Electric quantity balancing method, chip, equipment and storage medium

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an electric quantity balancing method, a chip, equipment and a storage medium, and the method comprises the steps: carrying out the electric quantity detection of a plurality of battery cells connected in series in a battery pack, and determining a first battery cell with the highest electric quantity and a second battery cell with the lowest electric quantity from the plurality of battery cells; under the condition that the number of the separated battery cells between the first battery cell and the second battery cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold value and the battery pack is in a charging state, determining a first target battery cell of which the electric quantity is lower than that of the first battery cell from other battery cells adjacent to the first battery cell; and controlling the first battery cell to transmit energy to the first target battery cell. According to the scheme, the equalization efficiency and the response speed can be improved, the equalization control logic is simplified, and the application requirements of a high-capacity and multi-cell battery pack are met.

Description

Power balancing methods, chips, devices and storage media Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of computer technology, and in particular to a power balancing method, chip, device and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as new energy equipment and large-scale energy storage systems, lithium-ion battery packs occupy a core position due to their advantages such as high energy density and long cycle life. Their performance and reliability directly determine the operational efficiency of the entire system. Due to factors such as differences in cell material consistency, environmental differences during charging and discharging, and differences in aging rates, battery packs are prone to cell voltage imbalance during long-term cyclic use. This leads to decreased battery pack capacity utilization, shortened cycle life, and in severe cases, even thermal runaway and other safety hazards. Therefore, charge balancing technology has become a key technical link to ensure the efficient and stable operation of lithium-ion battery packs. Its core objective is to actively regulate the energy distribution between cells, eliminate voltage differences, improve the overall performance and lifespan of the battery pack, and lay the foundation for the widespread large-scale application of lithium-ion batteries.

[0003] However, the current technology for power balancing involves transferring energy from a single cell to the entire battery pack, or extracting energy from the battery pack to charge a single cell. This requires complex control and large magnetic components, resulting in high control complexity and low energy conversion efficiency, which needs improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a power balancing method, chip, device, and storage medium, which solves the problems of high control complexity and low energy conversion efficiency in power balancing in related technologies. It improves balancing efficiency and response speed, simplifies balancing control logic, and is suitable for the application needs of large-capacity and multi-cell battery packs.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a power balancing method, the method comprising: detecting the power of multiple cells connected in series in a battery pack, and determining a first cell with the highest power and a second cell with the lowest power from the multiple cells; when the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold, and the battery pack is in a charging state, determining a first target cell with a lower power than the first cell from other cells adjacent to the first cell; and controlling the first cell to transfer energy to the first target cell.

[0006] Optionally, determining the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from other cells adjacent to the first cell includes: determining a first sub-battery group starting from the first cell and a second sub-battery group ending from the first cell in the battery pack, wherein the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group have the same number of cells; and determining the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group.

[0007] Optionally, determining the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group includes: calculating a first average voltage of the first sub-battery group and calculating a second average voltage of the second sub-battery group; if the first average voltage is greater than the second average voltage, determining the cell with the lowest charge level in the second sub-battery group as the first target cell; if the first average voltage is less than or equal to the second average voltage, determining the cell with the lowest charge level in the first sub-battery group as the first target cell.

[0008] Optionally, after determining the first cell with the highest charge and the second cell with the lowest charge from the plurality of cells, the method further includes: when the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold and the battery pack is in a discharging state, determining a second target cell with a higher charge than the second cell from other cells adjacent to the second cell; and controlling the second target cell to transfer energy to the second cell.

[0009] Optionally, determining a second target cell with a higher charge capacity from other cells adjacent to the second cell includes: determining a third sub-battery group starting from the second cell and a fourth sub-battery group ending from the second cell in the battery pack, wherein the third sub-battery group and the fourth sub-battery group have the same number of cells; and determining a second target cell with a higher charge capacity from the third sub-battery group and the fourth sub-battery group.

[0010] Optionally, determining the second target cell with a higher charge level than the second cell from the third and fourth sub-battery groups includes: calculating the third average voltage of the third sub-battery group and the fourth average voltage of the fourth sub-battery group; if the third average voltage is greater than the fourth average voltage, determining the cell with the highest charge level in the third sub-battery group as the second target cell; if the third average voltage is less than or equal to the fourth average voltage, determining the cell with the highest charge level in the fourth sub-battery group as the second target cell.

