KR102546821B1 - Battery test system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery test system including a charger and discharger for testing secondary batteries, which protects a battery under test. According to the present invention, the battery test system comprises: a communication unit communicating with a user terminal to receive a plurality of item data input by a user with respect to a plurality of test items; a sub-control unit including an editor module generating a test scenario on the basis of the plurality of item data and a data module displaying result data according to the test scenario on the user terminal; a storage unit storing the plurality of test scenarios generated by the editor module and the result data; and a main control unit matching a battery with one of the plurality of test scenarios to perform a test on the battery and displaying the status of the ongoing test on the user terminal.

Description

Battery Test System {BATTERY TEST SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a battery test system including a charger and discharger for testing a secondary battery.

Secondary batteries, unlike primary batteries, which cannot be reused after being used once, are batteries that can be reused through charging after being discharged. In other words, it is a device that converts electrical energy into chemical energy, stores it, and generates electricity when needed. For example, Ni-Cd Battery, Ni-MH Battery, Li-Ion Battery, Li-Ion Polymer Battery, etc. there is

Secondary batteries require performance and safety evaluation after manufacturing is completed. In addition, performance and stability evaluation are also required for re-purposing or recycling of secondary batteries. At this time, among the equipment necessary for evaluating the secondary battery, there is a charger-recharger apparatus.

A charger/discharger is an activation charger/discharger for imparting the electrical performance of a battery cell after a battery assembly process, an evaluation charger/discharger for evaluating the performance and safety of a battery that has been manufactured, or a battery recycling or reuse after use. It can be classified as a charge/discharger, etc. The charger/discharger is called a 'charge/discharge facility' or a 'cycler'.

For example, the charger/discharger may apply a predetermined current to the secondary battery in order to measure DC-IR (Direct Current Internal Resistance). In addition, the charger and discharger may lower the state of charge (SOC) of the secondary battery in order to lower the risk of fire and explosion. In addition, the charger/discharger may lower or increase the voltage of the secondary battery to a specific voltage in a predetermined test process.

Meanwhile, in order to evaluate the secondary battery, the charger/discharger may include i) an operation program, ii) an editor program, and iii) a data program. First, the operating program may control the operation of a battery as a test target and display a test progress state. The editing program may configure test scenarios by setting test operation conditions and test safety conditions. In addition, the data program may store raw data, which is a test result, or provide the raw data to the user as a graph.

However, when a data program and an operation program that require a large capacity are simultaneously used in a conventional charger/discharger, when one of the programs is shut down, the other program is affected, causing a problem with the battery under test. . In order to solve this problem, conventionally, there has been a charge/discharger designed to operate an operating program, an editing program, and a data program, respectively. However, in this case, it is necessary to perform a test using each of the programs, which is inconvenient for the user. In addition, in the case of various scenarios for testing conventional batteries, there are problems of inaccuracy and inconvenient use.

There is a great need for a charger/discharger that is user-friendly and capable of testing a battery according to a test scenario required in a real field without affecting other programs even if some programs are shut down.

An object of the present invention is to provide a battery test system that protects a battery under test, minimizes program capacity, and provides a charger/discharger that is convenient for a manager to use.

A battery test system according to one feature of the present invention includes a communication unit that communicates with a user terminal and receives a plurality of item data input by a user for a plurality of test items, and an editor that creates a test scenario based on the plurality of item data. A module and a sub-controller including a data module for displaying result data according to the test scenario on the user terminal, a storage unit for storing a plurality of test scenarios generated by the editor module and the result data, and a battery for the plurality of and a main control unit that performs a test on the battery by matching one of the test scenarios and displays a state of the ongoing test on the user terminal.

The test scenario may include a plurality of test steps including at least one of the plurality of test items.

The test items include a main cycle corresponding to the test scenario, a sub-cycle performed between the start and end of the main cycle, the total number of repetitions of each of the main cycle and the sub-cycle, a test condition that is a type of test, and the test It may include at least one of a mode according to a condition, a current when charging or discharging the battery according to the mode, a voltage when charging or discharging the battery according to the mode, and an end condition of the test condition. .

The test conditions include a charge cycle that is a charge test for the battery, a discharge cycle that is a discharge test for the battery, a rest cycle that maintains the battery in a state in which it is not charged and discharged, and a preset current or voltage in a predetermined pattern. It may include at least one of the pattern cycles constituting.

The modes include a constant current mode for charging or discharging the battery with a preset current, a constant voltage mode for charging or discharging the battery with a preset voltage, and the constant current mode. Afterwards, at least one of a constant current-constant voltage mode for performing the constant voltage mode and a constant power mode for charging or discharging the battery with preset power may be included.

The termination condition includes a cut-off voltage as an end condition of the constant current mode, a cut-off current as an end condition of the constant voltage mode, a capacity as an end condition of the charge cycle and discharge cycle, and an end of the charge cycle and discharge cycle. At least one of the total progress time as a condition may be included.

The communication unit communicates with the user terminal to receive a plurality of safety data input by the user for a plurality of safety conditions, the editor module generates the test scenario based on the plurality of safety data, and the safety condition may include at least one of an upper limit voltage, a lower limit voltage, a current, and power capable of charging or discharging the battery.

