SE543006C2

SE543006C2 - Battery charge management of mining machines

Info

Publication number: SE543006C2
Application number: SE1850847A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Anders Lindkvist; Erik Svedlund; Martin Svensson
Original assignee: Epiroc Rock Drills Ab
Priority date: 2018-07-04
Filing date: 2018-07-04
Publication date: 2020-09-22
Also published as: CN112385111A; SE1850847A1; CA3103214A1; WO2020009645A1; AU2019299826A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system (200), method, control unit, and computer program product for battery charge management of a plurality of battery operated mining machines (210a-b).The system (200) for battery charge management comprises a plurality of batteries (220a-f), respective battery management systems (230a-f), BMSs, arranged to gather battery data representative of an operating state of a respective battery, one or more battery chargers (240a-b), and a battery charge control unit (250). Each battery is configured for use in a respective battery operated mining machine configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle and each BMS is configured to provide the battery data to the battery charge control unit. The battery charge control unit is configured to generate at least one charge model based on the battery data and to schedule charging of respective batteries of the one or more batteries via the one or more battery chargers based on the at least one charge model.

Description

BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT OF l\/IINING l\/IACHINESTECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a system, method, control unit and computer program product for battery charge management of one or more battery operated mining machines.

BACKGROUND There is ongoing work in adapting mining machines to operate using electricity and morespecifically for, at least in part, operate in a battery-powered mode. Aside from the miningmachines, there are other installations powered by electricity such as ventilation fans, hoists,lightning etc. These other installations may also, at least in part, be battery operated. Theswitch from fuel-powered machines (and installations) to electrically and battery-poweredmachines increases the electric energy consumption in the mine and the charging of thebatteries will have a significant impact on the power consumption in the mine. Conventionalbattery charging solutions for mine applications disclose the use of battery/energymanagement systems (BI\/IS/EI\/IS) for optimized charging of a battery or battery operated vehicle, but without considering the load implications of the charging.

US2018/O111496 disclose a charge controller for an electric mining vehicle configured todetermine an amount of charge to be provided to a battery of a mining. ln the disclosedsolution, charging of a battery is adapted to the specific load demands previously experienced by an electrical motor of the mining vehicle.

The day-to-day operations of mining typically involve many more mining operations than thetransportations for which mining vehicles are used. The operations comprise cycles of drilling,blasting, ventilating, as well as loading, transporting and dumping material that has been cutduring the cycles of mining operations, i.e., mining cycles. The mining operations involve awide variety of mining machines, such as face drill rigs, production drill rigs, rock bolting rigs,cable bolting rigs, concrete spraying machines, loaders, haulers and dumpers. The listedmining machines require considerable power during operation and the mining machinesusually have high power demands during predictable phases of a mining cycle. When considering each mining machine individually, most ofthe mining machines may be perceived to operate according to recurring mining cycles, i.e., cycles of mining operations defined for the specific machines.

These mining cycles place demands on power that are unique to mining. ln the field of mining,the power grids are often on the edge of their capacity or even under-dimensioned to meetthe power needs of multiple, simultaneous mining operations, especially in cases where thecycles of operations imply intermittent power needs in the power grid. The power needs mayresult from one or more battery operated mining machines having simultaneous batterycharging needs, which would result in high peak loads on the electrical power grid in the mine.Thus, within an existing, already highly loaded main mining grid, charging of one or moremachines could lead to overloading especially when performed during times of operating other electrically powered tools in the mine.Consequently, there is a need for improved charge management.

SUMMARY lt is an object of the present disclosure to solve or mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate at leastsome of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and to provide a solution for improved charge management.