[0011] Optionally, after determining the first battery cell with the highest power and the second battery cell with the lowest power from the plurality of battery cells, the method further includes: if the number of battery cells between the first battery cell and the second battery cell is less than a preset number threshold, controlling the first battery cell to transfer energy to the second battery cell.

[0012] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a chip, which includes: one or more processors; and a storage device configured to store one or more programs, wherein when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the power balancing method described in embodiments of this application.

[0013] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide an electronic device, which includes the chip described in any embodiment of this application.

[0014] Fourthly, embodiments of this application also provide a non-volatile storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer processor, are configured to perform the power balancing method described in embodiments of this application.

[0015] In this embodiment, by detecting the cell charge level and locating the cell with the lowest charge level, a foundation is provided for the precise implementation of the balancing strategy. For scenarios where the distance between cells with the highest charge level is large during charging, energy transfer is preferentially selected from the nearest low-charge target cell to the first cell, avoiding long-distance energy mobilization. This significantly improves balancing efficiency and response speed. Furthermore, the balancing control logic is simple, enabling more precise and efficient maintenance of the overall consistency of the battery pack, thereby extending the battery pack's lifespan and increasing its usable capacity. The above solution improves balancing efficiency and response speed, simplifies balancing control logic, and is suitable for applications requiring large-capacity, multi-cell battery packs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 is a flowchart of a power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 is a flowchart of a process for determining a first target battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 is a flowchart of a process for determining a first target battery cell from a first sub-battery pack and a second sub-battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 is a flowchart of another power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 is a flowchart of a process for determining a second target battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process for determining a second target battery cell from a third sub-battery pack and a fourth sub-battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a process for energy scheduling using a power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a process for energy scheduling in a charging state using a power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a process for energy scheduling in a discharging state using a power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the embodiments of this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, not the entire structure.

[0018] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0019] The power balancing method provided in this application embodiment can be executed by a computer device. The computer device refers to any electronic device with data computing, processing and storage capabilities, such as mobile phones, PCs (Personal Computers), tablet computers and other terminal devices. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0020] Figure 1 is a flowchart of a power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the power balancing method specifically includes the following steps: Step S101: Detect the power of multiple cells connected in series in the battery pack, and determine the first cell with the highest power and the second cell with the lowest power from the multiple cells.

[0021] The battery pack can be an energy storage unit composed of multiple individual battery cells connected in series, with the cells connected end-to-end electrically. Each cell is equipped with a corresponding balancing chip for detecting the cell's charge level, activating the cell's energy transfer status, and deactivating the cell's energy transfer status. For example, the cells connected in series are cell 1, cell 2, and cell 3. Balancing chip a1 controls the activation / deactivation of the energy transfer status of cell 1, balancing chip a2 controls the activation / deactivation of the energy transfer status of cell 2, and balancing chip a3 controls the activation / deactivation of the energy transfer status of cell 3. Furthermore, the charge level of cell 1 is greater than that of cell 2, and the charge level of cell 2 is greater than that of cell 3. For instance, if it is necessary to transfer charge from cell 1 to cell 2, balancing chip a1 can activate the energy transfer status of cell 1, and balancing chip a2 can activate the energy transfer status of cell 2, thus achieving the transfer of charge from cell 1 to cell 2. For example, if the charge from cell 1 needs to be transferred to cell 3, balancing chip a1 can activate the energy transfer state of cell 1, balancing chip a2 can activate the energy transfer state of cell 2, and balancing chip a3 can activate the energy transfer state of cell 3. This allows the charge from cell 1 to cell 3 to be transferred. Cell 2 can be understood as an intermediate path, not involved in the output or input of charge. Specifically, the balancing chips can use voltage methods, current integration methods, internal resistance methods, etc., to detect the charge level of each cell and determine the remaining charge of each cell. After charge detection, the cell with the highest charge level can be identified among the multiple cells. This first cell can be considered the high charge extreme point of the battery pack's charge imbalance, and the second cell can be considered the low charge extreme point of the battery pack's charge imbalance.

[0022] Step S102: When the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold and the battery pack is in a charging state, a first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell is determined from other cells adjacent to the first cell.