The battery includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and the main controller performs a constant current mode in which the battery is charged with a preset current and then a constant voltage mode in which the battery is charged with a preset voltage. In the constant current-constant voltage mode performing the (Constant Voltage Mode), if at least one voltage value among the cell voltages corresponding to each of the plurality of battery cells is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference voltage while the constant current mode is performed, the constant voltage mode is switched. can

The main control unit controls, for each of the plurality of battery cells, at least one of a first cell voltage monitored through an Ox line connected to both ends of the cell and a second cell voltage monitored through a battery management system (BMS) of the battery. If the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage, the constant voltage mode may be switched.

The main control unit may perform a test on the battery according to the total number of iterations corresponding to each of the main cycle corresponding to the test scenario and at least one sub cycle performed between the start step of the main cycle and the end step of the main cycle. can be performed.

The subcycles include a charge cycle that is a charge test for the battery, a discharge cycle that is a discharge test for the battery, a rest cycle that maintains the battery in a non-charged and discharged state, and a pattern in which a predetermined set value constitutes a pattern. At least one of the test steps corresponding to the cycle may be included.

The main control unit converts the output power or discharge power of the battery to a power value corresponding to the maximum power value in a section in which the power value of a pattern cycle in which a predetermined set value constitutes a pattern is greater than the maximum power value of the battery. can be tested

The main control unit may test the output power or discharge power of the battery as a power value corresponding to the minimum power value in a section where the power value of the pattern cycle is less than the minimum power value of the battery.

The main control unit may test the output current or discharge current of the battery as a current value corresponding to the maximum current value in a section in which the current value of the pattern cycle constituting the predetermined pattern is greater than the maximum current value of the battery. there is.

The main control unit may test the output current or discharge current of the battery with a current value corresponding to the minimum current value in a section where the current value of the pattern cycle is less than the minimum current value of the battery.

According to the present invention, since the main control unit and the sub control unit are operated respectively, even if one of the control units is down during the test, the other control unit is not affected, and thus the battery under test can be protected.

In the present invention, when a battery is charged by the CC-CV charging method, at least one battery cell that has reached a target reference voltage among cell voltages of each of a plurality of battery cells during a test in a constant current (CC) charging mode When this occurs, it is possible to prevent accelerated deterioration of the battery cell by switching to constant voltage (CV) charging mode.

According to the present invention, a battery can be tested according to a test scenario including at least one sub-cycle (double loop structure) that reflects various environments in which the battery is used in the main cycle, so that the test is similar to the actual environment in which the battery is used. can be performed.

According to the present invention, in the process of testing a battery according to a standardized pattern cycle, when the power value or current value constituting the pattern exceeds the limit value of the battery, the battery can be tested within a safe range to protect the battery. there is.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a battery test system according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the sub-controller 33 of FIG. 1 in detail.
3 to 5 are exemplary views of the screen of the user terminal of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining how the main control unit tests a battery according to a pattern cycle A within a limit value range of the battery according to an embodiment.
7 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating a method for a main control unit to control a CC-CV mode according to another embodiment.
9 is an exemplary view of a screen of a user terminal displaying a test scenario including a double loop structure according to another embodiment.
10 to 12 are flowcharts illustrating a method of a main controller testing a battery according to the test scenario of FIG. 9 .

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or similar reference numerals are given to the same or similar components, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and/or "unit" for components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably in consideration of ease of writing the specification, and do not themselves have a meaning or role distinct from each other. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiment disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention , it should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but other elements may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another element, it should be understood that no other element exists in the middle.

In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a battery test system according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sub-controller of FIG. 1 in detail, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are screens of a user terminal of FIG. 1 is an example for

Referring to FIG. 1 , the battery test system includes a battery system 10 , a user terminal 20 and a charger/discharger 30 .

The battery system 10 may be a battery system that has been manufactured or a battery system that has been used for a predetermined period of time according to an embodiment. The battery system 10 may be connected to the charger/discharger 30 and tested for performance and stability according to a predetermined test scenario. Depending on the test result, the use of the battery system 10 may be determined as final shipment, reuse, or disposal as a product.

The battery system 10 includes a battery 11, a relay 13, a connector 15, and a battery management system (BMS) 17.

The battery 11 may include a plurality of battery cells Cell1-Celln electrically connected in series and parallel. In some embodiments, the battery cell may be a rechargeable secondary battery. A predetermined number of battery cells are connected in series to form a battery module, a predetermined number of battery modules are connected in series to form a battery pack, and a predetermined number of battery packs are connected in parallel to form a battery bank ( battery bank) to supply desired power. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a battery 11 in which three battery cells are connected in series, the battery 11 is not limited thereto, and the battery 11 may be configured in units of battery modules, battery packs, or battery banks.

Each of the plurality of battery cells (Cell1-Celln) is electrically connected to the BMS 17 through wires. The BMS 17 collects and analyzes various information on battery cells, including information on a plurality of battery cells, to control charging and discharging of battery cells, protection operations, and the like, and to control the operation of the relay 13. .

