Redox Flow Battery Bridge Circuit Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Redox flow battery systems face destruction and potential fires due to short-circuit currents when defects occur in the power electronics, particularly in the bridge circuit of the DC/DC converter.
Innovation Solution
A redox flow battery system with a controller and battery inverter that includes voltage and current measuring devices to detect predetermined patterns indicating faults in the bridge circuit, allowing for immediate shutdown and preventing further damage or fires, featuring a capacitor arrangement for enhanced safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power electronics are integrated into the battery system for charging and discharging, then the battery system can be controlled and operated efficiently, but the risk of destruction and fires increases due to short-circuit currents when defects occur in the power electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protective actions by installing measuring devices that continuously monitor voltage and current before faults can cause damage. The control unit is pre-programmed with algorithms to detect fault patterns and initiate shutdown procedures before short-circuit currents can destroy the power electronics or cause fires.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces measuring devices and control units as intermediary components between the battery and power electronics. These intermediaries detect abnormal conditions and mediate the shutdown process, preventing direct harmful interactions between faulty power electronics and the battery system.
2Reliability
If measuring devices and fault detection systems are added to monitor voltage and current, then the safety and reliability of the battery system is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it controls the charging and discharging processes, monitors voltage and current measurements, detects fault patterns using algorithms, and executes shutdown commands. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Productivity
If the bridge circuit is located directly at the battery for efficient power conversion, then the charging and discharging efficiency is improved, but the potential damage to the battery from faults in the bridge circuit is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places measuring devices at the battery terminal near the bridge circuit to perform preliminary detection of abnormal conditions. The control unit continuously monitors voltage and current waveforms and is ready to execute shutdown commands before faults can propagate from the bridge circuit to the battery, thus protecting the battery while maintaining the efficient direct connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring devices and control unit serve as intermediary protective layers between the bridge circuit and the battery. They detect faults in the bridge circuit and mediate the shutdown process, preventing direct harmful effects from reaching the battery while allowing the bridge circuit to remain directly connected for efficient power conversion.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a redox flow battery system (1), comprising a controller (17) and a battery inverter (2), which is suitable for charging and/or discharging a battery (11-13), wherein the battery inverter (2) comprises: a) a plurality of battery connections (8-10), to each of which at least one battery (11-13) can be connected; b) a first measuring device (14-16), which is suitable for measuring the voltage at a battery connection (8-10) and which is connected to the controller (17) with regard to signaling; c) a second measuring device (30), which is suitable for measuring the current at a battery connection (8-10) and which is connected to the controller (17) with regard to signalling; d) a grid connection (4), which can be connected to an alternating-current supply grid, wherein e) the battery inverter (2) has a plurality of DC/DC converters (5, 6, 7), of which at least one has a first bridge circuit (40) directly connected to a battery connection (8-10).