阅读说明：本技术 电池拖车、车辆系统、运行车辆系统的方法和存储介质 (Battery trailer, vehicle system, method for operating vehicle system, and storage medium ) 是由 许书铭 于 2021-04-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种电池拖车,尤其是高压电池拖车,所述电池拖车能连接到车辆上,其中,所述车辆具有车载电池和车载电池热管理系统,所述电池拖车包括：拖车电池,尤其是高压电池,所述拖车电池布置在电池支架上；拖车电池管理系统,所述拖车电池管理系统用于对所述拖车电池进行管理并且包括拖车电池热管理系统。根据本发明,所述拖车电池热管理系统独立于所述车载电池热管理系统运行。本发明还涉及一种车辆系统,一种用于运行车辆系统的方法以及一种计算机程序产品。(The invention relates to a battery trailer, in particular a high-voltage battery trailer, which can be connected to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an on-board battery and an on-board battery thermal management system, comprising: a trailer battery, in particular a high-voltage battery, which is arranged on the battery holder; a trailer battery management system for managing the trailer battery and including a trailer battery thermal management system. According to the invention, the trailer battery thermal management system operates independently of the onboard battery thermal management system. The invention also relates to a vehicle system, a method for operating a vehicle system and a computer program product.)

1. A battery trailer (1), in particular a high voltage battery trailer, connectable to a vehicle (2), wherein the vehicle (2) has an onboard battery (7) and an onboard battery management system (8) comprising an onboard battery thermal management system, the battery trailer (1) comprising:

a trailer battery (4), in particular a high voltage battery; and

a trailer battery management system (6) for managing the trailer battery (4) and comprising a trailer battery thermal management system;

wherein the trailer battery thermal management system operates independently of the on-board battery thermal management system.

2. The battery trailer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the trailer battery (4) is used differently, in particular not in parallel, to the on-board battery (7) in the driving state of the vehicle (2).

3. The battery trailer (1) according to claim 1 or 2,

the trailer battery thermal management system comprises a cooling system, wherein the cooling system is designed in an air cooling and/or water cooling mode; and/or

The trailer battery thermal management system includes a heating system configured with an electrical heating membrane for heating the trailer battery.

4. The battery trailer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the battery trailer (1) has a connection plug, in particular a high-voltage connection plug, by means of which the battery trailer (1) is electrically connected with the vehicle (2) for providing the vehicle (2) with electrical energy.

5. The battery trailer (1) according to claim 4,

the trailer battery (4) and the on-board battery (7) each comprise a switching device (9), in particular a relay, which is configured to switchably connect the trailer battery (4) to the on-board battery (7), wherein the switching is effected by means of the switching device (9) in the parking state; and/or

The trailer battery (4) is configured to be able to charge the on-board battery (7) only in a parked state of the vehicle (2).

6. A vehicle system, the vehicle system comprising:

vehicle (2), in particular electric vehicle, comprising an on-board battery (7); and

the battery trailer (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 5;

wherein the battery trailer (1) is connected to the vehicle (2) for providing the vehicle (2) with electrical energy.

7. A method for operating the vehicle system of claim 6, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the state of the vehicle-mounted battery;

under the condition that the state of the vehicle-mounted battery meets a preset operation condition, the vehicle-mounted battery is used for providing electric energy for a vehicle system;

in the case where the state of the on-vehicle battery does not satisfy the predetermined operating condition, switching from a mode in which electric power is supplied from the on-vehicle battery to a mode in which electric power is supplied from the trailer battery, wherein the switching is performed in a parking state;

detecting a state of the trailer battery; and

operating the vehicle system based on the status of the trailer battery.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the state of the vehicle battery is a charge level of the vehicle battery and/or a vehicle battery temperature, wherein the predetermined operating condition is: the vehicle-mounted electric quantity is greater than or equal to 30% and/or the vehicle-mounted battery temperature is less than or equal to 60 ℃.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined operating condition can be preset by a user.