The relay 13 controls electrical connection between the battery system 10 and an external device. When the relay 13 is turned on, the battery system 10 and the external device are electrically connected to charge or discharge, and when the relay 13 is turned off, the battery system 10 and the external device are electrically separated. In this case, the external device may be a charger in a charging cycle in which power is supplied to the battery 10 to charge it, and a load in a discharging cycle in which the battery 10 discharges power to the external device. Depending on the embodiment, when the battery system 10 is connected to the charger/discharger 30, the external device may be the charger/discharger 30.

The connector 15 may be a connection device connecting the battery system 10 and an external device for information transmission. Referring to FIG. 1 , the connector 15 includes a first connector 15a and a second connector 15b.

The first connector 15a may be a connection device for communication between the battery system 10 and the charger/discharger 30 . For example, referring to FIG. 1 , the first connector 15a may be a connection device for communication between the BMS 17 and the communication unit 31 . Depending on the embodiment, the charger/discharger 30 may receive battery data from the BMS 17 monitoring each of the plurality of battery cells Cell1-Celln. In this case, the battery data may include information about cell voltage, cell temperature, and cell current of each of the plurality of battery cells (Cell1-Celln).

The second connector 15b may be a connection device for connecting the charger and discharger 30 to a plurality of AUX lines electrically connected to positive and negative electrodes of each of the plurality of battery cells Cell1 to Celln. According to the embodiment, the charger and discharger 30 is directly connected to each of the plurality of battery cells Cell1-Celln through the second connector 15b, and the cell voltage and cell temperature of each of the plurality of battery cells Cell1-Celln , and cell current can be monitored.

The BMS 17 may monitor the battery 11 and control the overall battery system 10 . For example, the BMS 17 may be electrically connected to positive and negative electrodes of each of the plurality of battery cells (Cell1-Celln) to collect battery data. For another example, the BMS 17 may control switching of the relay 13 to charge or discharge the battery 11 . Depending on the embodiment, the charger/discharger 30 may test the battery 11 by controlling the BMS 17 .

The user terminal 20 may be a device possessed or used by a user to prepare a test scenario for performing a test or to monitor a test situation performed on the battery 11 according to the test scenario.

The user terminal 20 includes a communication device (not shown) equipped with a communication protocol for communicating with the charger/discharger 30, a monitor (not shown) displaying a screen provided by the charger/discharger 30, and a user receiving a command. A user interface (not shown) for input may be included. For example, the user terminal 20 may include various types of computers used in the market, such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, and a tablet PC.

The charger/discharger 30 may include a communication unit 31 , a sub control unit 33 , a storage unit 35 , an operation unit 37 , and a main control unit 39 . Depending on the embodiment, the charger/discharger 30 may create a test scenario according to a user's command and test the battery 11 according to the prepared test scenario.

The communication unit 31 may include a first communication module for communicating with the BMS 17 and a second communication module for communicating with the user terminal 20 . For example, the first communication module may include communication modules used in the battery system 10 such as CAN (Control Area Network) communication, LINE (Local Interface Network) communication, CAN-FD, Flexray, and Ethernet. For another example, the second communication module may include a communication module used in the user terminal 20 among various wired and/or wireless communication modules capable of transmitting data.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the sub control unit 33 includes an editor module 331 and a data module 333 .

The editor module 331 displays a user interface for creating test scenarios on the user terminal 20, and the test scenario is based on a plurality of item data and a plurality of safety data input by a user through the user terminal 20. can create

Referring to FIG. 3 , when the user selects the 'generate scenario' tab through the user terminal 20, a screen such as the box at the bottom of FIG. 3 may be displayed on the user terminal 20. However, the screen shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the user interface for creating a test scenario is not limited thereto and may be configured in various forms.

The channel CH may correspond to the battery 11 as a test target. For example, let's assume that there are 4 batteries to be tested. In FIG. 3 , a first channel CH1 may correspond to a first battery, a second channel CH2 may correspond to a second battery, a third channel CH3 may correspond to a third battery, and a fourth channel CH1 may correspond to a fourth battery. there is. Through the user terminal 20, a user may create and/or match a test scenario for each battery to be tested.

The editor module 331 may generate a test scenario based on a plurality of item data input by a user corresponding to each of a plurality of test items. According to embodiments, a test scenario may include a plurality of test steps, and a test step may include a plurality of test items.

A test step can be a test unit that is distinguished by the start, change, or end of a test. Referring to FIG. 5 , for example, a test scenario for the second battery CH2 includes 12 test steps. Specifically, the first test step is the start step of the main cycle, and the twelfth test step is the end step of the main cycle. In addition, the second to sixth test steps correspond to each test step constituting the first sub-cycle, and the seventh to eleventh test steps correspond to each test step constituting the second sub-cycle. do. The user can insert a new test step by selecting the 'Insert Step' tab at the top of the screen, or delete the previously written test step by selecting the 'Delete Step' tab.

A test item is an item constituting a test. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , for example, the test item may correspond to a main cycle, a sub cycle, a loop, a test condition, a mode, a voltage, a current, and an end condition.

The item data is a set value input by the user for the test item. For example, referring to the third test step of FIG. 5, the item data is '1', '1', 'charge cycle', 'CC-CV', '4.2', '60', '2', ' 03:00:00' and so on.

