Active Cell Balancing Inductor Circuit for Battery Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
In energy storage systems, differences in electrical characteristics among battery cells lead to uneven aging and charging/discharging, with the weakest cell determining the battery's performance, necessitating effective cell-balancing methods to maintain uniform load and prevent differential aging.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional active cell-balancing arrangement using an inductor and semi-conductor switching devices to transfer energy between battery cells, allowing for controlled charge balancing and modular operation, with a battery string controller managing the direction and magnitude of the balancing current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If passive cell-balancing using resistors is used to discharge cells with highest voltage, then cell voltage uniformity is improved, but energy is converted into heat causing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
An inductor is introduced as an intermediary energy storage component between battery cells. The inductor temporarily stores electrical energy from cells with higher voltage and releases it to cells with lower voltage, enabling direct energy transfer without converting to heat through resistive discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding excess energy from overcharged cells as heat (passive balancing), the system recovers this energy by storing it in the inductor and redistributing it to undercharged cells, thereby recovering and reusing energy that would otherwise be lost.
2Use of energy by moving object
If active cell-balancing with inductor and switching devices is implemented, then energy distribution between cells is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into individually controllable cell groups, with switching devices enabling selective connection of specific cells to the inductor. This segmentation allows precise control over which cells charge or discharge during balancing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit configuration is made dynamic through controllable switching devices that can change connection topologies in real-time. The switching devices enable the system to adaptively reconfigure which cells are connected to the inductor based on real-time voltage measurements and balancing requirements.
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
This solution ensures all battery cells in a string are uniformly charged and discharged, extending the life of the weakest cell and optimizing the performance of the entire battery module by distributing charge effectively and reducing mechanical wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
comprises an inductor (9) so as to store electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for balancing the battery cells (11) of a battery string, in particular the battery cells (11) of a battery module which has a plurality of serially connected battery cells (11). The arrangement (10) has an inductor (9) for storing electric energy and switching devices (17) on the supply side for connecting the poles of a first battery cell (11) to the inductor (9) via a first connection point (13) and a second connection point (14). The arrangement can be actuated by a controller such that electric energy can be transmitted from at least one first battery cell (11) to the inductor (9) and from the inductor (9) to at least one second battery cell (11). According to the invention, the arrangement (10) has a third connection point (15) and a fourth connection point (16) in order to balance the charge and two switching devices (17) on the transfer side, wherein the inductor (9) is connected to the third connection point (15) and the fourth connection point (16) via the two switching devices (17) on the transfer side.