Electrical energy storage system

Abstract

Electrical circuit comprising a plurality of similar electrically interconnected modules (101-124), each having at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) and at least two electrical switches (213-317, 318-328; 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815) that enable the switching of the connectivity of the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one energy storage unit (1817) with respect to the energy storage devices (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or energy storage units (1817) of other modules, such that at least one module (101-124) comprises an electrical energy storage unit (1817) having at least two electrical energy stores (1806, 1807, 1808) connected electrically in series, each of these electrical energy stores (1806, 1807, 1808) having a correction element (1809, 1810, 1811; 2336; 2431-2442; 2531, 2535, 2539; 2631, 2636, 2639) capable of discharging electrical charge from the energy storage unit (1817) and / or conducting it into the energy storage unit (1817) in such a way that a portion of the electrical energy stores of the energy storage unit (1817) is flowed through by a lower electrical current than the remaining electrical energy stores of the energy storage unit (1817), wherein the plurality of modules are considered to be similar if they can represent the following three states by suitable activation of the at least two electrical switches (213 - 317, 318 - 328; 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815): the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in series with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in parallel with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is bypassed in such a way that the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is only electrically conductively connected to at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module by a maximum of one of its at least two electrical contacts and no closed circuit is formed with at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module wherein at least one of said correction elements has at least one electrical switch,by means of which the at least one connection node of at least two electrical energy storage devices can be temporarily electrically connected to at least one module terminal.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for electrical power supplies and electrical energy storage systems. While conventional energy storage systems, such as batteries, provide very limited electrical properties, such as direct current with a voltage predetermined by the battery design and state of charge, the invention can provide virtually any current and voltage waveform, such as a sinusoidal waveform, within certain limits, such as a maximum voltage and a maximum current, without requiring a separate power electronic converter circuit.At the same time, the invention can not only deliver energy in almost any form, but also absorb it and charge its integrated electrical energy storage devices, for example capacitors, batteries, accumulators and the like, while adhering to predetermined charging properties, for example certain temporal current curves, voltage curves, or power curves (for example constant, rising with a certain curve or falling with a certain curve).

[0002] Existing systems from the prior art, for example the modular multilevel converter M2C (US 7,269,037; DE 101 03 031), the modular multilevel converter M2SPC (WO 2012 072197; DE 10 2010 052 934; WO 2012 072168; EP 0 179 321; WO 2013 017186; DE 10 2011 108 920) as well as various modifications (for example US 13 / 990,463; US 14 / 235,812; DE 10 2010 008 978; DE 10 2009 057 288; US 3,581,212) can dynamically control individual electrical energy storage devices similar to the present invention. can be combined to enable energy output or energy absorption with virtually any current and voltage characteristics at the system's terminals. However, with these known solutions, each electrical energy storage device must be implemented in a separate module.The electrical switches of the modules that are electrically connected to one another allow, through suitable activation, the electrical interconnection of the electrical energy storage devices integrated into the respective modules to be dynamically changed, for example between electrically serial interconnection of the electrical energy storage devices of different modules, electrically parallel interconnection of the electrical energy storage devices of different modules, or a bypass of the electrical energy storage devices of at least one module. By suitable activation of the electrical switches, the current is bypassed around the electrical energy storage device so that it is not integrated into the circuit and is therefore neither charged nor discharged, at least temporarily. For correct operation, however, each module can only contain one electrical energy storage device.Combining multiple electrical energy storage devices in a single module cannot correct for inequalities in the individual electrical energy storage devices that arise, for example, due to aging processes or manufacturing tolerances. Furthermore, different electrical energy storage devices, such as a battery and a capacitor, cannot be integrated into a single module. The need to provide a separate module for each individual electrical energy storage device results in high costs due to the additional electronic components required, such as transistors and galvanically isolating devices, such as optical transformers, and requires complex control due to the large number of electrical switches that must be controlled. Furthermore, a large number of measuring detectors, for example for the module voltage and / or the module current, must be integrated into the system.