10. A computer program product comprising computer instructions for assisting, when executed by a processor, in carrying out at least the method according to one of claims 7 to 9.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a battery trailer, in particular to a high-voltage battery trailer. The invention also relates to a vehicle system with a battery trailer, in particular a high voltage battery trailer. The invention further relates to a method for operating a vehicle system and to a computer program product.

Background

With the development of electrification and motorization of vehicles, the demand for electric vehicles in the market continues to increase. Currently, the range of a vehicle is limited due to the limitation of the capacity of a power battery, which is one of the important problems that hinder the development and popularization of electric vehicles.

The concept of "mobile power source" has been widely applied in the field of digital consumer products, such as mobile power sources for mobile phones, notebook computers, etc., and such external "mobile power source" attaches a set of independent batteries to charging ports of mobile phones, notebook computers, etc., so as to prolong battery life of electronic products such as mobile phones, notebook computers, etc.

However, in the field of electric vehicles, for safety reasons, the vehicle is generally not allowed to run in a power battery (on-board battery) charging mode. Therefore, the concept of "mobile power supply" in the field of digital consumer products cannot be directly applied to the field of electric vehicles.

At present, one of the main solutions to the above problems is to increase the battery capacity of the vehicle-mounted battery, and to expand the battery capacity by developing and using a battery material with a higher energy density or by increasing the number of the unit batteries. However, this solution not only increases the cost of the entire vehicle battery system, but also places higher demands on the battery management system and charging infrastructure.

Another solution is to rapidly replace the same type of vehicle-mounted battery through a battery replacement station (battery replacement station), thereby realizing the capacity expansion of the battery capacity. However, this solution requires not only the investment of a high-cost battery replacement station, but also the provision of replacement on-board batteries for different vehicle models in accordance with the model numbers of the on-board batteries thereof, which also greatly increases the cost investment of the battery replacement station since the vehicle models on the market and the on-board batteries produced by the manufacturers of the on-board batteries do not match each other. In addition, since the user needs to find the power exchange station on the way and the vehicle-mounted battery needs a certain time to be replaced, the user experience and the acceptance of the solution are greatly influenced.

In addition, another solution currently exists that enables expansion of the onboard battery by means of a battery trailer. The trailer battery is arranged on the trailer stand and can additionally or alternatively provide electrical energy for the electric vehicle by attaching the battery trailer to the electric vehicle. However, in the case where the trailer battery and the on-board battery share the on-board battery management system, since the battery capacity, the battery life, and the power state may not be consistent, they may cause incompatibility in use and even cause malfunction of the battery management system.

Based on the above problems, there is a need to increase the driving range of an electric vehicle without increasing or significantly increasing the cost of the user's vehicle. In addition, there is also a need for flexible matching of vehicle range without affecting vehicle reliability and safety.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, according to the invention, a battery trailer and an efficient method for operating a battery trailer are proposed, which not only overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, but also increase the acceptance of the method for operating a battery trailer by a user while flexibly matching the demand for electric energy or mileage of an electric vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery trailer, in particular a high voltage battery trailer, connectable to a vehicle is provided, wherein the vehicle has an onboard battery and an onboard Battery Management System (BMS), the battery trailer comprising: trailer batteries, especially high voltage batteries; a trailer battery management system for managing the trailer battery and including a trailer battery thermal management system. According to the invention, the trailer battery thermal management system operates independently of the onboard battery thermal management system.

