US 2012/0256593 A1Published application

Cell charge management system

AssigneeSendyne Corporation

InventorIoannis Milios

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Abstract

A series array of electrochemical cells is charged by first applying a first charging current to the series array, thereby applying the first charging current to each of the cells in the series array. When one of the cells reaches a predefined maximum voltage, the series charging current is ceased. A second charging current is then selectively applied to various of the cells in the series array, topping up each of the cells in the series array. Priority is given to the weakest cell in the array. If there is an idle time for the battery load before the array is connected to a load, then charge is transferred from fully charged cells to weaker cells, thereby reducing charge imbalance among the cells. The array is connected to a load and power is drawn from the series array.

A method for use with a series array of electrochemical cells, each cell having a respective state of charge, each cell electrically coupled to a cell conditioning circuit by means of respective switches, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a first charging current to the series array, thereby applying the first charging current to each of the cells in the series array;
measuring a voltage at each of the cells, thereby developing information indicative of the state of charge of each of the cells;
when a predetermined state-of-charge condition is observed in the information indicative of the state of charge of a first one of the cells, ceasing the application of the first charging current to the series array;
after the ceasing of the application of the first charging current to the series array, applying a second charging current to a second one of the cells by means of its respective switches, the second one of the cells differing from the first one of the cells;
ceasing the application of the second charging current to the second one of the cells;
after the ceasing of the application of the first charging current to the series array, and after the ceasing of the application of the second charging current to the second one of the cells, applying a third charging current to a third one of the cells by means of its respective switches, the third one of the cells differing from the first one of the cells and differing from the second one of the cells;
ceasing the application of the third charging current to the third one of the cells;
after the ceasing of the application of the first charging current to the series array, and after the ceasing of the application of the second charging current to the second one of the cells, and after the ceasing of the application of the third charging current to the third one of the cells, connecting the series array of cells with a load, thereby delivering power to the load.

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Facts

Application

13/516,732Filed 10 Feb 2011

Priority

10 Feb 2010

Published

11 Oct 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H02J 7/56
For charge balancing, e.g. equalisation of charge between batteries: active balancing, e.g. using capacitor-based, inductor-based or DC-DC converters
H01M 10/441
Methods for charging or discharging: for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
Y02E 60/10
Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation: energy storage using batteries
Y02T 10/70
Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect: energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Claims6