Regenerative Power Electronics for Smart Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned vehicles with smart batteries connected in parallel face challenges in uniform charging due to varying cell performance and size, shape, and voltage requirements, leading to potential overcharging or undercharging, and the impracticality of ultracapacitors for energy storage in these systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for continuously monitoring the state of charge of each smart battery, detecting regenerative current flow, and determining optimal voltage differentials to control charging current, using a control circuit and regulator circuits to manage the charging process, ensuring each battery receives the appropriate charge without overcharging or undercharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple smart batteries are connected in parallel to meet energy requirements, then the energy capacity and versatility are improved, but the uniformity of charging and reliability of the battery system deteriorates due to varying cell performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery management into individual segments by providing separate regulator circuits for each smart battery. Each regulator independently controls the charging current to its associated battery based on that battery's state of charge, allowing parallel-connected batteries with varying cell performance to be charged uniformly without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the charging parameters (voltage differential, current limits) to each individual battery's characteristics. The control circuit monitors each battery's state of charge and adjusts the charging parameters locally for each battery, accommodating differences in cell performance, capacity, and charge absorption limits.
2Device complexity
If a single battery management system is used to charge multiple smart batteries in parallel, then the device complexity is reduced, but the precision of charge control deteriorates leading to overcharging or undercharging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery management function by providing individual regulator circuits for each smart battery while maintaining a unified control architecture. This segmentation allows precise control of charging current for each battery based on its specific state of charge, preventing overcharging or undercharging that would occur with a single aggregate management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the state of charge of each smart battery and using this information to dynamically adjust the charging current. The control circuit receives feedback from each battery's charge status and modifies the voltage differential and current limits accordingly, ensuring precise charge control throughout the charging process.
3Use of energy by moving object
If regenerative braking is used to capture wasted vehicle momentum, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the battery system reliability deteriorates due to large current variations and surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the control circuit continuously monitor the state of charge of each battery before regenerative charging events occur. This allows the system to pre-position batteries in optimal charge states and prepare the regulator circuits to handle incoming regenerative current, reducing the impact of sudden current surges on battery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the charging voltage differential and current limits based on real-time battery state of charge measurements. During regenerative braking, the control circuit modifies these parameters to smoothly accommodate large current variations, preventing damaging surges while maximizing energy recovery.
4Reliability
If smart batteries with inbuilt protection mechanisms are used, then the battery safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple individual management systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the individual smart battery management systems into a unified control architecture. The regulator circuits and control logic are consolidated to manage all smart batteries through a single integrated system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the safety benefits of individual battery protection mechanisms through coordinated control.
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 solution enables optimal and controlled distribution of regenerative charging current among smart batteries, preventing damage from sudden charge influxes and ensuring uniform charging, even when batteries have different characteristics, allowing for efficient energy recycling in unmanned vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the rechargeable power source may be configured to regenerate energy from otherwise-wasted vehicle momentum
Implementation Method 2
determining a plurality of optimal voltage differentials to be applied across each of the plurality of smart batteries
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the charging of a battery panel of a remote vehicle using regenerative power includes continuously monitoring a state of charge of each of a plurality of smart batteries included in a battery panel and detecting a regenerative current flow from a motor of a vehicle. The method also includes determining if a current charge status of a smart battery in the plurality of smart batteries is at a charge condition which is less than a threshold value associated with the smart battery and determining a plurality of optimal voltage differentials to be applied across each of the plurality of smart batteries. Each of the plurality of optimal voltage differentials is used to control a charging current supplied to a corresponding smart battery. The method further includes applying the determined plurality of optimal voltage differentials across each of the corresponding plurality of smart batteries.