Vehicle battery protection device, and method for thermal management of same

A vehicle battery protection device electrically connectable between a vehicle battery and a vehicle electrical system for preserving the state of charge of the vehicle battery, the vehicle battery protection device comprising:

• a positive connector configured to be placed in electrical communication with a positive terminal of the vehicle battery;
• a negative connector configured to be placed in electrical communication with a negative terminal of the vehicle battery;
• a primary vehicle connector configured to be placed in electrical communication with a vehicle terminal of the vehicle electrical system;
• a solid state switch commandable between an on state and an off state, the on state allowing current to flow between the vehicle battery and the vehicle electrical system through the solid state switch, and the off state preventing current from flowing between the vehicle battery and the vehicle electrical system through the solid state switch;
• a switch temperature sensor configured to measure switch temperature at the solid state switch;
• a battery voltage sensor configured to measure battery voltage between the positive connector and the negative connector;
• a current sensor configured to measure switch current defined by the current flowing through the solid state switch;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for executing a thermal safety algorithm, the thermal safety algorithm comprising a switch derating process including the steps of:
• selecting, from a plurality of distinct safe operating area datasets pertaining to the solid state switch, a safe operating area dataset corresponding to the switch temperature;
• and
• limiting the on state based on the selected safe operating area dataset, the battery voltage, and the switch current;
• wherein the vehicle battery protection device further comprises a main enclosure having one or more thermal chambers defined therein, each thermal chamber being in thermal communication with a corresponding sensor configured to obtain chamber temperature data from the thermal chamber;
• and
• wherein the thermal safety algorithm further comprises a thermal analysis calibration including
• referencing a thermal model, the thermal model being defined at least in part by materials-based and geometry-based thermal properties of the vehicle battery protection device;
• and
• calculating, for each of the one or more thermal chambers, heat flux values based on
• the thermal model;
• and
• the chamber temperature data.