Voltage regulation method and voltage regulation device of energy storage unit and related equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a voltage regulation method and device of energy storage units and related equipment, a plurality of energy storage units are connected in series, a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one energy storage unit, and the voltage regulator comprises a switch unit and an energy processing unit; the method comprises the steps that on or off of each switch element is controlled based on a target duty ratio corresponding to each switch element in the switch unit, so that energy is consumed and / or transferred through the energy processing unit, and the voltage of at least one energy storage unit corresponding to the voltage regulator is regulated, enabling the at least one energy storage unit to work in a corresponding target voltage range; wherein the target duty ratio corresponding to each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and the target voltage range corresponding to at least one energy storage unit. According to the invention, by adding the voltage regulator, the voltage regulation function of each energy storage unit can be realized, and the voltage regulation function can be realized at relatively low design cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the fields of energy storage and voltage regulation technology, and in particular to voltage regulation methods, voltage regulation devices and related equipment for energy storage units. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of renewable energy, the importance of energy storage technology has become increasingly prominent. In energy storage systems, multiple energy storage units can be connected in series to achieve higher operating voltages. However, due to differences in manufacturing processes and internal resistance characteristics among different energy storage units, their operating voltages vary, making it difficult for them to operate within the target voltage range.

[0003] Based on this, this application provides a voltage regulation method, voltage regulation device and related equipment for energy storage units to improve related technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a voltage regulation method, voltage regulation device and related equipment for an energy storage unit, so that the energy storage unit operates within a corresponding target voltage range.

[0005] The objective of this application is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a voltage regulation method for an energy storage unit, wherein multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of the energy storage units, the voltage regulator including a switching unit and an energy processing unit;

[0007] The method includes:

[0008] Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range.

[0009] The target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator is connected in parallel across the at least one energy storage unit;

[0011] The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, includes:

[0012] Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby consuming energy through the energy processing unit.

[0013] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator is connected between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit;

[0014] The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, includes:

[0015] Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby transferring energy between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit through the energy processing unit.

[0016] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator is connected to a plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions, and the second energy storage conversion unit is connected in parallel across the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions.

[0017] The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, includes:

[0018] Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby transferring energy between every two adjacent energy storage units in a plurality of energy storage units in a continuous location through the energy processing unit.

[0019] Secondly, this application provides a controller in which multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of the energy storage units. The voltage regulator includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit.

[0020] The controller is used to execute any of the above methods to adjust the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range.

[0021] Thirdly, this application provides a voltage regulating device, the voltage regulating device comprising:

[0022] A voltage regulator, corresponding to at least one of a plurality of energy storage units connected in series, the voltage regulator comprising a switching unit and an energy processing unit;

[0023] The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range.

[0024] The target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

[0025] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator is connected in parallel across the at least one energy storage unit;

[0026] The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming energy through the energy processing unit.

[0027] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator includes a DC-DC converter, and the energy processing unit includes at least one resistor for consuming energy.

[0028] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator is connected between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit;

[0029] The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit through the energy processing unit.

[0030] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator includes one or more of a non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, a non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, an isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, and an isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, and the energy processing unit includes at least one inductor for transferring energy.

[0031] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator is connected to a plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions, and the second energy storage conversion unit is connected in parallel across the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions.

[0032] The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between every two adjacent energy storage units in a plurality of energy storage units in a location-continuous manner through the energy processing unit.

[0033] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator includes a first switching element, a second switching element, and an inductor; for every two adjacent energy storage units, the positive terminal of the preceding energy storage unit is connected to the negative terminal of the following energy storage unit through the first switching element and the second switching element; the first connection terminal of the inductor is connected between the first switching element and the second switching element, and the second connection terminal of the inductor is connected to the series line between the corresponding two adjacent energy storage units.

[0034] Fourthly, this application provides a voltage regulation system, the voltage regulation system comprising:

[0035] Multiple energy storage units connected in series;

[0036] Any of the above voltage regulation devices is used to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range.

