Battery Rack Switching Control for Parallel Output Balancing

Solution Overview

Problem

Battery racks in an energy storage system connected in parallel experience imbalances in voltage, charge amounts, and life spans due to continuous charging or discharging, leading to current concentration and reduced system capacity and lifespan, and existing solutions like individual converters increase volume and cost.

Innovation Solution

A battery rack management apparatus with power switches and a controller that adjusts the operation of each switch based on sensed currents and voltages to balance output currents and voltages across multiple battery racks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual converters are connected to each battery rack to adjust outputs, then output imbalance is solved, but device volume and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput balanceVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual converter functions into a single shared converter that serves all battery racks. The shared converter alternates between charging and discharging modes to balance outputs across multiple racks, eliminating the need for separate converters at each rack while maintaining output balance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared converter is designed to perform multiple functions: it can charge multiple battery racks simultaneously or sequentially, discharge to balance outputs, and adapt its operation based on the state of different racks. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require multiple dedicated converters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If individual converters are connected to each battery rack to adjust outputs, then output imbalance is solved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput balanceVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual converter functions into a single shared converter that serves all battery racks. The shared converter alternates between charging and discharging modes to balance outputs across multiple racks, eliminating the need for separate converters at each rack while maintaining output balance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared converter is designed to perform multiple functions: it can charge multiple battery racks simultaneously or sequentially, discharge to balance outputs, and adapt its operation based on the state of different racks. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require multiple dedicated converters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If converters are used for each battery rack, then output control is achieved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput controlVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors the output states of multiple battery racks and uses feedback control to adjust the shared converter's operation. Based on sensed output values, the controller dynamically determines charging/discharging modes and timing, simplifying control compared to managing multiple independent converters while maintaining effective output control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The shared converter operates in dynamic modes, alternating between charging and discharging states based on real-time battery rack conditions. The control device adjusts the converter's operation dynamically, switching between different functional states to achieve output balance without requiring complex static control configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12531410B2Battery rack management apparatus and method for operating same

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

A battery rack management apparatus includes a plurality of power switches respectively connected to a plurality of battery racks; and a control unit configured to turn on at least one of the plurality of power switches and use output values based on the plurality of battery racks to control an operation of each of the plurality of power switches.