Battery Balancing Network Fault Detection for Safe Shipping Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Faults in battery discharge networks prevent safe and accurate discharge of batteries, making it difficult to ship them safely and comply with governmental regulations.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically determines fault locations and types in battery discharge networks using existing passive load balancing networks, allowing for safe discharging without requiring changes to electronic hardware, by selectively opening and closing gates in the network and analyzing voltage measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If faults are present in the battery discharge network, then the battery cannot be safely or accurately discharged, but the battery still needs to be shipped and comply with regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary fault detection and characterization before discharge operations. The controller identifies faults in the discharge network ahead of time, determines their locations and types, and formulates appropriate discharge plans based on this advance information, enabling safe discharge despite presence of faults.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes discharge parameters dynamically based on detected fault conditions. By adjusting discharge plans according to the specific fault locations and types identified, the system adapts the discharge process to maintain safety while achieving the required charge reduction for shipping compliance.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing passive load balancing networks are used without hardware changes, then implementation is easier and costs are reduced, but fault detection and safe discharge control become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors voltage signals from the passive balancing network and uses this feedback to detect faults. By analyzing voltage measurements across different cells and comparing them against expected patterns, the system identifies fault locations and types without requiring additional sensors or hardware modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing passive balancing network itself as an intermediary for fault detection. The voltage measurements that would normally only indicate cell balance status are repurposed to provide information about fault conditions, turning the existing network into a dual-purpose diagnostic tool.
3Reliability
If automatic fault determination and discharge planning is implemented, then safe discharge and shipping compliance are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions using the same hardware resources. It simultaneously manages normal battery balancing operations, detects faults, characterizes fault conditions, and generates discharge plans, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for each function and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines its own fault conditions and autonomously generates appropriate discharge plans without requiring external intervention or complex external control systems. The controller self-diagnoses the fault state and self-regulates the discharge process to achieve safe charge reduction.
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
Enables safe and efficient discharge of batteries for shipping, reducing the need for unnecessary battery disposal and ensuring compliance with regulations without altering existing hardware.
Implementation Method 1
the passive balancing electrical network includes multiple unintentional resistances, the multiple unintentional resistances being inherent to the battery cells or a structure of the passive balancing electrical network
Implementation Method 2
responsively measure selected voltages in the passive balancing electrical network, and perform an analysis of the measured selected voltages
Data Source
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AI summary
During a maintenance operation and in a predetermined sequence, selected ones of a plurality of gates of a passive balancing electrical network are opened and closed. The passive balancing electrical network is coupled to the plurality of battery cells. The passive balancing electrical network includes multiple unintentional resistances and the multiple unintentional resistances inherent to the plurality of battery cells or a structure of the passive balancing electrical network. These unintentional resistances are utilized to identify location and nature of failures within the network to allow preparing the item for safe handling.