Online measurement of anode potential for the maximization of charging power at low temperatures
A battery system includes a non-reference battery cell; a reference battery cell including a cathode, an anode, and a reference electrode; a potential measuring means configured to measure a reference potential of the anode relative to the reference electrode, of the reference battery cell, and to generate a signal corresponding to the reference potential; and a controlling means configured to receive the signal and to reduce, during a charging process of the battery system, a charging current applied to the battery system when the signal indicates that the reference potential is below a predetermined threshold voltage. The non-reference battery cell may be disposed at a first position in the battery system, and the reference battery cell may be disposed at a second position in the battery system, the second position being a position that has a lowest temperature, among the first and second positions, during the charging process.
1. A battery system, comprising:
a non-reference battery cell;
a reference battery cell including a cathode, an anode, a reference electrode, and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the reference battery cell and generating a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature;
a potential measuring means configured to measure a reference potential, which is a potential between the anode and the reference electrode of the reference battery cell, and to generate a potential signal corresponding to the reference potential; and
a controlling means configured to receive the temperature signal and the potential signal and to apply, during a charging process of the battery system, a charging current to the battery system, wherein an allowed maximum charging current for the battery system is determined by the temperature signal and the potential signal.
2. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-reference battery cell is disposed at a first position in the battery system, and the reference battery cell is disposed at a second position in the battery system, the second position being a position that has a lowest temperature, among the first position and the second position, during the charging process.
3. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the charging current applied during the charging process is reduced if the potential signal indicates that the reference potential is below a predetermined threshold voltage.
4. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the charging current applied during the charging process is increased when the potential signal indicates that the reference potential exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.
5. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controlling means is configured to adjust the charging current based on a state of charge of the reference battery cell.
6. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reference electrode is a lithium electrode.
7. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reference battery cell is disposed in a corner of the battery system.
8. The battery system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a heating system having a heating fluid channel, the heating fluid channel having an outlet.
9. The battery system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the reference battery cell is disposed farther from the outlet than the non-reference battery cell.
10. The battery system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the reference battery cell is disposed farther from the heating fluid channel than the non-reference battery cell.
11. A battery pack comprising the battery system as claimed in claim 1 .
12. A vehicle comprising a battery pack as claimed in claim 11 .
13. A vehicle comprising the battery system as claimed in claim 1 .
14. A method for charging a battery system including a non-reference battery cell and a reference battery cell, the method comprising:
measuring a reference potential of the reference battery cell, the reference potential being a potential of an anode of the reference battery cell relative to a reference electrode of the reference battery cell, the reference battery cell including the anode, a cathode, the reference electrode, and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the reference battery cell;
generating a potential signal corresponding to the reference potential which is a potential signal between the anode and the reference electrode of the reference battery cell;
generating a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the reference battery cell; and
applying a charging current to the battery system during a charging process, wherein an allowed maximum charging current for the battery system is based on the temperature signal and the potential signal.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the non-reference battery cell is disposed at a first position in the battery system, and wherein the reference battery cell is disposed at a second position in the battery system, the second position having a lowest temperature, among the first position and the second position, during the charging process.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the charging current applied during the charging process is determined based on a state of charge of the reference battery cell.
17. The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising increasing the charging current applied during the charging process when the potential signal indicates that the reference potential exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.
18. The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising reducing the charging current applied during the charging process when the potential signal indicates that the reference potential is below a predetermined threshold voltage.
19. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the reference battery cell includes a first reference battery cell and a second reference battery cell, the method further comprising adjusting the charging current applied during the charging process when a first potential signal corresponding to the reference potential of the first reference battery cell indicates a reference potential of the first reference battery cell being equal to a predetermined threshold voltage and a second potential signal corresponding to the reference potential of the second reference battery cell indicates a reference potential of the second reference battery cell being larger than the predetermined threshold voltage.