Battery Cell Disconnection Detection via Rail Voltage Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems with circuit breakers placed on interconnecting conductors in parallel struggle to reliably detect disconnections of battery cells, which can lead to undetected faults and potential battery failure, especially when the faulty cell is not directly connected to voltage sensors.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit with dual voltage sensors per stage, comparing measurements at opposite ends of each conductive rail to detect voltage differences indicative of open circuit breakers, allowing for early detection of cell disconnections and potential faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If circuit breakers are placed on interconnecting conductors in parallel with battery cells, then battery protection against short-circuiting is improved and cost is reduced, but the ability to detect cell disconnections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement mechanism (voltage sensors and control circuit) that indirectly detects circuit breaker status by measuring voltage differences across battery stages. Instead of directly monitoring circuit breaker positions, the system uses voltage measurements as an intermediary indicator to infer disconnection events, thereby maintaining detection capability while preserving the cost benefits of parallel circuit breaker placement.
2Measurement precision
If voltage sensors are placed on each battery cell, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery system into multiple stages, with each stage monitored by a dedicated voltage sensor. Instead of placing sensors on every individual cell, the system groups cells into stages and measures voltage at the stage level. This segmentation approach maintains sufficient detection accuracy for identifying disconnections while significantly reducing the total number of sensors required compared to cell-level monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage sensors serve multiple functions: they monitor both the voltage of healthy cells and detect the presence of disconnections in parallel-connected cells. By making the voltage measurement system multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated detection sensors, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
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 reliable, cost-effective, and compact detection of open circuit breakers, facilitating timely maintenance and preventing battery degradation by signaling disconnections without requiring extensive voltage measurement across all cells.
Implementation Method 1
a first voltage sensor connected between a first end of the first rail and a first end of the second rail, and a second voltage sensor connected between a second end of the first rail and a second end of the second rail
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (200) comprising: a battery (110) having at least one first stage (Ei) comprising a plurality of cells (Ci,j) connected in parallel by way of first (ri) and second (ri+1) conducting rails, at least one of the first (ri) and second (ri+1) rails comprising at least one circuit breaker (Dk) situated on a portion of the rail connecting two neighbouring cells (Ci,j, Ci,j+1) of the stage; and a control circuit (220) comprising a first voltage sensor (Vi) connected between a first end (Ai) of the first rail (ri) and a first end (Ai+1) of the second rail (ri+1), and a second voltage sensor (Vi ') connected between a second end (Fi) of the first rail (ri) and a second end (Fi+) of the second rail (ri+), the control circuit (220) being adapted for comparing output values of the first (Vi) and second (Vi ') sensors.