According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a system for battery charge managementof one or more battery operated mining machines. The system comprises one or morebatteries, at least one battery management systems (BMSs) arra nged to gather battery datarepresentative of an operating state of a respective battery, one or more battery chargers,and a battery charge control unit. Each battery is configured for use in a respective batteryoperated mining machine configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle. Eachbattery management systems (BMSs) is configured to provide the battery data to the batterycharge control unit. The battery charge control unit is configured to generate at least onecharge model and to schedule charging of respective batteries of the one or more batteries via the one or more battery chargers based on the at least one charge model. ln some embodiments, the battery management systems (BMSs) is configured to gather battery data over one or more mining cycles and the battery charge control unit is configured to schedule charging of respective batteries for at least one subsequent mining cycle basedon the charge model, wherein the subsequent mining cycle comprise a set of mine operations similar to those performed during the gathering of data. ln some embodiments, battery data comprises at least one of a charge level and a temperature limit for the respective battery. ln some embodiments, the battery charge control unit is configured to adjust an internal temperature of the respective battery based on the temperature limit. ln some embodiments, the charge model comprises a prediction of an operating state of thebattery during a future part ofthe predetermined mining cycle. The prediction is based on thebattery data and historic operating state information for a respective mining machine of the one or more mining machines.

According to some embodiments, the prediction of the operating state of the battery is basedon at least one of a vehicle model and a mine model. The vehicle model is representative ofhistoric operating state information for the mining machine. The mine model is representative of historic operating state information corresponding to a mine route.

According to a second aspect ofthe disclosure, the object is achieved by a method, performedin a battery charge control unit of the system according to the first aspect. The methodcomprises receiving battery data from one or more battery management systems (BMSs)arranged to gather battery data representative of an operating state of a respective batterywhen used in a battery operated mining machine configured to operate in a predeterminedmining cycle. The method further comprises generating at least one charge model for abattery configured for use in a battery operated mining machine based on the battery dataand scheduling charging of respective batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the at least one charge model. ln some embodiments the generating of the at least one charge model comprises predictingan operating state ofthe battery during a subsequent mining cycle and determining charging requirements for the battery. The prediction is based on the battery data and historic Operating state information for a respective mining machine of the one or more mining machines. ln some embodiments, the charging requirements comprises at least one of a time period forcharging, a minimum level of charging, a maximum level of charging, an optimal working temperature ofthe battery and a temperature limit for the battery.

According to a third aspect ofthe disclosure, the object is achieved by a battery charge controlunit for controlling battery charge management for batteries of one or more battery operatedmining machines. The battery charge control unit comprising processing circuitry configuredto receive battery data from one or more battery management systems (BI\/|Ss). Each batterymanagement system (BMS) is arranged to gather battery data representative of an operatingstate of a respective battery when used in a battery operated mining machine that isconfigured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle. The BMS is further arranged togenerate at least one charge model for a battery configured for use in a battery operatedmining machine based on the battery data and to schedule charging of respective batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the at least one charge model.

According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure, the object is achieved by a computer programcomprising computer program code which, when executed cause a battery charge control unit according to the third aspect to execute the method according to the first aspect.

