Vehicle Battery Control System with Segmented Parallel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery charging control systems for large vehicles often charge all batteries simultaneously, leading to excessive current acceptance, inadequate charging, and reduced battery life due to mismatched electrical characteristics and inefficient power distribution.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a plurality of electrical storage elements connected in parallel, switch devices, and a controller to selectively connect and disconnect individual batteries relative to the load and power source based on their state of charge and the load draw, regulating output voltage and preventing adverse charging conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single power source charges an entire group of parallel-connected batteries simultaneously, then the charging system is simple to operate, but the current acceptance of the batteries exceeds the current supplied from the power source leading to inadequate charging
Solution Approach 1:
The battery group is divided into multiple subgroups, with each subgroup connected to the power source through a separate switch device controlled by the controller. This segmentation allows independent control of charging current to each subgroup, enabling the system to match the power source current output with the total charge acceptance capacity of all batteries, thereby improving charging efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
2Reliability
If conventional control systems control the supply voltage to protect against over-current charging conditions, then battery safety is improved, but the initial current to the batteries is limited reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the connection state of switch devices based on real-time monitoring of battery state of charge, charge acceptance capacity, and power source current output. During initial charging when batteries have high charge acceptance capacity, the controller connects appropriate subgroups to receive optimal current without over-current protection limitations. As batteries approach full charge, the controller disconnects subgroups to prevent over-charging, thereby extending battery life through adaptive voltage and current management.
3Device complexity
If entire groups of batteries are charged at the same time, then the charging system is simple to control, but each battery must have the same electrical characteristics which reduces system adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The battery group is segmented into multiple subgroups, each with its own switch device controlled independently by the controller. This segmentation enables the system to accommodate batteries with different electrical characteristics (internal resistance, capacity, architecture) by selectively connecting and disconnecting subgroups based on their individual charge acceptance capacities and states of charge, thereby increasing system adaptability while maintaining controlled complexity through automated management.
4Speed
If the current demand from the group of batteries exceeds the current capacity of the power source, then charging speed is improved, but the power source and batteries may be damaged or operate inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the state of charge, charge acceptance capacity, and current output of the power source, and adjusts the connection state of switch devices in real-time based on this feedback. This feedback mechanism ensures that the total current demand from connected batteries never exceeds the power source current capacity, preventing damage while maximizing charging speed by keeping the system operating at optimal current levels throughout the charging process.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrical storage element control system for a vehicle. The control system includes electrical storage elements electrically coupled to each other in parallel, switch devices, and a controller. Each of the electrical storage elements defines a total storage capacity and having a state of charge cooperatively defining a total stored charge, and is adapted to be in electrical communication with an electrical load and a power source. The switch devices are electrically coupled to the electrical storage elements such that each switch device is associated with a corresponding electrical storage element and is operable between connected and disconnected states. The controller is in electrical communication with the switch devices to selectively vary each of the switch devices between the connected state and the disconnected state to connect and disconnect one or more of the electrical storage elements relative to the load based on the total stored charges and relative to the power source based on the total storage capacities of the electrical storage elements.