[0023] The number of cells separating the first and second cells can be the number of cells corresponding to the positional difference between the first and second cells in the series topology, i.e., the number of intermediate cells excluding themselves in the series path from the first cell to the second cell. For example, in a series cell sequence: Cell 1—Cell 2—Cell 3—Cell 4—Cell 5, if the first cell is Cell 1 and the second cell is Cell 5, then the number of cells separating them is 3. The preset number threshold can be an empirical critical value pre-set based on factors such as battery pack topology, energy transfer efficiency, and equalization loss, used to determine whether the first and second cells are far-distance unbalanced, in order to select different equalization strategies. For example, the preset number threshold could be 4. If the number of cells separating the first and second cells is less than 4, they can be considered not to be far-distance unbalanced; if the number of cells separating the first and second cells is greater than or equal to 4, they can be considered to be far-distance unbalanced. When the number of cells separating the first and second cells is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, directly transferring the charge from the first cell to the second cell would result in a significant decrease in balancing efficiency and speed as distance increases due to the need for energy transfer at each stage. Therefore, other balancing strategies can be selected based on the battery pack's charging and discharging states. The charging state refers to the battery pack's operation in which it receives electrical energy from an external power source, with current flowing into the cells and voltage increasing. The discharging state refers to the battery pack's operation in which it outputs electrical energy to an external load, with current flowing out of the cells and voltage decreasing. For the charging state, to prevent any cell from prematurely reaching the charging cutoff voltage and interrupting the entire charging process, the highest-charged cell can be preferentially transferred to a nearby cell with the next lowest voltage, quickly addressing the weakest link and raising the overall battery pack's baseline, thereby maximizing its charging capacity. Specifically, when the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the battery pack is in a charging state. Then, a first target cell can be selected from other cells adjacent to the first cell. The capacity of the first target cell is lower than that of the first cell. Relative to the second cell, the first target cell can be regarded as the second lowest voltage cell.

[0024] In one possible embodiment, the process of determining the first target cell with a lower charge level from other cells adjacent to the first cell is as follows: Using the location of the first cell as a reference point, a maximum number of cells to search is set to limit the selectable range of the first target cell. For example, if the maximum number of cells to search is 2, then the selectable range of the first target cell is two cells on each side of the first cell. From this selectable range, the cell with the lowest charge level can be selected as the first target cell. This maximum number of cells to search can be an empirical value set based on factors such as battery pack topology, energy transfer efficiency, and equalization losses; this application does not impose such a limitation.

[0025] In one possible embodiment, FIG2 is a flowchart of a process for determining a first target cell provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG2, the specific implementation process of determining the first target cell with a lower charge than the first cell from other cells adjacent to the first cell includes the following steps: Step S1021, determining a first sub-battery group with the first cell as the starting end and a second sub-battery group with the first cell as the ending end from the battery pack, wherein the number of cells in the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group is the same.

[0026] In this configuration, since the second cell is too far from the first cell, the first target cell can be selected from the cells adjacent to the first cell. In the series topology of the battery pack, the first sub-cell group, starting with the first cell, can be formed by extending the first cell as the starting reference cell in a direction adjacent to the first cell on one side. For example, if the series cell sequence is: Cell 1—Cell 2—Cell 3—Cell 4—Cell 5, and the first cell is Cell 3, then the first sub-cell group can be formed by extending a predetermined number of cells to the right, starting with Cell 3 as the starting reference cell. For example, if the predetermined number of cells is 2, then the first sub-cell group would be "Cell 3—Cell 4—Cell 5". Similarly, the second sub-cell group, ending with the first cell, can be formed by extending the first cell as the ending reference cell in a direction adjacent to the first cell on one side. For example, if the series cell sequence is: Cell 1—Cell 2—Cell 3—Cell 4—Cell 5, with Cell 3 as the first cell, then the second sub-cell group ending with the first cell can be a sub-cell group extending to the left by a predetermined number of cells, with Cell 3 as the terminating reference cell. For example, if the predetermined number of cells is 2, then the second sub-cell group would be "Cell 1—Cell 2—Cell 3". This predetermined number of cells can be an empirical value set based on factors such as the battery pack topology, energy transfer efficiency, and loss equalization, and is not limited in this application.

[0027] Step S1022: Determine the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from the first sub-cell pack and the second sub-cell pack.

[0028] By identifying two symmetrically distributed sub-cell groups based on the first cell, the search range for the first target cell can be limited to the adjacent regions on both sides of the first cell, narrowing the energy transfer range, avoiding long-distance energy transfer, and reducing energy loss during the equalization process. After determining the first and second sub-cell groups, the final first target cell can be determined based on secondary rules.