[0003] The present invention overcomes this deficiency by providing a suitable circuit that can be used as a microtopology for M2C, M2SPC and similar circuits.

[0004] EP 2 445 081 B1 discloses a battery having a plurality of battery modules, wherein each battery module in the plurality of battery modules comprises a plurality of sub-modules electrically connected in series.

[0005] DE 10 2014 218 063 A1 discloses an energy storage device with a plurality of parallel-connected energy supply branches.

[0006] US 2015 / 0077069 A2 discloses an electrical converter system for power supply systems.

[0007] US 5,982,050 A discloses a power supply unit that is electrically connected to a generator for generating and storing electrical energy.

[0008] US 2014 / 0287278 A1 discloses a battery having a plurality of battery cells arranged in modules and connected to each other in series. Figures Fig. Figure 1 shows a state-of-the-art macrotopology of the M2SPC. The macrotopology of the M2SPC describes the interconnection of individual modules, which in turn are defined by the microtopology. Fig. Figure 2 shows three exemplary microtopologies, thus module topologies of state-of-the-art M2C technology. Electrical energy storage devices or module storage devices (202, 204, 206) are interconnected by electronic switches with two module terminals (207, 208), (209, 210), and (211, 212) in such a way that the module storage device (202, 204, 206) can be electrically connected to the two module terminals (207, 208), (209, 210), and (211, 212) in several states and in different ways. All three modules shown have at least one bypass state and one serial state.In the bypass state, the current is conducted via the electrical switches from one module terminal (207, 209, 211) to the second (208, 210, 212) past the electrical module storage (202, 204, 206) in such a way that only a maximum of one of the two connections of the electrical module storage is electrically connected to any of the module terminals, while the other connection of the electrical module storage (202, 204, 206) is separated from the module terminals by the electrical switches, so that the electrical module storage does not participate in a circuit with the module terminals and is neither discharged nor charged.In the serial state, one of the two connections of the electrical module storage (202, 204, 206) is electrically connected to one of the two module terminals (207, 208), (209, 210), and (211, 212) by the electrical switches; furthermore, the other of the two connections of the electrical module storage (202, 204, 206) is electrically connected to the other of the two module terminals (207, 208), (209, 210), and (211, 212). As a result, in the serial state, the electrical module storage is electrically connected between the two module terminals and is either charged or discharged by the flowing current. The voltage between the two module terminals corresponds to the voltage of the electrical module storage. In addition to the electrical module storage, the modules can contain further electrical elements, as indicated here by black boxes (201, 202, 203). Fig. Figure 3 shows three exemplary microtopologies of M2SPC technology. In addition to the states already mentioned, these modules also have at least one parallel state, which allows the electrical module storage devices of two different modules to be electrically connected in parallel with each other by appropriately activating the modules' electrical switches. Fig. 4 shows an example of how M2SPC modules are connected to a converter arm. Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention. One of the M2SPC modules from Fig. 3 was chosen as the starting point. The electrical energy storage device (302) is replaced here by an electrical storage unit (1817) consisting of at least two individual storage devices (1806, 1807, 1808) and associated correction elements (1809, 1810, 1811). The electrical storage unit (1817) can be integrated into other module topologies, such as those from US 7,269,037; DE 101 03 031; WO 2012 072197; DE 10 2010 052 934; WO 2012 072168; EP 0 179 321; WO 2013 017186; DE 10 2011 108 920; US 13 / 990,463; US 14 / 235,812; DE 10 2010 008 978; DE 10 2009 057 288; US 3,581,212. Fig. Figure 6 shows implementations of the correction elements (1809, 1810, 1811, 1901). A correction unit contains at least two electrical terminals (1902, 1903) and allows controlled current flow when certain conditions are met. Fig. 7 shows further implementations for correction elements (1809, 1810, 1811, 1901, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2022). Fig. 8 shows a particular embodiment of the invention with at least one correction unit (2116) comprising at least two correction elements. Fig. 9 shows a further particular embodiment of the invention with at least one correction unit (2216) comprising at least two correction elements and at least two voltage sensors, wherein at least two of the correction elements are electrically connected in parallel to different electrical energy stores. Fig. 10 shows a module of a particular embodiment of the invention with an alternative correction unit (2336). Fig. 11 shows a module of a particular embodiment of the invention with alternative correction units (2431 - 2442) which offers maximum flexibility. Fig. 12 shows a module of another particular embodiment of the invention. Fig. 13 shows a module of a particular embodiment of the invention with a reduced number of alternative correction units (2631, 2636, 2639). Fig. 14 shows a module of a particular embodiment of the invention with bidirectional electrical switches. Detailed description and embodiments

