Battery Power Limit Prediction Using an Equivalent Circuit Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery management systems struggle to accurately predict terminal voltage and net resistance, leading to incorrect determination of power limits during charging and discharging, which compromises battery safety.

Innovation Solution

A method and battery management system that utilizes an equivalent circuit model to predict terminal voltage and net resistance using equations based on measured current and resistance, allowing for periodic updates of charge and discharge power limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If terminal voltage and current are measured directly without prediction, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but prediction accuracy of terminal voltage deteriorates under fluctuating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by predicting terminal voltage and net resistance before actual charging/discharging operations. The equivalent circuit model pre-calculates these parameters based on current state, allowing the system to determine power limits in advance rather than reacting to real-time fluctuations, thus improving prediction accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an equivalent circuit model as an intermediary between direct measurement and power limit determination. This model acts as a mediator that processes current measurements and predicts future terminal voltage and resistance, resolving the contradiction by providing accurate predictions without requiring direct complex real-time monitoring of fluctuating parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If power limit is determined based on incorrectly predicted terminal voltage, then determination speed is maintained, but battery safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoiddetermination time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of terminal voltage and net resistance using the equivalent circuit model before determining power limits. This advance calculation ensures that power limits are based on accurate predicted values rather than incorrect real-time measurements, improving battery safety without significant time loss since the predictions are computed efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously updating the equivalent circuit model parameters based on actual measurements and using these updated parameters for subsequent predictions. This closed-loop approach ensures that prediction accuracy improves over time, enhancing battery safety while maintaining efficient determination timing through iterative refinement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If equivalent circuit model is used to predict terminal voltage and net resistance, then prediction accuracy improves, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the battery into an equivalent circuit model with distinct components (resistors and capacitors). This segmentation allows separate estimation of individual parameters (R1, R2, C) and their contributions to terminal voltage and net resistance, improving prediction accuracy while managing calculation complexity through modular parameter estimation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically updating the equivalent circuit model parameters (resistances and capacitances) based on current battery state. This allows the model to adapt to changing battery conditions, maintaining high prediction accuracy while controlling calculation complexity through efficient parameter update strategies rather than full recalculation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3712628B1Method for determining power limit of battery, and battery management system
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3712628B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3712628B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3712628B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method and a battery management system for periodically determining at least one of charge power limit and discharge power limit of a battery. The method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes predicting the terminal voltage and the net resistance of the battery after a predefined time from the current time using an equivalent circuit model for the battery, and determining the charge power limit or the discharge power limit of the battery from the predicted terminal voltage and net resistance.