Battery Pack Voltage Sensor Interconnect Resistance Derivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs, both monitored and unmonitored, face challenges in accurately sensing voltage and current due to unpredictable changes in connection resistance, which can lead to sudden failures, and existing systems lack redundancy and reliability in estimating internal and interconnect resistances.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack monitoring apparatus and method that utilizes multiple voltage measurement units to measure voltages at both ends of interconnects and blocks, allowing for the derivation of internal and interconnect resistances, providing redundant sensing and fault-tolerant current estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple voltage measurement units are used to measure voltages at both ends of interconnects, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring apparatus is segmented into multiple independent voltage measurement units, each responsible for measuring voltages at specific locations (both ends of interconnects and blocks). This segmentation allows parallel measurement operations, improving measurement precision and reliability while distributing the complexity across multiple simple, identical units rather than one complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each voltage measurement unit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of measuring voltages at different locations (interconnect ends and block ends) and contributing to multiple calculation objectives (interconnect resistance, internal resistance, current estimation). This universal design improves measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same unit structure serves multiple purposes.
2Reliability
If voltage measurement units measure voltages at both ends of interconnects and blocks, then reliability of resistance estimation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary voltage measurements at multiple locations (both ends of interconnects and blocks) before resistance estimation calculations are needed. By pre-acquiring these voltage data points, the system enables reliable resistance estimation through subsequent calculations using Ohm's law, improving reliability without adding complex real-time processing during the measurement phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage measurements at both ends of interconnects and blocks create a feedback loop that enables cross-validation and calculation of resistance values. The measured voltages feed into calculation algorithms that determine interconnect and internal resistances, allowing the system to verify measurement accuracy and improve reliability through mathematical relationships between measured quantities.
3Reliability
If redundant voltage sensing is implemented, then fault-tolerant current estimation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant voltage measurement units serve themselves by providing multiple independent measurement paths that can be used for cross-validation and backup calculations. When one measurement path fails or provides inaccurate data, other redundant units can compensate, enabling fault-tolerant current estimation without requiring external intervention or complex error correction mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements redundant voltage sensing before failures occur, creating a cushion of backup measurement capabilities. By having multiple voltage measurement units operating simultaneously and independently, the system prepares advance backup data that can be used for fault-tolerant current estimation if sensor failures occur, improving reliability without adding complex real-time fault detection algorithms.
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
Enhances the reliability of cell voltage and current sensing, enables estimation of connection health, and provides backup current estimation in case of sensor failure, thereby improving the monitoring of battery pack health and preventing sudden failures.
Implementation Method 1
The voltage measurement system is configured to derive an internal resistance of each of the plurality of blocks based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon a measurement of current of the battery pack. The voltage measurement system is further configured to derive the interconnect resistance of each of the interconnects based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon the measurement of current.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack monitoring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a voltage measurement system configured to couple to opposed ends of each of a plurality of blocks of a battery pack and to measure voltages thereof, the blocks being coupled in series by interconnects each having an interconnect resistance. The voltage measurement system is configured to derive an internal resistance of each of the plurality of blocks based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon a measurement of current of the battery pack and derive the interconnect resistance of each of the interconnects based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon the measurement of current.