Battery Pack Segmentation for Dynamic Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems for electric vehicles do not effectively maintain secondary non-traction electric systems during battery discharge and lack efficient balancing and power management strategies.
Innovation Solution
A controller-based system that monitors the state of charge of a battery pack, compares it to a charge allocation profile, and adjusts the connection of power-consuming items based on thresholds, allowing for selective power distribution and segment-based charging/discharging to optimize battery usage and maintain sustained traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the battery pack is used to power multiple power consuming items simultaneously, then the power consumption increases, but the state of charge depletes faster and may lead to deep discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of power distribution by adjusting the connection state of different power consuming items based on the battery's state of charge. When the battery charge level drops below a threshold, the controller automatically disconnects non-essential loads to prevent deep discharge, thereby maintaining reliability while managing power consumption.
2Ease of manufacture
If the battery is charged without selective power distribution, then charging is simpler, but energy is wasted on non-essential items and charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple independent battery cells, and the power consuming items are categorized into different groups based on their essentiality. The controller can selectively charge or discharge specific segments of the battery to power specific items, enabling optimized charging strategies that reduce overall charging time while maintaining simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic control where the connection state of power consuming items changes based on real-time battery status. The controller continuously monitors the state of charge and dynamically adjusts which items are powered, transforming a static charging system into an adaptive one that optimizes charging efficiency without complicating the user interface.
3Ease of operation
If all battery cells are used uniformly for power provision, then power distribution is simpler, but individual cell imbalances cause reduced overall battery performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by treating each battery cell individually rather than uniformly. The controller monitors the state of charge of each cell separately and can selectively engage or disengage specific cells based on their individual status. This allows the system to maintain simple overall power distribution while optimizing performance by utilizing only the cells that are ready to contribute, thereby preventing performance degradation from cell imbalances.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery management apparatus and method for use in an electrical vehicle has a plurality of individual batteries 34 provided within a battery pack 10. The battery pack is coupled to power vehicle traction 12 and a plurality of individually connectable vehicle appliances 18-26. A monitor keeps track of charge state by means of a battery monitor 44 on each battery relaying instant current to a processor 27. In a first embodiment, a charge allocation profile for the whole battery pack 10 is used where different appliances 18-26 have different amounts of charge capacity allocated to them and are disconnected when discharge exceeds their allocation and are reconnected during charging when their charge is again found. In a second embodiment, individual batteries 34 and appliances 18-26 are connected within a network configuration allowing anything to be connected to anything else. Battery 10 segments can be created, each having one or more allocated individual batteries and each segment connected to selectable services 12 18-26 within the electric vehicle. Segmentation patterns can be changed. A segment charge allocation profile can be used within each segment in much the same way that the charge allocation profile can be used and changed for the first embodiment. Progressive charging and discharging of the battery is the end result.