Vehicle Battery System Active Cell Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Eco-friendly vehicles require expensive high-capacity batteries to increase mileage, leading to higher product costs and reduced desirability due to increased volume and weight, necessitating a method to enhance battery capacity without additional battery installation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery system comprising two battery modules connected in series, with a controller that performs active cell balancing by transferring energy between modules based on state of charge, allowing efficient charging and preventing overdischarge, thereby extending battery life without additional battery installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a high capacity battery is installed to increase mileage, then the battery capacity is improved, but the product cost increases and the volume and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into two separate battery modules (first battery module and second battery module) connected in series. Each module has its own battery cells that can be independently managed and balanced, allowing the system to achieve high capacity without requiring a single large high-cost battery unit.
2Quantity of substance
If a high capacity battery is installed to increase mileage, then the battery capacity is improved, but the volume and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into two separate battery modules (first battery module and second battery module) connected in series. Each module has its own battery cells that can be independently managed and balanced, allowing the system to achieve high capacity without requiring a single large high-cost battery unit.
3Quantity of substance
If a high capacity battery is installed to increase mileage, then the battery capacity is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into two separate battery modules (first battery module and second battery module) connected in series. Each module has its own battery cells that can be independently managed and balanced, allowing the system to achieve high capacity without requiring a single large high-cost battery unit.
4Quantity of substance
If active cell balancing is performed between battery modules, then the available capacity is increased efficiently, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs active cell balancing where the first battery module charges the second battery module using energy stored within the system itself, or charges from external power. This self-service approach increases available capacity without requiring additional complex external balancing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery modules serve multiple functions: they can operate independently to power different voltage requirements (12V and 48V loads), and they can also work together through active cell balancing to optimize overall system capacity and extend battery life.
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 approach increases available battery capacity efficiently, reduces costs, and improves vehicle specifications by eliminating the need for high-priced, high-volume, and heavy-weight batteries, while extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
perform active cell balancing between the battery cells of the first battery module and the battery cells of the second battery module
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery system and a method of controlling charge of a battery in the system are provided. The system includes a first battery module that has a plurality of battery cells connected to each other in series and a second battery module that has a plurality of battery cells connected to each other in series. The second battery module is connected to the first battery module in series. A controller then monitors a state of charge of each of the first and second battery modules, such that when the state of charge of one of the first and second battery modules is less than a predetermined level, the controller performs active cell balancing between the battery cells of the first battery module and the battery cells of the second battery module.