[0037] Fifthly, this application provides a computer device, the computer device including a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program to implement any of the methods described above.

[0038] Sixthly, this application provides a chip for performing any of the above methods.

[0039] This application provides a voltage regulation method, voltage regulation device, and related equipment for energy storage units. Multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator is used for at least one energy storage unit to regulate its operating voltage. The voltage regulator includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit. Each switching element in the switching unit is controlled to be turned on or off according to a corresponding target duty cycle. Specifically, based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the energy storage unit, the target duty cycle of each switching element is calculated, and the on / off state of these switching elements is dynamically adjusted. By controlling the duty cycle of each switching element, the energy processing unit can accurately consume or transfer excess energy, thereby maintaining one or more energy storage units corresponding to the voltage regulator within their respective target voltage ranges, which is beneficial for achieving voltage balance and safe operation of the entire energy storage system. This application, by adding a voltage regulator, can realize the voltage regulation function of each energy storage unit, thereby achieving the operating voltage matching and adaptation function of the energy storage units. When the internal resistance difference of the energy storage units is small, the power or current to be regulated is small, the design power of the voltage regulator is small, and the current flowing through it is also small, allowing the voltage regulation function to be achieved at a lower design cost. Attached Figure Description

[0040] This application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure provided in this application embodiment of a series connection of multiple battery packs followed by an energy storage converter.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the impedance variation curves of different battery packs provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of a voltage regulation method for an energy storage unit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a voltage regulator (energy-consuming type) and battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (first type of energy transfer type), and a battery PACK provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0046] Figure 6a This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0047] Figure 6b This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0048] Figure 6c This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0049] Figure 6d This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (second type of energy transfer), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0051] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, voltage regulator and battery PACK provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0052] Figure 9 This is a structural block diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0053] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0054] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0055] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure provided in this application, which involves multiple battery packs connected in series and then connected to an energy storage converter. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the impedance variation curves of different battery packs provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0056] The positive and negative terminals of the DC side of the energy storage converter are connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery, respectively. Energy storage converters include, for example, energy storage inverters and energy storage DC-DC converters. Typically, the voltage of a single battery pack (i.e., a battery array) is relatively low, approximately 100–300V. For energy storage converters with power ratings of 100 kilowatts and above, the maximum output voltage capability is generally 800V–1300V. In this case, when a single energy storage converter is connected to a single battery pack, the voltage utilization rate of the energy storage converter is low, sometimes even less than 20%, resulting in a significant waste of power capacity. On the other hand, due to limitations in manufacturing processes and component consistency issues related to heat dissipation, installation, weight, wiring, etc., within the battery pack, the number of cells in a single battery pack is limited, leading to a limited total output voltage of the pack.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, to achieve large-capacity energy storage systems, some energy storage manufacturers have designed battery racks (i.e., battery clusters) connected in series with multiple battery packs. The positive terminal of the nth battery pack is connected to the negative terminal of the (n-1)th battery pack, and the negative terminal of the nth battery pack is connected to the positive terminal of the (n+1)th battery pack. This process continues, achieving a doubled operating voltage while maintaining the same operating current for the battery rack, directly improving the voltage utilization rate of the energy storage converter and reducing the cost per watt of energy storage. Here, n is a positive integer.

[0058] However, the impedance characteristics of each battery pack of the same model may vary slightly. For example, in Figure 1 In this context, although the current flowing through each battery pack is Iout, the voltage V1 to V3 of each battery pack varies depending on the battery pack impedance. Assuming that the steady-state equivalent impedances of battery packs 1 to 3 are R1 to R3 respectively, then the following equation 1 is satisfied.

[0059]

[0060] If R1 > R2, then V1 > V2. As an example, battery packs 1-3 use the same model of battery pack, and their rated voltage and rated current are designed to be the same. When V2 equals the rated voltage VN of the battery pack, then V1 must be greater than the rated voltage VN of the battery pack. In this case, battery pack 1 operates under overvoltage conditions, posing a certain safety risk. Furthermore, according to the working mechanism of the battery pack, after the battery system has been running for a long time, the impedances R1 and R2 of battery packs 1 and 2 will continue to increase, such as... Figure 2 As shown. Figure 2 Substituting the curve of change into Equation 1, it can be seen that as the battery PACK operating time increases, the impedance R1 of battery PACK1 further increases, further exacerbating the safety risks of battery PACK1. Similarly, if the battery PACK does not reach the rated voltage and operates under undervoltage conditions, it will also bring safety risks.

