Battery charging system and method of operating same
First Claim
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1. A method for charging a plurality of batteries wherein each battery includes an anode and a cathode, said method comprising:
- electrically coupling n batteries to form a string of batteries, the n batteries including at least a first battery and a second battery;
electrically coupling n battery charger assemblies to the n batteries such that each respective battery charger assembly is coupled to an anode and a cathode of a single respective battery, the n battery charger assemblies including at least a first battery charger assembly coupled to the first battery and a second battery charger assembly coupled to the second battery;
charging the n batteries utilizing the n battery charger assemblies;
placing a first predetermined load across the first battery using the first battery charger assembly;
placing a second predetermined load across the second battery using the second battery charger assembly;
determining at the first battery charger assembly whether the first battery is operating within predetermined limits based on the first predetermined load; and
determining at the second battery charger assembly whether the second battery is operating within the predetermined limits based on the second predetermined load.
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Abstract
A method for charging a plurality of batteries wherein each battery includes an anode and a cathode. The method includes electrically coupling n batteries to form a string of batteries, electrically coupling n battery charger assemblies to the n batteries such that each respective battery charger assembly is coupled to an anode and a cathode of a respective battery, and charging the plurality of batteries utilizing the n battery charger assemblies.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for charging a plurality of batteries wherein each battery includes an anode and a cathode, said method comprising:
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electrically coupling n batteries to form a string of batteries, the n batteries including at least a first battery and a second battery; electrically coupling n battery charger assemblies to the n batteries such that each respective battery charger assembly is coupled to an anode and a cathode of a single respective battery, the n battery charger assemblies including at least a first battery charger assembly coupled to the first battery and a second battery charger assembly coupled to the second battery; charging the n batteries utilizing the n battery charger assemblies; placing a first predetermined load across the first battery using the first battery charger assembly; placing a second predetermined load across the second battery using the second battery charger assembly; determining at the first battery charger assembly whether the first battery is operating within predetermined limits based on the first predetermined load; and determining at the second battery charger assembly whether the second battery is operating within the predetermined limits based on the second predetermined load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A battery charging system comprising:
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a first battery charger assembly coupled in parallel with a first battery, the first battery charger comprising a first battery testing stage configured to monitor measurements of the first battery and to determine whether the first battery is operating within predetermined limits based on the measurements of the first battery; and a second battery charger assembly coupled in parallel with a second battery, the second battery charger comprising a second battery testing stage configured to monitor measurements of the second battery and to determine whether the second battery is operating within the predetermined limits based on the measurements of the second battery, the first and second batteries electrically coupled to form a string of batteries. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wind turbine comprising:
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a rotor having at least one blade operatively coupled to at least one pitch motor; and a battery charging system comprising; a first battery charger assembly coupled in parallel with a first battery, the first battery charger assembly configured to determine whether the first battery is operating within predetermined limits based on measurements of the first battery; and a second battery charger assembly coupled in parallel with a second battery, the second battery charger assembly configured to determine whether the second battery is operating within the predetermined limits based on measurements of the second battery, the first and second batteries electrically coupled to form a string of batteries that is coupled to the at least one pitch motor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification