Battery Watering Event Detection using a Temperature Sensor

Abstract

A system of battery cell monitoring includes at least one battery, at least one temperature sensor disposed within a battery cell within the at least one battery, a processor configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, the signal comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor, detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor, and determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor, and a memory configured to store received signals over a period of time, and store determined watering events.

What is claimed, is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 at least one battery;   at least one temperature sensor disposed within a battery cell within the at least one battery;   a processor configured to:
 receive a signal from the temperature sensor, the signal comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor; 
 detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor; and 
 determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor; and 
   a memory configured to:
 store received signals over a period of time; and 
 store determined watering events. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, controller or central processing unit (CPU). 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery charger. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery monitor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater than one degree Celsius (C) per minute. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater is 4 to 7 degrees C. over 5 to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a time and date of the determined watering event. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature sensor measures electrolyte temperatures of the battery cell near a top portion of the battery cell. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a total number of occurrences of the determined watering event for the energy storage device. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a signal from the temperature sensor, when a temperature sensor is present, the signal comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor; 
 detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor; 
   determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, controller or central processing unit (CPU). 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery charger. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is embedded in a battery monitor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater than one degree Celsius (C) per minute. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensor is at least partially immersed in an electrolyte of a battery cell. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a time and date of the determined watering event. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature sensor measures electrolyte temperatures of the battery cell near a top portion of the battery cell. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to record a total number of occurrences of the determined watering event for the energy storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein detecting the sudden decrease in temperature comprises detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor of greater is 4 to 7 degrees C. over 5 to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 at least one battery;   at least one temperature sensor disposed within a battery cell within the at least one battery wherein the at least one temperature sensor is capable of producing a plurality of signals comprising a voltage indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensor;   a memory:   a processor configured to:
 receive a plurality of signals from the temperature sensor; 
 store the received plurality of signals in the memory; 
 detect a sudden decrease in temperature of the temperature sensor; 
 determine whether a battery cell watering event has occurred based on the sudden change in temperature of the temperature sensor; 
 store the determined watering events in the memory; and 
 determine whether the battery cell has been adequately maintained over time based on the stored watering events.