Parallel Self-Discharging Resistors for Series Battery Cell Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Batteries connected in series face cell imbalance issues during charging, where a lower-capacity battery can prevent full charging, leading to performance degradation, and conventional solutions require complex circuitry or low-voltage charging, which is not energy efficient.
Innovation Solution
A self-discharging mechanism is introduced, where a resistor or similar resistance element is connected in parallel with each battery, allowing current leakage when a battery reaches a preset voltage, reducing charging current for overcharged batteries and maintaining balance across the series circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If batteries are connected in series to achieve high voltage, then efficiency increases and cost decreases, but cell imbalance occurs during charging causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-balancing mechanism where each battery cell is equipped with a parallel resistance element and control circuitry that automatically detects voltage differences and diverts excess current from higher-capacity cells during charging. This self-regulating system maintains cell balance without requiring external intervention or complex centralized control, allowing the battery pack to achieve and maintain optimal performance while connected in series for high voltage operation
2Reliability
If conventional charging methods are used with complex circuitry to detect and balance uncharged batteries, then cell imbalance is addressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery management function into independent modular units, with each battery cell having its own parallel resistance element and control circuitry. This segmentation allows each cell to autonomously monitor and regulate its own charging state, eliminating the need for complex centralized detection and balancing circuitry while maintaining reliable cell balance across the entire battery pack
3Reliability
If low voltage charging is used to charge each battery separately to full capacity, then cell imbalance is avoided, but energy efficiency decreases due to voltage conversion losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables high-voltage series charging by implementing self-balancing control at the cell level, where each battery cell's control circuitry automatically detects when it reaches full charge and signals the charging system to stop or redirect current. This eliminates the need to convert high voltage to low voltage for charging, maintaining energy efficiency while preventing overcharging of individual cells through the self-regulating mechanism
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
This method effectively balances battery capacities by decreasing the charging current of higher-capacity batteries and increasing it for lower-capacity ones, preventing overcharging and achieving cell balance without complex circuitry or low-voltage charging, thus enhancing energy efficiency and battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
a resistor or similar resistance element is connected in parallel with each battery, allowing current leakage when a battery reaches a preset voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable battery, battery set or battery pack having a circuit or a plurality of circuits for providing self-discharging thereof electrically connected in parallel are used to form rechargeable battery assemblies and electric power supply systems for use in electric and hybrid vehicles and the like.