Parallel Power Supply Relay Segmentation and Precharge Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of batteries connected in parallel increases, existing power supply devices face challenges in preventing excessive current and voltage variation while maintaining cost-effectiveness and mountability, often requiring increased relay and resistor counts, leading to higher costs and larger device sizes.
Innovation Solution
A power supply device with multiple power supply units connected in parallel, featuring relays and resistive elements that allow current flow through specific junctions, reducing the number of relays needed and using balancing resistive elements to equalize voltage between battery units, thereby minimizing costs and size without requiring special circuit elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of batteries connected in parallel is increased, then the power supply capacity is improved, but the number of precharge circuits must be increased, leading to increased costs and device size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the precharge function into a single shared circuit that serves all battery units connected in parallel. Instead of providing separate precharge circuits for each battery, one precharge circuit is configured to precharge the output capacitor through the parallel connection point, thereby preventing excessive inrush current to the load while avoiding the need to increase the number of precharge circuits as batteries are added.
Solution Approach 2:
The single precharge circuit is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple battery units simultaneously. The circuit includes a precharge switch and resistor that can control the charging current distribution across all parallel-connected batteries, allowing one circuit to perform the precharge function for any number of batteries without requiring additional precharge circuits.
2Device complexity
If relays are connected between junctions of the plurality of batteries and a load, then the number of required relays is reduced, but the current capacities of the relays need to be increased, leading to increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the relay function into multiple units, with each relay connected in series between the positive electrode-side terminal of its respective battery and the positive electrode-side junction. This segmentation allows each relay to handle only the current from its associated battery rather than the total current from all batteries, maintaining standard current ratings while enabling parallel battery connections.
3Stability of the object's composition
If resistive elements are provided only to eliminate voltage variation between batteries, then voltage equalization is achieved, but the costs required to form the device are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the resistive elements multi-functional by integrating them into the precharge circuit. The same resistive elements that provide precharge functionality also serve as balancing resistors that eliminate voltage variation between batteries. This dual functionality allows voltage equalization to be achieved without adding separate resistive elements, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing costs.
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
The solution effectively prevents excessive current and voltage variation between battery units, reducing the number of required relays and resistive elements, thus lowering costs and maintaining device compactness, while ensuring reliable operation and voltage equalization.
Implementation Method 1
a precharge circuit including a switch and a resistive element connected in series between the positive electrode-side terminal and the positive electrode-side junction
Implementation Method 2
a balancing resistive element connected between positive electrode-side terminals of a plurality of battery units, and a second switch connected in series between the balancing resistive element and one of the positive electrode-side terminals of the battery units
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply device includes a plurality of power supply units connected in parallel, and includes a positive electrode-side junction formed by the joining of positive electrode-side terminals of the plurality of power supply units and a negative electrode-side junction formed by the joining of negative electrode-side terminals of the plurality of power supply units. Each of the plurality of power supply units includes a battery unit, and a first relay that is provided between one of the positive and negative electrode-side junctions and the battery unit and is electrically disconnectably connected in series to the battery unit. Each of the plurality of power supply units includes a resistive element of which one end is connected between the first relay, which is connected to one of a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the battery unit, and the battery unit.