Storage Battery Deterioration Measurement Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for determining the deterioration of assembled batteries and power storage devices are time-consuming, requiring multiple steps and prolonged setup times, which delays the detection of deteriorated unit batteries.

Innovation Solution

A device and system that detect unit batteries indicating maximum and minimum values, determining deterioration by comparing the difference in their state variations over a predetermined period, allowing for early identification of deteriorated batteries through a control unit and deterioration determination unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional determination methods using maximum and minimum discharge voltages at setup time are used, then deterioration can be detected, but the measurement time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeterioration detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing voltage information from multiple previous measurement timings in a storage unit. Instead of waiting until setup time to gather all necessary data, the system continuously accumulates voltage information from unit batteries during normal operation. This allows the deterioration determination to be performed rapidly by comparing current measurements against pre-stored baseline data, significantly reducing the actual measurement time while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multi-step determination processes are used to identify abnormal states and transitions, then comprehensive deterioration assessment is achieved, but the measurement process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeterioration assessment reliabilityVSAvoiddetermination process time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple determination steps into a single integrated process. By continuously storing voltage information from multiple measurement timings and using a determination unit that simultaneously evaluates both the current maximum/minimum voltage differences and their changes over time, the system combines what would traditionally be separate assessment steps into one unified deterioration determination. This integration maintains comprehensive assessment reliability while dramatically reducing the time required for the determination process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If setup time is extended to allow for proper deterioration measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but the system becomes less responsive to actual deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeterioration measurement accuracyVSAvoiddeterioration detection speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by continuously measuring and storing voltage information from unit batteries during normal operation rather than only during periodic setup times. The determination unit continuously monitors for deterioration by comparing current voltage data against the stored historical data. This continuous operation ensures both high measurement precision through multiple data points and rapid detection speed by immediately identifying deterioration when it occurs, without requiring extended setup periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3125354B1Storage battery deterioration measurement device and power storage system device
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3125354B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3125354B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3125354B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A storage battery deterioration measurement device and a power storage system are provided which measure deterioration in unit batteries included in an assembled battery constituting a storage battery in a shorter time than conventional devices and systems, and which include a control unit 10 to acquire information based on the states of the multiple unit batteries 1 and a deterioration determination unit 11 to detect the unit battery 1 indicating the maximum value among the information acquired by the control unit 10 and the unit battery 1 indicating the minimum value thereamong, and to detect deterioration in the unit batteries 1 on the basis of the difference between a per-predetermined-period variation of information on the unit battery 1 indicating the maximum value and a per-predetermined-period variation of information on the unit battery 1 indicating the minimum value.