[0009] The present invention consists of an interconnection of modules whose electrical circuit is described by the so-called microtopology. These modules are interconnected in the macrotopology to form larger units. Examples of macrotopologies are the so-called Marquardt topology (see, for example, US 7,269,037 and S. Goetz, A. Peterchev, T. Weyh (2015). Modular Multilevel Converter With Series and Parallel Module Connectivity: Topology and Control. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 30(1):203-215.), which is used for the M2SPC circuit in Fig. 1, or a simple converter arm, which is created by connecting at least two modules. Modules are usually connected in series in such a way that some of the module terminals of one module are electrically connected to some of the module terminals of another module (see, for example, Fig. 4). Without limiting the concept, Fig. 4 represents a macrotopology in which modules are connected to a chain via their module connections; consequently, every module except the two at the edges is connected to exactly two other modules. While this is capable of generating any voltage waveforms between the ends of the chain, any other macrotopologies can also be generated by suitable electrical connection of module connections. A macrotopology is advantageous in which all possible pairs of two modules are either directly electrically connected to one another or are each indirectly electrically connected to the same aggregate of modules. Different module types, i.e. modules of different microtopologies, can also be combined in a macrotopology. However, the combined modules should have at least two common states.The state of the modules determines how the associated electrical energy storage devices or electrical energy storage units of different modules are electrically connected to each other by appropriate activation of the associated electrical switches of the modules.

[0010] The electrical interconnection of multiple electrical energy storage devices or electrical energy storage units using appropriate activation of the electrical switches in the associated modules—electrically in series, electrically in parallel, electrically bypassed, or the like—is referred to as connectivity. By using fast electrical switches, connectivity can be dynamically changed very quickly. Preferably, a dynamic change in connectivity can occur faster than one millisecond; the invention is particularly advantageous if a dynamic change in connectivity occurs in less than 5 µs.

[0011] In the following, the term electrical energy storage also includes electrical energy storage units.

[0012] By changing the connectivity of several electrically interconnected modules, for example in a Marquardt topology (see Fig. 1) or even a simple string (often called a converter arm, where connections for external electrical systems such as loads, sources or electrical networks are usually located at both ends of the string), the voltage at the terminals (in Fig. 1 (125, 126, 129, 130, 131, 132)) can be dynamically adjusted as desired. The voltage can be adjusted in steps corresponding to the module voltages, i.e., the voltage provided by the modules' electrical energy storage devices; furthermore, by quickly switching between several such steps, fine intermediate voltage levels can be generated at the terminals.

[0013] As already explained, the system can exchange charge between the electrical energy storage units of different modules, for example, to enable charge balancing, energy conversion, or energy transformation, and a specific load distribution within all electrical energy storage units and / or electrical energy storage devices. The invention further offers the possibility of dynamically reconfiguring the electrical energy storage units and / or electrical energy storage devices into a mixture of series and, depending on the microtopology used, parallel connection.Due to the relatively high internal resistance of many electrical energy storage devices and their limited dynamics, the parallel state is a particularly advantageous property for distributing an electrical load across multiple modules or electrical energy storage devices and for balancing the charge state of several individual cells in order to increase the overall efficiency of the system.