[0061] This application designs a voltage regulator connected in parallel to the positive and negative terminals of the battery pack. This voltage regulator has the ability to adjust the voltage across the battery pack, ensuring the battery pack operates within an appropriate voltage range and guaranteeing its safe operation.

[0062] See Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of a voltage regulation method for an energy storage unit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0063] This application provides a voltage regulation method for an energy storage unit, wherein multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of the energy storage units. The voltage regulator includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit. The method includes step S101.

[0064] Step S101: Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, control each switching element to be turned on or off, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit to adjust the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range.

[0065] The target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

[0066] In the above embodiments, the voltage regulator corresponding to at least one energy storage unit means that the voltage regulator can correspond to multiple energy storage units (these energy storage units are connected in series) or only one energy storage unit. The energy storage unit is, for example, a battery pack or a battery rack, and the above embodiments do not limit this. As an example, the voltage regulator can be used in parallel with any one or more battery packs in a battery rack. The current voltage and target voltage range corresponding to the at least one energy storage unit include, for example, the current voltage and target voltage range corresponding to each of these energy storage units.

[0067] In practical applications, the expected voltage regulation range of each energy storage unit can be pre-determined as its corresponding target voltage range. The target voltage ranges for each energy storage unit are independent and can be the same or different. For example, by detecting the current voltage of each energy storage unit and performing closed-loop control calculations based on the target voltage range and the current voltage (e.g., using a PID controller), the target duty cycle for each switching element in the switching unit can be calculated. For each switching element, the on and off times are determined based on its corresponding target duty cycle, and the element is controlled to turn on or off. Through the on / off switching of the elements, the port voltage of each energy storage unit ultimately conforms to the target voltage range, at which point it is considered that all energy storage units are operating within the corresponding target voltage range.

[0068] The above embodiments, by rationally configuring the target duty cycle of each switching element, can effectively improve the voltage imbalance problem that occurs during long-term operation of multiple series-connected energy storage units, ensuring that these energy storage units always operate within their respective target voltage ranges, thereby reducing overvoltage or undervoltage operation of individual energy storage units. Furthermore, the above embodiments flexibly utilize energy consumption and / or energy transfer regulation methods, broadening the voltage regulation options, reducing the safety risks of energy storage units, extending the system's lifespan, and achieving dynamic voltage regulation without interrupting system operation, further improving the overall efficiency and stability of the energy storage system.

[0069] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may be connected in parallel across the at least one energy storage unit; the step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, may include: controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming energy through the energy processing unit.

[0070] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may be connected between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit; the step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, may include: controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit through the energy processing unit.

[0071] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may be connected to a plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions, and the second energy storage conversion unit is connected in parallel across the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions. The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, may include: controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between every two adjacent energy storage units in the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions through the energy processing unit.

[0072] This application embodiment also provides a controller, in which multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of the energy storage units. The voltage regulator includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit. The controller is used to execute any of the above methods to adjust the voltage of at least one energy storage unit corresponding to the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within a corresponding target voltage range.

[0073] This application embodiment also provides a voltage regulation device, which includes a voltage regulator and a controller. The voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of a plurality of energy storage units connected in series, and includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit. The controller is used to control each switching element in the switching unit to be turned on or off based on a corresponding target duty cycle, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit to regulate the voltage of the corresponding at least one energy storage unit, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within a corresponding target voltage range. The target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

[0074] See Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a voltage regulator (energy-consuming type) and battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0075] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may be connected in parallel across the at least one energy storage unit; the controller may be used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming energy through the energy processing unit.