[0029] In one possible embodiment, the process of determining the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from the first sub-battery pack and the second sub-battery pack is as follows: determine the first candidate cell with the lowest charge level from the first sub-battery pack, and determine the second candidate cell with the lowest charge level from the second sub-battery pack; determine the cell with the lowest charge level among the first candidate cell and the second candidate cell as the first target cell, or determine the cell closest to the first cell among the first candidate cell and the second candidate cell as the first target cell.

[0030] In one possible embodiment, FIG3 is a flowchart of a process for determining a first target cell from a first sub-battery group and a second sub-battery group according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG3, the specific implementation process of determining the first target cell with a lower charge than the first cell from the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group includes the following steps: Step S10221, calculate the first average voltage of the first sub-battery group and calculate the second average voltage of the second sub-battery group.

[0031] The first average voltage can be the arithmetic mean of the voltage values ​​of all individual cells in the first sub-battery pack, and the second average voltage can be the arithmetic mean of the voltage values ​​of all individual cells in the second sub-battery pack. By calculating the average voltage, the overall charge level of the two sub-battery packs can be quantified, so as to determine the preferred direction of energy transfer.

[0032] Step S10222: If the first average voltage is greater than the second average voltage, the cell with the lowest charge in the second sub-battery group is determined as the first target cell.

[0033] If the first average voltage is greater than the second average voltage, it indicates that the overall charge level of the first sub-battery group is higher than that of the second sub-battery group, and the overall charge depletion of the second sub-battery group is more severe. Therefore, the second sub-battery group can be considered a superior energy receiving region. Furthermore, designating the cell with the lowest charge level in the second sub-battery group as the first target cell can prioritize compensating for the maximum charge difference between cells.

[0034] Step S10223: If the first average voltage is less than or equal to the second average voltage, the cell with the lowest charge in the first sub-battery pack is identified as the first target cell.

[0035] Specifically, if the first average voltage is less than or equal to the second average voltage, it indicates that the overall charge level of the first sub-battery group is less than or equal to that of the second sub-battery group. The first sub-battery group is either more severely depleted or on par with the second sub-battery group, and can be considered a superior energy receiving region. Furthermore, designating the cell with the lowest charge level in the first sub-battery group as the first target cell can prioritize compensating for the largest charge difference between cells.

[0036] It should be noted that steps S10222 and S10223 are two parallel steps. Therefore, energy can be replenished preferentially to the sub-battery packs with more severe overall depletion, gradually reducing the capacity difference between the two sub-battery packs, thereby improving the cell consistency of the entire battery pack and extending its cycle life.

[0037] In one embodiment, after determining the first battery cell with the highest power and the second battery cell with the lowest power from a plurality of battery cells, the method further includes: if the number of battery cells between the first battery cell and the second battery cell is less than a preset number threshold, controlling the first battery cell to transfer energy to the second battery cell.

[0038] If the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is less than a preset threshold, it can be considered that the distance between the first cell and the second cell is relatively close, and energy can be directly exchanged to quickly reduce the power difference in the battery pack and efficiently balance the power of the battery pack.

[0039] Step S103: Control the first battery cell to transfer energy to the first target battery cell.

[0040] Specifically, controlling the transfer of energy from the first battery cell to the first target battery cell can be achieved by constructing an energy channel from the first battery cell to the first target battery cell through equalization chips corresponding to the first battery cell, the first target battery cell, and other intermediate battery cells. The energy of the first battery cell will be transferred to the first target battery cell, while the other intermediate battery cells can be regarded as intermediate pathways, which do not involve the output or input of electricity.

[0041] It should be noted that the energy transferred in step S103 can be a pre-calibrated small amount of energy, for example, the amount of energy transferred can be controlled by controlling the conduction time (e.g., several milliseconds, several seconds, etc.). Steps S101-S103 can be regarded as a single power balancing adjustment. By repeating steps S101-S103, the energy of the cell with the highest detected power can be continuously transferred to the cell with the lowest power until the power balancing condition is met and the execution can stop. This power balancing condition can be that the power difference between the first cell with the highest power and the second cell with the lowest power is within a preset threshold range, so that the power difference between the cells is controlled within the allowable fluctuation range, thereby achieving the purpose of balancing the power of the cells.