[0014] A parallel state, and thus a possible parallel connectivity between electrical energy storage devices and / or electrical energy storage units, can have two further advantages. It increases the current carrying capacity of the system by reducing the effective internal resistance. In addition, the parallel state offers a method for balancing the charge of individual modules without the need to measure and monitor electrical parameters such as the module voltage. Since the invention does not require precise information about the charge inflow and outflow in the modules, it can provide a balanced state of the system even without a closed control loop in an open-loop controller and, for example, simplify charge monitoring throughout the system.

[0015] Under special conditions, it is advantageous to integrate more than one electrical energy storage device into a single module. Advantageously, these multiple electrical energy storage devices can be connected in series to generate a common higher voltage than a single electrical energy storage device. Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the individual electrical energy storage devices combined in a module are not of the same type or differ at least slightly from one another in their operating behavior or properties (voltage, capacity, tolerable maximum voltage, temperature). This slight deviation is already given by at least 5% deviation of the individual electrical energy storage devices combined in a module in one of the aforementioned parameters.Advantageously, a slight deviation of 10% in one of the aforementioned parameters is possible for the individual electrical energy storage devices combined in a module. Compared to prior art solutions, the present invention eliminates the need for components and modules, simplifies control, and reduces the losses that arise with a large number of individual modules in the control of the modules and the galvanically isolated transmission of signals to and from the modules.

[0016] In Fig. 5 shows an exemplary module according to the invention. It contains several electrical energy storage devices (1806, 1807, 1808), each of which is electrically connected in parallel with an associated correction element (1809, 1810, 1811). Several paired units comprising an electrical energy storage device and an associated correction element are electrically connected in series and form an electrical storage unit (1817). In an electrical energy storage unit (1817), the individual electrical energy storage devices do not have to be connected exclusively in series. Each individual electrical energy storage device can also be reinforced by further electrical energy storage devices that are electrically connected in parallel with the former. As already explained, the electrical energy storage unit (1817) can also be equipped with other microtopologies, for example those from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, according to the invention. The electrical energy storage unit replaces or supplements the electrical energy storage, for example (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306), in the microtopology.

[0017] Furthermore, several similar or different electrical energy storage units can be connected electrically in parallel or in series and then integrated into a module. The resulting combination of electrical energy storage units is, in turn, an electrical energy storage unit within the meaning of the invention.

[0018] A typical requirement for a correction element is the discharge of charge, also called dissipation, from electrical energy storage devices connected in parallel to it in order to reduce voltage stress on an electrical energy storage device, for example by keeping the peak voltage that ever occurs across the terminals of the electrical energy storage device below a predetermined limit, and / or to limit the electrical load of an electrical energy storage device and / or to limit the temperature of an electrical energy storage device.The control or regulation of a correction element can be accomplished by a separate electronic control unit that supplies a signal for one or more electrical switches in the correction element and / or controllable impedances in the correction element; furthermore, the control or regulation of a correction element can also be passive, i.e., no separate electrical control unit is required, but rather physical or chemical properties of one or more elements of the correction element, for example, a specific temperature or voltage dependence of a resistor, an impedance, or a semiconductor, lead to a control or regulation of the correction element.

[0019] The correction elements (1809, 1810, 1811) can be used, for example, as shown in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Correction elements can be electrical two-terminal devices with electrical connections (1902) and (1903). For voltage limitation with simultaneous charge removal, the following electrical elements can be used, for example: (a) Zener diodes (1908) and electrically similar elements with a low resistance for voltages above a certain limit; (b) suppressor diodes (1904); (c) voltage-dependent (usually nonlinear) complex impedances (i.e. with resistive and / or reactive components) (1905); (d) arrestors (1909) or other voltage- or temperature-dependent impedances which may contain resistive and / or reactive components; (e) electrical switches or controllable impedances (including relays, field-effect transistors, bipolar transistors and other controllable resistors) (1911); (f) electrical switches or controllable impedances combined with complex impedances (1912, 1913), which may have resistive and / or reactive components and may be nonlinear.

