Bypass apparatus and method for series connected energy storage devices
First Claim
1. A bypass apparatus for an energy storing device coupled to a series connection, comprising:
- a chamber containing an activatable medium;
a movable terminal disposed adjacent the chamber and moveable between a contacting and a non-contacting state with respect to a stationary terminal, the movable terminal and stationary terminal being coupled in parallel across the energy storing device;
an activation circuit, coupled to the chamber and the energy storing device, that activates the activatable medium in response to an anomalous condition occurring in the energy storing device, the activated medium producing a force that moves the movable terminal into contact with the stationary terminal thereby providing a bypass current path to the series connection that bypasses the energy storing device; and
a voltage limiting circuit coupled in parallel across the energy storing device, the voltage limiting circuit limiting a voltage across the energy storing device during provision of the bypass current path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bypass apparatus and method for series connected energy storage devices. Each of the energy storage devices coupled to a common series connection has an associated bypass unit connected thereto in parallel. A current bypass unit includes a sensor which is coupled in parallel with an associated energy storage device or cell and senses an energy parameter indicative of an energy state of the cell, such as cell voltage. A bypass switch is coupled in parallel with the energy storage cell and operable between a non-activated state and an activated state. The bypass switch, when in the non-activated state, is substantially non-conductive with respect to current passing through the energy storage cell and, when in the activated state, provides a bypass current path for passing current to the series connection so as to bypass the associated cell. A controller controls activation of the bypass switch in response to the voltage of the cell deviating from a pre-established voltage setpoint. The controller may be included within the bypass unit or be disposed on a control platform external to the bypass unit. The bypass switch may, when activated, establish a permanent or a temporary bypass current path.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A bypass apparatus for an energy storing device coupled to a series connection, comprising:
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a chamber containing an activatable medium; a movable terminal disposed adjacent the chamber and moveable between a contacting and a non-contacting state with respect to a stationary terminal, the movable terminal and stationary terminal being coupled in parallel across the energy storing device; an activation circuit, coupled to the chamber and the energy storing device, that activates the activatable medium in response to an anomalous condition occurring in the energy storing device, the activated medium producing a force that moves the movable terminal into contact with the stationary terminal thereby providing a bypass current path to the series connection that bypasses the energy storing device; and a voltage limiting circuit coupled in parallel across the energy storing device, the voltage limiting circuit limiting a voltage across the energy storing device during provision of the bypass current path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 50, 51)
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21. A bypass apparatus for an energy storing device coupled to a series connection, comprising:
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a first chamber containing an activatable medium; a second chamber disposed adjacent the first chamber and containing an electrically conductive fluid; a pair of terminals provided in a third chamber disposed adjacent the second chamber, the pair of terminals being coupled in parallel across the energy storing device; an activation circuit, coupled to the first chamber and the energy storing device, that activates the activatable medium in response to detecting an anomalous condition in the energy storing device, the activated medium causing the electrically conductive fluid to pass from the second chamber into the third chamber and between the pair of terminals so as to provide a bypass current path to the series connection that bypasses the energy storing device; and a voltage limiting circuit coupled in parallel across the energy storing device, the voltage limiting circuit limiting a voltage across the energy storing device during provision of the bypass current path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A bypass apparatus for an energy storing unit coupled to a series connection, comprising:
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a sensor coupled in parallel with the energy storing unit that senses an energy parameter indicative of an energy state of the energy storing unit; a bypass device coupled in parallel with the energy storing unit and operable in a non-activated state and an activated state, the bypass device, when in the non-activated state, being substantially non-conductive with respect to current passing through the energy storing unit and, when in the activated state, providing a bypass current path for passing the current to the series connection other than through the energy storing unit; a controller coupled to the sensor and the bypass device, the controller causing the bypass device to actuate from the non-activated state to the activated state in response to the energy parameter deviating from a pre-established setpoint; and a voltage limiting circuit coupled in parallel across the energy storing unit, the voltage limiting circuit limiting a voltage across the energy storing unit during provision of the bypass current path. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A bypass apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of energy storing units that produce a current passing through a series connection; a plurality of bypass devices, each of the bypass devices being coupled to one of the plurality of energy storing units and comprising; a bypass circuit coupled in parallel with a particular energy storing unit of the plurality of energy storing units that senses a voltage of the particular energy storing unit; a bypass switch coupled in parallel with the particular energy storing unit that, when activated, provides a bypass current path for passing the current to the series connection so as to bypass the particular energy storing unit; and a voltage limiting circuit coupled in parallel across the particular energy storing unit, the voltage limiting circuit limiting a voltage across the particular energy storing unit during provision of the bypass current path. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of bypassing an energy storing cell coupled to a series connection, comprising:
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detecting an energy parameter of the energy storing cell; passing current through the cell while the detected energy parameter indicates that the cell is operating nominally; displacing an electrical conductor to establish parallel connectivity with the energy storing cell in response to the detected energy parameter indicating that the cell is operating anomalously; limiting a voltage across the energy storing cell while establishing parallel connectivity with the energy storing cell; and conducting the current to the series connection through the displaced electrical conductor rather than through the cell. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification