Battery Module Bypass Control for Flexible Energy Storage Clusters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy storage systems face challenges due to battery health disparities among modules, leading to inconsistent charging and discharging, reduced utilization, and increased wiring complexity, which affects safety and delivery quality.

Innovation Solution

An energy storage system with centralized monitoring and DC/DC converters, incorporating switch bridge arms and battery management units, allows for flexible control and management of individual modules, enhancing stability and applicability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If DC/DC converters are introduced into each battery module to manage battery differences, then battery management flexibility is improved, but wiring complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery management flexibilityVSAvoidwiring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the battery management function into two levels: cluster-level DC/DC converters handle inter-cluster energy transfer, while module-level switch bridge arms handle intra-cluster battery balancing. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific management tasks, improving overall flexibility without requiring full DC/DC converters in every module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a centralized monitoring system as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple DC/DC converters and switch bridge arms. This mediator manages the complex wiring by providing centralized control logic, reducing the burden on individual components and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stress or pressure

If battery modules are connected in series to form clusters, then voltage requirements are met, but battery utilization decreases due to bottleneck effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage requirementVSAvoidbattery utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration capability where switch bridge arms can dynamically switch between series and parallel connections within clusters. This allows the system to adapt connection topology based on real-time battery states, preventing bottleneck effects and maximizing utilization while meeting voltage requirements through series connection when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the electrical connection parameters (series/parallel configuration) of battery modules based on their state of charge and health. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system can balance the bottleneck effect of series connection with the voltage requirements, optimizing overall battery utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If simple parallel connection of battery clusters is used, then system expansion is simplified, but charging and discharging consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem expansion simplicityVSAvoidcharging and discharging consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a centralized monitoring system that continuously monitors the state of charge and health of each battery cluster. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the operation of DC/DC converters to balance charging and discharging rates across clusters, maintaining consistency despite simple parallel expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as charge/discharge current and voltage thresholds for different clusters based on their individual states. This allows simple parallel expansion to maintain charging and discharging consistency by adapting parameters to each cluster's condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4167423B1Energy storage system
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4167423B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4167423B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4167423B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides an energy storage system. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage unit cluster and a centralized monitoring system of the energy storage unit cluster, the energy storage unit cluster including at least two energy storage modules connected in series, one of which includes one energy storage element group and one switch bridge arm, and the switch bridge arm includes a master control switch and a bypass switch, where one terminal of the master control switch is connected to the energy storage element group, and the other terminal of the master control switch is used as a first input/output terminal of the energy storage module; one terminal of the bypass switch is connected to the first input/output terminal, and the other terminal of the bypass switch is connected to a second input/output terminal of the energy storage module; the energy storage unit cluster is coupled to a direct current busbar through a DC/DC converter; and the centralized monitoring system is connected to the energy storage unit cluster through a control bus and is configured to control a master control switch and a bypass switch of any energy storage module in the energy storage unit cluster to be on or off. This application can improve management flexibility of the energy storage system, enhance stability of the energy storage system, and provide higher applicability.