Auxiliary Power Circuit for Battery Pack Short-Circuit Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems face challenges in efficiently managing short-circuit faults, particularly in the auxiliary power supply, which can lead to increased costs due to complex circuit designs and high component counts.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a current-limiting protection circuit within the energy storage system, comprising a drive circuit, a first switching transistor, and a first resistor, which is connected in series and then in parallel to the first auxiliary power supply. This circuit effectively cuts off short-circuit currents by turning off the first switching transistor when a short-circuit fault occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sampling control circuit with multiple components (sampling circuit, comparison circuit, MCU) is used for short-circuit protection, then the protection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the traditional sampling control circuit. By removing the sampling circuit, comparison circuit, and MCU, and retaining only the essential switching transistor and resistor elements, the design achieves short-circuit protection with significantly reduced complexity while maintaining core functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and complex electronic components (MCU, comparison circuit) with simple, low-cost passive components (resistors, switching transistors). This substitution uses inexpensive elements that can be easily replaced if needed, achieving cost-effective protection without sacrificing reliability.
2Reliability
If a sampling control circuit with multiple components is used for short-circuit protection, then the protection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive electronic components (MCU, comparison circuit) with inexpensive passive components (resistors, switching transistors). This substitution dramatically reduces bill of materials cost and assembly complexity, making the protection circuit economically viable for mass production in energy storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
By removing costly components like the MCU and comparison circuit from the design, the patent eliminates associated manufacturing costs, assembly steps, and calibration requirements, thereby reducing overall manufacturing expenses while preserving essential protection functionality.
3Device complexity
If a simple current-limiting protection circuit is used, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to detect and respond to short-circuit faults may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The protection circuit uses the fault condition itself (short-circuit current) to trigger the protection response. The excessive current automatically causes the switching transistor to turn off due to voltage drop across the series resistor, eliminating the need for separate detection and control circuits while maintaining effective fault response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of short-circuit current into a useful signaling mechanism. The voltage drop across the resistor caused by excessive current serves as the trigger signal to activate protection, transforming the fault condition itself into the detection mechanism and eliminating the need for complex sensing circuits.
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 solution reduces the risk of short-circuit fault spreading and lowers costs by simplifying the circuit design and reducing the number of components required, while effectively managing short-circuit currents.
Implementation Method 1
the current-limiting protection circuit includes a drive circuit, a first switching transistor, and a first resistor
Implementation Method 2
the drive voltage is a difference between an output voltage of the drive circuit and a voltage between two ends of the first resistor
Data Source
AI summary
A energy storage system includes a first auxiliary power supply, a battery pack, and a current-limiting protection circuit. The first auxiliary power supply is configured to supply power to a second auxiliary power supply in the battery pack, the second auxiliary power supply is configured to supply power to a power board in the battery pack, and the second auxiliary power supply and the current-limiting protection circuit are connected in series and then connected in parallel to two ends of the first auxiliary power supply. The current-limiting protection circuit includes a drive circuit, a first switching transistor, and a first resistor, one end of the first switching transistor and the first resistor that are connected in series is connected to the first auxiliary power supply, the other end of the first switching transistor and the first resistor that are connected in series is connected to the second auxiliary power supply.