Active Battery Balancing Circuit Using Inductive Energy Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery balancing technologies face inefficiencies and energy losses due to the use of passive resistors, capacitors, and transformers, which lead to voltage imbalances and increased costs, especially in large battery systems.
Innovation Solution
An active battery balancing circuit utilizing an inductance with switching elements and diodes allows current flow in both directions, enabling efficient energy transfer between cells and the entire battery, avoiding inefficiencies associated with capacitive and transformer-based systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive balancing circuits with bypass resistors are used, then charge balancing between cells is achieved, but significant energy is lost as heat in the resistors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive resistor-based balancing with an active switching circuit that uses capacitive coupling and inductive elements to transfer charge between cells. The switching circuit directs current flow to balance cell charges without the continuous energy dissipation inherent in resistor-based systems, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining balancing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters by using high-frequency switching of transistors to control charge transfer. This dynamic switching approach allows precise control of current flow between cells, enabling efficient charge redistribution without the fixed energy loss characteristics of passive resistive balancing circuits.
2Use of energy by moving object
If capacitive balancing circuits are used, then energy transfer between cells is enabled, but inefficiencies and voltage imbalances occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inductive element as an intermediary between the capacitive switching circuit and the battery cells. This inductor helps to smooth current flow, reduce voltage spikes, and improve the overall efficiency of energy transfer between cells, addressing the inefficiencies of pure capacitive balancing approaches.
3Reliability
If transformer-based balancing systems are used, then charge balancing is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of charge balancing from complex transformer-based systems and implements it using a simplified switching circuit with capacitors and inductors. This approach maintains the charge balancing capability while significantly reducing system complexity, component count, and associated costs.
4Loss of energy
If active switching circuits with inductance are used, then efficient bidirectional energy transfer is achieved, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the switching circuit to perform multiple functions: charge balancing between cells, bidirectional energy transfer, and voltage regulation. By integrating these functions into a single circuit architecture using universal components (switches, capacitors, inductors), the design achieves high energy efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit employs periodic switching of transistors to control energy transfer in discrete cycles. This periodic action allows the circuit to efficiently transfer energy bidirectionally between cells while using simple switching elements, avoiding the need for continuously complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution achieves efficient charge balancing with reduced energy losses, allowing for the leveling of cell states of charge and preventing overcharging or deep discharging, thereby extending battery lifespan and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
an active battery balancing circuit (500, 600) is provided comprising an inductance (501). The inductance (501) has a first inductance terminal (509) and a second inductance terminal (510)
Implementation Method 2
The first circuitry (514a) is adapted for allowing current flow through the first circuitry (514a) in one of a first direction and a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an active battery balancing circuit for balancing an electric charge in a plurality of cells of a battery that are electrically connected in series is disclosed. A first subset of the cells of the battery is electrically connected to an inductance for providing a current flow from the first subset through the inductance. The first subset of the cells is disconnected from the inductance, and a current is allowed to flow from the inductance into a second subset of the cells of the battery. At least one of the first and the second subset of the cells of the battery comprises two or more cells.