[0020] Examples of controllable impedances are electrical switches and semiconductor elements that are not operated as switches (i.e. with only two states: a closed, electrically highly conductive [less than 1 Ω effective resistance, advantageously less than 0.1 Ω effective resistance] and an open; electrically poorly conductive [greater than 1000 Ω effective resistance; advantageously at least 1,000,000 Ω effective resistance] state) but in their resistance range in between, or switches that switch between several resistances or impedances, and controllable Zener diodes (so-called adjustable Zener diodes).

[0021] For solutions that include an electrical switch or a controllable impedance (1911, 1912 / 1913), a control unit can provide a control signal and / or perform closed-loop or open-loop control.

[0022] Passive solutions, i.e. in particular solutions that do not require a separate measuring, monitoring and / or control unit, have important advantages, reduce costs and limit complexity. Fig. Figure 7 shows some embodiments that implement switches or controllable impedances together with means that can control them and, for example, limit the voltage of one or more specific energy storage devices as part of an energy storage unit. A voltage limiter (2001) can be implemented as a switch or controllable impedance, represented here as a field-effect transistor (2002), a resistor (2004), and a Zener diode (alternatively also a voltage suppressor, arrestor, or the like) (2003). The gate voltage of the transistor is determined by a voltage V s which is lower than the voltage of the energy storage associated with the correction element by a certain voltage level determined by the element (2003). By appropriately selecting the threshold voltage Vt of the transistor and the breakdown voltage of the element (2003) V s the maximum voltage of the energy storage can be increased to about Vt + V sA freewheeling diode in antiparallel to the switch or a controllable impedance (2002) can prevent voltage spikes due to reactive currents.

[0023] Element (2003) can also be replaced by a traditional resistor. Furthermore, an impedance (2006) can be inserted into the current path of the electrical switch or controllable impedance (2007), as shown in (2005). In (2010) and (2016), the electrical switch or controllable impedance is implemented as a bipolar transistor (2012, 2018); in (2022), the electrical switch or controllable impedance is implemented as a controllable Zener diode (also called an adjustable Zener diode) (2024), which allows changes in its breakdown voltage through at least one control input and is commercially available from several manufacturers.

[0024] The impedances (2006, 2011, 2017, 2023) are optional and can be close to or equal to zero. Likewise, the gate, base, and similar input resistances (2013, 2019, 2025) can be close to or equal to zero.

[0025] The correction elements of at least two electrical energy stores (2113, 2114, 2115; 2213, 2214, 2215) of the same module, each comprising, for example, at least one transistor and preferably furthermore at least one impedance, can together form a correction unit (2116; 2216) (see, for example, Fig. 8 and 9). Preferably, a correction unit further comprises at least two voltage sensors (see Fig. 9). Such a voltage sensor can measure both the voltage of a single electrical energy storage device and an electrical combination, for example in series or parallel, of several electrical energy storage devices. The at least two voltage sensors can also be designed as a single voltage sensor with a multiplexer. Due to their similar behavior, such a combination of multiplexer and sensor is interpreted as multiple sensors within the meaning of this invention. In a particular embodiment of the invention, at least one correction unit and at least one voltage sensor are electrically connected in parallel to at least two electrical energy storage devices of at least two modules. In another embodiment of the invention, a correction unit comprises at least one current sensor that measures the current flowing into or out of at least one electrical energy storage device of the associated module.

[0026] How Fig. 10, a correction element can alternatively comprise an electrical switch (2336) which, when activated, electrically connects a connection node (2324) of at least two electrical energy stores (2314, 2315) to a module terminal (2310). In this way, the electrical energy stores between said connection node (2324) and the positive module busbar (2361) and the electrical energy stores between said connection node (2324) and the negative module busbar (2362) can be discharged or charged to different degrees by partially or fully conducting or withdrawing the current flowing through the module terminal(s), which current originates, for example, from another module or an electrical load, into or from said connection node (2324) via the electrical switch (2336).This makes it possible to compensate for different charge states and the physical and / or chemical differences mentioned above in the electrical energy storage devices integrated into a module.

