Removable Battery Pack Control for Balanced Parallel Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack systems for riding vehicles and high power applications face issues with cross charging and unequal state of charge among parallel-connected battery packs, which can reduce cycle life and cause damage.
Innovation Solution
A scalable power unit with a control unit and switchable elements that manage the charging and discharging sequencing of individual battery packs, ensuring balanced state of charge and preventing cross charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple battery packs are connected in parallel to increase capacity, then the battery power supply system capacity increases, but cross charging and unequal state of charge occur reducing cycle life and causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
A control unit is introduced as an intermediary between the battery packs and the external environment. This control unit monitors the state of charge of each individual battery pack and manages charging/discharging operations to prevent cross-charging, thereby maintaining system reliability while allowing parallel connection for increased capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring voltage levels and state of charge of each battery pack. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts charging and discharging operations to maintain balanced state of charge across all parallel-connected battery packs, preventing cross-charging and extending cycle life
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery packs are made removable for use with other equipment, then versatility and adaptability improve, but maintaining balanced state of charge becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Before a battery pack is removed from the system for use with other equipment, the control unit performs preliminary actions by monitoring its state of charge and adjusting system operations. This ensures the battery pack is in an appropriate state for removal and helps maintain overall system balance, allowing versatile use while preserving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Each battery pack is equipped with identification features that allow the control unit to automatically recognize and track individual packs. This self-service mechanism enables the system to automatically manage state of charge balance even when packs are frequently removed and reinstalled, supporting both versatility and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A riding lawn mower includes a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade. a plurality of battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, and a battery management system configured to control a plurality of switching elements associated with the plurality of battery packs. The plurality of switching elements configured to control a current flow from each of the plurality of battery packs. The battery management system comprises a master battery management system configured to issue control commands to a plurality of slave battery management systems. Each of the plurality of slave battery management systems is configured to internally control operation of one of the plurality of battery packs.