[0042] The above-described method, by detecting the cell charge level and locating the cell with the lowest charge level, provides a foundation for the precise implementation of the balancing strategy. For scenarios where the distance between cells with the highest charge levels is large during charging, energy transfer is prioritized to the nearest low-charge target cell, avoiding long-distance energy mobilization. This significantly improves balancing efficiency and response speed, and the balancing control logic is simple, enabling more precise and efficient maintenance of the overall consistency of the battery pack, thereby extending the battery pack's lifespan and increasing usable capacity. This solution improves balancing efficiency and response speed, simplifies balancing control logic, and is suitable for applications requiring large-capacity, multi-cell battery packs.

[0043] Figure 4 is a flowchart of another power balancing method provided in the embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 4, the power balancing method specifically includes the following steps: Step S401: Detect the power of multiple cells connected in series in the battery pack, and determine the first cell with the highest power and the second cell with the lowest power from the multiple cells.

[0044] Step S402: When the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold and the battery pack is in a charging state, a first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell is determined from other cells adjacent to the first cell.

[0045] Step S403: Control the first battery cell to transfer energy to the first target battery cell.

[0046] Step S404: When the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold and the battery pack is in a discharging state, determine a second target cell with a higher charge than the second cell from other cells adjacent to the second cell.

[0047] Specifically, if the number of cells between the first and second cells is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, it indicates a long-distance imbalance between the two cells. Directly transferring the charge from the first cell to the second would result in a significant decrease in balancing efficiency and speed as distance increases due to the need for step-by-step energy transfer. Therefore, other balancing strategies can be selected based on the battery pack's charge / discharge state. During discharge, to prevent any cell from prematurely reaching its discharge cutoff voltage and causing system shutdown, the system actively draws energy from nearby high-energy cells, using the lowest-voltage cell as the core, to ensure continuous energy output from the battery pack. Specifically, if the number of cells between the first and second cells is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, indicating the battery pack is in a discharge state, a second target cell can be selected from the adjacent cells of the second cell. This second target cell has a higher charge than the first cell and can be considered the second-highest voltage cell relative to the first cell.

[0048] In one possible embodiment, the process of determining a second target cell with a higher charge level from other cells adjacent to the second cell is as follows: Using the location of the second cell as a reference point, a maximum number of cells to search is set to limit the range of possible second target cells. For example, if the maximum number of cells to search is 2, then the range of possible second target cells is two cells on each side of the second cell. From this range, the cell with the highest charge level can be selected as the second target cell. This maximum number of cells to search can be an empirical value set based on factors such as battery pack topology, energy transfer efficiency, and equalization losses; this application does not impose such a limitation.

[0049] In one possible embodiment, Figure 5 is a flowchart of a process for determining a second target cell provided by an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 5, the specific implementation process of determining a second target cell with a higher charge than the second cell from other cells adjacent to the second cell includes the following steps: Step S4041, determining a third sub-battery group starting from the second cell and a fourth sub-battery group ending from the second cell in the battery pack, wherein the number of cells in the third sub-battery group and the fourth sub-battery group is the same.

[0050] In this configuration, since the first cell is too far from the second cell, a second target cell can be selected from the cells adjacent to the second cell. In the series topology of the battery pack, the third sub-cell, starting with the second cell, can be formed by extending the second cell as the starting reference cell in a direction adjacent to it on one side. For example, if the series cell sequence is: cell 6—cell 7—cell 8—cell 9—cell 10, and the second cell is cell 8, then the third sub-cell, starting with the second cell, can be formed by extending a predetermined number of cells to the right from cell 8 as the starting reference cell. For example, if the predetermined number of cells is 2, then the third sub-cell would be "cell 8—cell 9—cell 10". Furthermore, the fourth sub-cell, ending with the second cell, can be formed by extending the second cell as the ending reference cell in a direction adjacent to it on one side. For example, if the series cell sequence is: Cell 6—Cell 7—Cell 8—Cell 9—Cell 10, and the second cell is Cell 8, then the fourth sub-cell group ending with the second cell can be a sub-cell group extending to the left by a predetermined number of cells, with Cell 8 as the terminating reference cell. For example, if the predetermined number of cells is 2, then the fourth sub-cell group would be "Cell 6—Cell 7—Cell 8". This predetermined number of cells can be an empirical value set based on factors such as the battery pack topology, energy transfer efficiency, and loss equalization, and is not limited in this application.

[0051] Step S4042: Determine the second target cell with a higher charge capacity than the second cell from the third and fourth sub-cell packs.

