Series Battery Charging with Auxiliary Balancing and No Current Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging and discharging apparatuses for secondary batteries connected in series face challenges such as current interruption, equipment cost inefficiencies, and safety concerns due to voltage and current measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A series-type charging and discharging method and apparatus that uses one bi-directional main charging and discharging power supply without current interruption, incorporating auxiliary charging power supplies in parallel to individual batteries to correct capacity differences and ensure continuous operation according to a predetermined recipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple charging and discharging apparatuses are used for each battery, then measurement precision and safety are improved, but device complexity and equipment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple charging and discharging apparatuses are merged into a single apparatus that can handle multiple batteries connected in series. The main power supply unit provides common power to all batteries, while individual control units manage each battery's charging/discharging process independently, achieving both cost reduction and measurement precision through integrated design with separate control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging and discharging apparatus is segmented into a main power supply unit that handles common power functions and multiple independent control units that manage individual battery operations. This segmentation allows the system to use fewer overall apparatuses while maintaining precise measurement and control for each battery through dedicated control modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If relay switches are used to connect or separate batteries from circuits, then adaptability is improved, but current interruption occurs causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
Control units act as intermediaries between the main power supply and individual batteries, managing connection and separation operations. The system detects battery charge/discharge status through voltage measurements and coordinates relay switching operations to minimize current interruption duration, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enabling flexible battery management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control units monitor battery status and predict when charging or discharging will complete based on voltage changes. By anticipating the need to separate completed batteries from the circuit, the system can prepare relay switching operations in advance, minimizing current interruption and preventing measurement errors during the transition.
3Measurement precision
If high specification sensors are used for voltage and current measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but equipment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single main power supply unit serves multiple batteries simultaneously, providing universal measurement and control functions that would otherwise require separate high-specification sensors for each battery. The control units share the main power supply's measurement capabilities, reducing the need for multiple expensive sensors while maintaining adequate measurement precision for all batteries.
4Device complexity
If one main power supply is used for multiple batteries in series, then device complexity is reduced, but capacity difference between batteries cannot be corrected
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining a single main power supply for all batteries, the system implements local quality control through individual control units that can independently adjust charging/discharging parameters for each battery. This allows the system to correct capacity differences between batteries by applying tailored control strategies to each battery's specific characteristics while sharing the common power supply infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for charging and discharging a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series by using one bi-directional main charging and discharging power supply, and more particularly, to a series-type charging and discharging method and apparatus without current interruption in which auxiliary charging power supplies are added in parallel to individual batteries to reduce a capacity difference between the individual batteries and perform continuous charging and discharging according to a predetermined recipe (electrical conditions for charging and discharging, etc.) without interruption (on/off) of a charging and discharging current of the main charging and discharging power supply.