[0027] As in Fig. 11, for example, for a module with four module terminals (2409, 2410, 2411, 2412), the correction elements can be designed such that each connection node (2423, 2424, 2425) of at least two electrical energy storage devices, which is not directly identical to a positive module busbar (2461) or negative module busbar (2462), is at least temporarily electrically connected to each of the module terminals (2409 - 2412) via at least one electrical switch (2431 - 2442). For a module with only two module terminals (2509, 2511), for this case, as in Fig. 12, a smaller number of electrical switches (2531, 2533, 2535, 2537, 2539, 2541) is necessary, for a higher number of module terminals the number increases accordingly, as the person skilled in the art can see.

[0028] The inventor further recognized that providing a dedicated electrical switch between each connection node of at least two electrical energy storage devices, which does not simultaneously correspond to a busbar, and each module terminal offers comprehensive flexibility, but is not necessary to ensure independent charging and discharging of a module's electrical energy storage devices. The variants described above, which provide comprehensive switchable electrical connections between connection nodes and module terminals, can in some cases eliminate more than half of all electrical switches.

[0029] Preferred embodiments are those in which each connection node of at least two electrical energy storage devices, which does not simultaneously correspond to a busbar - which itself can already be electrically connected at least temporarily to a module terminal via an electrical switch - can be electrically connected at least temporarily to at least one arbitrary module terminal via at least one electrical switch.

[0030] In order to avoid a large number of switches, only some of the connection nodes of at least two electrical energy storage units can be electrically connected to at least one module terminal via electrical switches. Fig. 13 shows a randomly selected embodiment in which at least three, preferably each connection node of at least two electrical energy storage devices (2613, 2614, 2615) can be at least temporarily electrically connected to at least one module terminal (2609, 2610) via at least one electrical switch (2631, 2636, 2639). Fig. 13, the electrical switches connect, by way of example, to illustrate the flexibility with regard to possible combinations, two of the three illustrated connection nodes to different module terminals (2609, 2610). Furthermore, at least one electrical energy storage device (2613, 2614, 2615) can each have at least one voltage sensor (2651, 2652, 2653). Preferably, at least one voltage sensor is electrically connected in parallel to each electrical energy storage device of a module. Such a voltage sensor can measure both the voltage of an individual electrical energy storage device and an electrical combination, for example in series or parallel, of several electrical energy storage devices. Since only very small compensating currents need to flow via the aforementioned electrical switches between the connection nodes of at least two electrical energy storage devices and at least one module terminal, the electrical switches can be designed very cost-effectively.With increasing switching speed and the associated rapid compensation of uneven discharge or charge of electrical energy storage devices, the current-carrying capacity of the aforementioned electrical switches can be further reduced. Depending on the switch's connection location, the required dielectric strength of the aforementioned electrical switches is lower than the module voltage. For example, the highest voltage that an electrical switch can handle between the middle connection node of a serial connection of four electrical energy storage devices of the same voltage and a module terminal is only about half the module voltage.

[0031] The electrical switches between the connection nodes of at least two electrical energy storage devices and the module terminals can be implemented as mechanical electrical switches. These switches are preferably semiconductor switches, which, in addition to simply activating and deactivating the electrical line, also enable switching modulation, for example, pulse width modulation (PWM), to regulate voltage or current flow, thus enabling a low compensating current to compensate for varying charges or discharges of the electrical energy storage devices despite high load currents at the module terminals. Semiconductor switches, in particular, can be implemented both as switches that switch current only unidirectionally and as switches that can also switch current bidirectionally. Fig. Figure 14 illustrates three electrical switches (2731, 2736, 2739) capable of bidirectional current switching. Bidirectional switches offer the advantage of controlling current in both directions, and thus in both source mode and charging mode of the module's electrical energy storage devices.