[0052] Specifically, by identifying two symmetrically distributed sub-cell groups based on the second cell, the search range for the second target cell can be limited to the adjacent regions on both sides of the second cell, narrowing the energy transfer range, avoiding long-distance energy transfer, and reducing energy loss during the equalization process. After determining the third and fourth sub-cell groups, the final second target cell can be determined further based on secondary rules.

[0053] In one possible embodiment, the process of determining the second target cell with a higher charge level than the second cell from the third and fourth sub-battery packs is as follows: determine the third candidate cell with the highest charge level from the third sub-battery pack, and determine the fourth candidate cell with the highest charge level from the fourth sub-battery pack; determine the cell with the highest charge level among the third and fourth candidate cells as the second target cell, or determine the cell among the third and fourth candidate cells that is closest to the second cell as the second target cell.

[0054] In one possible embodiment, Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process for determining a second target cell from a third sub-battery pack and a fourth sub-battery pack according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6, the specific implementation process of determining a second target cell with a higher charge than the second cell from the third sub-battery pack and the fourth sub-battery pack includes the following steps: Step S40421, calculate the third average voltage of the third sub-battery pack and calculate the fourth average voltage of the fourth sub-battery pack.

[0055] The third average voltage can be the arithmetic mean of the voltage values ​​of all individual cells in the third sub-cell pack, and the fourth average voltage can be the arithmetic mean of the voltage values ​​of all individual cells in the fourth sub-cell pack. By calculating the average voltage, the overall charge level of the two sub-cell packs can be quantified, so as to determine the preferred direction of energy transfer.

[0056] Step S40422: When the third average voltage is greater than the fourth average voltage, the cell with the highest charge in the third sub-battery group is determined as the second target cell.

[0057] If the third average voltage is greater than the fourth average voltage, it indicates that the overall charge level of the third sub-cell group is higher than that of the fourth sub-cell group. The third sub-cell group has a more sufficient overall charge and can be considered a superior output region for energy transfer. Furthermore, designating the cell with the highest charge level in the third sub-cell group as the second target cell can prioritize compensating for the largest charge difference between cells.

[0058] Step S40423: When the third average voltage is less than or equal to the fourth average voltage, the cell with the highest charge in the fourth sub-battery pack is identified as the second target cell.

[0059] If the third average voltage is less than or equal to the fourth average voltage, it indicates that the overall charge level of the third sub-cell group is less than or equal to that of the fourth sub-cell group. The fourth sub-cell group has a more sufficient overall charge level or is equal to that of the third sub-cell group, and can be considered a superior output region for energy transfer. Furthermore, designating the cell with the highest charge level in the fourth sub-cell group as the second target cell can prioritize compensating for the maximum charge difference between cells.

[0060] It should be noted that steps S40422 and S40423 are two parallel steps. Therefore, the sub-battery pack with the most abundant overall charge can be prioritized for energy output, gradually reducing the charge difference between the two sub-battery packs, thereby improving the cell consistency of the entire battery pack and extending its cycle life.

[0061] Step S405: Control the second target cell to transfer energy to the second cell.

[0062] Specifically, controlling the transfer of energy from the second target cell to the second cell can be achieved by constructing an energy channel from the second target cell to the second cell through equalization chips corresponding to the second target cell, the second cell, and other intermediate cells. The energy of the second target cell will be transferred to the second cell, while the other intermediate cells can be regarded as intermediate pathways, which do not involve the output or input of electricity.

[0063] It should be noted that steps S402-S403 and steps S404-S405 are two parallel scenarios. Furthermore, the energy transferred in steps S403 and S405 can be a pre-calibrated small amount of energy, for example, controlled by adjusting the conduction time (e.g., several milliseconds, several seconds, etc.). Steps S401-S405 can be considered a single power balancing adjustment. By repeating steps S401-S405, energy balancing scheduling can be performed according to the charging and discharging state, making the power distribution among different cells uniform until the power balancing condition is met, at which point execution can stop. This power balancing condition can be that the power difference between the first cell with the highest power and the second cell with the lowest power is within a preset threshold range, so that the power difference between the cells is controlled within an allowable fluctuation range, achieving the purpose of balancing the cell power.

[0064] The above-mentioned method adjusts the balancing target according to the charging and discharging working state, reduces long-distance energy mobilization, optimizes global balancing efficiency, reduces balancing complexity, better maintains the overall consistency of the battery pack, extends the battery pack's lifespan, and increases usable capacity.

[0065] Based on the foregoing embodiments, the following provides an exemplary description of the relevant process for energy scheduling using the power balancing method.