The main cycle may be a cycle corresponding to a series of processes of test scenarios. That is, the start of the main cycle may correspond to the start of the test scenario, and the end of the main cycle may correspond to the end of the test scenario.

The sub cycle is a cycle performed between the start step and the end step of the main cycle, and may be a cycle in which various environments in which the battery 11 is used are created as test environments. For example, a plurality of sub cycles may be generated within one main cycle.

A loop may be the number of repetitions of a main cycle or sub cycle. Referring to FIG. 4 , for example, the loop corresponding to the first sub cycle is 10 times. Specifically, let's assume that the second test step to the sixth test step is a one-time loop for the first sub cycle. Then, if the second test step to the sixth test step are repeated a total of 10 times, the first sub-cycle may end. For another example, the loop corresponding to the second sub cycle is 8 times. Specifically, assume that the 7th test step to the 11th test step are one-time loops for the second sub-cycle. Then, if the seventh test step to the eleventh test step are repeated a total of 8 times, the second sub-cycle may end. For another example, the loop corresponding to the main cycle is 15 times. Specifically, if the second test step to the sixth test step are repeated a total of 10 times and the seventh test step to the 11th test step are repeated a total of 8 times, it may be a one-time loop for the main cycle. When the main cycle is repeated 15 times, the test of the second battery CH2 may be terminated according to the test scenario.

Test conditions may correspond to types of tests. Referring to FIG. 4 , the test condition may include, for example, a main cycle start, a sub cycle start, a charge cycle, a discharge cycle, an idle cycle, a pattern cycle, a sub cycle end, and a main cycle end. However, it is not limited thereto, and the test condition may include various types of test types.

The charging cycle may include a series of processes of testing the battery 11 while being charged. A specific charging method of the charging cycle may be determined according to a mode selected by a user, which will be described below.

The discharge cycle may include a series of processes of testing the battery 11 while discharging it. A specific discharge method of the discharge cycle may be determined according to a mode selected by a user, which will be described below.

The idle cycle may correspond to a period in which the battery 11 is not charged and discharged for a predetermined time in order to prevent damage to the battery 11 due to heat generated during a test according to a charge cycle and a discharge cycle.

The pattern cycle may be a cycle in which power values or current values are standardized and standardized as cycles constituting a predetermined pattern. That is, the pattern cycle can be applied to the test regardless of the manufacturer of the battery 11 or the type of vehicle in which the battery 11 is mounted. For example, the pattern cycle may be a charging pattern or a discharging pattern of the battery 11 for a predetermined environment in which the battery 11 is used (highway driving, city driving, etc.).

Depending on the embodiment, when a test scenario is created by selecting a pattern cycle according to a user's selection, the sub-controller 33 may set a limit value according to a user's input. The limit value may include a power limit value and a current limit value. During the test, in the section where the pattern cycle is outside the specifications of the battery 11 to be tested, the main control unit 39 protects the battery 11 by conducting the test within the power limit and current limit ranges. can do.

The mode may be a type of a charging method of the battery 11 or a discharging method of the battery 11 . For example, the modes include a constant current (CC) charge/discharge method, a constant voltage (CV) charge/discharge method, a CC-CV charge method, a constant power (CP) charge/discharge method, and a constant resistance (CR) discharge method. may include at least one of them.

The CC (Constant Current) mode is a constant current charging (or discharging) method for charging (or discharging) the battery 11 with a current of a preset magnitude. In the CC mode, the voltage of the battery 11 increases during charging (or discharging), and charging (or discharging) begins when the module voltage, which is the voltage of the battery 11, reaches the cut-off voltage. It ends. For example, referring to FIG. 5 , in an eighth test step, the charger/discharger 30 charges the second battery CH2 with a constant current of 30A, and then the voltage (module voltage) of the second battery CH2 ) reaches 4.1V, the charging of the second battery CH2 is terminated. Then, the ninth test step ends. If the cut-off voltage is not set, the second battery CH2 is overcharged and damaged, and a fire may occur.

The CV (Constant Voltage) mode is a constant voltage charging (or discharging) method for charging (or discharging) the battery 11 with a voltage of a predetermined level. In the CV mode, the current of the battery 11 decreases during charging (or discharging), and charging (or discharging) is terminated when the current of the battery 11 reaches a cut-off current. For example, referring to FIG. 5 , in a fifth test step, the charger/discharger 30 discharges the second battery CH2 to a constant voltage (4.2V) and then outputs the current of the second battery CH2. When A reaches 1.5A, discharging of the second battery CH2 is terminated. Then, the fifth test step ends. If the cut-off current is not set, the second battery CH2 is over-discharged and damaged, and a fire may occur.

The CC-CV mode is a charging method combining a constant current charging method and a constant voltage charging method. For example, referring to FIG. 5 , in the third test step, when the second battery CH2 is charged with a current of 60A and the module voltage of the second battery CH2 reaches 4.2V, It is charged with a constant voltage (4.2V). Thereafter, when the current flowing through the second battery CH2 reaches 2A, the charger/discharger 30 ends the third test step corresponding to the charging cycle of the second battery CH2.

