On-line battery management and monitoring system and method

A system for on-line monitoring of battery cells, comprising a central monitoring station and a plurality of controllers connected thereto, wherein each of said controllers is connected to a respective plurality of said battery cells;

• wherein each of said controllers monitors and tests said respective plurality of said battery cells, obtains measurement and alarm condition data relative thereto, and transmits said measurement and alarm condition data to said central monitoring station;
• wherein said central monitoring station includes display means responsive to operator input for displaying said measurement and alarm condition data for each of said respective plurality of battery cells connected to each of said controllers;
• wherein each of said plurality of controllers has at least one of an automatic local mode and a maintenance mode;
• wherein, in said automatic local mode, all testing functions are performed by each of said plurality of controllers automatically and alarms are sounded locally;
• and
• wherein, in said maintenance mode, saving of measurement data is suspended while maintenance is performed on said batteries by said each of said plurality of controllers.

A system for on-line monitoring of battery cells, comprising a central monitoring station and a plurality of controllers connected thereto, wherein each of said controllers is connected to a respective plurality of said battery cells;

• wherein each of said controllers monitors and tests said respective plurality of said battery cells, obtains measurement and alarm condition data relative thereto, and transmits said measurement and alarm condition data to said central monitoring station;
• wherein said central monitoring station includes display means responsive to operator input for displaying said measurement and alarm condition data for each of said respective plurality of battery cells connected to each of said controllers;
• wherein each of said plurality of controllers initiates at least one of a call to said central monitoring station on a periodic basis and a downscale alarm call to said central monitoring station;
• said call to said central monitoring station on said periodic basis being initiated to indicate that said each of said plurality of controllers has been active and that the batteries connected to said each of said plurality of controllers are functioning acceptably, and to upload data collected during a preceding period to said central monitoring station;
• and
• said downscale alarm call to said central monitoring station being initiated whenever said each of said plurality of controllers detects a condition which prevents accurate testing of said respective plurality of said battery cells connected to said each of said plurality of controllers.

A method for on-line monitoring of battery cells by a central monitoring station, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of controllers connected to said central monitoring station, wherein each of said controllers is connected to a respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (b) operating said controllers to monitor and test said respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (c) obtaining measurement and alarm condition data relative to said respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (d) transmitting said measurement and alarm condition data to said central monitoring station;
• and
• (e) displaying said measurement and alarm condition data at said central monitoring station for each of said respective plurality of battery cells connected to each of said controllers;
• wherein said method further comprises the steps of receiving calls from said plurality of controllers, performing analysis of data received from said plurality of controllers, and initiating necessary maintenance requests to resolve problems identified during analysis of said data.

A method for on-line monitoring of battery cells by a central monitoring station, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of controllers connected to said central monitoring station, wherein each of said controllers is connected to a respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (b) operating said controllers to monitor and test said respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (c) obtaining measurement and alarm condition data relative to said respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (d) transmitting said measurement and alarm condition data to said central monitoring station;
• and
• (e) displaying said measurement and alarm condition data at said central monitoring station for each of said respective plurality of battery cells connected to each of said controllers;
• wherein said providing step comprises providing each of said plurality of controllers with at least one of an automatic local mode and a maintenance mode;
• wherein, in said automatic local mode, all testing functions are performed by each of said plurality of controllers automatically and alarms are sounded locally;
• and
• wherein, in said maintenance mode, saving of measurement data is suspended while maintenance is performed on said batteries by said each of said plurality of controllers.

A method for on-line monitoring of battery cells by a central monitoring station, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of controllers connected to said central monitoring station, wherein each of said controllers is connected to a respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (b) operating said controllers to monitor and test said respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (c) obtaining measurement and alarm condition data relative to said respective plurality of said battery cells;
• (d) transmitting said measurement and alarm condition data to said central monitoring station;
• and
• (e) displaying said measurement and alarm condition data at said central monitoring station for each of said respective plurality of battery cells connected to each of said controllers;
• said method further comprising the step of initiating at least one of a call to said central monitoring station from each of said plurality of controllers on a periodic basis and a downscale alarm call to said central monitoring station;
• said call to said central monitoring station on said periodic basis being initiated to indicate that said each of said plurality of controllers has been active and that the batteries connected to said each of said plurality of controllers are functioning acceptably, and to upload data collected during a preceding period from said each of said plurality of controllers to said central monitoring station;
• and
• said downscale alarm call to said central monitoring station being initiated whenever said each of said plurality of controllers detects a condition which prevents accurate testing of said respective plurality of said battery cells connected to said each of said plurality of controllers.