The basic idea of the invention is to expand the battery capacity by additionally connecting a battery trailer with a separate trailer battery thermal management system to a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle. According to the present invention, since the battery trailer itself has a trailer battery thermal management system independent of the onboard battery thermal management system and the trailer battery thermal management system operates independently of the onboard battery thermal management system, the electric vehicle can be matched to different models of battery trailers. Furthermore, the thermal management of the trailer battery of the battery trailer is more efficient, whereby the operational safety and reliability of the battery trailer and thus of this vehicle system is greatly improved. In addition, the user can flexibly match battery trailers with different models and different capacities according to the driving mileage, so that the acceptance and satisfaction of the user on the technical scheme are correspondingly improved.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the trailer battery is used in a different, in particular not in parallel, manner to the on-board battery in the driving state of the vehicle. Therefore, the flexibility of the trailer battery is improved. Here, the model, capacity, specification, and the like of the on-vehicle battery and the trailer battery may be different.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the trailer battery thermal management system comprises a cooling system which is designed to be air-cooled and/or water-cooled, and/or the trailer battery thermal management system comprises a heating system which is designed with an electric heating membrane for heating the trailer battery. By the independent trailer battery thermal management system, the trailer battery can be heated or preheated according to the operation requirement under different environments and operation states, for example, when the trailer battery is operated in a cold region or started, so that the trailer battery can be operated more efficiently. In addition, because a battery thermal management system is avoided being shared with the vehicle, additional thermal management connections are reduced, and the existing design of a water pump, a water circulation, an electric heating pump and an electric refrigerating compressor of the whole vehicle is not influenced.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the battery trailer has a connection plug, in particular a high-voltage connection plug, by means of which the battery trailer is electrically connected to the vehicle for supplying the vehicle with electrical energy.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the trailer battery and the on-board battery each comprise a switching device, in particular a relay, which is configured to switchably connect the trailer battery to the on-board battery, wherein switching takes place by means of the switching device in the parked state and/or the trailer battery charges the on-board battery in the parked state of the vehicle. Here, when the vehicle battery supplies power to the vehicle, the vehicle battery relay is on, and the trailer battery relay is off. When the trailer battery is supplying power to the vehicle, the trailer battery relay is on and the on-board battery relay is off. By using the relay, the vehicle-mounted battery and the trailer battery cannot simultaneously supply electric energy to the vehicle when the vehicle runs. Compatibility problems arising from the simultaneous operation of the vehicle-mounted battery and the trailer are thereby avoided and the battery charge can therefore be known more accurately, so that the driving range can be matched more flexibly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle system including: vehicle, in particular electric vehicle, comprising an on-board battery; a battery trailer according to the present invention; wherein the battery trailer is coupled to the vehicle for providing electrical energy to the vehicle.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for operating a vehicle system, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the state of the vehicle-mounted battery;

under the condition that the state of the vehicle-mounted battery meets a preset operation condition, the vehicle-mounted battery is used for providing electric energy for a vehicle system;

switching the on-board battery to a trailer battery in a case where a state of the on-board battery does not satisfy a predetermined operation condition, wherein the switching is performed in a parking state;

detecting a state of the trailer battery;

operating a vehicle system based on the state of the trailer battery.

According to one embodiment, the state of the vehicle battery is a charge level and/or a temperature of the vehicle battery, wherein the predetermined operating condition is: the vehicle-mounted electric quantity is greater than or equal to 30% and/or the vehicle-mounted battery temperature is less than or equal to 60 ℃.

According to a further embodiment, the predetermined operating condition can be preset by a user.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer program product is provided, comprising computer instructions for assisting at least in implementing the method of the invention when executed by a processor.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the claims, the drawings and the description of the drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the above description and those mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures only can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following is also considered to be covered and disclosed by the present invention: these items are not explicitly shown in the drawings and are not explicitly explained, but originate from and result from combinations of separate features from the explained items. The following matters and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed: which does not have all the features of the original written independent claim. Furthermore, the following and combinations of features are considered to be disclosed inter alia by the above: which exceed or deviate from the combinations of features defined in the claims' reference relations.

