High Current Battery Balancing Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery cell balancing systems, particularly in lithium-ion batteries, face limitations in balancing power and efficiency, leading to uneven charging and reduced battery lifespan due to high costs and complex architectures, with existing methods either restricting charging current or requiring prolonged charging times.
Innovation Solution
An electric power supply unit with an integrated Battery Management System (BMS) that includes active and passive balancing elements, using a DC/DC converter for active balancing and a variable resistive load for passive balancing, along with a switching device to manage high currents efficiently, allowing for simultaneous monitoring and balancing of cell charge levels to achieve homogeneous charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct connection architecture is used where BMS is connected to individual cells, then device complexity is reduced, but balancing power is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the balancing function into two parts: a centralized DC/DC converter handles high-current balancing operations, while the BMS manages monitoring and control. This segmentation allows the BMS to remain simple while achieving high balancing power through the dedicated DC/DC converter module.
2Reliability
If control and balancing elements are applied to each individual cell, then balancing performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DC/DC converter acts as an intermediary between the BMS and the battery cells for balancing operations. The BMS sends control signals to the DC/DC converter, which then executes the high-current balancing on the cells. This intermediary approach allows sophisticated balancing performance without requiring complex circuitry at each cell level.
3Stability of the object's composition
If charging current is reduced according to charge level of individual cells, then cell charge homogeneity is improved, but charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two charging modes: fast charging mode for cells that are not yet balanced, and controlled balancing mode for cells approaching charge equality. The DC/DC converter enables high-current operation during balancing, dynamically adjusting current levels based on real-time cell voltage measurements to achieve both speed and homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging current parameter based on the balancing needs of individual cells. During active balancing, high current is applied through the DC/DC converter to rapidly equalize cell charges. Once cells are balanced, the system transitions to standard charging parameters, maintaining both speed and charge homogeneity throughout the charging process.
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 enables faster, more efficient battery charging with improved cost-effectiveness and scalability, maximizing battery life and performance by optimizing balancing times and reducing energy losses, while maintaining compactness and low costs.
Implementation Method 1
using a DC/DC converter for active balancing
Implementation Method 2
using a variable resistive load for passive balancing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a utility power supply unit (1) including at least one battery (2) having two or more cells (4) and a Battery Management System or BMS (8).