Method and apparatus for managing energy in plural energy storage units
First Claim
1. A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units, the system comprising:
- a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units;
a current pump circuit to transfer energy between each individual one of the energy storage units and another individual one of the energy storage units, the current pump circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers;
a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers, the central controller having a measuring function and a charge movement function separate from the measuring function whereby energy storage unit imbalance can be anticipated before it occurs; and
a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication to control the energy storage unit controllers to transfer energy between the energy storage units, the serial electrical interface being configured to connect the central controller to a first communication port of a first energy storage unit controller and to connect a second communication port of the first energy storage unit controller to a first communication port of a second energy storage unit controller.
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Abstract
A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers. A method for managing charge in a plurality of series connected energy storage units forming an energy storage device includes monitoring a current supplied to the energy storage device, determining at least one of a charging rate and a capacity of a first energy storage unit and a second energy storage unit in the energy storage device, and diverting current from the first energy storage unit to the second energy storage unit in response to the steps of monitoring and determining.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units, the system comprising:
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a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units; a current pump circuit to transfer energy between each individual one of the energy storage units and another individual one of the energy storage units, the current pump circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers; a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers, the central controller having a measuring function and a charge movement function separate from the measuring function whereby energy storage unit imbalance can be anticipated before it occurs; and a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication to control the energy storage unit controllers to transfer energy between the energy storage units, the serial electrical interface being configured to connect the central controller to a first communication port of a first energy storage unit controller and to connect a second communication port of the first energy storage unit controller to a first communication port of a second energy storage unit controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23)
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11. A system for managing energy stored in plural series connected energy storage units comprising:
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first means for monitoring voltage across a first energy storage unit; second means for separately monitoring voltage across a second energy storage unit; means for transferring charge between each individual one of the first and second energy storage units and another individual one of the first and second energy storage units by exchanging energy between the first and second energy storage units in response to the first and second monitoring means during at least one of charging and discharging of the first and second energy storage units, the charge transferring means including a reactive equalization circuit; means for controlling the first and second means for monitoring voltage wherein the means for controlling is a central controller having a measuring function and a charge movement function separate from the measuring function whereby energy storage unit imbalance can be anticipated before it occurs; and means for voltage isolated bi-directional communications between the first and second monitoring means to control the first and second monitoring means to transfer energy between the first and second energy storage units, the communications means connecting the controlling means to a first communication port of the first monitoring means and connecting a second communication port of the first monitoring means to a first communication port of the second monitoring means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26)
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19. A method for managing charge in a plurality of series connected energy storage units forming an energy storage device, the method comprising:
- measuring in a central controller a current supplied to the energy storage device;
determining in the central controller at least one of a charging rate and a capacity of a first energy storage unit and a second energy storage unit in the energy storage device, the central controller having the measuring function and a charge movement function separate from the measuring function whereby energy storage unit imbalance can be anticipated before it occurs; and
transferring energy from each individual one of the first and second energy storage units to another individual one of the first and second energy storage units in response to the steps of measuring and determining. - View Dependent Claims (20, 27, 28)
- measuring in a central controller a current supplied to the energy storage device;
Specification