Drawings

The principles, features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by describing the invention in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic battery trailer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a trailer battery and an on-board battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 shows a method for operating a vehicle system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantageous effects of the present invention more apparent, the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the scope of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic battery trailer 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The battery trailer 1 has a trailer battery 4, which is arranged on a battery support of the battery trailer 1. The battery trailer also has an independent trailer battery management system 6, which may include a trailer battery thermal management system. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the trailer battery thermal management system may operate independently of the onboard battery thermal management system. Furthermore, the battery trailer 1 has a connection plug, in particular a high-voltage connection plug 3, which is connected to the vehicle 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle system includes a battery trailer 1 and a vehicle 2 (here, an electric vehicle). The battery trailer 1 and the vehicle 2 are electrically connected by a high-voltage connection plug 3, so that the trailer battery 4 of the battery trailer 1 can supply electric power to the vehicle 2. Here, the vehicle 2 also has an on-board battery 7 (see fig. 3), and the trailer battery 4 of the battery trailer 1 can charge the on-board battery 7 in a parked state of the vehicle 2.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the trailer battery 4 and the vehicle battery 7 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle battery 7 has its own vehicle battery management system 8 and is electrically connected to the electric drive system 5. The trailer battery 4 with its own trailer battery management system 6 is electrically connected to the vehicle battery 7 by means of a high voltage connection plug 3. According to this exemplary embodiment, a relay 9 is provided for switching the mode of power supply by the on-board battery 7 to the mode of power supply by the trailer battery 4. Here, the trailer battery 4 and the on-board battery 7 cannot simultaneously supply the electric drive system 5 with electric energy. In addition, in the parking state, the trailer battery 4 can charge the vehicle-mounted battery 7 via the high-voltage connection plug 3.

Fig. 4 shows a method for operating a vehicle system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Here, the battery trailer 1 has been connected to the vehicle 2 to constitute a vehicle system. In one method step, the on-board battery management system 8(BMS) detects in real time the status of the on-board battery 7, for example the temperature, the amount of charge, etc. When it is detected that the state of the vehicle-mounted battery 7 satisfies a predetermined operating condition, for example, that the temperature of the vehicle-mounted battery is below 60 ℃ or additionally or alternatively that the electric quantity of the vehicle-mounted battery is above 30% (total electric quantity), the vehicle system is supplied with electric energy from the vehicle-mounted battery 7. If, on the other hand, it is detected that the state of the on-board battery 7 does not satisfy a predetermined operating condition, for example the temperature of the on-board battery 7 is above 60 ℃ or, in addition or alternatively, the charge of the on-board battery 7 is below 30%, in a further method step a battery switching mode is activated in which switching takes place by means of a switching device, in this case embodied as a relay 9. Here, the vehicle system is brought to a parking state in which the relay 9 of the on-vehicle battery is disconnected from the vehicle power supply system, and the relay 9 of the trailer battery is closed to communicate with the vehicle power supply system, thereby achieving switching from the mode in which power is supplied by the on-vehicle battery 7 to the mode in which power is supplied by the trailer battery 4. In a next method step, similarly, the trailer battery management system 6 detects the status of the trailer battery 4 and operates the vehicle system based on the status of the trailer battery 4 when the status of the trailer battery 4 meets a predetermined operating condition, e.g. the temperature of the trailer battery 4 is below 60 ℃ or additionally or alternatively the electrical quantity of the trailer battery 4 is above 30% (total electrical quantity). And when the state of said trailer battery 4 does not satisfy predetermined operating conditions, for example the temperature of the trailer battery 4 is higher than 60 ℃ or additionally or alternatively the charge of the trailer battery 4 is lower than 30%, the parking state is maintained.

Here, the predetermined operating condition can be set by a user in advance. For example, the charge threshold of the onboard battery may be determined by a user's preset on the vehicle through a manual input interface. However, it is also conceivable to communicate with the vehicle via the mobile terminal of the user, in particular a smartphone, so that the above-described arrangement is implemented.

The present invention is not limited to the use of battery trailers in conjunction with electric vehicles. In this case, it is also possible to achieve vehicle electrical separation, i.e. to achieve mileage matching and mileage augmentation without using an electric vehicle, but using a combination of a conventional fuel vehicle and a battery trailer, or even using a combination of a non-powered vehicle and a battery trailer. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable to combine plug-in hybrid vehicles with purely electric vehicles for compatible applications.

Other advantages and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative structures, and illustrative examples shown and described. On the contrary, various modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the basic spirit and scope of the invention.