Battery Charging Current Control for UPS Load and Temperature Shifts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion batteries in UPS units face issues such as damage from overcharging, deep discharge, rapid charging, temperature and load variations, and capacity degradation, leading to reduced performance and lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A battery control manager system that adjusts charging based on state information like temperature, load profile, and power loss temporal profile, using heating and cooling devices to optimize battery performance and extend lifespan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If lithium-ion batteries are charged quickly to improve response time during power failures, then productivity is improved, but the battery may be damaged due to overcharging or excessive voltage differential

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidbattery damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the charging current based on real-time battery state information including temperature, state of charge, and voltage differential. The charging rate is not fixed but adapts continuously to optimize charging speed while preventing damage, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The battery control manager continuously monitors battery parameters and uses this feedback to adjust charging current. The system receives state information from the battery and modifies charging parameters accordingly, enabling safe rapid charging by preventing overcharging and excessive voltage differential in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the battery is charged to full capacity to ensure adequate backup power, then the backup power capability is improved, but the battery lifespan deteriorates due to deep discharge cycles and capacity degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackup power capabilityVSAvoidbattery lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters by adjusting charging thresholds and current based on battery state. Instead of always charging to 100% or discharging to 0%, the system optimizes charge/discharge parameters to extend lifespan while maintaining adequate backup capacity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively managing battery charge levels before critical situations occur. It maintains optimal charge states and prevents deep discharge cycles in advance, extending battery lifespan while ensuring adequate backup power is available when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Power

If the battery operates at high load to provide sufficient power during outages, then the power output is improved, but the battery temperature increases causing capacity degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outputVSAvoidbattery temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The battery control manager acts as an intermediary between the battery and the load. It mediates power delivery by adjusting charging/discharging rates based on temperature feedback, allowing high power output when safe and reducing load when temperature becomes problematic, resolving the contradiction between power and temperature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4704296A1Techniques for managing charging of batteries
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORP
  • EP4704296A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4704296A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4704296A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method is provided, including: (a) providing an initial charging current to a battery; (b) receiving state information about the battery, including: (1) a temperature, (2) a load profile, and (3) a power loss temporal profile including power loss durations and timings of power failure events; (c) determining, based on the state information, a modification, including: (1) in response to detecting that (i) the temperature exceeds a first upper threshold or (ii) the load profile exceeds a second upper threshold, setting the modification to be a decrease in the charging current; and (2) in response to (iii) detecting that the load profile is below a lower threshold or (iv) predicting that the battery won't reach a full charge by a next expected power failure event if the initial charging current is maintained, setting the modification to be an increase in the charging current; and (d) in response to determining the modification, adjusting the charging current provided to the battery based on the determined modification.