UPS Battery Activation via Bypass Path and DC-DC Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aging batteries in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) fail to provide stable backup power, affecting the normal operation of connected devices.
Innovation Solution
The UPS system includes a control circuit that manages a bypass path, charging circuit, and voltage conversion circuits to perform a battery activation operation by providing AC power to the bypass path, stopping battery charging, and performing DC-DC conversion, allowing the battery to deeply discharge and recover its capacity while ensuring continuous power to connected devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery is continuously charged in the UPS, then the battery remains ready for backup power, but the battery deteriorates due to aging and cannot provide stable backup power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic battery activation operations where the battery is connected to the bypass path for a predetermined period to deeply discharge and activate the battery, then disconnected for normal charging. This periodic activation prevents battery deterioration while maintaining backup power capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs battery activation operations in advance before the battery is fully deteriorated. The control circuit determines when activation is needed based on operation time or charge-discharge cycles, and proactively initiates the activation process to prevent future battery failure.
2Reliability
If the battery is deeply discharged to activate it, then the battery capacity is recovered, but the devices connected to the UPS may lose power during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass path serves as an intermediary power source during battery activation. When the battery is deeply discharged, the bypass path provides power to the output terminal, ensuring continuous power supply to connected devices without interruption. The control circuit switches between battery power and bypass path power seamlessly.
3Ease of operation
If the UPS performs battery activation operation, then the battery can be activated without removing connected devices, but the system complexity increases with additional switching circuits and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass path is designed with multi-functionality: it serves as both a normal operational component for providing power during line failures and as an activation path for battery maintenance. The first switch unit and second switch unit are used in multiple operational modes (normal operation, battery activation, and bypass modes), reducing the need for dedicated activation-only components.
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 the UPS to effectively manage aged batteries, ensuring stable power supply to devices without interrupting their operation, and allows for the recovery of battery capacity without removing connected devices.
Implementation Method 1
controls the first voltage conversion circuit to perform a DC-DC conversion operation
Data Source
AI summary
An uninterruptible power supply comprising a first switch unit, a charging circuit, a first voltage conversion circuit, a second voltage conversion circuit, a second switch unit and a control circuit is provided. When the uninterruptible power supply performs a battery activation operation, the control circuit controls the first switch unit to provide the AC power received by the uninterruptible power supply to a terminal of a bypass path, controls the first switch unit to provide the output of a battery to the first voltage conversion circuit, controls the second switch unit to electrically couple the output terminal of the uninterruptible power supply to the other terminal of the bypass path, controls the charging circuit to stop charging the battery, and controls the first voltage conversion circuit to perform a DC-DC conversion operation. In addition, a corresponding battery activation operation method is also provided.