The voltage may be a voltage to be supplied when charging the battery 11 or a voltage to be output when discharging the battery 11 . For example, assuming that the user selects 'charge cycle' and 'CV mode', a voltage value of power to be supplied to the battery 11 by the charger/discharger 30 should be input to the 'voltage' test item.

The current may be a current to be supplied when charging the battery 11 or a current to be output when discharging the battery 11 . For example, assuming that the user selects 'charge cycle' and 'CC mode', a current value of power to be supplied to the battery 11 by the charger/discharger 30 should be input to the 'current' test item.

The termination condition may be a condition for terminating an ongoing test step. For example, the termination condition may include cut-off voltage, cut-off current, capacity, time, and the like. However, it is not limited thereto, and the termination condition may be variously set.

The cut-off voltage may be a condition for terminating an ongoing test step when charging or discharging the battery 11 . For example, the cut-off voltage may be a voltage at which the CC mode ends. Referring to FIG. 5 , in the ninth test step, the charger/discharger 30 charges the second battery CH2 with a current of 30A, and the voltage of the second battery CH2 is the voltage of the cut-off voltage. When the value (4.1V) is reached, charging of the second battery CH2 is terminated.

The cut-off current may be a condition for terminating an ongoing test step when charging or discharging the battery 11 . For example, the cut-off current may be a current at which the CV mode ends. Referring to FIG. 5 , in the fifth test step, the charger/discharger 30 discharges the second battery CH2 to a constant voltage (4.2V), and then the size of the current output from the second battery CH2 cuts off. - When the current value (1.5A) of the off current is reached, the discharge of the second battery (CH2) is terminated.

The capacity may be a condition for terminating an ongoing test step when charging or discharging the battery 11 . For example, let's assume that the setting value of the 'capacity' test item is 80%. When the capacity of the battery 11 during the charging cycle reaches 80%, the charger/discharger 30 may end the ongoing test step.

The time may be a condition for terminating an ongoing test step when charging or discharging the battery 11 . For example, referring to FIG. 5 , assume that the set value of the 'time' test item is 3 hours in the third test step. When the charging cycle duration reaches 3 hours, the charger/discharger 30 may end the ongoing third test step.

The editor module 331 may generate a test scenario based on a plurality of safety data input by a user corresponding to each of a plurality of safety conditions.

The safety condition is a condition for protecting the battery during the test. Referring to FIG. 4 , for example, the safety condition may include at least one of an upper limit voltage, a lower limit voltage, current, capacity, and power at which the battery 11 can be charged or discharged.

The safety condition may be a condition for protecting the battery by reflecting specifications of the battery. A safety condition may be a condition that limits a test scenario. Depending on the embodiment, if the test scenario is out of the safe condition range, the charger/discharger 30 may stop the test and transmit a corresponding alarm message to the user terminal. For example, when a test step includes a test item that is out of specification of the battery, the safety condition may cause the test to be stopped to protect the battery 11 under test.

Safety data is a setting value input by a user for safety conditions. For example, referring to the first test step of FIG. 4 , the safety data is '4.4' corresponding to the 'upper limit voltage (V)' safety condition and '2.5' corresponding to the 'lower limit voltage (V)' safety condition. , '200' corresponding to the 'current (A)' safety condition, '68' corresponding to the 'capacity (Ah)' safety condition, '100' corresponding to the 'power (P)' safety condition, and the like.

The test scenario generation process according to the embodiment will be described from the user's point of view. (a) First, the user selects a battery to create a test scenario for. Referring to FIG. 3 , it is assumed that the user selects the second battery CH2. (b) Next, the user sets safety conditions in consideration of the specifications of the second battery CH2. Referring to FIG. 4 , at least one safety condition of 'upper limit voltage (V), lower limit voltage (V), current (A), capacity (Ah), and power (P)' for the second battery (CH2) For this, the user inputs the setting value. (c) Next, the user creates a test scenario by writing at least one test step or selects a test scenario previously stored in the storage unit 35 . One test scenario may include safety conditions and a plurality of test steps according to specifications of the battery 11 as a test target. 5 may be an example of a test scenario for the second battery CH2 created by the user.

The data module 333 may arrange, store, and display result data that is a result of testing the battery 11 according to a test scenario. Depending on the embodiment, the data module 333 may display result data for the entire test scenario or result data (Raw Data) for a specific test step selected by the user. According to another embodiment, the data module 333 may display result data (Raw Data) as a graph according to settings input by a user.

The storage unit 35 stores test scenarios created by the sub controller 33, battery data received by the communication unit 31 from the battery system 10, set values received from the user terminal 20, and main controller 39. Result data, which is a result of testing the battery 11 according to a test scenario, may be stored.

Depending on the embodiment, the storage unit 35 may store a first program constituting the sub control unit 33 and a second program constituting the main control unit 39 . The first program and the second program may be independently prepared and operated so that a failure of one does not affect the other.

The control unit 37 may control connection with the battery system 10 and various internal devices of the charger/discharger 30 according to the control of the main control unit 39 . For example, when a charging test for the battery 11 is performed, the control unit 37 may control connection with a power source so that the battery 11 can be charged with power from an internal power source (not shown). .

The main control unit 39 may match a test scenario selected by a user among a plurality of test scenarios stored in the storage unit 35 with the battery 11 as a test target, and may control a test of the battery 11 according to the test scenario. . In addition, the main control unit 39 may display the real-time status of the test on the user terminal 20 . Referring to FIG. 3 , the main controller 39 may display on the user terminal 20 a state in which a test for the first battery CH1 is in progress.

Hereinafter, a battery test system and method according to various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11 .

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining how the main control unit tests a battery according to a pattern cycle A within a limit value range of the battery according to an embodiment.

The main control unit 39 may test the battery 11 according to a pattern cycle within a limit value range of the battery 11 to be tested. The limit value includes a power limit and a current limit, and may be determined according to specifications of the battery 11 . When the battery 11 is tested out of the limit value, it may be difficult to expect damage to the battery 11, possibility of fire, or normal performance of the battery 11.

The power limit may include maximum power (V_MAX) and minimum power (V_MIN). The maximum power V_MAX may be the maximum power that the battery 11 can output or the maximum power that the battery 11 can charge. The minimum power (V_MIN) may be the minimum power that the battery 11 can output or the minimum power that the battery 11 can charge.

The limit current may include a maximum current (V_MAX) and a minimum current (V_MIN). The maximum current V_MAX may be the maximum current that the battery 11 can output or the maximum current that the battery 11 can charge. The minimum current V_MIN may be the minimum current that the battery 11 can output or the minimum current that the battery 11 can charge.

Referring to FIG. 6 , when the amount of power of the pattern cycle A exceeds the maximum power V_MAX, the main controller 39 may discharge or charge the battery 11 with the maximum amount of power V_MAX. . Also, when the amount of power of the pattern cycle A is less than the minimum amount of power (V_MIN), the main control unit 39 may discharge or charge the battery 11 with the amount of the minimum amount of power (V_MIN). As shown in FIG. 6 , a charging pattern or a discharging pattern of the battery 11 in an actual test process may be a graph (B) indicated by a dotted line. That is, the pattern cycle (A) indicated by a solid line may be different from the actual test graph (B).

7 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating a method for a main control unit to control a CC-CV mode according to another embodiment.

The main controller 39 may control the CC-CV mode based on a cell voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells included in the battery 11 rather than a module voltage that is a voltage of both ends of the battery 11 .

The CC-CV mode is a charging method combining a constant current charging method and a constant voltage charging method. The main controller 39 may change the charging method from the constant current charging method (CC mode) to the constant voltage charging method (CV mode) when at least one of the cell voltages of the plurality of battery cells reaches the reference voltage. According to the embodiment, for each of the plurality of battery cells, the main controller 39 directly collects the first cell voltage and the second cell voltage collected by the BMS 17 through an AUX line connected to both ends of the battery cell. When at least one of the voltages reaches the reference voltage, the charging method may be changed from the constant current charging method (CC mode) to the constant voltage charging method (CV mode).

Referring to FIG. 7 , first, the main controller 39 starts a preset charging cycle and charges the battery 11 using a constant current charging method (CC mode) (S100 and S110).

Next, the main control unit 39 monitors the cell voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells included in the battery 11 (S120).

Referring to FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment, the main control unit 39 receives battery data from the BMS 17 through the first connector 15a, and the battery cells of each of the plurality of battery cells included in the received battery data. Cell voltage can be monitored. According to another embodiment, the main controller 39 may directly monitor the cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells through the second connector 15b.

Next, the main controller 39 determines whether there is at least one battery cell whose cell voltage reaches the reference voltage (S130).

In step S130, referring to FIG. 8, the main controller 39 determines whether the first cell voltage (AUX voltage) is equal to or greater than the reference voltage for each of the plurality of battery cells (S131).

Referring to FIG. 1 , the first cell voltage (AUX voltage) may be collected by monitoring an AUX line connected to both ends of the battery cell through the second connector 15b. For example, it is assumed that the battery 11 includes first to third battery cells. The main controller 39 may determine whether each of the first cell voltage of the first battery cell, the first cell voltage of the second battery cell, and the first cell voltage of the third battery cell is equal to or greater than the reference voltage.

In step S130, if the first cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than the reference voltage as a result of the determination (S131, No), the main controller 39 determines that the second cell voltage (CAN voltage) for each of the plurality of battery cells is It is determined whether or not the reference voltage is higher (S133).

Referring to FIG. 1 , the second cell voltage may be collected by monitoring the BMS 17 connected to both ends of the battery cell. The communication unit 31 may communicate with the BMS 17 through the first connector 15a to receive battery data for the second cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells. For example, it is assumed that the battery 11 includes first to third battery cells. The main controller 39 may determine whether each of the second cell voltage of the first battery cell, the second cell voltage of the second battery cell, and the second cell voltage of the third battery cell is equal to or greater than the reference voltage.

In step S130, if the determination result is that the second cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells is less than the reference voltage (S133, No), the main controller 39 continuously monitors the cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells (S120).

