Reconfigurable EV Energy Store for Cell Imbalance and Capacity Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle battery systems are complex, costly, and inefficient due to passive interconnection of cells with varying internal resistance and capacity, leading to compromised performance and limited usable capacity, necessitating derating to avoid deep discharge of weakest cells.
Innovation Solution
Intelligent battery cells with ASICs, sensors, and switches allow for decentralized control and dynamic reconfiguration of cell connections to optimize energy distribution based on individual cell health and demand, eliminating the need for higher-level logic units and wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive interconnection of individual battery cells is used, then system complexity is reduced, but cell performance varies significantly due to differences in internal resistance and capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independently controllable cell groups or modules, each equipped with its own switching device. This segmentation allows individual cells to be managed separately, compensating for performance variations while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interconnection of battery cells transitions from a static passive configuration to a dynamic reconfigurable structure. Switching devices enable real-time adjustment of cell connections based on individual cell states, optimizing performance consistency without significantly increasing system complexity.
2Reliability
If derating is applied to avoid deep discharge of weakest cells, then cell reliability is improved, but usable capacity is reduced to 60%-80% of rated capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically reconfigures cell connections during operation, allowing the weakest cells to be temporarily disconnected or repositioned in the circuit. This enables the battery management system to utilize a larger portion of the total capacity while still protecting individual cells from deep discharge, increasing usable capacity without compromising reliability.
3Loss of energy
If active components (inverter, DC/DC converter, power conversion units) are added to improve energy management, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Individual battery cells or cell groups are equipped with integrated switching devices and control logic that enable them to autonomously manage their own energy discharge and connection states. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex external power conversion units and active management components, improving energy efficiency while limiting system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes energy efficiency by dynamically changing operational parameters such as cell connection configurations, discharge rates, and voltage levels. This parameter-based control achieves efficient energy management without requiring additional active conversion components, thereby avoiding increased system complexity.
4Productivity
If individual cells are optimally utilized with decentralized control, then productivity and energy efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases due to ASICs, sensors, and switches per cell
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (ASIC, sensors, switching devices) are integrated into unified cell-level modules or grouped into modular assemblies. This merging approach consolidates control functions, reducing the apparent complexity while enabling optimal individual cell utilization and decentralized energy management.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy store including a housing, a first plurality of storage cells, a second plurality of storage cells, a first electrical pin configuration, a second electrical pin configuration, and a switching device. The switching device is configured to connect the first plurality of storage cells to the first electrical pin configuration, the second plurality of storage cells to the second electrical pin configuration and/or the first plurality of storage cells to the second plurality of storage cells.