Charge equalization systems and methods for battery systems and uninterruptible power supplies

A UPS system for supplying power to a load based on a power signal provided by a power source, comprising:

• a plurality of battery strings comprising more than two batteries connected in series, where the plurality of battery strings are connected in parallel;
• an inverter and charger circuit operatively connected between the power source and the at least one battery string, and the at least one battery string and the load;
• a charge equalization circuit capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings;
• a relay matrix operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings;
• wherein
• based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries, the relay matrix is operated such that the charge equalization circuit is connected across any one of the pairs of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings.

A battery system comprising:

• a plurality of battery strings, where
• each battery string comprises more than two batteries connected in series, and
• the battery strings are connected in parallel;
• at least one charge equalization circuit capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries;
• a relay matrix operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings;
• wherein
• based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries, the balance controller controls the relay matrix such that at least one charge equalization circuit is connected across any one of the pairs of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings.

A UPS system for supplying power to a load based on a power signal provided by a power source, comprising:

• a plurality of battery strings, where
• each battery string comprises more than two batteries connected in series, and
• the battery strings are connected in parallel;
• an inverter and charger circuit operatively connected between the power source and the at least one battery string, and the at least one battery string and the load;
• at least one charge equalization circuit capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings;
• a relay matrix operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings;
• wherein
• based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries, the relay matrix is operated such that at least one charge equalization circuit is connected across a plurality of pairs of series connected batteries in the plurality of battery strings to equalize charges on the batteries.

A method of supplying power to a load based on a power signal provided by a power source, comprising:

• providing a plurality of battery strings each comprising more than two batteries connected in series;
• connecting the battery strings in parallel;
• operatively connecting an inverter and charger circuit between the power source and the at least one battery string, and the at least one battery string and the load;
• providing at least one charge equalization circuit capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in the any one of the plurality of battery strings;
• operatively connecting a relay matrix between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings;
• and
• operating the relay matrix such that at least one charge equalization circuit is connected across a plurality of pairs of series connected batteries in the plurality of battery strings to equalize charges on the batteries based on sensed voltage and current of the batteries in the plurality of battery strings.