[0076] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may include a DC-DC converter, and the energy processing unit may include at least one resistor for consuming energy.

[0077] For example, such as Figure 4As shown, assuming the energy storage unit includes a battery PACKn, an energy-consuming voltage regulator with stepless regulation function, such as a DC-DC converter circuit including a Buck circuit, can be used through a power electronic topology. It can be seen that the voltage regulator is connected in parallel across the battery PACKn. Specifically, port A of the voltage regulator is connected to the positive terminal of the battery PACKn, and port B is connected to the negative terminal of the battery PACKn. Inside the voltage regulator, the switching unit includes, for example, a controllable switching device S (as an example of a switching element), and the energy processing unit includes, for example, an energy-consuming device Rx. The energy processing unit may also include an inductor and a freewheeling device (e.g., a diode). The controllable switching device S can be a mechanical switch, such as a circuit breaker, contactor, relay, load switch, disconnector, etc.; or it can be a controllable semiconductor device, such as a thyristor, IGBT, MOSFET, IGCT, etc. The controllable switching device S can be manually closed (i.e., turned on) or opened, or it can be closed or opened after receiving a control command. This energy-consuming device Rx can consume electrical energy or convert electrical energy into other forms of energy (such as light emission, heat generation, etc.), such as resistors, lamps, etc., and its equivalent impedance is, for example, Rx.

[0078] When the controllable switching device S is closed, the impedance between A and B of the voltage regulator is Rx, which is connected in parallel with the impedance Rn of the battery PACKn. When the controllable switching device S is open, the current Iout of the series circuit flows entirely into the battery PACKn. The high-frequency operation of the controllable switching device S allows for stepless adjustment of the equivalent impedance between A and B of the voltage regulator from Rx to infinity, as shown in Equation 2.

[0079]

[0080] When the duty cycle of S's high-frequency operation is zero, G takes... When the duty cycle of S high-frequency operation is 1, G takes Rn.

[0081] See Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (first type of energy transfer type), and a battery PACK provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0082] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may be connected between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit; the controller may be used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit through the energy processing unit.

[0083] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may include one or more of a non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, a non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, an isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, and an isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, and the energy processing unit may include at least one inductor for transferring energy.

[0084] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, assume the first energy storage conversion unit includes an energy storage converter, and multiple energy storage units include batteries PACK 1, PACK 2, and PACK 3. A voltage regulator (i.e., voltage regulator n) has its port A connected to the positive terminal of battery PACK n, port B connected to the negative terminal of battery PACK n, port C connected to the positive terminal of the energy storage converter, and port D connected to the negative terminal of the energy storage converter. This voltage regulator can transfer energy from port AB to port CD, or vice versa. This voltage regulator can be a non-isolated DC-DC converter or an isolated DC-DC converter; it can be a unidirectional DC-DC converter or a bidirectional DC-DC converter. Isolated DC-DC converters use transformers or other components to provide electrical isolation between the input and output, improving safety and interference immunity. Non-isolated DC-DC converters do not have this isolation and can have higher efficiency and smaller size.

[0085] See Figures 6a to 6d , Figure 6a This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6b This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6c This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6d This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0086] like Figure 6aAs shown, the voltage regulator includes a non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, such as a boost circuit. The magnitude of the current Ix3 can be adjusted by regulating the duty cycle of the controllable switching device S. The actual current flowing through battery PACK3 is the difference between Iout and Ix3, i.e., Iout - Ix3 (where Ix3 is positive). Since the output voltage Vout of the energy storage converter is necessarily greater than or equal to the voltage V3 of battery PACK3, the lower limit of the adjustment range of battery PACK3 voltage V3 is 0V, corresponding to the controllable switching device S being constantly on. Furthermore, the upper limit of the adjustment range of battery PACK3 voltage V3 is Iout × R3, corresponding to the controllable switching device S being constantly off. As an example, the target voltage range of battery PACK3 can be [0V, Iout × R3]. Using a boost circuit, the voltage at port CD can be greater than or equal to the voltage at port AB.

