EV Battery Control Device Preventing External Short Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicle battery systems face the risk of short circuits due to external device faults, as they cannot determine the state of external devices connected to their direct current bus, leading to potential damage and safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a detection unit and processing unit that calculates resistance values between the battery system and energy conversion device, controlling the connection to prevent short circuits by disconnecting when resistance thresholds are not met, and integrating fault detection circuits to monitor voltages and currents for anomalies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the relay on the direct current bus is directly closed to discharge the energy storage device, then the energy conversion efficiency is improved, but the risk of short circuit damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy conversion efficiencyVSAvoidshort circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary detection of external device status before closing the relay. The control unit detects whether the external device is in a short circuit state by measuring voltage and current parameters before establishing the connection, thereby preventing short circuit damage while enabling rapid energy conversion when the device is normal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary protective measures by detecting potential short circuit conditions before they can cause damage. The control unit monitors voltage and current parameters and prevents relay closure when short circuit risk is detected, counteracting the harmful effect before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If additional detection devices are added to monitor external device state, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddetection device quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the control unit perform multiple functions: it not only controls the relay switching but also detects external device status by measuring voltage and current parameters. This multi-functional approach improves safety without adding separate detection devices, thereby avoiding increased system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the detection function with the existing control unit rather than adding separate detection devices. The control unit integrates both control and detection capabilities, merging multiple functions into a single component to maintain system simplicity while enhancing safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the energy storage device operates without detecting external device state, then the device complexity is reduced, but the harmful effects of short circuits increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidshort circuit damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the control unit to perform self-detection of external device status using its existing control capabilities. By measuring voltage and current parameters that it already monitors for control purposes, the system detects short circuit conditions without requiring additional dedicated detection hardware, thus maintaining low complexity while preventing damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 short circuits by controlling the energy storage device's connection to the energy conversion device based on resistance thresholds, enhancing safety and reliability of charging and discharging operations without the need for additional detection devices.

Implementation Method 1

a detection unit for detecting a first voltage between a positive electrode of the energy storage device and a first end of the energy conversion device, a second voltage between a negative electrode of the energy storage device and a second end of the energy conversion device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage detection: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

a processing unit for calculating a resistance value corresponding to the energy conversion device according to the first voltage, the second voltage and a third voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical resistance calculation: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3958428B1Control device, energy converting system, energy converting method, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3958428B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3958428B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3958428B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a control device, an energy conversion system, an energy conversion method and a storage medium. The control device includes: a detection unit configured to detect a first voltage between a positive electrode of the energy storage device and a first end of an energy conversion device, a second voltage between a negative electrode of the energy storage device and a second end of the energy conversion device, and a third voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the energy storage device; a processing unit configured to calculate a resistance value corresponding to the energy conversion device according to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage; when the value of resistance is greater than a resistance threshold value, controlling the energy storage device to supply power to the electrical equipment through the energy conversion device. The device, the system, the method and the storage medium of the present disclosure can solve the problem that the energy storage device is short-circuited due to short-circuit faults of the external device, and improve safety and reliability.