Modular Battery Rack Switching for Variable DC Bus Voltage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery systems can only provide a single DC voltage level, making it difficult to adapt to diverse DC voltage requirements across different scenarios, such as commercial, industrial, and residential applications.
Innovation Solution
A battery system comprising a first busbar, battery racks, and a control circuit, where each battery rack includes battery units connected in series with switches, allowing the control circuit to adjust the output voltage by selectively connecting battery modules to the busbar based on the required voltage, and incorporating a battery module management circuit to monitor and balance the state of health of each module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a battery system is designed to provide a single DC voltage level, then the system structure is simple and reliable, but it cannot adapt to diversified DC voltage levels required in different scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into multiple battery racks, with each rack containing multiple battery units that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to provide different voltage levels by selectively connecting specific racks and units, thereby achieving voltage adaptability without requiring complete system redesign for each voltage level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic switching capabilities through connection switches and isolation switches in each battery unit. These switches enable real-time reconfiguration of the battery system's voltage output by dynamically connecting or disconnecting battery units based on the required voltage level, transforming a static single-voltage system into a dynamic multi-voltage system.
2Reliability
If multiple battery systems with different voltage levels are designed separately, then each system is optimized for its specific voltage requirement, but it increases device complexity and reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal battery system that can function at multiple voltage levels through a standardized modular architecture. Each battery rack and unit follows the same design standards, allowing the system to be configured for different voltage requirements (such as commercial power station, industrial/commercial consumption, or residential consumption scenarios) without requiring separate specialized systems, thereby improving operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves different voltage levels by changing the configuration parameters - specifically, the number of battery racks and units connected in series. The control circuit adjusts the voltage output by modifying connection parameters (which racks are connected and how many units per rack), allowing a single system to adapt to various voltage requirements while maintaining consistent hardware design.
3Power
If battery units are connected in series to increase voltage output, then the voltage level is improved, but the risk of failure increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the battery system into independent racks and units with individual isolation switches, the patent limits the propagation of failures. If one battery unit fails, the isolation switch can disconnect only that specific unit from the series connection, preventing the failure from affecting the entire system and allowing other units to continue operating.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit continuously monitors the state of each battery unit and provides feedback to the switching system. When a failure is detected in any battery unit, the control circuit automatically activates the corresponding isolation switch to disconnect the faulty unit, maintaining system reliability while preserving the voltage output capability through the remaining healthy units.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system comprises a first busbar, at least one battery rack, and a control circuit are included. The battery rack includes a plurality of battery units. Each battery unit includes a battery module, a connection switch K1, and an isolation switch K2. The connection switch K1 is connected in series to the battery module to form a first branch, and the isolation switch K2 is connected in parallel to the first branch. The control circuit is connected to control ends of the connection switch K1 and the isolation switch K2, and is configured to: control, based on a first voltage required by the load, connection switches K1 and isolation switches K2 of N battery units in the battery rack, to make an output voltage of the first busbar meet the first voltage required by the load.