[0087] like Figure 6b As shown, the voltage regulator includes a non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, such as a boost circuit with bidirectional energy flow capability. It can reduce or increase the current flowing through the connected PACK depending on the voltage of the PACK. Assuming the switching unit includes two controllable switching devices S1 and S2, when S1 operates in PWM mode and S2 is off, energy can flow from port CD to port AB, resulting in an actual current flowing through PACK3 of Iout - Ix3 (where Ix3 is negative), which is greater than Iout. When S2 operates in PWM mode and S1 is off, energy can flow from port AB to port CD, resulting in an actual current flowing through PACK3 of Iout - Ix3 (where Ix3 is positive), which is less than Iout.

[0088] like Figure 6c As shown, the voltage regulator includes an isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, such as a two-level phase-shifted full-bridge converter. Assuming the switching unit includes four controllable switching devices S1 to S4, the current magnitude of Ix3 can be adjusted by regulating the duty cycle and conduction sequence of S1 to S4. Therefore, the actual current flowing through battery PACK3 is the difference between Iout and Ix3, i.e., Iout - Ix3. The lower limit of the adjustment range of the battery PACK3's port voltage V3 is 0V, corresponding to at least one of S1 and S3 being constantly on, and at least one of S2 and S4 being constantly on. Furthermore, the upper limit of the adjustment range of the battery PACK voltage V3 is Iout × R3, corresponding to S1 to S4 being constantly off. As an example, the target voltage range of battery PACK3 can be [0V, Iout × R3].

[0089] like Figure 6dAs shown, the voltage regulator includes an isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, such as a two-level bidirectional LLC converter. By adjusting the duty cycle and phase of the switching elements on the primary and secondary sides of the LLC, the magnitude and direction of the current Ix3 can be adjusted. Therefore, the actual current flowing through battery PACK3 can be greater than Iout or less than Iout. In this case, the target duty cycle and target phase of each switching element in the switching unit can be determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

[0090] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the voltage regulator may include a DC-DC converter, and the DC-DC converter may adopt various topologies, such as isolated, non-isolated, unidirectional, bidirectional, two-level or three-level, to adapt to different energy storage units and energy storage converter characteristics.

[0091] See Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, a voltage regulator (second type of energy transfer), and a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0092] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may be connected to a plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions, and the second energy storage conversion unit may be connected in parallel across the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions; the controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between every two adjacent energy storage units in the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions through the energy processing unit.

[0093] For example, such as Figure 7 As shown, assuming the second energy storage conversion unit includes an energy storage converter, and multiple energy storage units include batteries PACK1 and PACK2. Port A of the voltage regulator is connected to the positive terminal of battery PACK1 (whose voltage is being regulated), port B is connected to the negative terminal of battery PACK1 (whose voltage is being regulated), port C is connected to the positive terminal of battery PACK2 (whose voltage is being regulated), and port D is connected to the negative terminal of battery PACK2 (whose voltage is being regulated). If there are multiple battery PACKs being regulated, the number of ports on the voltage regulator is effectively increased, and each port is connected to one of these battery PACKs. The function of this voltage regulator is: if it is necessary to reduce the voltage of battery PACK1, the energy of battery PACK1 is transferred to battery PACK2; if it is necessary to reduce the voltage of battery PACK2, the energy of battery PACK2 is transferred to battery PACK1. This ensures that the voltages of both battery PACK1 and battery PACK2 meet the operating requirements of the battery PACKs.

[0094] See Figure 8 , Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage converter, voltage regulator and battery PACK provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0095] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator may include a first switching element, a second switching element, and an inductor; for every two adjacent energy storage units, the positive terminal of the preceding energy storage unit is connected to the negative terminal of the following energy storage unit through the first switching element and the second switching element; the first connection terminal of the inductor is connected between the first switching element and the second switching element, and the second connection terminal of the inductor is connected to the series line between the corresponding two adjacent energy storage units.

