 13 , wherein the coupling state of the bus bar is determined to have a defect in the defect-determination step when a pressure detected by the pressure sensor is lower than a reference pressure.
16. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the coupling state of the bus bar is determined to have a defect in the defect-determination step when a resistance of the bus bar calculated from a voltage detected by the voltage sensor is higher than a reference resistance.
17. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of informing that the coupling state of the bus bar has a defect, when the coupling state of the bus bar is determined to have a defect in the defect-determination step.
18. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of interrupting a charge/discharge current of the battery modules when the coupling state of the bus bar is determined to have a defect in the defect-determination step.
19. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the defect-determination step for the coupling state of the bus bar is conducted by a battery management system (BMS).
20. The method for managing a battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the battery pack is used for vehicles.