Battery management system and apparatus with anomaly reporting

• US 20050206388A1
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Askality, LLC
• Original Assignee: BatteryCorp, Inc.
• Inventors: Quint, Jonathan B., Dworkin, Steven H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/430
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to the management of large stationary batteries. The invention is a comprehensive process for the management of stationary batteries that are used for backup power and are deployed in widely dispersed locations. The OMS™ (Optimization Management System) solution is comprised of Mega-Tags (preferably serialized bar-coded identification labels), a battery testing and data acquisition device, and web-based software. The OMS™ system employs algorithmic testing to determine whether a particular battery unit needs to be replaced or whether it can be advantageously redeployed. It also determines whether a particular deployment location contains anomalous readings, signifying potential problems with either the batteries themselves or possibly with other electrical equipment at the location. These components work together to provide a platform for managing a large number of perishable, expensive, and geographically dispersed assets.

Claims

1. A battery management method of determining an anomaly, comprising the steps of:

testing a battery to determine test results;

the test results comprising an ohmic test voltage;

uploading the test results into a computer program;

recording a base line value;

determining an ohmic test value;

classifying the ohmic test value;

determining a status of the battery to indicate a condition of the battery;

determining an anomaly relating to the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ohmic test value is an impedance measurement.

3. A battery management method of determining an anomaly, comprising the steps of:

testing a battery to determine a tested voltage;

determining and recording a rated nominal voltage value;

comparing the tested voltage to the nominal voltage value;

calculating a difference between the tested voltage and the nominal voltage value;

reporting a first anomaly if the tested voltage exceeds the rated nominal value by a predetermined percentage;

reporting a second anomaly if the rated nominal value exceeds the tested voltage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said predetermined percentage is about 16.7 percent.

5. A battery management method of determining an anomaly, comprising the steps of:

determining and recording a specified voltage requirement of an equipment item;

determining and recording a specified voltage of a plurality of battery units;

comparing the specified voltage requirement with the specified voltage of the plurality of battery units;

reporting an anomaly if the specified voltage requirement does substantially equal the specified voltage of the plurality of battery units.

6. A battery management method of determining an anomaly, comprising the steps of:

determining and recording an ambient temperature reading about a battery unit;

determining and recording a predetermined temperature value;

comparing the ambient temperature reading to the predetermined temperature value;

reporting an anomaly if the ambient temperature reading exceeds the predetermined temperature value by a predetermined difference value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined temperature value is below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the ambient temperature reading is an average ambient temperature calculated from a plurality of ambient temperature readings.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of reporting an anomaly if the predetermined temperature value exceeds the ambient temperature reading value by a predetermined difference value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined temperature value is above 4 degrees Centigrade.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the ambient temperature reading is an average ambient temperature calculated from a plurality of ambient temperature readings.

12. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions for managing batteries and providing a report of an anomaly, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for uploading battery test results, the test results comprising an ohmic test voltage;

computer program code for recording a base line value;

computer program code for determining an ohmic test value;

computer program code for classifying the ohmic test value;

computer program code for determining a status of the battery to indicate a condition of the battery;

computer program code for determining an anomaly relating to the battery.

13. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 12 wherein the ohmic test value is an impedance measurement.

14. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions for managing batteries and providing a report of an anomaly, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for storing a tested voltage;

computer program code for determining and recording a rated nominal voltage value;

computer program code for comparing the tested voltage to the nominal voltage value;

computer program code for calculating a difference between the tested voltage and the nominal voltage value;

computer program code for reporting a first anomaly if the tested voltage exceeds the rated nominal value by a predetermined percentage;

computer program code for reporting a second anomaly if the rated nominal value exceeds the tested voltage.

15. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein said predetermined percentage is about 16.7 percent.

16. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions for managing batteries and providing a report of an anomaly, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining and recording a specified voltage requirement of an equipment item;

computer program code for determining and recording a specified voltage of a plurality of battery units;

computer program code for comparing the specified voltage requirement with the specified voltage of the plurality of battery units;

computer program code for reporting an anomaly if the specified voltage requirement does substantially equal the specified voltage of the plurality of battery units.

17. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions for managing batteries and providing a report of an anomaly, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for recording an ambient temperature reading about a battery unit;

computer program code for recording a predetermined temperature value;

computer program code for comparing the ambient temperature reading to the predetermined temperature value;

computer program code for reporting an anomaly if the ambient temperature reading exceeds the predetermined temperature value by a predetermined difference value.

18. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the predetermined temperature value is below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

19. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the ambient temperature reading is an average ambient temperature calculated from a plurality of ambient temperature readings.

20. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 17 further comprising computer program code for reporting an anomaly if the predetermined temperature value exceeds the ambient temperature reading value by a predetermined difference value.

21. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the predetermined temperature value is above 4 degrees Centigrade.

22. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the ambient temperature reading is an average ambient temperature calculated from a plurality of ambient temperature readings.