Embodiments provide the advantage of controlling battery charge management of one ormore battery operated mining machines based on battery data, the battery data representingpower consumption of all battery operated equipment within a respective mining machine ora group of mining machines. The battery charge management provides for reduced wear onbatteries used in the battery operated mining machines and can also be used to prolong work cycles or in other ways optimize a work cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSThe foregoing will be more readily understood from the following detailed description ofexample embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates an underground mine comprising a plurality batteryoperated mining machines; Figure 2 schematically illustrates a battery charge management system; Figure 3 schematically illustrates a battery operated mining machine comprising a batterycharge control unit; Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary method steps for battery charge managementfor one or more mining machines; Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery charge control unit; Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a module configured for generating a charge model; Figure 7 a. illustrates aspects of signaling in an example charge management system;b. lllustrates aspects of signaling in an example charge management system; c. lllustrates aspects of signaling in an example charge management system.DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings. The apparatus and method disclosed herein can, however, berealized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of thedisclosure only, and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms"a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. ln some implementations and according to some aspects of the disclosure, the functions orsteps noted in the blocks can occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. Forexample, two blocks shown in succession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Also, the functions or steps noted in the blocks can according to some aspects ofthe disclosure be executed continuously in a loop. lt should be emphasized that the term ”comprises/comprising” when used in this specificationis taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but doesnot preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,components, or groups thereof. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Figure 1 illustrates an underground mine comprising a battery charge management system(BI\/IS). A plurality of battery operated mining machines are located in mine galleries A-D. Oneor more battery chargers 14 are provided for charging the batteries 12 of each batteryoperated mining machine, either at a charging station separated from the mining machines orat a charging station for on-board charging of the mining machines. Charging station arearranged near the work location of the mining machine for efficient charging. I\/|iningmachines are usually operated in mining cycles representing mining operations beingperformed in a repetitive sequence over a given time period. The cha rging cycle may changeover time with the expansion of the mine and subsequent movement of a charging station,but such changes are slow and do not affect the functionality of the present invention. Asillustrated in mine gallery C-D, operation of the mining machine may imply movement of themining machine in such a way that that aspects of the mine may affect battery powerconsumption. Depending on the work cycle, the mining machine may be capable of generatingenergy that may be stored in a battery. ln such situations, it would be preferable not to havea fully charged battery in order to allow storage of such regenerative energy. For the reversedsituation when the battery operated mining machines needs to perform a high poweroperation, this high power operation may cause a temperature increase in the battery. ln suchsituations, it may be beneficial to consider battery temperature as a parameter in the batterycharge management, e.g., providing for cooling of a battery prior to initiating the operations.Pre-cooling of the battery to an initial temperature lower than that of the ambient air, mayensure that the batteries are operated within the temperature interval allowed for thebattery. Optionally, the cooling of a battery during charging may be interrupted or reduced when the battery operated machine is to perform low power operations. A somewhat higher internal temperature of the battery reduces the inner resistance and may reduce power lossesduring operation. Consequently, there is a need to consider mine model aspects in battery charge management.

Turning to Figure 2, a system 200 for charge management of one or more battery operatedmining machines 210a, 210b is disclosed. The system comprises one or more batteries 220 a-f, at least one BMS 230 a-f arranged to gather battery data representative of an operatingstate of a respective battery, one or more battery chargers 240 a-b, and a battery chargecontrol unit 250. Each battery is configured for use in a respective battery operated miningmachine configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle. Each BMS is configured toprovide the battery data to the battery charge control unit. The battery charge control unit isconfigured to generate at least one charge model and to schedule charging of respectivebatteries ofthe one or more batteries via the one or more battery chargers based on the at least one charge model. ln the present disclosure, the term battery is used to represent a rechargeable energy storagedevice capable of supplying energy/power for operating a power system of a mining machine.Such a power system may be configured to provide electrical power to electrical motors, e.g.,of electrically powered tools, or electrical equipment in a mining machine. Thus, the termbattery should be interpreted to represent any of a rechargeable battery, a super capacitor, arechargeable fuel cell and a flywheel. lt will also be understood that the term battery may alsoreflect a plurality of rechargeable batteries co-located within a mining machine or a singlebattery unit comprising a plurality of battery cells, wherein one or more battery cells of theplurality of battery cells may define a rechargeable battery. According to some aspects, thebatteries are Lithium ion batteries. Each battery is configured for use in a respective batteryoperated mining machine configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle. The one ormore batteries may be provided on-board the mining machines but may also be detachablefrom the mining machines for charging at charging stations during the charging by the respective battery cha rgers. ln the present disclosure, a BMS is configured to monitor an operational status ofthe battery,e.g., a charge level or a temperature of the battery. According to aspects of the disclosure, the BMS may also be configured to control the operational status of a battery so that that the battery is protected from charging beyond a predetermined maximum charge level ordepletion below a minimum charge level. Such control may also apply to an internaltemperature of the battery, whereby the BMS may interrupt power supply from a batterywhen the internal temperature deviates from an optimal temperature of the battery, e.g.,rises above or below predetermined temperature limits. ln the most general context of thepresent disclosure, each BMS is configured to provide the battery data to the battery charge control unit. According to some aspects, each battery comprises a respective BI\/IS.

