Parallel Traction Energy Storage Devices for Commercial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traction energy storage systems for vehicles face challenges due to the high cost and complexity of development and testing, particularly in commercial vehicles, where the failure of individual cell modules requires replacement of the entire energy storage device, leading to increased maintenance costs and risk of failure.
Innovation Solution
A traction energy storage system comprising multiple electrical energy storage devices connected via busbars and contactors, with an energy store controller to manage cell modules and balance energy states, allowing for charge equalization and extended service life by compensating for inequalities and internal resistance differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of cell modules is increased to meet growing demands on stored traction energy, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the failure probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into multiple independent energy storage devices, each with its own cell modules. This segmentation allows individual devices to be replaced without affecting the entire system, thus maintaining reliability while increasing overall capacity. The system can scale by adding more devices rather than expanding a single large module.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional energy storage devices are used in commercial vehicles with larger number of cell modules, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the maintenance costs and risk of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into replaceable energy storage devices that can be independently maintained. When a device fails or requires maintenance, only that specific device needs to be replaced rather than the entire energy storage system, significantly reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables easy replacement of individual energy storage devices, allowing failed devices to be discarded and new or refurbished devices to be installed. This approach reduces maintenance costs by avoiding complex repairs and enabling straightforward device replacement.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple energy storage devices are used to increase capacity, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple energy storage devices use identical or standardized components, controllers, and interfaces. This universality allows the system to scale capacity by simply adding more of the same device type, avoiding the complexity that would arise from managing different device specifications and control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple energy storage devices are electrically connected in parallel through a common connection structure, merging their capacities while maintaining a unified system architecture. The parallel connection simplifies the overall system design compared to series connections, as it maintains consistent voltage across all devices.
4Quantity of substance
If cell modules are connected in parallel to increase capacity, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the inequality in energy store states increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes controllers that monitor the state of charge and other parameters of each energy storage device. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect inequalities in energy store states and manage charging/discharging operations to maintain balance across all devices, ensuring stable and equitable energy distribution.
Data Source
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AI summary
A traction energy storage system (100) for a commercial vehicle comprises several electrical energy storage devices (110). Each energy storage device includes several cell modules electrically connected via busbars, one or more contactors (170), and an energy storage controller for controlling the cell modules and the contactor(s) (170). Each cell module comprises several storage cells and a cell module controller. In each energy storage device, the contactor(s) (170) can connect the busbars of the energy storage device to an energy storage high-voltage interface of the respective energy storage device, according to the specifications of the energy storage controller, in a closed position of the contactor(s) and disconnect them in an open position. The energy storage high-voltage interfaces of the energy storage devices in the traction energy storage system are connected in parallel.The traction energy storage system (100) further comprises a system control (140) that is operatively connected to the energy storage controls, which causes the contactors (170) of all energy storage devices (110) to be closed in an operating state of the traction energy storage system, causes the contactors (170) of at least two of the energy storage devices (110) to be closed in a run-up state of the traction energy storage system and causes the contactors (170) of all energy storage devices (110) to be open in a standby state of the traction energy storage system.