Wireless Module-Level Battery Management for Mixed-Chemistry Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems are limited in efficiency and operational safety, particularly in managing battery packs with diverse health states and chemistries, and lack flexibility in module replacement and reuse.
Innovation Solution
A battery management system where each module controller includes a microprocessor and wireless communication, enabling decentralized processing of module-level data and communication, eliminating the need for a central main controller, and allowing for modular design and reuse of individual battery modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a central main controller is used to manage all battery modules, then communication and control can be centralized, but the system complexity increases and flexibility for module replacement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized control system into distributed module controllers, where each battery module has its own independent controller. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the central controller while enabling flexible module replacement, as each module can be independently managed and replaced without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each module controller is equipped with a microprocessor that enables it to autonomously determine its own state of charge and state of health, and to perform self-diagnosis. This self-service capability reduces the burden on the central controller and allows modules to be independently replaced and reused, improving system flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented between all module controllers and the main controller, then communication flexibility improves, but the number of communication channels and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mesh network topology where module controllers can communicate directly with each other as intermediaries, not just with the main controller. This reduces the number of direct communication channels needed while maintaining communication flexibility, as messages can be routed through intermediate nodes in the mesh network.
3Productivity
If each module controller independently determines state of charge and state of health, then processing efficiency improves, but the computational load on each controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a distributed processing approach where each module controller performs only the necessary calculations for its own module's state determination, rather than a central controller processing all data. This partial action approach improves processing efficiency by parallelizing computations while keeping the computational load on each individual controller manageable.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
In a system and method for managing a battery pack (1), wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of battery modules (2), each module including a plurality of battery cells (3), a plurality of module controllers (5') are provided which are associated, respectively, with the battery modules (2). Each module controller (5') is configured to receive information on voltage and temperature of the battery cells (3) forming the respective battery module (2), and to process this information in such a way as to perform a series of operations, including determining, at each module controller (5'), a state of charge and a state of health of the respective battery module (2), and checking a balance between the battery cells (3) of the respective battery module (2). Each module controller (5') is provided with a respective wireless communication unit (12). In a first example, the result of the processing operations by the module controllers (5') is sent, by means of the wireless communication units (12), to the wireless communication unit (13) of a main controller (7'), which determines a state of charge and a state of health of the entire battery pack (1), and checks a balance between the battery modules (2). In this example, the main controller (7') also controls the operation of a battery disconnecting unit (10). In a second example there is no main controller, and the module controllers (5') each communicate, through the respective wireless communication unit (12), with all the other module controllers (5'). In this second example, the module controllers (5') are programmed so that only one of the module controllers performs, in turn, the function of a main controller, including the function of controlling the operation of the battery disconnecting unit, which in this case is equipped with a microprocessor with an associated wireless communication unit (15).