Bridge Battery Voltage Equalizer Circuit Topology
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Serially connected batteries experience reduced efficiency and shorter lifespan due to property differences among individual cells, leading to uneven energy distribution and increased temperature, necessitating voltage equalization to extend their service life.
Innovation Solution
A bridge battery voltage equalizer with an energy-transferring circuit that uses a diode and switch configuration to transfer energy between batteries, allowing for modular and efficient voltage equalization without transformers, enabling zero-current switching and reducing switching losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If batteries are connected in series to increase voltage and reduce transmission loss, then transmission loss is reduced by 16 times, but property differences among individual batteries cause uneven energy distribution and reduced overall efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery system into individual battery units with separate monitoring and control circuits. Each battery's voltage and energy state are independently monitored, allowing targeted equalization actions for specific batteries rather than treating the series connection as a single unit. This segmentation enables precise management of property differences among batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts charging and discharging parameters for individual batteries based on their real-time voltage and energy state. By changing current and voltage parameters selectively for each battery unit, the system compensates for property differences and achieves more uniform energy distribution across the series-connected batteries.
2Reliability
If traditional voltage equalization methods are used to address battery property differences, then voltage equalization is achieved, but circuit complexity increases and switching losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage equalization function with the existing charging and discharging circuits by utilizing the same power conversion devices for both operations. This integration eliminates the need for separate equalization circuits, reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining effective voltage equalization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The power conversion devices in the patent serve multiple functions: they perform both normal charging/discharging operations and voltage equalization tasks. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed and simplifies the overall circuit architecture while ensuring reliable voltage equalization.
3Reliability
If dissipative type equalizers are used to equalize battery voltages, then voltage equalization is achieved, but energy is converted to thermal energy causing heat dissipation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces energy storage elements (capacitors or inductors) as intermediaries in the equalization process. These intermediaries temporarily store energy from higher-voltage batteries and transfer it to lower-voltage batteries, avoiding direct resistive dissipation. This intermediary approach enables voltage equalization without significant heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding excess energy from high-voltage batteries through dissipation, the patent recovers this energy using energy storage elements. The stored energy is then transferred to low-voltage batteries that need charging, converting what would be waste heat into useful energy for equalization.
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
The solution provides a simple, efficient, and modular circuit architecture for voltage equalization, extending the lifespan of serially connected batteries by evenly distributing energy and reducing thermal issues, while maintaining high efficiency and control over the equalization process.
Implementation Method 1
uses a diode and switch configuration to transfer energy between batteries
Implementation Method 2
energy-transferring circuit that uses a diode and switch configuration to transfer energy between batteries
Data Source
AI summary
This present invention provides a bridge battery voltage equalizer to equalize the voltages of the serially connected battery strings, comprising at least one battery crossing over an energy-transferring circuit. A plurality of the energy-transferring circuits are interconnected in a bridge architecture. Each energy-transferring circuit having four nodes comprises a first semiconductor switch, a first diode, a second semiconductor switch, a second diode, and an inductor. One end of the first element switch is connected to a negative pole of the first diode thereto. A positive pole of the second diode is connected to one end of the second element switch thereto. The inductor is an energy storing element that crosses over between the negative pole of the first diode and the positive pole of the second diode.