In step S130, if the determination result is that the first cell voltage or the second cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (S131, Yes) (S133, Yes), the main control unit 39 performs the ongoing constant current charging method (CC mode). ) ends, and the charging method is changed to the constant voltage charging method (CV mode) (S140).

Next, when the end condition of the constant voltage charging method (CV mode) is satisfied, the main controller 39 ends the charging cycle (S150).

9 is an exemplary view of a screen of a user terminal displaying a test scenario including a double loop structure according to another embodiment, and FIGS. 10 to 12 are a method for a main controller to test a battery according to the test scenario of FIG. 9 . It is a flow chart explaining

The main control unit 39 may test the battery 11 according to a test scenario having a double loop structure. For example, the double loop may include a main cycle corresponding to a test scenario and a plurality of sub cycles performed between a start step of the main cycle and an end step of the main cycle.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the test scenario may include a first sub cycle and a second sub cycle between the start step and the end step of the main cycle. In addition, the first sub-cycle is finished when it is repeated 10 times in total, and the second sub-cycle is finished when it is repeated 8 times in total. Ten times of the first sub cycle and eight times of the second sub cycle may correspond to one main cycle. The test scenario shown in FIG. 9 may end when the main cycle is repeated 15 times.

Referring to FIG. 10 , first, the main controller 39 starts a main cycle (S210). Referring to FIG. 9 , the start step of the main cycle may not include a test item.

Next, the main controller 39 tests the battery 11 according to the first sub cycle (S230_1).

In step S230_1, referring to FIG. 11, the main controller 39 performs the start step of the first sub cycle (S231_1). Referring to FIG. 9 , the start step of the first subcycle may not include a test item. That is, referring to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 , when the main control unit 39 starts the main cycle, it may immediately perform the charging cycle step S232_1 of the first sub cycle.

In step S230_1, the main controller 39 performs a charging cycle (S232_1). Referring to FIG. 9 , in the third test step, the main control unit 39 charges the battery 11 with a constant current of 60A and stops charging when the voltage of the battery 11 reaches the cut-off voltage (4.2V). The test can be conducted with the constant current charging method (CC mode) that ends.

In step S230_1, the main controller 39 performs an idle cycle (S233_1). For example, let's assume that the cooldown cycle includes an 'hour' test item, and the test item is set to 1 hour. The main controller 39 may start the next test step after 1 hour has elapsed.

In step S230_1, the main controller 39 performs a discharge cycle (S234_1). Referring to FIG. 9 , in the fifth test step, the main control unit 39 discharges the battery 11 with a constant current of 30 A, and then discharges the battery 11 when the voltage of the battery 11 reaches the cut-off voltage (3.0V). The test can be conducted by the constant current discharge method (CC mode) that ends.

In step S230_1, the main controller 39 determines whether the number of repetitions of the first sub cycle satisfies the first loop (S235_1). Referring to FIG. 9 , it is assumed that the first loop corresponding to the first subcycle is 10.

In step S230_1, as a result of the determination, if the number of repetitions of the first sub cycle does not reach the first loop (S235_1, NO), the main control unit 39 increases the count by 1 (+1) for the number of repetitions of the first sub cycle. ) and then perform again from step S232_1 (S236_1).

In step S230_1, as a result of determination, if the number of repetitions of the first sub cycle reaches the first loop (S235_1, YES), the main controller 39 ends the first sub cycle step (S230_1) (S237_1).

Next, the main controller 39 tests the battery 11 according to the second sub cycle (S230_2).

In step S230_2, referring to FIG. 12, the main controller 39 performs the start step of the second sub cycle (S231_2). Referring to FIG. 9 , the start step of the second sub cycle may not include a test item.

In step S230_2, the main controller 39 performs a discharge cycle (S232_2). Referring to FIG. 9 , in the eighth test step, the main control unit 39 discharges the battery 11 with a constant current of 40 A, and then discharges the battery 11 when the voltage of the battery 11 reaches the cut-off voltage (3.2 V). The test can be conducted by the constant current discharge method (CC mode) that ends.

In step S230_2, the main controller 39 performs a charging cycle (S233_2). Referring to FIG. 9 , in the ninth test step, the main control unit 39 charges the battery 11 with a constant current of 30 A and stops charging when the voltage of the battery 11 reaches the cut-off voltage (4.1 V). The test can be conducted with the constant current charging method (CC mode) that ends.

In step S230_2, the main controller 39 performs an idle cycle (S234_2). For example, let's assume that the cooldown cycle includes an 'hour' test item, and the test item is set to 2 hours. The main controller 39 may start the next test step after 2 hours have elapsed.

In step S230_2, the main controller 39 determines whether the number of repetitions of the second sub cycle satisfies the second loop (S235_2). Referring to FIG. 9 , it is assumed that the second loop corresponding to the second subcycle is 8.

In step S230_2, as a result of the determination, if the number of repetitions of the second sub cycle does not reach the second loop (S235_2, NO), the main control unit 39 increases the count by 1 (+1) for the number of repetitions of the second sub cycle. ) and then perform again from step S232_1 (S236_2).

In step S230_2, as a result of the determination, if the number of repetitions of the second sub cycle reaches the second loop (S235_2, YES), the main controller 39 ends the second sub cycle step (S230_2) (S237_2).