[0032] A combination of correction elements comprising electrical switches that can temporarily connect connection nodes of at least two electrical energy storage devices and at least one module terminal in an electrically conductive manner (see Fig. 10 - 14), and correction elements arranged in parallel to individual electrical energy storage devices or to a, for example, serial or parallel, combination of several electrical energy storage devices (see Fig.5 - 9), can have extraordinary advantages. For example, the former are capable of charging individual electrical energy storage devices more strongly than others, but depending on the components used, can generate higher production costs, while the latter can primarily force a discharge and are currently inexpensive to manufacture. A combination can combine the advantages of both.

[0033] An embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of similar electrically interconnected modules (101 - 124), each comprising at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) and at least one electrical switch (213 - 317, 318 - 328;1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815), such that at least one module (101 - 124) has an electrical energy storage unit (1817) which has at least two electrical energy stores (1806, 1807, 1808) connected in electrical series, wherein each of these electrical energy stores (1806, 1807, 1808) has a correction element (1809, 1810, 1811) connected in electrical parallel, which is capable of diverting electrical charge from the respective electrical energy store (1806, 1807, 1808) connected in electrical parallel and / or introducing it, wherein the plurality of modules are considered to be similar if they can be switched on and off by suitable activation of the respective at least one electrical switch (213 - 317, 318 - 328; 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815) can represent the following three states:; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in series with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in parallel with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is bypassed in such a way that the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is only electrically conductively connected to at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module by a maximum of one of its at least two electrical contacts and no closed circuit is formed with at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module is present.

[0034] An alternative embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of similar electrically interconnected modules (101 - 124), each comprising at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) and at least two electrical switches (213 - 317, 318 - 328;1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815) which enable the changing of the connectivity of the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one energy storage unit (1817) with respect to the energy storage devices (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or energy storage units (1817) of other modules, such that at least one module (101 - 124) comprises an electrical energy storage unit (1817) which comprises at least two electrical energy storage devices (1806, 1807, 1808) connected in electrical series, wherein each of these electrical energy storage devices (1806, 1807, 1808) a corrective element (1809, 1810, 1811; 2336; 2431 - 2442; 2531, 2535, 2539;2631, 2636, 2639) which is capable of discharging electrical charge from the electrical energy storage unit (1817) and / or conducting it into the electrical energy storage unit (1817) in such a way that a part of the electrical energy storage devices of the electrical energy storage unit (1817) is loaded with a lower current than the remaining electrical energy storage devices of the energy storage unit (1817); wherein the plurality of modules are considered to be similar if they can represent at least the following switching states by suitable activation of the at least two electrical switches (213 - 317, 318 - 328; 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815): the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in series with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is bypassed in such a way that the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of the module is only electrically conductively connected to at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module by a maximum of one of its at least two electrical contacts and no closed circuit is formed with at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module is present.

[0035] Preferably, at least two modules further additionally allow a switching state in which the at least one electrical energy store (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in parallel with the at least one electrical energy store (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module;

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, at least one correction element (1809, 1810, 1811) is designed electrically parallel to at least one electrical energy storage device (1806, 1807, 1808).

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one correction element has at least one electrical switch which can temporarily electrically connect at least one connection node of at least two electrical energy stores to at least one module terminal.

[0038] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the correction elements (1809, 1810, 1811) limits the voltage of the at least one energy storage device (1806, 1807, 1808) electrically connected in parallel to it to a predetermined range. For the aforementioned voltage limitation, the invention can, for example, comprise a voltage- and / or temperature-dependent impedance.

[0039] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the correction elements has at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) and at least one impedance (1905, 1912, 2006, 2011, 2017), wherein the at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) is designed as an electrical switch with at least two states, one with good electrical conductivity and one with poor electrical conductivity.

[0040] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) is designed as an electrically controllable impedance.

[0041] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) is controlled by an electronic control unit.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, the at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) is controlled by a circuit containing at least one impedance element that changes its impedance due to external physical or chemical influences.

