Networked Battery Monitors for Remote Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery monitoring systems for large numbers of small battery strings dispersed over a wide geographic area are impractical due to high costs and resource limitations, especially for remote sites where manual data collection is inefficient and standalone monitors are cost-prohibitive.
Innovation Solution
A networked battery monitoring system that integrates data from multiple geographically separated battery systems onto a single hardware platform using standalone network access modules interconnected via a network protocol, with a Battery Network Controller for centralized data management, analysis, and alarm generation, utilizing various communication methods including PSTN, wireless networks, and the Internet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standalone battery monitors are installed at each remote site, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into two segments: simple data collection modules at remote sites and a centralized monitoring station that performs analysis and trend detection. This segmentation allows remote modules to remain simple while achieving comprehensive monitoring through centralized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple remote battery monitoring modules are merged into a single centralized monitoring system that aggregates data from all locations. This combining approach consolidates computational resources and analytical functions at one location, reducing the complexity burden at remote sites.
2Device complexity
If manual data collection is performed regularly, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system performs self-service by automatically collecting battery data at remote sites and transmitting it to the centralized station without requiring manual intervention. The system trends data automatically and generates alerts when thresholds are exceeded, eliminating the need for manual data collection while maintaining high productivity.
3Measurement precision
If standalone monitors are deployed at each site, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases due to high monitor cost relative to battery cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deploying expensive standalone monitors at each remote site, the system uses simple data collection modules that replicate basic measurement functions. The comprehensive monitoring capability is copied to the centralized station, which receives data from multiple locations and performs detailed analysis there, reducing per-site costs while maintaining overall measurement precision.
4Productivity
If frequent data collection is implemented, then productivity and early detection capability are improved, but use of energy and telecommunications cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic data collection at the centralized monitoring station, polling remote modules at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains the ability to detect battery degradation trends while significantly reducing telecommunications energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery monitoring system for simultaneously managing the batteries in 100 or more remote locations, each with 100 or fewer cells, has an individual battery monitor operatively engaged with at least one of the cells, a network access module in communication with the battery monitor, and a battery manager that has a fixed IP address that can be connected via an M2M data protocol to the battery monitor. The network access module is programmed to periodically transfer battery monitor data, including ohmic measurements, to the battery manager at a frequency of not less than once per week and with a total rate of data transfer of not more than 1 Mb per month. When the network access module initiates contact with the battery manager, the M2M data communication protocol assigns a variable IP address to the modem of the network access module.