Battery Pack Balancing with Single Charger and Sequential Cell Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for charging battery packs in electric vehicles, particularly those with small capacity and low voltage batteries, lead to uneven cell charging, resulting in reduced battery endurance due to high current charging, which is harmful and causes voltage and capacity imbalances.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a battery module electrically connected to a main charging module and a balance charging module, where the battery module includes a battery pack with multiple cells in series, a battery management system, and sockets for cell and main connections, while the main charging module handles high current charging and the balance charging module ensures absolute balance by charging cells sequentially after the main charger completes its task.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If high current charging is used to reduce charging time, then charging speed is improved, but battery cell balance deteriorates and battery endurance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is segmented into two distinct phases: constant current charging for rapid charge and constant voltage charging for balance. The charging device transitions from high current mode to low current mode automatically, dividing the charging task into stages that prioritize speed initially, then balance later, resolving the contradiction between charging time and battery endurance.
2Loss of time
If replaceable batteries are used to reduce waiting time, then battery replacement speed is improved, but cell voltage balance deteriorates due to inconsistent charging/discharging properties
Solution Approach 1:
The charging device incorporates automatic detection of cell voltage levels and charging status, using feedback signals from the battery management system to adjust charging parameters. This ensures that even with replaceable batteries having varying properties, the system maintains proper voltage balance by responding to real-time battery conditions.
3Productivity
If continuous high current charging is applied to reach full capacity quickly, then charging efficiency is improved, but overcharging risk increases and battery lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging device dynamically adjusts charging current based on real-time battery status, transitioning from high current to low current as cells approach full charge. This dynamic adjustment maintains high charging efficiency during the majority of the charging process while automatically preventing overcharging in the final stage, eliminating the need for fixed high current charging.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of charging a battery pack with single charger includes a battery module, a main charging module, and a balance charging module. The battery module has a battery pack, and the battery pack has a plurality of cells in series. The main charging module has a main charger. The balance charging module has a balance charger. All the cells of the battery pack of the battery module are charged at the same time by the main charger of the main charging module. After the charging task of the main charging module is completed, the cells of the battery pack of the battery module are charged in sequence by the balance charger of the balance charging module.