Battery Cell Voltage Imbalance Detection for Overcharge Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems in electric vehicles fail to effectively detect and mitigate voltage imbalances among battery cells, leading to potential overcharge conditions and thermal runaway events.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system with a battery management system (BMS) that monitors voltages and currents of battery cells, detects imbalances through continuous or periodic monitoring, and initiates corrective actions to prevent overcharging by adjusting charge distribution and isolating affected cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery management systems monitor voltages of battery cells, then voltage imbalances can be detected, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into individual monitorable units (battery cells) with separate voltage monitoring for each cell. This segmentation allows precise detection of voltage imbalances while using simple, standardized monitoring circuits that can be replicated for each cell, managing system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors cell voltages and provides feedback to the control system. When voltage imbalances are detected, the system initiates mitigating actions such as adjusting charge distribution or isolating affected cells. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable operation while using straightforward control logic.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of battery cells is implemented, then voltage imbalances are detected earlier, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs voltage monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while still detecting voltage imbalances in a timely manner. The control system can adjust monitoring frequency based on operational conditions, balancing detection capability with energy efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mitigating actions are initiated in response to voltage imbalance, then overcharge conditions are prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary mitigating actions when voltage imbalances are detected, adjusting charge distribution or isolating affected cells before overcharge conditions can develop. This preventive approach uses simple control rules based on voltage thresholds, preventing harmful conditions without requiring complex real-time control algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf vehicle system includes a chassis, a front axle coupled to the chassis, a rear axle coupled to the chassis, a battery pack supported by the chassis and including a plurality of battery cells, and a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system is configured to monitor voltages of the plurality of battery cells, detect a voltage imbalance among the plurality of battery cells based on the voltages of the plurality of battery cells, and initiate a mitigating action in response to detecting the voltage imbalance.