Battery Exchange Station UPS Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-swap stations face challenges in maintaining continuous service during power outages, as they rely on external power supplies, and existing solutions do not effectively manage exchangeable batteries to ensure uninterrupted operation.
Innovation Solution
The system identifies and utilizes one or more exchangeable batteries as Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) batteries, based on state of charge, temperature, and other characteristics, to provide internal power for charging other batteries and station operations, and designates additional batteries as UPS candidates to sustain operation during power interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery-swap station relies on external power supply for charging batteries and station operations, then the station can provide continuous service under normal conditions, but the station cannot maintain operation during power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the battery-swap station to serve itself by designating certain exchangeable batteries as UPS batteries that automatically discharge to power station operations and charge other batteries during external power interruptions, eliminating dependency on external power supply for continuous service
Solution Approach 2:
Exchangeable batteries are designed to serve multiple functions: they can be used as UPS batteries to power station operations, as candidate batteries to be charged by UPS batteries, or as regular exchangeable batteries for user service, allowing the same battery type to fulfill different roles based on system needs
2Reliability
If the station designates UPS batteries to sustain operation during power outages, then the station can maintain service continuity, but the number of batteries available for user exchange is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the roles of batteries based on power supply status: during normal operation, batteries are available for exchange; during power interruptions, the system designates specific batteries as UPS or candidate batteries. This dynamic reconfiguration ensures service continuity while minimizing impact on user exchange capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The battery fleet is segmented into different functional groups (UPS batteries, candidate batteries, and exchangeable batteries) during power interruptions, allowing the system to maintain operations with a dedicated subset while preserving battery exchange capability with the remaining groups
3Loss of energy
If the system designates UPS batteries based on state of charge and other characteristics, then optimal battery usage is achieved, but the complexity of battery management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors battery characteristics including state of charge, temperature, and cycle count, using this feedback to dynamically designate UPS batteries, candidate batteries, and exchangeable batteries. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal energy utilization while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making
4Reliability
If the station uses internal batteries to sustain operation during power outages, then continuous service is maintained, but energy is consumed from the battery stock
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of candidate batteries using external power supply during normal operation, so that when power interruptions occur, these pre-charged candidate batteries can immediately take over as UPS batteries, minimizing the energy that would otherwise need to be discharged from the original UPS batteries
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 approach allows battery-swap stations to maintain operation for a predetermined minimum time without external power, ensuring continuous service to users and optimizing battery usage, even during power outages.
Implementation Method 1
selecting one or more UPS (uninterruptible power supply) batteries from the plurality of exchangeable batteries positioned in the battery exchange station; and in response to a power interruption of the battery exchange station, instructing the one or more UPS batteries to discharge to sustain an operation of the battery exchange station
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods and associated systems for operating a battery exchange station. The present technology (1) receives battery information from a memory attached to each of a plurality of exchangeable batteries positioned in the battery exchange station; (2) receives a battery demand prediction associated with the battery exchange station; and (3) identifying one or more uninterruptible-power-supply (UPS) batteries from the plurality of exchangeable batteries at least partially based in part on the battery demand prediction and individual state of charges (SoCs) of the plurality of exchangeable batteries.