Vehicle Battery Section Balancing via Energy Quanta
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Battery systems in vehicles often become unbalanced due to differences in capacity, state of charge, discharge rates, and voltages among sections, leading to inefficiencies and reduced lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for balancing battery sections by using sensors to measure electrical parameters, calculating the quantum of energy needed to reach a desired state of charge balance point, and selectively charging or discharging sections to equalize their energy levels, ensuring all sections reach a balanced state of charge simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery sections are charged simultaneously without individual balancing, then charging speed is improved, but state of charge uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple independently controllable sections, each with its own sensors and balancing circuitry. This segmentation allows individual state of charge monitoring and targeted energy redistribution between sections, enabling simultaneous charging while maintaining uniformity across all sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters (voltage, current) for each battery section based on real-time state of charge measurements. By changing these electrical parameters individually for each section, the system optimizes both charging speed and state of charge uniformity across the entire battery pack.
2Loss of time
If battery sections with different capacities are charged at the same rate, then charging time is reduced, but overcharging or undercharging conditions occur
Solution Approach 1:
Before initiating charging, the system performs preliminary measurements of each section's state of charge and capacity characteristics. Based on these preliminary data, it pre-calculates individualized charging profiles and energy quanta required for each section, preventing overcharging or undercharging before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors state of charge of each battery section during charging and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust charging rates. Sections approaching their optimal charge level receive reduced current or are temporarily disconnected, while others continue at higher rates, ensuring accurate charge states for all sections.
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods for balancing a vehicle battery system are presented. In certain embodiments, a method for balancing a vehicle battery system including a plurality of sections may include calculating a plurality of quanta of energy required for each of the plurality of sections to reaching a balancing point. Based at least in part on the calculated plural of quanta of energy, it may be determined that the plurality of sections of the battery system are unbalanced. To balance the battery system, a balancing system may be selectively actuated to change the amounts of energy stored in one or more of the plurality of cells such that the plurality of quanta of energy are within a particular range.