EV Battery Module Switching for In-Drive Charge Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle battery management systems face challenges in balancing the states of charge of battery modules, leading to potential issues with module voltages and increased power requirements, which can be costly and space-intensive to address.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle system that includes a determination device for measuring battery state parameters, a switching system to control current paths of battery modules, and a power management system that balances states of charge by disconnecting modules with lower charge until they match modules with higher charge, while the vehicle is in operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DC/DC converters are used to balance different module voltages, then the states of charge can be balanced, but the installation space increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the balancing function from complex DC/DC converters and implements it through simple switching elements that connect battery modules in series or parallel configurations. This removes the need for expensive converter hardware while maintaining the balancing capability through topological reconfiguration of the battery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical connection parameters of battery modules dynamically by switching between series and parallel configurations. This allows the system to adapt voltage and current parameters to achieve balancing without requiring additional power conversion equipment, thereby reducing installation space and cost.
2Reliability
If DC/DC converters are used to balance different module voltages, then the states of charge can be balanced, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive DC/DC converter components and replaces them with simple switching elements and control logic. This extraction of the essential balancing function from complex hardware significantly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to balance battery module states of charge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive switching elements instead of costly DC/DC converters. These simple switches are much cheaper to manufacture and implement, providing an cost-effective solution for state of charge balancing that does not require expensive power conversion equipment.
3Power
If battery modules are interconnected to increase electrical power, then the power output increases, but the states of charge of battery modules can differ greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of battery module connections, allowing the system to switch between series and parallel configurations based on the state of charge of individual modules. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to maintain both high power output and uniform state of charge across all modules during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical configuration parameters of battery modules in real-time based on their state of charge. By dynamically adjusting which modules are connected in series versus parallel, the system can equalize voltages while maintaining the required power output level.
4Reliability
If individual charging and discharging is used to balance states of charge, then the states of charge can be balanced, but the charging operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous balancing action during vehicle operation by dynamically reconfiguring battery module connections while the vehicle is being driven. This eliminates the need for separate charging sessions to balance states of charge, as the balancing occurs continuously during normal operation, significantly reducing total charging time.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle includes a battery modules electrically connected in parallel and having the same nominal module voltage, a determination device for determining a battery state parameter representing a state of charge of the battery module; a switching system to switch current paths of the battery modules to be conducting or blocking; an energy management system configured to, if a battery module has a state of charge that is noticeably lower than a state of charge of another battery modules, switch the current path of the battery module with the lower state of charge to be blocking during a driving mode until the charging state of the battery module with the higher state of charge is balanced with the charge state of the battery module with the lower state of charge, and then switch the current path of the battery module with the lower state of charge to be conductive.