Electric facility operating according to galvanic principles, such as a lithium-ion cell, comprising a control for the operating conditions

Abstract

A facility which operates according to galvanic principles, such as in particular a lithium-ion accumulator, and a method for monitoring and controlling an electric operating condition of the facility. The facility comprises at least one galvanic cell and an operating management system for monitoring and controlling the electric operating condition of the facility and for monitoring a representative temperature of the facility. The operating management system is designed to control the electric operating condition of the facility as a function of the temperature. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A facility which operates according to galvanic principles, wherein the facility comprises at least one galvanic cell and an operating management system for monitoring and controlling an electric operating condition of the facility and for monitoring a representative temperature of the facility, the operating management system being adapted to control (i) a discharging current of the facility as a function of the representative temperature, and (ii) an electric operating condition of the facility as a function of the representative temperature, which electric operating condition is selected from one or more parameters comprising an electric capacity of the at least one galvanic cell, a measurable voltage between terminals of the at least one galvanic cell, a magnitude of an electric current leading to a discharge of the at least one galvanic cell, an internal resistance of the at least one galvanic cell, an already charged or available electric charge of the at least one galvanic cell, a leakage current between terminals within the at least one galvanic cell, a temperature of the at least one galvanic cell, which temperature is measured at representative locations or elements of the cell or at an exterior of the cell, a state of charge (SOC), and a state of health (SOH) of the at least one galvanic cell. 
     
     
         2 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the operating management system is adapted to record and monitor a temperature of the facility, and wherein the facility comprises at least one temperature measurement unit for measuring a temperature of the facility, which temperature measurement unit comprises at least one sensor, at least one associated sensor transferring signal element, and at least one signal analyzing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The facility of  claim 2 , wherein the operating management system is adapted to record and monitor a time dependence of the temperature of the facility. 
     
     
         4 . The facility of  claim 2 , wherein the operating management system comprises at least one temperature measurement unit for measuring a temperature of the facility. 
     
     
         5 . The facility of  claim 2 , wherein the operating management system is further adapted to control an electric operating condition of the facility as a function of a representative parameter that has been determined by the operating management system for a charging state or state of health of the facility. 
     
     
         6 . The facility of  claim 5 , wherein the representative parameter has been determined by the operating management system for a charging state or state of health of the at least one galvanic cell. 
     
     
         7 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the operating management system is adapted to control the facility in a manner that allows at least two galvanic cells to be operated together in cell balancing. 
     
     
         8 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the operating management system is adapted to control the electric operating condition of the facility in at least two different temperature intervals by temperature dependencies that are different from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the facility comprises at least one temperature measurement unit for measuring a temperature of the facility. 
     
     
         10 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the facility comprises a temperature that is representative for a temperature of at least one of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte which is in electrochemical operative connection with at least one of the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         11 . The facility of  claim 10 , wherein the representative temperature of at least one of the cathode and the anode is a temperature which is representative for a temperature of at least one of a current conductor of the cathode and a current conductor of the anode. 
     
     
         12 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the facility comprises two or more galvanic cells and at least one temperature measurement unit for each cell. 
     
     
         13 . A method for monitoring and controlling an electric operating condition of a facility that operates according to galvanic principles and comprises at least one galvanic cell, wherein the method comprises:
 (1) monitoring an electric operating condition of the facility, which operating condition is represented by one or more parameters of the facility,   (2) monitoring a temperature of the facility, and   (3) controlling the electric operating condition of the facility, and controlling the discharging current of the of the at least one galvanic cell as a function of the temperature of the facility,   the one or more parameters comprising one or more of an electric capacity of the at least one galvanic cell, a measurable voltage between terminals of the at least one galvanic cell, a magnitude of an electric current leading to a discharge of the at least one galvanic cell, an internal resistance of the at least one galvanic cell, an already charged or available electric charge of the at least one galvanic cell, a leakage current between terminals within the at least one galvanic cell, a temperature of the at least one galvanic cell, which temperature is measured at representative locations or elements of the cell or at an exterior of the cell, a state of charge (SOC), and a state of health (SOH) of the at least one galvanic cell.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electric operating condition of the facility is monitored and controlled by an operating management system which at least one of
 records and monitors a temperature of the facility;   controls the electric operating condition of the facility as a function of a representative parameter that has been determined by the operating management system for a charging state or state of health of the facility;   operates the facility in a manner that allows at least two galvanic cells to be operated together in cell balancing.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (3) comprises controlling the electric operating condition of the facility in at least two different temperature intervals by means of temperature dependencies which are different from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (1) comprises recording the temperature of the facility by using a temperature measurement unit for measuring the temperature of the facility. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (3) comprises controlling the electric operating condition of the facility also as a function of a representative parameter which is determined by an operating management system for at least one of a charging condition and a health condition of the facility. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (3) comprises:
 defining at least one of a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold,   effecting that the facility is not operated if a temperature of the at least one galvanic cell is below the lower temperature threshold or above the upper temperature threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (3) comprises:
 defining a first temperature threshold, a second temperature threshold that is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, a third temperature threshold that is greater than or equal to the second temperature threshold, and a fourth temperature threshold that is greater than or equal to the third temperature threshold,   limiting a discharging set value of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between the second and third temperature thresholds to a maximium discharging current value,   limiting a discharging set value of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between the first and second temperature thresholds to a first discharging current value that is less than the maximum discharging current value within the temperature interval between the second and third temperature thresholds,   limiting a discharging set value of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between the third and fourth temperature thresholds to at least one of a second discharging current value that is also less than the maximum discharging current value within the temperature interval between the second and third temperature thresholds.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein (3) further comprises:
 limiting a discharging set current of the at least one galvanic cell within a temperature interval between the third and fourth temperature thresholds to a third, minimal discharging current value such that a discharging current within this temperature interval is not less than minimal discharging current value and not greater than a maximum discharging current value.