Battery Charging Method Using Segmented Voltage Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-stage charging methods for battery sets lead to increased temperature and potential damage due to prolonged charging, and lack effective balancing during the process.
Innovation Solution
A charging method that performs serial charging followed by uniform separate charging in multiple segmentations, using a battery management system with a controller, balancing power source, and switching modules to sort and charge battery cells to segmented voltages, balancing voltages during serial charging, and ensuring each cell is charged to saturation without overcharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional two-stage charging method is used to charge battery cells to saturation voltage, then charging completeness is improved, but temperature increase and potential damage occur due to prolonged charging time
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is divided into multiple segmentations where battery cells are charged to different segmented voltages (V1, V2, V3, ..., VK) rather than directly to saturation voltage. This segmentation reduces the time each cell spends at high voltage, thereby reducing temperature increase and potential damage while still achieving complete charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging method employs periodic action by cycling through multiple segmentations repeatedly. In each segmentation, cells are charged to a specific voltage level, then the process repeats with adjusted voltage targets. This periodic charging pattern prevents prolonged exposure to high charging currents that cause excessive temperature rise.
2Reliability
If conventional two-stage charging method charges all battery cells to saturation voltage separately, then charging completeness is improved, but charging time is excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is divided into multiple segmentations where battery cells are charged to different segmented voltages (V1, V2, V3, ..., VK) rather than directly to saturation voltage. This segmentation reduces the time each cell spends at high voltage, thereby reducing temperature increase and potential damage while still achieving complete charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs preliminary balancing action during the charging process by identifying cells that have reached saturation voltage and removing them from further charging. This preliminary action prevents waiting for all cells to complete charging sequentially, significantly reducing total charging time while ensuring no cell is overcharged.
3Reliability
If conventional two-stage charging method is used, then battery cells can be charged to saturation voltage, but balancing for battery cells is performed only after all cells are completely charged
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary balancing action during the charging process by identifying cells that have reached saturation voltage and removing them from further charging. This preliminary action prevents waiting for all cells to complete charging sequentially, significantly reducing total charging time while ensuring no cell is overcharged.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging method employs feedback by continuously monitoring the voltage of each battery cell and comparing it against the segmented voltage targets. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts which cells receive charging current in each segmentation, enabling real-time balancing during the charging process rather than after completion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces the time period for charging, decreases temperature rise, and balances cell voltages efficiently, thereby extending battery life and ensuring uniform charging.
Implementation Method 1
determining whether one of the battery cells reaches a saturation voltage; sorting the battery cells according to cell voltages of the battery cells
Implementation Method 2
Due to chemical reaction and a current passing through an internal resistor of the battery cell, thermal energy is generated
Implementation Method 3
Due to chemical reaction and a current passing through an internal resistor of the battery cell, thermal energy is generated
Data Source
AI summary
A charging method for a battery set with a plurality of battery cells, having steps of performing a serial charging on the battery cells; determining whether one of the battery cells reaches a saturation voltage; and performing a uniform separately charging on the battery cells when one of the battery cells reaches the saturation voltage, wherein the uniform separately charging comprises sorting the battery cells according to cell voltages of the battery cells; and sequentially and separately charging the sorted battery cells to a Nth segmented voltage in a Nth segmentation, wherein N is a positive integer from 1 to K, and K is a positive integer larger than 1. The charging method of the present disclosure can reduce the temperature rising of the battery cell due to the longtime charging.