[0066] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a short-range energy dispatching process using a power balancing method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 7, the battery pack includes cells 1 to 11. Power detection shows that cell 3 has the highest power, while cell 7 has the lowest. Power is represented by voltage; cell 3 has a voltage of 3.70V, and cell 7 has a voltage of 3.40V. If the preset quantity threshold is set to 4, the number of cells between cell 3 and cell 7 is 3. 4. Therefore, the transmission of power between cell 3 and cell 7 is not a long-distance power transfer, and the transfer of energy from cell 3 to cell 7 can be controlled.

[0067] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the energy scheduling process during charging using a power balancing method according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 8, the battery pack includes cells 1 to 11. Power detection shows that cell 6 has the highest power, while cell 1 has the lowest. Power is represented by voltage; cell 6 has a voltage of 3.70V, while cell 1 has a voltage of 3.30V. If the preset quantity threshold is set to 4, the number of cells between cell 6 and cell 1 is 4. 4. Therefore, the energy transfer between cells 3 and 7 involves long-distance power transfer. Since the battery pack is charging, to prevent any cell from prematurely reaching the charging cutoff voltage and interrupting the entire charging process, the highest-capacity cell can be prioritized for transfer to a nearby cell with the next lowest voltage. This quickly raises the lower limit of the battery pack, maximizing its charging capacity. Therefore, a first sub-battery group 801, starting with cell 6, and a second sub-battery group 802, ending with cell 6, can be identified within the battery pack. Since the average voltage of the first sub-battery group 801 is lower than that of the second sub-battery group 802, energy can be transferred from cell 6 to cell 8, the lowest-capacity cell in the first sub-battery group 801.

[0068] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an energy scheduling process under discharge conditions using a power balancing method according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 9, the battery pack includes cells 1 to 11. Power detection shows that cell 1 has the highest power, while cell 6 has the lowest. Power is represented by voltage; cell 1 has a voltage of 3.80V, and cell 6 has a voltage of 3.40V. If the preset quantity threshold is set to 4, the number of cells between cell 1 and cell 6 is 4. 4. Therefore, the energy transfer between cell 1 and cell 6 involves long-distance energy transfer. Since the battery pack is in a discharging state, to prevent any cell from prematurely reaching its discharge cutoff voltage and causing system shutdown, it actively draws energy from nearby high-energy cells, using the lowest-voltage cell as the core, to ensure the battery pack can continuously output energy. Therefore, we can identify a third sub-battery group 901 starting with cell 6 and a fourth sub-battery group 902 ending with cell 6. Because the average voltage of the third sub-battery group 901 is lower than the average voltage of the fourth sub-battery group 902, we can control the transfer of energy from cell 4 (the cell with the highest charge) in the fourth sub-battery group 902 to cell 6.

[0069] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 10, the device includes a processor 1001, a memory 1002, an input device 1003, and an output device 1004. The number of processors 1001 in the device can be one or more; Figure 10 shows an example of one processor 1001. The processor 1001, memory 1002, input device 1003, and output device 1004 in the device can be connected via a bus or other means; Figure 10 shows an example of connection via a bus. The memory 1002, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be configured to store software programs, computer-executable programs, and modules, such as the program instructions / modules corresponding to the power balancing method in the embodiments of this application. The processor 1001 executes various functional applications and data processing of the device by running the software programs, instructions, and modules stored in the memory 1002, thereby realizing the aforementioned power balancing method. The input device 1003 can be configured to receive input digital or character information and generate key signal inputs related to user settings and function control of the device. The output device 1004 may include a display screen or other display device.

[0070] The electronic device provided above can be used to execute the power balancing method provided in any of the above embodiments, and has the corresponding functions and beneficial effects.

[0071] This application also provides a non-volatile storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions. When executed by a computer processor, the computer-executable instructions are configured to perform a power balancing method described in the above embodiments, which includes: detecting the power of multiple cells connected in series in a battery pack, and determining a first cell with the highest power and a second cell with the lowest power from the multiple cells; when the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold and the battery pack is in a charging state, determining a first target cell with a power lower than that of the first cell from other cells adjacent to the first cell; and controlling the first cell to transfer energy to the first target cell.

