Battery Bank Power Flow Control via Segmented DC-DC Converters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy accumulator systems fail to effectively control individual power flow of each battery, leading to premature degradation and increased maintenance needs, as they do not account for varying states of charge and health, resulting in reduced useful life and early replacement of the entire battery bank.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a central controller and DC-DC converters to manage energy flow based on real-time data from each battery, ensuring only usable energy is drained, preserving performance and allowing for selective replacement of degraded batteries without replacing the entire bank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional energy accumulator systems operate without individual battery control, then the system structure remains simple, but the useful life of the battery bank is reduced due to premature degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery bank into individually controllable units, with each battery equipped with its own control circuitry. This segmentation allows independent monitoring and management of each battery's state of charge, health, and power flow, enabling precise control to extend overall bank life while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops that monitor each battery's parameters (voltage, current, temperature, state of charge) and adjust power flow in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic optimization of battery operation to prevent degradation while maintaining system coordination through a central controller
2Productivity
If the system drains all batteries to maximum capacity, then energy output is maximized, but batteries degrade faster requiring early replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the discharge depth and rate for each battery based on its real-time state of charge and health conditions. Rather than uniform maximum drainage, the control system optimizes power extraction dynamically to balance energy output with degradation prevention, extending battery bank life while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as discharge current, voltage thresholds, and state of charge limits based on each battery's condition. By adapting these parameters in real-time, the system maximizes energy output when batteries are healthy while reducing stress during degradation phases, optimizing the trade-off between productivity and lifespan
3Reliability
If the system monitors and controls each battery individually, then battery life is extended, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs segmented control where each battery has its own monitoring circuit, but these are coordinated through a hierarchical structure with a central controller. This segmentation improves reliability through individual battery management while controlling complexity by distributing functions across multiple simple modules rather than one complex centralized system
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses universal, multi-functional components that can perform multiple tasks. For example, the same control circuitry monitors voltage, current, and temperature while also managing charge/discharge operations and communication. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
4Ease of repair
If degraded batteries are replaced individually, then maintenance flexibility improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures the battery bank as modular, independently controllable units. This segmentation allows individual batteries or groups to be replaced without affecting the entire system, improving maintenance flexibility. The control system manages these modules through standardized interfaces, preventing complexity escalation despite increased repair flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables selective replacement of degraded batteries while maintaining operation of healthy units. Degraded batteries can be taken out of service and replaced incrementally, with the control system automatically reconfiguring power flow. This approach improves ease of repair by allowing phased maintenance rather than requiring complete bank replacement
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 extends the useful life of the accumulator bank by maintaining performance and reducing maintenance, enabling the system to operate for 1.5 times longer than conventional systems while allowing for incremental battery replacement and improved operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
electronic systems in the battery interface... DC-DC converters to manage energy flow
Data Source
AI summary
The invention addresses to a system and method that allow controlling the individual power flow of each battery, being indicated for energy accumulator systems of the electrochemical-battery type, solidly connected to the electrical grid, respecting each of its characteristics during operation. Thus, if the batteries present different states of charge, the system will be responsible for draining from each battery only the amount of energy that can be used. For different states of health, charge and life, the performance and discharge capacity are preserved. For degraded batteries, the system allows their replacement without the need of replacing the entire bank, including batteries with different technologies.