[0096] For example, such as Figure 8 As shown, assume the switching unit includes two controllable switching devices S1 and S2. S1 and S2 are examples of the first and second switching elements, respectively. When S1 is on and S2 is off, the current flowing through battery PACK1 is the difference between Iout and Ix, i.e., the voltage of battery PACK1 is V1 = (Iout - Ix) × R1; the current flowing through battery PACK2 is still Iout. When S1 is off and S2 is on, the current flowing through battery PACK1 is Iout, i.e., the voltage of battery PACK1 is V1 = Iout × R1; the current flowing through battery PACK2 is the sum of Iout and Ix, i.e., the voltage of battery PACK2 is V2 = (Iout + Ix) × R2. The magnitude of Ix is related to the conduction time of S1 and S2, as well as the inductance value and the voltage applied across the inductor. Therefore, adjusting the duty cycle of S1 and S2 can adjust the magnitude of Ix, ultimately realizing the energy value transferred or absorbed from battery PACK1 to battery PACK2, thereby adjusting the voltage values ​​of V1 and V2.

[0097] Applying the aforementioned voltage regulation device to a battery rack allows for voltage regulation of each battery pack within the rack, thereby achieving voltage matching and adaptation for the battery packs. Because the internal resistance differences between battery packs are relatively small, the required power and current regulation are also small. This results in a lower design power for the voltage regulator and a smaller current flow, enabling voltage regulation at a lower design cost.

[0098] This application also provides a voltage regulation system, which includes multiple energy storage units connected in series and any of the voltage regulation devices described above. The voltage regulation device is used to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit, so that all at least one energy storage unit operates within a corresponding target voltage range.

[0099] In some embodiments, the energy storage unit may store solar and / or wind energy.

[0100] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements any of the above methods.

[0101] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements any of the methods described above.

[0102] The computer program product may be in the form of a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) and include program code, and may run on a terminal device, such as a personal computer. However, the computer program product of this application is not limited thereto, and the computer program product may be in any combination of one or more computer-readable media.

[0103] This application also provides a chip for performing any of the above methods.

[0104] This application also provides a computer device, which includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement any of the methods described above.

[0105] See Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a structural block diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0106] The embodiments of this application do not limit the computer device, which may be, for example, a local computer device, a cloud computer device, a distributed computer device, etc.

[0107] The computer device may include: a memory 110, a processor 120, and a communication interface 130. The memory 110, the processor 120, and the communication interface 130 are connected through internal connection paths.

[0108] The memory 110 is used to store computer programs, which in some implementations may include code for implementing the methods of the embodiments of this application.

[0109] The processor 120 executes the computer program stored in the memory 110 to control the communication interface 130 to receive input data and information, and output operation results and other data. In some implementations, when the solutions of the embodiments of this application are implemented by software or firmware, the computer program used to implement the solutions of the embodiments of this application can be stored in the processor 120 and executed by the processor 120.

[0110] The memory 110 may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM). It should be noted that the memory 110 described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, any memory of these and other suitable types. As an example, the memory 110 includes random access memory (RAM), cache memory, and read-only memory (ROM). The memory 110 stores a computer program that can be executed by processor 120, causing processor 120 to implement the steps of any of the methods described above.

[0111] The processor 120 can be a central processing unit (CPU), or it can be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or the processor 120 can be any conventional processor.

[0112] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by the integrated logic circuitry of the hardware in the processor 120 or by instructions in software form. The method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by the hardware processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor 120. The software modules can be located in mature storage media in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. This storage medium is located in the memory 110, and the processor 120 reads the information in the memory 110 and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are not provided here.

[0113] In some implementations, in addition to the hardware units described above, computer devices may also include software modules, such as operating systems, basic input / output systems (BIOS), and application software.

[0114] An operating system is used to manage the hardware and / or software resources of a computer device; it is the kernel and foundation of the computer. The operating system handles fundamental tasks such as managing and configuring memory, determining the priority of system resource allocation, controlling input and output devices, operating the network, and managing the file system. To facilitate user operation, most operating systems provide a user interface for interaction with the system.

[0115] The BIOS is used to perform hardware initialization during the power-on boot phase and to provide runtime services for the operating system and applications. In some implementations, the BIOS can also monitor and display processor temperature and execute temperature protection strategies.