[0072] Storage medium – any type of memory device or storage device. The term “storage medium” is intended to include: mounting media, such as CD-ROM, floppy disk, or magnetic tape devices; computer system memory or random access memory, such as DRAM, DDR RAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, Rambus RAM, etc.; non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, magnetic media, or optical storage; registers or other similar types of memory elements, etc. Storage medium may also include other types of memory or combinations thereof. Furthermore, storage medium may reside in a first computer system in which the program is executed, or it may reside in a different second computer system connected to the first computer system via a network (such as the Internet). The second computer system can provide program instructions to the first computer for execution. The term “storage medium” may include two or more storage media residing in different locations (e.g., in different computer systems connected via a network). Storage medium may store program instructions (e.g., specifically implemented as a computer program) executable by one or more processors.

[0073] Of course, the computer-executable instructions provided in the embodiments of this application are not limited to the power balancing method described above, but can also execute related operations in the power balancing method provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0074] It is worth noting that in the above-mentioned embodiments of the power balancing device, the various units and modules included are only divided according to functional logic, but are not limited to the above division, as long as the corresponding functions can be achieved; in addition, the specific names of each functional unit are only for easy differentiation and are not configured to limit the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0075] It should be noted that the numbering of each step in this solution is only used to describe the overall design framework of this solution and does not indicate a necessary sequential relationship between the steps. As long as the overall implementation process conforms to the overall design framework of this solution, it falls within the protection scope of this solution. The order of the text in the description is not an exclusive limitation on the specific implementation process of this solution. Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. In a typical configuration, a computing device includes one or more processors (CPUs), input / output interfaces, network interfaces, and memory. Memory may include non-persistent memory in computer-readable media, random access memory (RAM), and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) or flash RAM. Memory is an example of computer-readable media.

[0076] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0077] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A power balancing method, characterized in that, The method includes: detecting the charge level of multiple cells connected in series in a battery pack, and determining a first cell with the highest charge level and a second cell with the lowest charge level from the multiple cells; when the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold, and the battery pack is in a charging state, determining a first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from other cells adjacent to the first cell; and controlling the first cell to transfer energy to the first target cell.

2. The power equalization method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining a first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from other cells adjacent to the first cell includes: determining a first sub-battery group starting from the first cell and a second sub-battery group ending from the first cell in the battery pack, wherein the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group have the same number of cells; and determining the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group.

3. The power equalization method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the first target cell with a lower charge level than the first cell from the first sub-battery group and the second sub-battery group includes: calculating the first average voltage of the first sub-battery group and calculating the second average voltage of the second sub-battery group; if the first average voltage is greater than the second average voltage, determining the cell with the lowest charge level in the second sub-battery group as the first target cell; if the first average voltage is less than or equal to the second average voltage, determining the cell with the lowest charge level in the first sub-battery group as the first target cell.

4. The power equalization method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After determining the first cell with the highest charge and the second cell with the lowest charge from the plurality of cells, the method further includes: when the number of cells between the first cell and the second cell is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold and the battery pack is in a discharging state, determining a second target cell with a higher charge than the second cell from other cells adjacent to the second cell; and controlling the second target cell to transfer energy to the second cell.

5. The power equalization method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining a second target cell with a higher charge capacity than the second cell from other cells adjacent to the second cell includes: determining a third sub-battery group starting from the second cell and a fourth sub-battery group ending from the second cell in the battery pack, wherein the third sub-battery group and the fourth sub-battery group have the same number of cells; and determining a second target cell with a higher charge capacity than the second cell from the third sub-battery group and the fourth sub-battery group.

6. The power equalization method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of determining the second target cell with a higher charge level than the second cell from the third and fourth sub-battery groups includes: calculating the third average voltage of the third sub-battery group and the fourth average voltage of the fourth sub-battery group; if the third average voltage is greater than the fourth average voltage, determining the cell with the highest charge level in the third sub-battery group as the second target cell; if the third average voltage is less than or equal to the fourth average voltage, determining the cell with the highest charge level in the fourth sub-battery group as the second target cell.

7. The power equalization method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, After determining the first battery cell with the highest power and the second battery cell with the lowest power from the plurality of battery cells, the method further includes: if the number of battery cells between the first battery cell and the second battery cell is less than a preset number threshold, controlling the first battery cell to transfer energy to the second battery cell.

8. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes: one or more processors; and a memory configured to store one or more programs, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the power balancing method according to any one of claims 1-7.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device includes the chip as described in claim 8.

10. A non-volatile storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer processor, are configured to perform the power equalization method of any one of claims 1-7.

Images