Integrated Battery Overcurrent Protection for Safe Disconnection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply devices for motor vehicles, especially those using lithium-ion batteries, face challenges in safely disconnecting the electrical system for maintenance and repair while preventing unauthorized reconnection, and they incur increased manufacturing costs and reduced battery lifespan due to external fuse arrangements that compromise housing integrity.
Innovation Solution
A power supply device with an overcurrent protection device integrated in a second electrical line, controlled by a battery management system, which disconnects the battery from the network by triggering an isolating switch in the first electrical line upon detecting faults or errors, eliminating the need for external fuses and ensuring secure disconnection without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an external fuse or service plug is arranged on the battery housing for manual accessibility, then the electrical system can be disconnected for maintenance and repair, but housing openings are created that cause leaks and reduce battery service life
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse is integrated into the battery housing as a single unit, merging the protective device with the housing structure. This eliminates the need for separate external fuse arrangements while maintaining manual accessibility through the housing-integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection, environmental sealing, and houses the integrated fuse. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external fuse mounting structures that would create additional housing openings.
2Ease of operation
If an external fuse is arranged outside the battery housing for manual accessibility, then the electrical system can be disconnected, but the structural complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse and battery housing are merged into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate external fuse arrangements and complex mounting structures, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining manual accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If a service plug with high electrical conductivity is used to disconnect the electrical line, then the battery can be disconnected for maintenance, but the service plug must be manually switched back to enable reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic reclosure through the battery management system without requiring manual intervention. The BMS can automatically reset the isolating switch after maintenance or fault conditions are resolved, eliminating the need for manual switching operations.
4Extent of automation
If the isolating switch is designed to close when energized, then automatic disconnection can be achieved upon overcurrent protection triggering, but the switch requires a control mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The battery management system continuously monitors electrical parameters and provides feedback control to the isolating switch. When overcurrent or fault conditions are detected, the BMS automatically triggers the isolating switch to open, achieving automatic disconnection through closed-loop feedback control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic protection and disconnection functions without requiring external manual intervention. The battery management system self-monitors and self-actuates the isolating switch based on detected conditions, enabling the system to service itself.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a power supply device, comprising a first electric line (10) and at least one battery (1) connected thereto, in particular a lithium-ion battery, and an electrically operable circuit breaker (13) arranged in the first electric line (10) for interrupting a current flow in the first electric line (10). The power supply device further comprises a second electric line (20) for supplying power to the circuit breaker (13), wherein in the second electric line (20) an overcurrent protection device (21) is arranged, by means of which a current flow in the second electric line (20) can be interrupted and thus the circuit breaker (13) can be controlled in such a manner that same interrupts the current flow in the first electric line (10). The invention further relates to a method for disconnecting a battery (1), in particular a lithium-ion battery, from a connection device coupled to the battery (1) via a first electric line (10), and to a motor vehicle having the power supply device according to the invention.