[0043] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one impedance element, which changes its impedance due to external physical or chemical influences, has a voltage-dependent or temperature-dependent impedance.

[0044] In a further preferred embodiment, the electronic control unit which controls or regulates at least one correction element (1809, 1810, 1811) of an electrical energy storage unit (1817) is connected to the at least one output line of at least one voltage sensor which detects the voltage of at least one electrical energy storage device (1806, 1807, 1808) of the associated electrical energy storage unit (1817).

[0045] In a further preferred embodiment, the electronic control unit which controls or regulates at least one correction element (1809, 1810, 1811) of an electrical energy storage unit (1817) is connected to the at least one output line of at least one temperature sensor which detects the temperature of at least one electrical energy storage device (1806, 1807, 1808) of the associated electrical energy storage unit (1817).

Claims

[1] Electrical circuit comprising a plurality of similar electrically interconnected modules (101 - 124), each having at least one electrical energy store (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) and at least two electrical switches (213 - 317, 318 - 328; 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815) which enable the changing of the connectivity of the at least one electrical energy store (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one energy storage unit (1817) with respect to the energy stores (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or energy storage units (1817) of other modules, such that at least one module (101-124) comprises an electrical energy storage unit (1817) having at least two electrical energy stores (1806, 1807, 1808) connected electrically in series, each of these electrical energy stores (1806, 1807, 1808) having a correction element (1809, 1810, 1811; 2336; 2431-2442; 2531, 2535, 2539; 2631, 2636, 2639) capable of discharging electrical charge from the energy storage unit (1817) and / or conducting it into the energy storage unit (1817) in such a way that a portion of the electrical energy stores of the energy storage unit (1817) is flowed through by a lower electrical current than the remaining electrical energy stores of the energy storage unit (1817), wherein the plurality of modules are considered to be similar if they can represent the following three states by suitable activation of the at least two electrical switches (213 - 317, 318 - 328; 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815): the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in series with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is connected in parallel with the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of another module; the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is bypassed in such a way that the at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or the at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a module is only electrically conductively connected to at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module by a maximum of one of its at least two electrical contacts and no closed circuit is formed with at least one electrical energy storage device (202, 204, 206, 302, 304, 306) or at least one electrical energy storage unit (1817) of a further module wherein at least one of said correction elements has at least one electrical switch,by means of which the at least one connection node of at least two electrical energy storage devices can be temporarily electrically connected to at least one module terminal. [2] Electrical circuit according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one correction element (1809, 1810, 1811) is designed electrically parallel to at least one electrical energy store (1806, 1807, 1808). [3] Electrical circuit according to claim 2, characterized by that at least one of the correction elements (1809, 1810, 1811) limits the voltage of the at least one energy store (1806, 1807, 1808) electrically connected in parallel thereto to a predetermined range. [4] Electrical circuit according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by that at least one of the correction elements has a voltage- or temperature-dependent impedance. [5] Electrical circuit according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized bythat at least one of the correction elements has at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) and at least one impedance (1905, 1912, 2006, 2011, 2017), wherein the at least one electrically controllable element (1907, 1911, 1913, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2024) is designed as an electrical switch with at least two states, one with good electrical conductivity and one with poor electrical conductivity. [6] Electrical circuit according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized by that the circuit further comprises at least one electronic control unit. [7] Electrical circuit according to claim 6, characterized by that the at least one electronic control unit controls at least one correction element. [8] Electrical circuit according to claim 7, characterized bythat the electrical circuit further comprises at least two voltage sensors which detect the voltage of electrical energy storage devices and transmit it to at least one electronic control unit. [9] Electrical circuit according to claim 6, characterized by that the electronic control unit, which controls at least one correction element (1809, 1810, 1811) of an electrical energy storage unit (1817), is connected to the at least one output line of at least one temperature sensor which detects the temperature of at least one electrical energy store (1806, 1807, 1808) of the associated electrical energy storage unit (1817).

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