Battery Cluster Converter Layout for SOC and Voltage Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems face issues with battery cluster inconsistency due to voltage and SOC differences, leading to internal current circulation, performance deterioration, and potential damage, especially when batteries are added or replaced.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage system with N battery clusters and N-X first conversion units, where each first conversion unit is connected in series with a battery cluster to form a series branch circuit, which is then connected in parallel with other clusters, regulated by a management unit to maintain voltage and SOC consistency, using DC-to-DC or DC-to-AC converters to minimize losses and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all battery clusters are equipped with conversion units for voltage regulation, then cluster consistency is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively equipping only N-X battery clusters with conversion units rather than all N clusters. The management unit identifies clusters requiring regulation and applies conversion units locally to those specific clusters, making the system structure asymmetric and targeted. This resolves the contradiction by achieving cluster consistency only where needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity in clusters that don't require regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by using conversion units in only N-X clusters instead of all N clusters. This partial deployment is sufficient to maintain overall system consistency because the management unit can regulate voltage and SOC for the entire system through the subset of equipped clusters. This approach achieves the desired reliability improvement without the excessive cost and complexity of universal equipment.
2Reliability
If conversion units are added to regulate all battery clusters, then voltage and SOC consistency is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces system cost by applying conversion units locally to only N-X clusters that need regulation rather than installing them in all N clusters. The management unit identifies which clusters require voltage or SOC regulation and equips only those clusters, thereby achieving voltage consistency improvement while minimizing the number of expensive conversion units required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves voltage consistency through partial action by deploying conversion units in a subset of clusters (N-X out of N). This partial deployment is sufficient to regulate the entire system because the management unit can control power flow and voltage distribution across all clusters through the equipped ones, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining the desired reliability level.
3Reliability
If conversion units are added to regulate all battery clusters, then voltage and SOC consistency is improved, but system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces system weight by selectively installing conversion units only in N-X clusters that require SOC regulation rather than in all N clusters. The management unit identifies clusters with SOC deviations and equips only those specific clusters with conversion units, achieving SOC consistency improvement while minimizing the total weight added to the stationary energy storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves SOC consistency through partial deployment of conversion units in N-X clusters instead of all N clusters. This partial action is sufficient to regulate SOC across the entire system because the management unit can control charge-discharge operations through the equipped clusters, thereby achieving the reliability improvement with minimal weight penalty.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conversion units are added to regulate all battery clusters, then current circulation is reduced, but system losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces energy losses by applying conversion units locally to only N-X clusters that exhibit voltage or SOC deviations causing current circulation. The management unit identifies specific clusters requiring regulation and equips only those clusters, thereby eliminating harmful current circulation effects where they occur while avoiding the energy losses that would result from universally equipping all clusters with conversion units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates current circulation through partial regulation of N-X clusters instead of all N clusters. This partial action is sufficient to prevent harmful current circulation because the management unit can control power distribution through the equipped clusters to maintain system balance, thereby reducing the harmful effects without incurring the excessive energy losses of universal regulation.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of this application provides an energy storage system and an energy storage system control method. The energy storage system includes N battery clusters and N-X first conversion units, where N is a positive integer greater than 1 and X is a positive integer less than N. A first side of each of N-X first conversion units is connected in series to a power transmission circuit of one of N-X first battery clusters among the N battery clusters, so as to combine with a corresponding first battery cluster to form a series branch circuit. The N-X series branch circuits are connected in parallel to X second battery clusters in the N battery clusters.


