Variable Output Voltage Battery via Switched Cell Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery systems for electric and hybrid vehicles require high-capacity capacitors to stabilize voltage, which are costly and space-intensive due to high DC link voltages, and pose safety risks for maintenance personnel, with complex and costly contactors needed to manage high currents.
Innovation Solution
A battery module string with a coupling unit that switches battery cells between terminals in response to control signals, allowing for variable output voltage settings and integrating pulse-controlled inverter functionality directly into the battery, eliminating the need for a buffer capacitor and reducing component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a large number of battery cells are connected in series to meet high voltage requirements, then the output voltage is improved, but the risk potential for maintenance personnel increases and complex contactors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into multiple battery modules, each containing a manageable number of series-connected battery cells. This segmentation allows the high voltage to be distributed across multiple lower-voltage modules, reducing the risk potential in each individual module while maintaining the required total output voltage when modules are connected in series.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling unit enables dynamic reconfiguration of battery modules, allowing the system to adaptively adjust the number of active series-connected modules based on demand. This dynamic capability reduces the need for permanent high-voltage configurations, thereby lowering the risk potential for maintenance personnel while still achieving high voltage when needed.
2Power
If a large number of battery cells are connected in series to meet high voltage requirements, then the output voltage is improved, but complex and costly contactors are required to manage high currents
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the battery into modules with fewer series-connected cells each, the voltage per module is reduced. This allows the use of simpler, less costly contactors within each module that are designed for lower voltage and current ratings, while the overall system still achieves high voltage through series connection of multiple modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling unit enables partial activation of battery modules, allowing the system to use only the necessary number of modules to meet the required voltage and power demand. This reduces the need for complex contactors that would otherwise need to handle the full capacity of all modules simultaneously.
3Power
If a large number of battery cells are connected in series and parallel to increase voltage and current capacity, then the power output is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into modular units with standardized configurations of series and parallel connected cells. This modular architecture simplifies the overall system design by allowing complex power requirements to be met through combinatorial assembly of identical modules rather than custom wiring of individual cells, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high power output capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each battery module is designed as a universal unit that can function independently or be combined with other modules to meet various voltage and power requirements. The coupling unit provides multi-functional control, enabling the same module configuration to serve different power demands, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining flexibility for high power output.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional battery systems use high-capacity capacitors to stabilize voltage, then the voltage stability is improved, but the cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the voltage stabilization function from the traditional high-capacity capacitor and relocates it to the battery module level through the coupling unit. By distributing the stabilization function across multiple battery modules rather than relying on a single large capacitor, the system achieves voltage stability while significantly reducing the space and cost associated with high-capacity capacitors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a centralized voltage stabilization approach (single large capacitor) to a distributed approach (multiple small capacitors at module level). This dimensional change from one large energy storage element to many smaller elements distributed across the battery system achieves the same voltage stability function while reducing overall space requirements and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a battery comprising at least one battery module line (70) and a control unit, the at least one battery module line (60) comprising a plurality of battery modules (40, 60) mounted in series. Each battery module (40, 60) comprises at least one battery cell (11) and a coupling unit (30, 50). The at least one battery cell (11) is mounted between a first input (31, 51) and a second input (32, 52) of the coupling unit (30, 50). The coupling unit (20, 40) is designed to switch the at least one battery cell (11) between a first terminal (41, 61) of the battery module (40, 60) and a second terminal (42, 62) of the battery module (40, 60), on a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal (41, 61) to the second terminal (42, 62) on a second control signal. The control unit is designed to transmit the first control signal to a first variable number of battery modules (40, 60) of the at least one battery module line (70) and the second control signal to the remaining battery modules (40, 60) of the at least one battery module line (70), and thereby variably regulate an output voltage of the at least one battery module line (70) of the battery.