According to some aspects, the battery data com prises at least one of state of charge (SoC),depth of discharge (DoD) state of health, and internal temperature. The battery data therebyreflects information on how much electrical energy is still available in each battery, as well asthe working status of the battery. Rechargeable batteries will gradually loose health as theyare recharged over many recharge cycles. The lifetime of the rechargeable batteries can beextended by not fully deplete before recharging. lt should be recognized that the batteriesprovide electrical power also to auxiliary electrical system of the mining machine and thatpower consumption of these auxiliary systems must also be taken into consideration whendeveloping the charge model. Consequently, an important aspect of the present invention isthat the charge model is developed based on battery data rather than on consumption data from the electrical motors driving the tools or power train of the respective mining machines.

Furthermore, batteries are usually associated with state of charge intervals representingcharging intervals associated with relatively low wear on the battery. When cha rging a batteryto a higher charge level or allowing depletion of the battery to a lower charge level, the charging of the batteries may represent an undue wear of the specific batteries.

An important factor in maintaining maximum efficiency of mining operations is to ensure thatthere are as few interruptions as possible. One potential source of interruptions is a gradualreduction of battery lifetime. Two important factors having an impact on battery lifetime arestate of charge of the battery and temperature of the battery. According to aspects of thedisclosure, battery data comprises at least one of a charge level and a temperature of therespective battery. Completely draining or completely charging the battery would typicallyshorten the battery lifetime considerably. Therefore, only a part of the total energy of the battery is preferably used during operation of the mining machine. Likewise, too high temperatures or rapid temperature changes may have detrimental effects on battery lifetime.Thus, according to some aspects, the maximum charge levels and maximum discharge levelsare based on a desired state of charge (SoC) of the rechargea ble battery. According to someaspects, the maximum charge levels and maximum discharge levels are based on atemperature of the battery. Thus, a combination of state of charge and battery temperature may enable optimized wear reduction of the battery.

The battery charge control unit is configured to generate at least one charge model and toschedule charging of respective batteries of the one or more batteries via the one or morebattery chargers based on the at least one charge model. According to aspects of thedisclosure, the battery charge control unit may provide control ofthe respective one or morebattery cha rgers to ensure that cha rging according to the charge model is observed. However,such control may also be distributed to the respective BI\/IS, whereby the BMS controlscharging of a respective battery based on information received from the battery charge control unit.

Optionally, the battery charge control unit may provide control ofthe respective one or morebattery chargers based on a determined or predicted load in the main power grid of the mine or in a local power grid where the battery charger is connected.

According to the disclosure a charge model is created for one or more batteries of a miningmachine or batteries of a plurality of mining machines. The charge model may comprise anumber of partial charge models or sub-models that represent operational needs orrequirements for a specific battery or mining machine. As will be discussed further below, thecharge model may comprise a desired SoC and/or temperature of the battery, as well as atime interval when the charging may take place in order not to overload any parts ofthe powergrid of the mine. Thus, the present disclosure acknowledges that there may be need forindividual charge models for each individual battery, and that the use of a plurality of chargemodels in a system comprising a plurality of batteries will enable improved grid control inaddition to optimizing operation and battery life ofthe individual mining machines. Accordingto some aspects of the disclosure, each charge model is based on a mine model combined with a vehicle model, as will explained further below.

