Balancing Relay Pre-Charging Circuit for Parallel Battery Packs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs connected in parallel can experience voltage imbalances leading to overcharging, which may damage individual cells and pose a risk of explosion, and existing solutions require additional charging devices that impact user experience.
Innovation Solution
A pre-charging circuit with a balancing relay is used to detect and adjust voltage differences between battery packs, employing Joule heating through a resistor to equalize voltages, followed by pre-charging capacitors and supplying main power once balanced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional charging devices are used to balance battery packs, then cell balancing is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-charging circuit is designed to serve dual purposes: it performs the traditional function of pre-charging capacitors before main power connection while simultaneously functioning as a cell balancing circuit. The balancing relay and resistor are integrated into this existing circuit, allowing voltage equalization across parallel battery packs without requiring separate balancing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pre-charging function and cell balancing function into a single integrated circuit system. By combining these two functions that were previously performed by separate devices, the overall system complexity is reduced while maintaining both pre-charging capability and voltage balancing across battery packs.
2Reliability
If pre-charging circuit with balancing relay is used, then voltage balancing is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-charging circuit automatically performs voltage balancing through the integrated balancing relay and resistor without requiring external control or additional balancing devices. The circuit self-regulates by detecting voltage differences across parallel battery packs and automatically equalizing them through controlled discharge paths, making the system self-sufficient for both pre-charging and balancing operations.
3Power
If battery packs are connected in parallel, then power distribution is improved, but voltage imbalance occurs leading to overcharge risk
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing circuit incorporates a feedback mechanism where the state of charge (SOC) and voltage levels of each parallel battery pack are continuously monitored. Based on this feedback, the balancing relay automatically activates discharge paths for overcharged packs through the resistor, equalizing voltages across all parallel connections and preventing overcharge conditions while maintaining optimal power distribution.
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
Ensures safe and efficient power distribution by balancing voltages between battery packs, preventing damage and ensuring smooth operation without the need for additional charging units, reducing weight and cost in vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
dropping, by at least one pre-charging circuit of the one or more pre-charging circuits, to drop a voltage of a corresponding battery pack by joule heating of the resistor
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method in an electricity-driven apparatus to be driven by receiving power through a plurality of battery packs in a parallel type. The method includes detecting a state of charge (SOC) of each of the plurality of battery packs, calculating a voltage difference between the plurality of battery packs based on the detected SOC, and performing battery pack balancing based on the calculated voltage difference exceeding a threshold value. The battery pack balancing is performed by a pre-charging circuit including a balancing relay.