In-situ Battery Capacity Testing via Pack Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for determining battery energy storage capacity require taking the entire battery system offline, disrupting operations and taking several days, which is inconvenient and affects energy storage services.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allow for in-situ testing of energy storage capacity by removing only a portion of the energy storage elements from service, enabling the majority of the system to remain operational while capacity is measured, using an energy storage capacity module to test, measure, and manipulate operations based on the results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the entire battery system is taken offline for capacity measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system productivity and operational continuity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity measurement accuracyVSAvoidenergy storage service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into multiple battery packs, allowing selective offline testing of individual packs while others remain online to provide energy storage services. This segmentation enables parallel operation of testing and service functions, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary identification of candidate battery packs for testing based on usage patterns and state of charge. By pre-selecting appropriate packs for offline testing, the system ensures that service availability is maintained while measurement accuracy is achieved on selected units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the entire battery system is taken offline for capacity measurement, then measurement completeness is improved, but loss of time and operational disruption worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity assessment completenessVSAvoiddowntime duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the battery system into testable units (individual battery packs), the system can measure capacity of selected packs without shutting down the entire system. This reduces the time loss and operational disruption compared to taking all packs offline simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous energy storage service capability by keeping most battery packs online while only taking selected packs offline for measurement. This ensures that useful action (energy storage service) continues uninterrupted, minimizing time loss and operational disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If individual battery cells are removed and tested separately with chargers and loads, then cell-level measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual cell capacity measurementVSAvoidtesting equipment and procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a multi-functional testing apparatus that can test multiple battery packs simultaneously using standardized procedures. This universal testing platform reduces device complexity compared to individual cell testing by handling entire packs with integrated measurement capabilities, eliminating the need for separate chargers and loads for each cell.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The testing function is merged with the battery management system, allowing capacity measurement to be integrated into existing operational workflows. By combining measurement capabilities with pack-level management, the system reduces operational difficulty while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3911963B1Energy storage rolling capacity check including in-situ lifetime model comparison
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 GE GRID SOLUTIONS LLC
  • EP3911963B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3911963B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3911963B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to some embodiments, system (200) and methods are provided comprising providing an energy storage device (202) including two or more energy storage elements (204, 206, 207); initiating execution of an energy storage capacity module (208) operative to test a capacity of a first energy storage element (204, 206, 207); removing the first storage element (204, 206, 207) from service, while maintaining service of the energy storage device (202); measuring a capacity of the removed storage element (204, 206, 207); receiving the measured capacity at a lifing model (220); executing the lifing model (220) to generate an output; and manipulating operation of the energy storage device (202) based on the generated output.