Method for replacing secondary cell

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of replacing secondary batteries. In the method, batteries can be replaced at a low cost and performance of an overall battery assembly can be maximized after the battery replacement. The battery assembly is composed by electrically connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series or in parallel. When a portion of the secondary batteries is judged as defective, the defective batteries are replaced by replacement batteries. In an aspect of the method, voltage is detected for every predetermined voltage detection block unit concerning secondary batteries composing the battery assembly in order to judge defects of the secondary batteries in the voltage detection block unit. Batteries in a voltage detection block unit will be replaced with replacement batteries if they are judged as defective.

Description

Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a method for replacing a secondary battery. In a battery pack composed of the secondary batteries electrically connected in series or in parallel, some of the secondary batteries have deteriorated performance, reached the end of their life, or have malfunctioned; the present invention particularly relates to How to replace secondary batteries in electric vehicles (PEV) or hybrid vehicles (HEV). Background technique [0002] Among the secondary batteries, there are lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, nickel-hydrogen (Ni-MH) batteries, lithium ion batteries, and the like. These batteries have the property that they can be charged by being connected to an external power source to allow a predetermined current to flow after power consumption. With such properties, these batteries have been used in various devices. For example, in order to supply power to the spark plug of the engine, the battery is usually ins...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0012] (1) Due to the dispersion of the remaining capacity of the battery, the battery with a small remaining capacity on the discharge side is limited, and the battery with a large remaining capacity is limited on the charging side, so the capacity of the battery cannot be fully used,

[0013] (2) Due to the dispersion of battery self-discharge characteristics, the discharge side is limited by batteries with large self-discharge, and the charge side is limited by batteries with small self-discharge, thus resulting in dispersion of remaining capacity,

[0014] (3) Due to the dispersion of the internal resistance of the battery, for example, if a replacement battery with a large internal resistance is assembled into the battery pack, the method of judging the capacity will produce an error for the actual capacity, and the battery will not be fully utilized. Performance Possibilities

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