Method for Monitoring an Electrical Energy Store, and Electrical Energy Store

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The patent describes a method and system for monitoring an electrical energy storage device (such as a battery) by using strain gauge units to detect changes in the physical dimensions (length or distance) of the storage cells. The strain gauge is read at a lower measurement rate when the device is idle and at a higher rate during operation (charging or discharging), enabling early detection of faults like gas formation or cell swelling that may precede critical failures such as thermal runaway. The invention also covers the structural arrangement of strain gauges within the battery module for effective and energy-efficient monitoring.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Electric vehicle batteries—monitoring for early signs of failure or thermal runaway.
• Stationary battery storage for renewable energy—continuous health monitoring to prevent dangerous incidents.
• Consumer electronics battery packs—fine-grained safety monitoring during both use and storage.
• Industrial UPS (uninterruptible power supply) systems—preventing catastrophic battery failures.
• Smart grids—enabling predictive maintenance of distributed energy storage assets.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides early detection of mechanical deformation, enabling prevention of critical failure events.
• Reduces power consumption for monitoring, supporting safe idle-state surveillance with minimal battery drain.
• Enhances safety by detecting faults that other systems (like temperature sensors) might miss or detect too late.
• Supports real-time and continuous health monitoring even when the storage device is not actively in use.
• Enables automated preventive actions, such as interrupting charge/discharge or issuing warnings, to mitigate safety risks.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring an electrical energy store, in which a strain gauge unit is read out with a first measurement rate during an idle state of the energy store and wherein the strain gauge unit is read out with a second, larger measurement rate at least partially during an operation of the energy store. The invention further relates to an energy store for carrying out such a method.