Next, the main control unit 39 determines whether the number of repetitions of the main cycle satisfies the main loop (S250). Referring to FIG. 9 , assume that the main loop corresponding to the main cycle is 15.

As a result of the determination, if the number of repetitions of the main cycle does not reach the main loop (S250, NO), the main control unit 39 increases the count by 1 (+1) for the number of repetitions of the main cycle, and then performs again from step S210. .

As a result of the determination, if the number of repetitions of the main cycle reaches the main loop (S250, YES), the main controller 39 ends the main cycle (S290).

Then, the test ends, and the test result data may be stored in the storage unit 35 .

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art in the field to which the present invention belongs are also the rights of the present invention. belong to the range

Claims (15)

A communication unit for communicating with a user terminal and receiving a plurality of item data input by a user for a plurality of test items;
A sub-controller including an editor module generating a test scenario based on the plurality of item data and a data module displaying result data according to the test scenario on the user terminal;
A storage unit for storing a plurality of test scenarios generated by the editor module and the result data, and
A test scenario selected by a user through the user terminal among a plurality of test scenarios stored in the storage unit is matched with a battery as a test target, a test is performed on the battery according to the selected test scenario, and the state of the battery in the test is in progress. Battery test system including a main control unit for displaying on the user terminal. According to claim 1,
The test scenario is
A battery test system comprising a plurality of test steps including at least one of the plurality of test items. According to claim 1,
The test item is,
A main cycle corresponding to the test scenario, a sub-cycle performed between the start and end of the main cycle, the total number of repetitions of each of the main cycle and the sub-cycle, a test condition as a type of test, a mode according to the test condition, A battery test system comprising at least one of a current when charging or discharging the battery according to the mode, a voltage when charging or discharging the battery according to the mode, and an end condition of the test condition. According to claim 3,
The test conditions are
A charge cycle that is a charge test for the battery, a discharge cycle that is a discharge test for the battery, a rest cycle that maintains the battery in a state in which it is not charged and discharged, and a pattern cycle in which a preset current or voltage constitutes a predetermined pattern. A battery test system comprising at least one of According to claim 4,
The mode is
A constant current mode for charging or discharging the battery with a preset current, a constant voltage mode for charging or discharging the battery with a preset voltage, and the constant voltage mode after performing the constant current mode. A battery test system comprising at least one of a constant current-constant voltage mode for performing and a constant power mode for charging or discharging the battery with a preset power. According to claim 5,
The termination condition is,
Cut-off voltage as an end condition of the constant current mode, cut-off current as an end condition of the constant voltage mode, capacity as an end condition of the charge cycle and discharge cycle, and total progress time as end condition of the charge cycle and discharge cycle A battery test system comprising at least one of According to claim 1,
The communication department,
Communication with the user terminal to receive a plurality of safety data input by the user for a plurality of safety conditions;
The editor module,
generating the test scenario based on the plurality of safety data;
The safety condition is
A battery test system comprising at least one of an upper limit voltage, a lower limit voltage, a current, and power capable of charging or discharging the battery. According to claim 1,
The battery includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series,
The main control unit,
In the constant current-constant voltage mode, which performs a constant voltage mode for charging the battery with a preset voltage after performing a constant current mode for charging the battery with a preset current,
If at least one voltage value of the cell voltages corresponding to each of the plurality of battery cells is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference voltage while the constant current mode is being performed, the battery test system switches to the constant voltage mode. According to claim 8,
The main control unit,
For each of the plurality of battery cells, when at least one of the first cell voltage monitored through the Ox line connected to both ends of the cell and the second cell voltage monitored through the BMS (Battery Management System) of the battery is greater than or equal to the reference voltage , to switch to the constant voltage mode, the battery test system. According to claim 1,
The main control unit,
A battery for performing a test on the battery according to the total number of iterations corresponding to each of the main cycle corresponding to the test scenario and at least one sub cycle performed between the start step of the main cycle and the end step of the main cycle. test system. According to claim 10,
The subcycle,
A charge cycle that is a charge test for the battery, a discharge cycle that is a discharge test for the battery, a rest cycle that maintains the battery in a state in which it is not charged and discharged, and a test corresponding to a pattern cycle in which a predetermined set value constitutes a pattern. A battery test system comprising at least one of the steps. According to claim 1,
The main control unit,
A battery test in which the output power or discharge power of the battery is tested as a power value corresponding to the maximum power value in a section where the power value of the pattern cycle in which the predetermined set value constitutes the pattern is greater than the maximum power value of the battery. system. According to claim 12,
The main control unit,
In a section where the power value of the pattern cycle is less than the minimum power value of the battery, the battery test system tests the output power or discharge power of the battery as a power value corresponding to the minimum power value. According to claim 1,
The main control unit,
In a section in which the current value of the pattern cycle constituting the predetermined pattern is greater than the maximum current value of the battery, the battery test system tests the output current or discharge current of the battery with a current value corresponding to the maximum current value. According to claim 14,
The main control unit,
In a section where the current value of the pattern cycle is less than the minimum current value of the battery, the battery test system tests the output current or discharge current of the battery with a current value corresponding to the minimum current value.

Images