Charge Balancing Circuit for Battery Accumulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In accumulator arrangements, charge balancing is inefficient due to internal resistance causing voltage increases, which leads to uneven charging and energy wastage, as higher voltage accumulators receive energy meant for lower voltage ones during balancing processes.
Innovation Solution
A circuit arrangement with multiple series circuits and a control circuit that measures accumulator voltages, selectively transfers energy between accumulators using bidirectional switching converters, ensuring energy is distributed based on charge states to balance the arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fly back converter is used to balance charge states by taking energy from the accumulator arrangement and redistributing it to individual accumulators, then charge balancing is achieved, but internal resistance causes voltage increases that lead to inefficient energy transfer and overcharging of already charged accumulators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single fly back converter into multiple independent series circuits, each with its own switching element and inductive storage element. This segmentation allows independent control of energy transfer to each accumulator, enabling precise charge balancing without overcharging. Each series circuit can be selectively activated based on the charge state of its corresponding accumulator, eliminating the energy wastage caused by the conventional single converter approach.
2Ease of operation
If energy is taken from the accumulator arrangement and fed to all accumulators simultaneously through secondary windings, then charge distribution is simplified, but accumulators with high charge states receive additional energy causing overcharging and reduced useful capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing each accumulator with its own dedicated series circuit containing a switching element and inductive storage element. This allows the charging process to be customized for each accumulator based on its specific charge state. The control circuit can selectively activate only those series circuits corresponding to accumulators that need charging, ensuring that each accumulator receives the appropriate amount of energy without overcharging, thereby maintaining accurate charge state monitoring.
3Reliability
If the charging process stops when one accumulator reaches threshold voltage, then overcharging is prevented, but the useful capacity of the accumulator arrangement is reduced due to unbalanced charge states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous useful action by implementing a charge balancing system that operates after the main charging process. When one accumulator reaches threshold voltage and stops charging, the control circuit activates the charge balancing mode, selectively transferring energy from accumulators with high charge states to those with low charge states through the individually controlled series circuits. This continuous operation maximizes the useful capacity of the accumulator arrangement by ensuring all accumulators are utilized effectively without overcharging any single unit.
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 solution optimizes charge balancing by efficiently directing energy to undercharged accumulators, reducing wastage and maximizing the usable capacity of the accumulator arrangement by minimizing overcharging and energy redistribution.
Implementation Method 1
The inductive storage element of the further series circuit is inductively coupled to the inductive storage elements of the first series circuits
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit arrangement for transferring electrical charge between accumulators of an accumulator arrangement includes a number of first series circuits, each connecting in parallel to one of the accumulators, and each comprising a switching element and an inductive storage element connected in series to the load path of the switching element. The circuit arrangement also includes a further series circuit connected in parallel to the accumulator arrangement and comprising a further switching element having a load path and a control terminal, and a further inductive element connected in series to the load path, the further inductive element being inductively coupled to the inductive elements of the first series circuits. The circuit arrangement also includes a control circuit comprising a number of first control outputs connected to the control terminals of the switching elements of the first series circuits, and a further control output connected to the control terminal of the further switching element.