Energy Storage Cell Balancing Circuit with Dual Voltage Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems face inefficiencies in balancing cell voltages, particularly in dissipating excess voltage and handling negative voltages, and often require expensive components and redundant alarm systems to prevent damage and detect failures effectively.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a balancing circuit and an alarm circuit coupled to energy storage devices, utilizing both passive and active dissipative components to efficiently dissipate excess voltage and detect overvoltage conditions, including a shunt regulator and diodes to manage both positive and negative voltages, and a redundant overvoltage alarm circuit to ensure continuous alarm signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If prior balancing approaches are used to dissipate excess cell voltage, then some voltage dissipation is achieved, but the dissipation is not full and efficient, and expensive components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm circuit is designed to perform dual functions: generating alarm signals and dissipating excess cell voltage. By merging the alarm function with the voltage dissipation function, the system achieves efficient energy dissipation without requiring separate expensive balancing components, directly resolving the contradiction between dissipation efficiency and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm circuit is configured to serve multiple purposes: it monitors cell voltage, generates alarm signals when thresholds are exceeded, and actively dissipates excess voltage through controlled current paths. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated balancing components, reducing overall system cost while maintaining efficient voltage management
2Reliability
If standard alarm circuits are used to monitor overvoltage conditions, then alarm detection is achieved, but the circuits are destroyed by excess voltages from the energy storage system
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm circuit incorporates protective mechanisms that activate before high voltage can damage the circuit. Voltage division networks and protective components are pre-configured to limit the voltage exposure of sensitive alarm circuitry, cushioning it against the full brunt of high voltage conditions while maintaining reliable detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm circuit uses intermediary components such as voltage dividers and protective elements that stand between the high voltage energy storage cells and the sensitive alarm circuitry. These intermediaries translate high voltage conditions into safe signal levels for the alarm circuit while preserving the ability to detect and respond to overvoltage events
3Adaptability or versatility
If balancing circuits cannot discharge negative voltages, then positive voltage balancing is achieved, but negative voltages in cells present problems and cannot be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm circuit is designed to handle both positive and negative voltage conditions by inverting the traditional approach. Instead of only responding to overvoltage, the circuit is configured to detect and respond to both excessive positive voltage and negative voltage conditions, using complementary circuit paths that activate based on voltage polarity
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
This approach enhances the efficiency of voltage dissipation, reduces the need for expensive components, and ensures reliable overvoltage detection and alarm signaling, thereby protecting energy storage systems from damage and improving their operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The balancing circuit dissipates energy from the energy storage cell by conducting a discharging current through at least one of a passive dissipative component and an active dissipative component
Implementation Method 2
the balancing circuit comprises a shunt regulator configured to operate in a comparator mode
Implementation Method 3
the second dissipative component is coupled in series to a diode, the diode configured to provide a path for discharge of the negative voltage of the energy storage cell through the second dissipative component
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an embodiment of this invention comprises an energy storage device balancing apparatus. The energy storage device balancing apparatus comprises a balancing circuit and an alarm circuit. Both the balancing circuit and the alarm circuit are coupled to the energy storage device. The balancing circuit is configured to monitor a voltage of the energy storage cell and dissipate energy from the energy storage cell if the voltage is at or above a first reference voltage. The alarm circuit is configured to generate an alarm when the voltage of the energy storage cell is at or above a second reference voltage and dissipate energy from the energy storage cell when the voltage is at or above the second reference voltage.