Battery Voltage Control for Local Degradation Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power storage systems that control multiple storage battery units through cell balancing or module balancing do not effectively suppress local degradation, as some units may degrade differently due to connection form, layout, or other factors, limiting the extension of battery life.
Innovation Solution
A power storage system comprising a first circuit with storage battery units connected in series, second circuits connected in parallel, and adjusters that control current flow to maintain voltage differences between units with varying degrees of degradation, performing specific control actions during charge and discharge to prevent overcharging or over-discharging of more degraded units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cell balancing or module balancing is performed to control multiple storage battery units, then the capacity utilization is improved, but the local degradation cannot be suppressed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the system (storage battery units with different degradation levels) have different control characteristics. Specifically, the controller identifies units with higher degradation and applies different charge/discharge control strategies to these units compared to healthier units, thereby addressing local degradation issues while maintaining overall system productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (charge/discharge thresholds, voltage limits, current limits) based on the degradation state of individual storage battery units. The controller dynamically adjusts these parameters for each unit according to its health status, allowing the system to optimize both capacity utilization and degradation suppression by treating each unit according to its specific condition
2Ease of operation
If all storage battery units are charged to the same voltage level, then the charge control is simplified, but units with higher degradation may be overcharged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by setting different charge termination criteria for storage battery units based on their degradation levels. Healthier units can be charged to higher voltage thresholds while degraded units have lower voltage thresholds, preventing overcharging of vulnerable units while maintaining simplified overall control through automated differentiation
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors the state of charge, voltage, and health status of each storage battery unit and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust charge termination decisions. The system measures actual conditions and modifies charging behavior accordingly, preventing overcharging of degraded units while maintaining efficient charging of healthier units
3Ease of operation
If all storage battery units are discharged to the same voltage level, then the discharge control is simplified, but units with higher degradation may be over-discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different discharge termination voltage thresholds for storage battery units based on their degradation levels. Degraded units have higher minimum voltage thresholds to prevent over-discharge, while healthier units can discharge to lower thresholds, thereby protecting vulnerable units without significantly impacting overall system discharge control
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors discharge voltage, current, and unit health status, using this feedback to dynamically determine when to terminate discharge for each unit. The system adjusts discharge control in real-time based on measured conditions, preventing over-discharge of degraded units while maintaining simplified automated control
4Device complexity
If uniform charge and discharge control is applied to all storage battery units, then the system control is simplified, but the life extension of degraded units is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by differentiating control strategies for storage battery units based on their individual degradation levels. The controller identifies units with higher degradation and applies protective control measures (adjusted voltage thresholds, current limits, and charge/discharge termination criteria) specifically to these units, thereby extending their life without significantly increasing overall system control complexity through automated differentiation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes operational parameters (voltage thresholds, current limits, charge/discharge termination criteria) based on the degradation state of each storage battery unit. This parameter adaptation allows the system to extend the life of degraded units by adjusting their operational envelope, while maintaining relatively simple control through automated parameter selection based on measured unit conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a first circuit in which storage battery units are connected in series, second circuits, adjusters that adjust the amounts of the currents flowing through the second circuits, and a controller that performs at least one of first control and second control. The first control is control in which the controller causes the adjusters to make the voltage of a first storage battery unit higher than the voltage of a second storage battery unit having a higher degree of degradation than the first storage battery unit by adjusting the amounts of the currents flowing through the second circuits and then stops a charge. The second control is control in which the controller causes the adjusters to make the voltage of the first storage battery unit lower than the voltage of the second storage battery unit by adjusting the amounts of the currents flowing through the second circuits and then stops a discharge.