Secondary Battery Segmentation for V2G Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing 'vehicle-to-grid' (V2G) schemes face limited acceptability from consumers due to the conflict between maintaining a fully charged battery for maximum driving range and the utility's need to alternately charge and discharge batteries for load balancing, which reduces battery lifetime.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery system within electric vehicles, owned by the utility, which can be charged and discharged independently of the primary battery, allowing the utility to implement V2G functionality without user constraints, along with a controller and communication system for remote management and pricing updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the utility company alternately charges and discharges the battery for load balancing, then the utility can reduce fluctuations in supply and demand, but the battery lifetime is reduced due to increased charge/discharge cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancing capabilityVSAvoidbattery lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into a primary battery unit owned by the consumer and a secondary battery unit owned by the utility company. The secondary battery unit is dedicated exclusively to V2G operations and load balancing, while the primary battery unit maintains full charge for consumer use. This segmentation allows the utility to perform charge/discharge cycles on the secondary battery without affecting the primary battery's lifetime or the consumer's driving range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the consumer maintains the battery in a full charged condition, then the consumer can maximize driving range, but the utility cannot utilize the battery for load balancing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving range availabilityVSAvoidV2G functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into two independent units: the primary battery unit remains fully charged for consumer use, while the secondary battery unit serves the utility's V2G needs. This segmentation resolves the conflict by providing separate resources for each user's requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The V2G functionality is extracted from the primary battery system and implemented through a separate secondary battery unit. This allows the utility to utilize battery capacity for load balancing without interfering with the consumer's ability to maintain full charge for maximum driving range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a secondary battery unit is added for V2G operations, then the utility can implement load balancing without user constraints, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent V2G managementVSAvoidbattery system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The primary and secondary battery units are combined into a single integrated battery assembly with shared housing, control systems, and charging infrastructure. This merging approach allows independent management of the two battery units while avoiding the complexity of completely separate systems, as they share common structural and control elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8314587B2Method and apparatus of stored energy management in battery powered vehicles

Publication Date: 2012.11.20 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

A secondary battery and charging system are provided within an electric car or other electric drive vehicle. The secondary battery may, e.g., be owned by the electric utility. The battery is removable and can be charged and discharged independently of the primary car battery system. The utility can use the secondary battery to implement vehicle-to-grid functionality.