According to aspects ofthe present disclosure, the BMS is configured to gather battery dataover one or more mining cycles and the battery charge control unit is configured to schedulecharging of respective batteries for at least one subsequent mining cycle based on the chargemodel. The subsequent mining cycle comprises a set of mine operations similar to thoseperformed during the gathering of data e.g., the mine operations of the subsequent miningcycle are performed with the same type of mining machines and in the same miningenvironment as the operations performed during the one or more mining cycles used for thegathering of the data. Consequently, the gathered battery data may be consideredrepresentative also of the subsequent mining cycles. According to aspects of the disclosure,the mining cycle and the subsequent mining cycle comprise a similar set of mine operationsperformed over a same time interval. Alternatively, the subsequent mining cycle mayrepresent a sub-cycle of the one or more mining cycles, e.g., a time interval shorter than thetime interval during which the battery data was gathered. These aspects ofthe disclosure will be further explained in relation to the disclosure in Figure 6.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the charge model comprises a predetermined initialbattery temperature, e.g., a temperature interval, and wherein battery charge control unit isconfigured to control a temperature of the battery when charging for a subsequent miningcycle so that the internal temperature of the battery is adjusted in conformity with the predetermined initial battery temperature.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the charge model is based on battery data andoperating state information for a respective mining machine of the one or more miningmachines. The operating state ofthe battery may be based on at least one of a vehicle modeland a mine model. The vehicle model is representative of historic operating state informationfor the mining machine. Logged data may be used to build generic models for vehicles. Suchlogged data may also be used for modelling of driver behaviour. The mine model isrepresentative of historic operating state information corresponding to a mine route. Themine model may comprise route information relating to distance to be travelled by the mining machine, height differences along the route and road quality.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the battery charge control unit 250 is further configured to generate a charge model and schedule charging of batteries 220c-e used for the 11 power supply to infrastructure installations used in the mine, for example ventilation fans (210c), hoists (210d) and lighting (210e).

The battery charge control unit is optionally arranged in a centralized data center 260. Theactual charging of the batteries is primarily intended to be controlled and/or performed bybattery chargers or BMS distributed in a mine. However, the battery control unit may, at leastin part, be arranged as a centralized application capable of generating battery charge modelsfor a plurality of battery chargers and of communicating such battery charge models to locallyarranged functionality of the battery charge control units. According to some aspects, thebattery charge control unit is arranged to generate charge models for one or more batteriesused in different battery operated mining machines and/or infrastructure installations in themine. The battery charge control unit may also be arranged to generate charge models for aplurality of batteries used in different parts of at least one mine or to generate charge models for a plurality of batteries used in a plurality of mines.

Figure 3 illustrates an implementation ofthe charge management system in a mining machine310 comprising a battery 320, a BMS 330 arranged to gather battery data representative ofan operating state of the battery 320. Optionally, a battery charge control unit 30 may beprovided in the mining machine, e.g., as a separate entity or co-located with the BI\/|S.According to aspects ofthe disclosure, the mining machine comprises at least one sensor 380arranged to gather sensor data representative of an operating state ofthe mining machine, amicroprocessor 390 arranged to determine operating state information for the batteryoperated mining machine based on the gathered sensor data and a communication unit 370arranged to provide the operating state information to a battery charge control unit when located at a location remote from the mining machine.

Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary method steps for battery charge managementfor one or more mining machine. ln its most general from, the method comprises receivingS41 battery data from one or more BI\/|Ss arranged to gather battery data representative ofan operating state of a respective battery when used in a battery operated mining machinethat is configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle. Generating S42 one or more charge models for respective batteries based on the received battery data; and scheduling S45 12 charging of respective batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the one or more charge models.

