Battery Cell Charge Redistribution for High-SOC Fast Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
High state of charge (SOC) in batteries leads to a rapid decrease in allowable input electric power, resulting in low charging efficiency over time, making it difficult to charge batteries efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A charging control apparatus that includes a battery with multiple cells, an electric charge mover (step-up step-down circuit) to redistribute electric charge between cells, and a processor to perform partial charging by moving charge from high SOC cells to low SOC cells, thereby improving charging efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the battery is charged at high state of charge (SOC), then the charging capacity is increased, but the allowable input electric power rapidly decreases, resulting in low charging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into multiple cell groups (first cell group and second cell group), allowing independent charging control for each group. This segmentation enables partial charging of specific groups to optimize charging efficiency while avoiding the power reduction that occurs when the entire battery is at high SOC
Solution Approach 2:
Different cell groups are charged to different SOC levels based on their individual states. The first cell group can be charged to a higher SOC while the second cell group maintains a lower SOC, allowing the system to achieve high overall charging capacity while maintaining high charging efficiency in the locally charged groups
2Speed
If the battery is charged quickly to meet time constraints, then the charging rate is increased, but the allowable input electric power decreases due to high SOC, making efficient charging difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into multiple cell groups (first cell group and second cell group), allowing independent charging control for each group. This segmentation enables partial charging of specific groups to optimize charging efficiency while avoiding the power reduction that occurs when the entire battery is at high SOC
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of each cell group's SOC state before charging begins. Based on this preliminary evaluation, the control device determines which groups should be charged and at what rates, preventing the efficiency loss that would occur if all groups were charged simultaneously to high SOC
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 apparatus enhances charging efficiency by allowing partial charging, which increases the allowable input electric power to high SOC cells, improving the charging rate even under time constraints.
Implementation Method 1
an electric charge mover configured to move electric charge between the plurality of cells
Data Source
AI summary
A charging control apparatus includes a battery, an electric charge mover, and a processor. The battery includes multiple cells. The electric charge mover is configured to move electric charge between the multiple cells. The processor is configured to, upon charging the battery, cause the electric charge mover to move the electric charge of one or more cells serving as a part of the multiple cells to another one or more cells of the multiple cells, and perform a partial charging that charges the one or more cells serving as the part of the multiple cells after causing the electric charge mover to move the electric charge.