Battery Cell Voltage Measurement Circuit for Reverse Voltage Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuits for measuring battery cell voltage lack protection against reverse voltage, leading to potential fire damage and costly replacements when a reverse voltage occurs in battery cells, especially in hydrogen batteries.
Innovation Solution
A circuit with a protection circuit connected in parallel to each terminal of the voltage measurement device, including a diode and resistor series, and an external power supply to prevent damage by converting negative reverse voltages to positive, using a diode connected in series with a resistor and an external power supply to increase the potential of measurement terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional voltage measurement circuit is used without protection circuit, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but the reliability deteriorates when reverse voltage occurs causing fire damage
Solution Approach 1:
A protection circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery cell and the voltage measurement device. This protection circuit includes a diode connected in series with a resistor, which acts as a mediator to block reverse voltage from reaching the measurement device while allowing normal voltage measurement to pass through, thus protecting the device without significantly complicating the overall circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuit is designed to provide beforehand cushioning by pre-establishing a protective barrier against reverse voltage before any damage can occur. The diode and resistor combination is configured to automatically activate when reverse voltage is detected, cushioning the measurement device from potential fire damage and allowing the system to withstand reverse voltage conditions safely.
2Reliability
If protection circuit is added to prevent reverse voltage damage, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protection circuit uses inexpensive components (a diode and a resistor) that can be easily manufactured and replaced if necessary. These cheap components serve as a sacrificial first line of defense, protecting the more expensive measurement device while being economically viable to include in the circuit design, thus improving reliability without significantly impacting manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuit serves as a simple intermediary layer using basic electronic components that are straightforward to manufacture and integrate. The diode-resistor series combination provides effective reverse voltage protection through simple series connection, avoiding complex manufacturing processes while achieving the desired reliability improvement.
3Reliability
If the entire battery needs to be replaced when one cell is damaged by reverse voltage, then the safety is improved by removing damaged cells, but the loss of substance and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The protection circuit enables segmentation of the battery system by allowing individual cell protection rather than requiring replacement of the entire battery stack. Each battery cell can be equipped with its own protection circuit, isolating damage to individual cells and allowing the rest of the battery to continue functioning, thus reducing material loss and replacement costs while maintaining safety.
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
Prevents fire damage to both the device and battery cell by converting negative reverse voltages to positive, allowing safe operation and minimizing replacement costs by maintaining the relative voltage balance across battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
The protection circuit may include a diode (DPU) connected in series to a resistor (RPU)
Implementation Method 2
The protection circuit may include a diode (DPU) connected in series to a resistor (RPU)
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit for measuring a battery cell voltage includes: a plurality of battery cells included in a battery stack; a device that measures a battery cell voltage; a protection circuit connected in parallel to each terminal of the device that measures the battery cell voltage; and an external power supply that applies power to the protection circuit.