According to aspects of the disclosure, generating of the at least one charge model comprisespredicting S43 an operating state of the battery during a future part of the predeterminedmining cycle, e.g., a subsequent mining cycle. The prediction is based on the battery data andhistoric operating state information for a mining cycle for a respective mining machine of theone or more mining machines. ln the context ofthe present disclosure, the mining cycle andthe subsequent mining cycle comprise a similar set of mine operations, e.g., the mineoperations of the subsequent mining cycle are performed with the same type of miningmachines and n the same mining environment as the operations performed during thegathering of the data. Consequently, the gathered battery data may be consideredrepresentative also of the subsequent mining cycles. The cha rging requirements of the batteryare determined S44 from the predicted operating state. According to aspects ofthe disclosure,charging requirements comprises a time period for charging, a minimum level of charging anda maximum level of charging. According to further aspects of the disclosure, the chargingrequirements comprise a battery temperature, i.e., an initial battery temperature. The initialbattery temperature may be a temperature interval. Thus, scheduling charging of a batterywould optionally comprise scheduling an optimal working temperature ofthe battery and/ortemperature limits of the battery. Optionally, the method for battery charge managementcomprises controlling S46 charging of respective batteries based on the charge model(s). Thecharge model may comprise a desired SoC and/or temperature of the battery, as well as atime interval when the charging may take place in order to not to overload any parts of thepower grid of the mine. Accordingly, the battery charge control unit would be configured tocontrol a temperature of the battery when charging for a subsequent mining cycle so that theinternal temperature of the battery is adjusted in conformity with the predetermined initial battery temperature.

Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery charge control unit 50 for controllingbattery charge management for batteries of one or more battery operated mining machines.The battery charge control unit comprising processing circuitry 51 configured to receive battery data from one or more BI\/|Ss arranged to gather battery data representative of an 13 Operating state of a respective battery when used in a battery operated mining machine thatis configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle. The processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to generate at least one charge model for a battery configured for use in a batteryoperated mining machine; and to schedule charging of respective batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the at least one charge model.

Figure 5 also illustrates an example computer program product 52 having thereon a computerprogram comprising instructions. The computer program product comprises a computerreadable medium such as, for example a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a plug-in card, anembedded drive or a read only memory (ROM). The computer readable medium has storedthereon a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program isloadable into a processing circuitry 51 comprised in the arrangement 50. When loaded intothe processing circuitry 51, the computer program may be stored in a memory 51b associatedwith or comprised in the processing circuitry and executed by the processor 51a. According tosome embodiments, the computer program may, when loaded into and run by the processingcircuitry, cause execution of method steps according to, for example, the method illustrated in Figure 4 or otherwise described herein.

Thus, the computer program is loadable into data processing circuitry, e.g., into the processingcircuitry 51 of Figure 5, and is configured to cause execution of embodiments for battery charge management for one or more mining machine.

Figure 6 discloses a block diagram illustrating a charge model generation module. Asillustrated, the charge model generation is based on battery data from a log database, e.g.,residing in the battery charge control unit. The log database comprises historical data fromdefined mine positions as well as historical data from specific types of vehicles or miningmachines. A charge model is generated by the battery charge control unit and provided to abattery charger. The charge model generation module comprises logic for generating minemodels as well as vehicle models. As an alternative to basing the mine model on historicaldata representative of a route travelled by the mining machine or vehicle, the mine modelmay also be based on CAD-modelling. A mine model may comprises information relating toheight and road quality of a mine route, e.g., for identified sections along the route or path.

The model may be generated from logged data or extracted from a CAD-system comprising 14 data relevant for the geometry of the mine. The mine model may be the same for all vehicletypes. Consequently, while the mine model may be based on data retrieved by a specificmachine or vehicle, the model may be used for any other type of machine or vehicle performing operations or travelling along the same route.

I\/|odelling of the machine or vehicle comprises consideration of type of machine/vehicle andoperative data, such as speed of the vehicle or load. Since aspects of the vehicle model maybe dependent on driver preferences, the modelling may also include information relating todriver behavior as well a modelling adapted to the behavior of a specific driver. Whenconsidering aspects of a mine truck, the power requirements depend, e.g., on the amount ofenergy required during the loading/unloading of the mine truck, power losses in the powertrain of the vehicle, and power consumed for the heating/cooling ofthe vehicle cab. Figure 6discloses general aspects of using logged data as input to optimize battery preparation for aspecific mining cycle, e.g., based on previous experiences from the same mining cycle. Thelogged data for a specific route may be used to calculate input values for the chargemanagement process. The logged data may also be used to build generic models for vehicles,mine geometry and driver behavior. The models are then used to calculate the input valuesfor battery charge management, i.e., values relating to charging and temperature regulation in the battery.Figures 7a to 7c illustrate aspects of signaling in an example charge management system.

