Battery Rack Relay Control for Short-Circuit Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery racks in energy storage systems can be damaged due to abnormal connections with relays, leading to short-circuit phenomena and capacitance imbalances, which cause overheating, swelling, and damage to battery protection units and electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that include a current measuring unit, a current comparing unit, a relay controller, and a voltage measuring unit to detect abnormal current and voltage conditions, controlling the operation states of precharge and main relays to prevent short-circuits and capacitance imbalances by blocking excessive currents and adjusting relay states before a short-circuit occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a relay is installed to protect the battery rack from overcharging and overdischarging, then the reliability of battery protection is improved, but the risk of short-circuit phenomenon increases due to abnormal installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring the current flowing through the relay before the relay is fully activated. The current measuring unit detects abnormal current conditions in advance, and the control unit prevents the relay from closing if abnormality is detected, thereby avoiding short-circuit phenomena before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the current through the relay and comparing it against predetermined thresholds. The control unit receives feedback from the current measuring unit and automatically adjusts relay operation or triggers protection mechanisms based on the measured current values, preventing short-circuits caused by abnormal installation.
2Productivity
If the relay is activated without current verification, then the charging speed is improved, but the battery rack may be damaged due to excessive current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring and verifying the current through the relay before activation. The current measuring unit checks current conditions in advance, and only when the current is within safe limits does the control unit permit relay activation, ensuring both fast charging and battery protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (current measuring unit and control unit) between the power source and the battery rack. This intermediary verifies current conditions and controls relay activation, preventing excessive current from damaging the battery rack while maintaining efficient charging when conditions are normal.
3Device complexity
If voltage difference between battery racks is not controlled, then the system complexity is reduced, but capacitance imbalance occurs leading to overcharging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by measuring voltage differences between battery racks and using this information to control relay activation. When voltage difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit prevents relay activation in affected racks, maintaining capacitance balance without requiring complex additional hardware.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system, and a method of preventing a battery rack from being damaged by measuring a current, and more particularly, provides an apparatus, a system, and a method of preventing a battery rack from being damaged by measuring a current, which, when a battery module is abnormally connected with a relay in some battery racks in installing the relay, which conducts or blocks a current flowing in the battery rack including a plurality of battery modules so that a current exceeding a predetermined current limit value flows in the battery rack, prevent a short-circuit phenomenon that occurs in the battery rack when the relay is abnormally installed, by controlling an operation state of the relay before the battery rack and the relay form a short circuit, and prevent capacitance imbalance between the battery racks by controlling an operation state of the relay when a voltage difference between a plurality of battery racks exceeds a predetermined voltage difference, thereby preventing the battery rack, a battery protection unit (BPU), and an electronic component from being damaged.