Switch Network Charging Energy Storage Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery charging systems lack efficient and adaptive methods to manage charging across diverse battery types, often leading to overcharging issues and damage, particularly for batteries that cannot tolerate long, high-rate charging.
Innovation Solution
A switch network with multiple isolation stages and a controller that selectively connects or bypasses energy storage modules based on charge state, allowing for individual or grouped charging, bypassing adequately charged modules, and aggregating voltages for faster charging, while ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If constant voltage or constant current charging is used for batteries with high overcharge tolerance, then charging simplicity is improved, but manual disconnection or fixed-time cut-off is required which reduces charging precision
Solution Approach 1:
The battery management system performs automatic voltage sensing and charging cut-off without manual intervention. The microprocessor controller continuously monitors battery voltage and automatically terminates charging when the predetermined voltage threshold is reached, eliminating the need for manual disconnection while maintaining charging simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If voltage sensing circuits and microprocessor controller are used to adjust charging current, then charging precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microprocessor controller serves multiple functions: it senses battery voltage, regulates charging current, determines state of charge, and performs cut-off at the end of charge. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves precise charging control while minimizing the number of separate components required.
3Productivity
If high-rate charging is applied to batteries, then charging speed is improved, but battery damage occurs due to overcharging
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system continuously senses battery voltage during charging and uses this feedback to regulate the charging current. When the battery voltage approaches the predetermined threshold, the microprocessor controller automatically reduces or terminates the charging current, preventing overcharging and battery damage while enabling efficient high-rate charging.
4Adaptability or versatility
If individual battery modules are charged separately, then charging adaptability is improved, but charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple independently controllable modules, each with its own charging control. The microprocessor controller can individually monitor and regulate charging for each module based on its specific state of charge and voltage level, allowing parallel charging of multiple modules while maintaining precise control over each individual module's charging process.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a plurality of energy storage modules (ESMs) to store charge. Each ESM includes module inputs to receive the charge. A plurality of charging circuits supply electrical energy to charge the ESMs via an output from each of the charging circuits. A switch network selectively switches each of the outputs from each of the charging circuits to the respective module inputs of each of the ESMs in response to a control command.