As illustrated in Figure 7a, a BMS is configured to gather battery data and provide the batterydata to a receiving battery charge control unit. The battery charge control unit is configuredto generate at least one charge model based on the battery data and to schedule charging for at least one battery charger based on the battery charge model.

Figure 7b discloses, in addition to the disclosure of Figure 7a, the providing of logged data to be used in the battery charge control unit for generating the charge model.

Figure 7c illustrates further details of battery charge management and charge model generation in the above disclosed battery charge management system.

The description of the example embodiments provided herein have been presented forpurposes of illustration. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit exampleembodiments to the precise form disclosed; modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various alternatives to theprovided embodiments. The examples discussed herein were chosen and described in orderto explain the principles and the nature of various example embodiments and its practicalapplication to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the example embodiments in variousmanners and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thefeatures of the embodiments described herein may be combined in all possible combinationsof source nodes, target nodes, corresponding methods, and computer program products. ltshould be appreciated that the example embodiments presented herein may be practiced in combination with each other.

The described embodiments and their equivalents may be realized in software or hardwareor a combination thereof. The embodiments may be performed by general purpose circuitry.Examples of general purpose circuitry include digital signal processors (DSP), centralprocessing units (CPU), co-processor units, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and otherprogrammable hardware. Alternatively or additionally, the embodiments may be performedby specialized circuitry, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). The generalpurpose circuitry and/or the specialized circuitry may, for example, be associated with or comprised in an apparatus such as a wireless communication device or a network node.

Embodiments may appear within an electronic apparatus comprising arrangements, circuitry,and/or logic according to any of the embodiments described herein. Alternatively oradditionally, an electronic apparatus may be configured to perform methods according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning inthe relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. 16 Reference has been made herein to various embodiments. However, a person skilled in theart would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the claims.

For example, the method embodiments described herein discloses example methods throughsteps being performed in a certain order. However, it is recognized that these sequences ofevents may take place in another order without departing from the scope of the claims.Furthermore, some method steps may be performed in parallel even though they have beendescribed as being performed in sequence. Thus, the steps of any methods disclosed hereindo not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly describedas following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. ln the same manner, it should be noted that in the description of embodiments, the partitionof functional blocks into particular units is by no means intended as limiting. Contrarily, thesepartitions are merely examples. Functional blocks described herein as one unit may be splitinto two or more units. Furthermore, functional blocks described herein as being implemented as two or more units may be merged into fewer (e.g. a single) unit.

Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any otherembodiment, wherever suitable. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. ln the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary aspects of thedisclosure. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these aspects withoutsubstantially departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosureshould be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as being limited to theparticular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Hence, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments are merelyexamples brought forward for illustrative purposes, and that all variations that fall within the scope ofthe claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. 7 CLAll\/IS 1. A system (200) for battery charge management of rea1-~~:e>a=--~sæëse>s1sa; battery operated mining machines (210a-b), the system (200) comprising -s=.~'=.-:e:~a==f~_=,-~batteries (220a-f), =^=1= glggbattery management systems, BI\/|Ss,(230a-f) arranged to gather battery data representative of an operating state of arespective battery, one or more battery chargers (240a-b), and a battery charge controlunit (250), wherein - each battery is configured for use in a respective battery operated mining machine configured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle; - each BMS is configured to provide the battery data to the battery charge control unit; and - the battery charge control unit is configured to generate at least one charge model based on the battery data and to schedule charging of respective batteries of the s;eesezsslsslsæszafftëesbatteries via the one or more battery cha rgers based on the at least one charge model. The system of claim 1, wherein the BMS is configured to gather battery data over one ormore mining cycles, wherein the battery charge control unit is configured to schedulecharging of respective batteries for at least one subsequent mining cycle based on thecharge model and wherein the subsequent mining cycle comprise a set of mine operations similar to those performed during the gathering of data. The system of claim 2, wherein battery data comprises at least one of a charge level and a temperature ofthe respective battery. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge model comprises a predetermined initialbattery temperature for the subsequent mining cycles and wherein battery charge controlunit is configured to adjust the temperature to the predetermined initial battery temperature. 10. 11. 1

