Battery Self-Discharge Detection via Charge Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting self-discharge faults in electric storage battery cells are unreliable and often delayed due to inefficiencies in voltage measurement and balancing, leading to rapid capacity drops or battery failure.

Innovation Solution

A method for detecting self-discharge faults by calculating the charge balance during balancing and relaxation, using equations that account for initial and final charges, discharged amounts, and error thresholds to improve detection accuracy and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If voltage measurement method is used for detecting self-discharge faults, then detection can be implemented, but detection reliability is low and false alerts occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidvoltage measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces charge balance calculation as an intermediary mechanism between voltage measurement and self-discharge fault detection. Instead of directly relying on voltage measurements, the system calculates charge balance during balancing and relaxation phases to indirectly detect self-discharge faults, thereby improving reliability while reducing false alerts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring charge balance during balancing and relaxation phases. The system uses the calculated charge balance values to detect deviations indicating self-discharge faults, creating a closed-loop detection mechanism that improves reliability through continuous verification rather than single-point voltage measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If long relaxation time is used for voltage measurement, then detection accuracy improves, but detection timing is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoiddetection delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary charge balance calculations during the balancing phase before relaxation occurs. By preparing and calculating charge balance values during balancing, the system eliminates the need to wait for complete relaxation before detection can occur, thereby reducing detection delay while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous charge balance calculation during both balancing and relaxation phases, rather than requiring a separate measurement phase. This continuous calculation approach eliminates idle time and ensures that detection can occur immediately when needed, reducing overall detection delay

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If dissipative balancing is used to maintain state of charge, then capacity dispersion is reduced, but self-discharge faults remain undetected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate of charge uniformityVSAvoidfault detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback by calculating and monitoring charge balance during the dissipative balancing process. The system compares the calculated charge balance against expected values to detect deviations indicating self-discharge faults, thereby adding detection capability to the existing balancing operation without compromising state of charge uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the balancing system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its original function (maintaining state of charge uniformity through dissipative balancing) and a new function (detecting self-discharge faults through charge balance calculation). This eliminates the need for separate detection mechanisms while preserving the stabilizing effect of balancing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3655788B1Method for detecting a self-discharge defect in a battery cell
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 RENAULT SA
  • EP3655788B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3655788B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3655788B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Said method is used for detecting, in an electric storage battery (10) having a plurality of battery cells (1, 2, 3, 4), a self-discharge defect in a cell (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein: a charge balancing of the battery cells (1, 2, 3, 4) is at least partially carried out, a relaxation of the battery cells (1, 2, 3, 4) is performed, a charge balance during the balancing and relaxation (Σi) of said cell (i) is calculated for each battery cell (i), and any self-discharge defects of said cell (i) are detected for each battery cell (i) depending on the charge balance calculated for said cell (i) during the balancing and relaxation (∑i).