Battery Fuse Detection via Equalization Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems face challenges in detecting blown fuses in power storage modules with multiple battery cells, leading to increased current burdens on unaffected cells and higher costs due to increased wiring and circuit complexity, as well as errors in State Of Charge (SOC) measurement methods.
Innovation Solution
A management device with an equalization controller and a blowout determination unit that monitors voltage differences among battery blocks and calculates the frequency of equalization to determine if a fuse is blown, eliminating the need for additional voltage or current detection lines, thereby reducing costs and improving precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage detection lines are added to each battery cell to detect blown fuses, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fuse detection function from the cell voltage detection system. Instead of detecting fuse status directly through dedicated detection lines, the system utilizes the existing voltage detection lines that monitor battery block voltages. The control unit analyzes voltage differences between battery blocks to indirectly detect fuse blowout, thereby eliminating the need for additional detection wiring while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage detection lines serve multiple functions: they monitor both the voltage of individual battery blocks for charge management and the voltage differences between blocks for fuse detection. This multi-functionality allows the same wiring infrastructure to support both normal battery management operations and fault detection, reducing overall system complexity.
2Loss of information
If current integration method is used to obtain SOC, then SOC measurement is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to cumulative errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors voltage differences between battery blocks and uses this information to detect fuse blowout conditions. When a voltage difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system identifies potential fuse failure and adjusts its monitoring and control strategies accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves overall measurement reliability.
3Reliability
If many fuses blow in a battery block, then safety protection is improved, but current burden on remaining cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors voltage differences between battery blocks and uses this feedback to detect fuse blowout conditions. When a voltage difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system identifies potential fuse failure and can alert the user or adjust charging/discharging parameters to prevent excessive current burden on remaining healthy cells.
Data Source
AI summary
In management device (10) for managing power storage device (20) in which a plurality of power storage blocks (B1 to B3) in which a plurality of series circuits of fuses and power storage cells is connected in parallel is connected in series, equalization controller 15 performs, when a voltage difference among the power storage blocks exceeds a set voltage difference, a control for equalizing power storage blocks (B1 to B3). Fuse blowout determination unit 18 determines, based on a frequency of equalization performed by equalization controller 15, whether one of the fuses is blown.