Battery Control Circuit for Renewable Energy Flow Battery Strip Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing battery control circuits for zinc-bromine flow batteries in renewable energy power generation systems face challenges in preventing heat generation and volume increase during strip operations, leading to inefficient discharging and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A battery control circuit design that includes a DC power supply unit, first and second DC-DC converters, a capacitor, and a controller to manage current flow paths and voltage levels, eliminating the need for resistors and ensuring stable strip operations without heat generation by maintaining the sum of battery and capacitor voltages above the output voltage of the DC-DC converter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resistor is connected to the battery to perform strip operation, then the battery can be fully discharged, but heat is generated in the resistor causing volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the resistor from the system by replacing it with a capacitor-based voltage boosting mechanism. The capacitor charges during battery discharge and boosts the voltage to exceed the converter output voltage, eliminating the need for resistive discharge paths and the associated heat dissipation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter dynamically by charging a capacitor in parallel with the battery during discharge. When the capacitor voltage plus battery voltage exceeds the converter output voltage, the converter can operate in reverse mode to achieve full discharge without requiring a resistor, thus avoiding heat generation and volume increase.
2Temperature
If a heat sink is installed for rapid heat dissipation, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but volumes of the battery and battery control circuit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful heat generation into a beneficial voltage boosting mechanism. Instead of dissipating energy as heat through a resistor, the energy is stored in a capacitor and then used to boost the battery voltage, enabling full discharge through the converter's reverse operation without heat generation.
3Reliability
If the battery voltage is reduced to a predetermined level for strip operation, then the battery can be fully discharged, but the switching operation of the converter fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by charging a capacitor in parallel with the battery during the discharge process. This stored energy in the capacitor is then used to boost the voltage when needed, ensuring the converter can maintain proper switching operation throughout the entire discharge range, including at low battery voltages where full discharge is required.
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
The solution enables efficient, stable, and heat-free strip operations of zinc-bromine flow batteries, preventing volume increases and ensuring reliable energy storage and discharge capabilities in renewable energy systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first capacitor that is connected in series to the flow battery, the first capacitor fully discharging the flow battery in a manner that the sum of a voltage across the first capacitor and a voltage across the flow battery becomes higher than an output voltage of the first DC-DC converter
Implementation Method 2
a first DC-DC converter that connected between the DC power supply unit and the flow battery, and the first DC-DC converter has a switching element providing current flow paths in two directions
Data Source
AI summary
The battery control circuit includes: a battery; a DC power supply unit; a first DC-DC converter providing a current path in a first direction of supplying the DC energy from the DC power supply unit to the battery, and a current path in a second direction of discharging the DC energy in the battery to a ground; a first capacitor fully discharging the battery in a manner that the sum of a voltage across the first capacitor and a voltage across the flow battery to be higher than an output voltage of the first DC-DC converter; a second DC-DC converter supplying the DC energy from the DC power supply unit to the first capacitor; and a controller controlling the first DC-DC converter to form the current flow path in the second direction when a number of times of charging and discharging the flow battery reaches a preset number.