Systems and Methods for Scalable Configurations of Intelligent Energy Storage Packs

• US 20100305770A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Macris, Eric, Bhowmik, Shibashis
• Granted Patent: US 8,686,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A system and method for scalable configuration of intelligent energy storage packs are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method comprises providing a first current measurement of a first energy storage cell electrically connected to a first converter circuit, and the first converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the first energy storage cell. A first voltage measurement of the first energy storage cell is provided. First control signals are received and the first control signals are determined according to a load policy. The first converter circuit transforms a first voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first bus contribution voltage according to the first control signals.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a first current measurement of a first energy storage cell electrically connected to a first converter circuit, wherein the first converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the first energy storage cell;

providing a first voltage measurement of the first energy storage cell; and

receiving first control signals, wherein the first control signals are determined according to a load policy, and wherein the first converter circuit transforms a first voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first bus contribution voltage according to the first control signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a first temperature measurement of the first energy storage cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the load policy is defined using at least one of historical energy storage cell characteristics, energy storage cell degradation characteristics, energy storage cell performance characteristics, and desired energy storage cell charge and discharge operation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second current measurement of a second energy storage cell electrically connected to a second converter circuit, wherein the second converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the second energy storage cell;

providing a second voltage measurement of the second energy storage cell; and

receiving second control signals, wherein the second control signals are determined according to the load policy, and wherein the second converter circuit transforms a second voltage from the second energy storage cell to a desired second bus contribution voltage according to the second control signals.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a second temperature measurement of the second energy storage cell.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in an energy storage pack, and wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in one of a series configuration or a parallel configuration, and wherein the first bus contribution voltage and second bus contribution voltage are coordinated to provide a fixed output from the energy storage pack.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first converter circuit is one of a boost-buck converter or a buck-boost converter.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a first energy storage cell; and

a first control circuit electrically connected to the first energy storage cell, the first control circuit having a first converter circuit, wherein the first control circuit

provides a first current measurement of the first energy storage cell electrically connected to the first converter circuit, wherein the first converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the first energy storage cell;

provides a first voltage measurement of the first energy storage cell; and

receives first control signals, wherein the first control signals are determined according to a load policy, and wherein the first converter circuit transforms a first voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first bus contribution voltage according to the first control signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first control circuit further provides a first temperature measurement of the first energy storage cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the load policy is defined using at least one of historical energy storage cell characteristics, energy storage cell degradation characteristics, energy storage cell performance characteristics, and desired energy storage cell charge and discharge operation.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a second energy storage cell; and

a second control circuit electrically connected to the second energy storage cell, the second control circuit having a second converter circuit, wherein the second control circuit

provides a second current measurement of the second energy storage cell electrically connected to the second converter circuit, wherein the second converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the second energy storage cell;

provides a second voltage measurement of the second energy storage cell; and

receives second control signals, wherein the second control signals are determined according to the load policy, and wherein the second converter circuit transforms a second voltage from the second energy storage cell to a desired second bus contribution voltage according to the second control signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second control circuit further provides a second temperature measurement of the second energy storage cell.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in an energy storage pack, and wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in one of a series configuration or a parallel configuration, and wherein the first bus contribution voltage and second bus contribution voltage are coordinated to provide a fixed output from the energy storage pack.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first converter circuit is one of a boost-buck converter or a buck-boost converter.

15. A system, comprising:

a central processing system in communication with a database;

a first control circuit in communication with the central processing system, the first control circuit electrically connected to a first energy storage cell, the first control circuit having a first converter circuit, wherein the first control circuit provides a first current measurement of the first energy storage cell electrically connected to the first converter circuit, wherein the first converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the first energy storage cell;

provides a first voltage measurement of the first energy storage cell; and

receives first control signals, wherein the first control signals are determined according to a load policy, and wherein the first converter circuit transforms a first voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first bus contribution voltage according to the first control signals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first control circuit further provides a first current measurement of the first energy storage cell.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the load policy is defined using at least one of historical energy storage cell characteristics, energy storage cell degradation characteristics, energy storage cell performance characteristics, and desired energy storage cell charge and discharge operation.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second control circuit in communication with the central processing system, the second control circuit electrically connected to a second energy storage cell, the second control circuit having a second converter circuit, wherein the second control circuit provides a second current measurement of the second energy storage cell electrically connected to the second converter circuit, wherein the second converter circuit controls the charge and discharge of the second energy storage cell;

provides a second voltage measurement of the second energy storage cell; and

receives second control signals, wherein the second control signals are determined according to the load policy, and wherein the second converter circuit transforms a second voltage from the second energy storage cell to a desired second bus contribution voltage according to the second control signals.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second control circuit further provides a second temperature measurement of the second energy storage cell.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in an energy storage pack, and wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in one of a series configuration or a parallel configuration, and wherein the first bus contribution voltage and second bus contribution voltage are coordinated to provide a fixed output from the energy storage pack.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the first converter circuit is one of a boost-buck converter or a buck-boost converter.