[0116] Application software, also known as an application program, can be understood as software written for a specific user application purpose, and is one of the main categories of computer software. For example, application software can be a program used to achieve purposes such as power control and temperature management.

[0117] It is understood that the specific examples in this application are only intended to help those skilled in the art better understand the implementation of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0118] It is understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence number of each process does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of this application.

[0119] It is understood that the various implementation methods described in this application can be implemented individually or in combination, and this application does not limit them.

[0120] Unless otherwise stated, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" as used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0121] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0122] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the embodiments described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in other embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0123] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0124] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of the technical solution in this application, depending on actual needs.

[0125] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0126] If a function is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, essentially, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0127] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A voltage regulation method for an energy storage unit, characterized in that, Multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of the energy storage units. The voltage regulator includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit. The method includes: Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range. The target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

2. The voltage regulation method for the energy storage unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator is connected in parallel across the at least one energy storage unit; The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, includes: Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby consuming energy through the energy processing unit.

3. The voltage regulation method for the energy storage unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator is connected between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit; The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, includes: Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby transferring energy between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit through the energy processing unit.

4. The voltage regulation method for the energy storage unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator is connected to a plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions, and the second energy storage conversion unit is connected in parallel across the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions. The step of controlling each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit, includes: Based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, each switching element is controlled to be turned on or off, thereby transferring energy between every two adjacent energy storage units in a plurality of energy storage units in a continuous location through the energy processing unit.

5. A controller, characterized in that, Multiple energy storage units are connected in series, and a voltage regulator corresponds to at least one of the energy storage units. The voltage regulator includes a switching unit and an energy processing unit. The controller is used to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 4 to adjust the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator such that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range.

6. A voltage regulating device, characterized in that, The voltage regulating device includes: A voltage regulator, corresponding to at least one of a plurality of energy storage units connected in series, the voltage regulator comprising a switching unit and an energy processing unit; The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the corresponding target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming and / or transferring energy through the energy processing unit to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit of the voltage regulator, so that the at least one energy storage unit operates within the corresponding target voltage range. The target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit is determined based on the current voltage and target voltage range of the at least one energy storage unit.

7. The voltage regulating device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The voltage regulator is connected in parallel across the at least one energy storage unit; The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby consuming energy through the energy processing unit.

8. The voltage regulating device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The voltage regulator includes a DC-DC converter, and the energy processing unit includes at least one resistor for consuming energy.

9. The voltage regulating device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The voltage regulator is connected between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit; The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between the at least one energy storage unit and the first energy storage conversion unit through the energy processing unit.

10. The voltage regulating device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The voltage regulator includes one or more of a non-isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, a non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, an isolated unidirectional DC-DC converter, and an isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter, and the energy processing unit includes at least one inductor for transferring energy.

11. The voltage regulating device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The voltage regulator is connected to a plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions, and the second energy storage conversion unit is connected in parallel across the plurality of energy storage units in consecutive positions. The controller is used to control each switching element to be turned on or off based on the target duty cycle of each switching element in the switching unit, thereby transferring energy between every two adjacent energy storage units in a plurality of energy storage units in a location-sequential manner through the energy processing unit.

12. The voltage regulating device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The voltage regulator includes a first switching element, a second switching element, and an inductor; for every two adjacent energy storage units, the positive terminal of the preceding energy storage unit is connected to the negative terminal of the following energy storage unit through the first switching element and the second switching element; the first connection terminal of the inductor is connected between the first switching element and the second switching element, and the second connection terminal of the inductor is connected to the series line between the corresponding two adjacent energy storage units.

13. A voltage regulation system, characterized in that, The voltage regulation system includes: Multiple energy storage units connected in series; The voltage regulating device according to any one of claims 6 to 12 is used to regulate the voltage of at least one energy storage unit, such that the at least one energy storage unit operates within a corresponding target voltage range.

14. A computer device, characterized in that, The computer device includes a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 4.

15. A chip, characterized in that, The chip is used to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images