Cascaded Battery Modules for Balanced AC/DC Charging Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy systems in electric vehicles and other applications face inefficiencies due to lack of individual cell monitoring and control, leading to reduced performance, reliability, and limited battery life, as well as inadequate charging techniques that do not account for cell health and temperature variations.
Innovation Solution
A modular energy system with cascaded modules that can be charged with AC or DC signals, allowing for balanced charging and power distribution across modules based on status information, enabling efficient power management and optimization through advanced control systems and interconnection modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional battery packs are used with simple embedded BMS, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and performance are considerably reduced due to inability to monitor individual cell health
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple modules, each with its own intelligent control capability. Individual cells are monitored and controlled separately through distributed control units, allowing precise tracking of each cell's state of charge, temperature, and health without requiring a complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each battery module is equipped with embedded intelligence that enables it to autonomously monitor its own cells and regulate its charging/discharging behavior. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external monitoring systems while improving reliability through continuous individual cell management.
2Productivity
If steady constant charging is applied to battery packs, then charging system simplicity is maintained, but charging efficiency is limited and battery life is reduced due to inability to tailor charging to individual cell needs
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system applies different charging parameters to different battery modules based on their individual state of charge, temperature, and health conditions. Each module receives customized charging current and voltage profiles, optimizing charging efficiency for each cell while extending overall battery life through localized quality control.
3Power
If the weakest cell constrains the overall performance of the battery pack, then system simplicity is maintained, but power output and energy utilization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational status of individual battery modules based on real-time monitoring of cell conditions. When some cells are fully charged or degraded, their corresponding modules can be dynamically disconnected or operated at reduced capacity, allowing the remaining healthy modules to continue delivering full power output without being constrained by the weakest cell.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided for charging and discharging energy systems having multiple modules arranged in cascaded fashion for generating and storing power. Each module can include an energy source and switch circuitry that selectively couples the energy source to other modules in the system for generating power or for receiving and storing power from a charge source. The energy systems can be arranged in single phase or multiphase topologies with multiple serial or interconnected arrays. The embodiments are capable of being charged with multiphase AC charge signals, a single phase AC charge signal, and/or a DC charge signal. Embodiments implementing the modular energy system within a charge source for performing multiphase, single phase AC, or DC charging of electric vehicles are also disclosed. Also disclosed are multi-motor embodiments and embodiments with the capability to power active suspensions and active steering systems.