Battery Subunit Accessibility Management for Marine Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance and repair of battery systems in electrically driven watercraft are challenging due to the physical design limitations, which make some battery cells difficult to access, and the need to operate within specific safety and performance constraints, particularly in marine environments where battery systems are large and require long service life.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that assess and prioritize the accessibility of battery subunits within a compartment, allowing for dynamic activation and management based on measured or calculated accessibility values, enabling efficient maintenance and operation by classifying and sequencing battery subunits for optimal service life and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If battery subunits are installed in compact battery compartments to maximize space utilization, then the energy density and space efficiency are improved, but the accessibility of battery subunits for maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple independent battery subunits that can be individually accessed and maintained. The compartment is segmented into multiple access regions, allowing maintenance personnel to reach specific subunits without dismantling the entire battery system, thus resolving the contradiction between compact packaging and maintenance accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary classification of battery subunits based on their accessibility characteristics before operation. This allows the system to proactively identify which subunits are easier to access and prioritize them for maintenance activities, preventing the need to disassemble difficult-to-access subunits and thereby maintaining both compact design and maintenance ease.
2Power
If all battery subunits are operated continuously to maximize power output, then the power delivery is improved, but the service life of individual subunits deteriorates due to excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic rotation of active battery subunits based on their accessibility classification. Easily accessible subunits are cycled more frequently to perform maintenance tasks, while difficult-to-access subunits are rotated less frequently. This periodic action distributes wear more evenly across all subunits while maintaining continuous power output capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by adjusting which battery subunits are actively used based on their accessibility and wear state. Subunits that are easier to access are prioritized for maintenance and can be brought back into service faster, while difficult-to-access subunits are taken offline for longer maintenance intervals. This parameter adjustment balances power delivery with extended overall system service life.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a secondary battery which comprises multiple interconnected, bridgeable battery subunits and is situated in a compartment of an electrically driven vehicle, in particular a watercraft, includes detecting an accessibility of each battery subunit, and activating the battery subunits in accordance with the accessibility of the particular battery subunits.