Electric Storage Apparatus Battery Potential Equalization Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric storage apparatuses face challenges in increasing the number of parallel-connectable storage batteries when equalizing electric potentials, as overcurrent can lead to breakage, and existing methods do not effectively maximize the number of connectable batteries.
Innovation Solution
An electric storage apparatus with a virtual processing unit and a connection controlling unit that virtually connects storage batteries in parallel, optimizing the connection order to maximize the number of batteries that can be connected without causing overcurrent, by sequentially connecting batteries from highest to lowest and lowest to highest electric potential.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage batteries with different electric potentials are connected in parallel to increase capacity, then the number of connectable batteries increases, but overcurrent flows from high potential to low potential batteries causing breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary virtual connection processing before actual parallel connection. It calculates the electric potential differences between all storage batteries in advance, determines the optimal connection sequence, and identifies which batteries to connect first. This preliminary planning ensures that batteries are connected in an order that prevents overcurrent, allowing maximum number of batteries to be connected safely.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel connection process is segmented into multiple stages: first connecting batteries with smaller potential differences (those closer in electric potential), then progressively connecting batteries with larger potential differences. This segmentation of the connection process based on potential difference magnitude prevents overcurrent by ensuring that at each stage, the potential difference between connected batteries remains within safe limits.
2Productivity
If storage batteries are connected in parallel without optimizing connection order, then the process is simple, but the number of connectable batteries is limited due to overcurrent constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that mediates between the storage batteries and the parallel connection process. It introduces virtual connection processing as an intermediate step that calculates optimal connection sequences based on electric potential differences. This intermediary control layer enables complex optimization without requiring complex physical connection mechanisms, as the control unit systematically determines connection orders based on potential difference calculations.
3Reliability
If storage batteries are connected in arbitrary order, then connection control is simple, but overcurrent occurs between batteries with large potential differences
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit changes the parameter of connection sequence based on electric potential differences. Instead of arbitrary or fixed-order connection, it dynamically determines the connection order by calculating potential differences between batteries and selecting sequences that keep potential differences within safe ranges. This parameter-based control approach prevents overcurrent while maintaining systematic and reproducible connection processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric storage apparatus according to one aspect of an embodiment includes a plurality of storage batteries, a virtual processing unit, and a connection controlling unit. The virtual processing unit virtually and sequentially connects in parallel two or more storage batteries, of the plurality of storage batteries, having a potential difference or potential differences within a predetermined range so as to equalize electric potentials of the two or more storage batteries. The connection controlling unit connects in parallel the two or more storage batteries in a connection order for maximizing the number of the two or more storage batteries to be connected in parallel when the virtual processing unit sequentially connects in parallel the two or more storage batteries in an order from highest electric potential to lowest one and in an order from lowest electric potential to highest one.