2. 18 A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the charge model is based on battery data and operating state information for a respective mining machine of the :aßflæsë mining machines. A system according to c|aim 5, wherein the operating state of the battery is based on atleast one of a vehicle model and a mine model, and wherein the vehicle model isrepresentative of historic operating state information for the mining machine and whereinthe mine model is representative of historic operating state information corresponding to a mine route. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery charge control unit isfurther configured to generate a charge model and schedule charging of batteries used for the power supply to infrastructure installations used in the mine. The system of c|aim 7, wherein the infrastructure installations comprise ventilation fans (210c), hoists (210d) and lighting (210e). The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery charge control unit iscomprised in the battery operated mining machine or in the BMS of a battery for the battery operated mining machine. The system of any of claims 1-8, wherein the battery charge control unit is arranged in a centralized data center (260). The system of c|aim 10, wherein the battery charge control unit is arranged to generate charge models for szeffﬁæëefëesleæëlæass y batteries used in different battery operated mining machines and/or infrastructure installations in the mine. The system of c|aim 10 or 11, wherein the battery charge control unit is arranged togenerate charge models for a plurality of batteries used in different parts of at least one mine and/or for a plurality of batteries used in a plurality of mines. 19 1

3. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein each mining machine comprises at least one sensor (270, 370) arranged to gather sensor data representative of an operating state of the mining machine, a microprocessor (280, 380) arranged to determine operating state information for the battery operated mining machine based on the gathered sensor data and a communication unit (290, 390) arranged to provide the operating state information to the battery charge control unit (250). 1

4. A method performed in a battery charge control unit of the system according to any of claims 1-13, the method comprising: receiving (S41) battery data from battery management systems, BMSs, arranged to gather battery data representative of an operating stateof a respective battery when used in a battery operated mining machine that isconfigured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle; generating (S42) one or more charge models for respective batteries based on thereceived battery data; and scheduling (S45) charging of respective batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the one or more charge models. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein the generating of the at least one charge model comprises: - predicting (S43) an operating state of the battery during a future part of thepredetermined mining cycle, wherein the prediction is based on the battery data and historic operating state information for a respective mining machine ofthe ~f-_:-.==.~f~:~ ßff mining machines, and - determining (S44) charging requirements for the battery. 16. The method of claim 15 or 16 further comprising: - controlling (S46) charging of respective batteries based on the one or more charge models. 17. The method of any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the charging requirements comprises oneor more of a time period for charging, a minimum level of charging, a maximum level ofcharging, an optimal working temperature of the battery and a temperature limit for the battery. 18. A battery charge control unit (50) for controlling battery charge management for batteries of fs-ræ battery operated mining machines, the battery charge control unit comprising processing circuitry (51) configured to: - receive battery data from :::~a=:<~_ ï battery management systems, BMSs, arranged to gather battery data representative of an operating state of arespective battery when used in a battery operated mining machine that isconfigured to operate in a predetermined mining cycle; - generate at least one charge model for a battery configured for use in a batteryoperated mining machine; and - schedule charging of respective batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the at least one charge model. 19. A computer program product (52) comprising computer program code which, whenexecuted cause a battery charge control unit according to claim 18 to execute the method according to any of claims 14-17.