Enhanced battery storage and recovery energy systems
First Claim
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1. An energy storage system comprising:
- a plurality of batteries connected in series;
a first regulator circuit configured to balance voltages across two first battery sets of the plurality of batteries, the first regulator circuit comprising at least one switchable connection and at least one energy storage unit, wherein the at least one switchable connection connects the at least one energy storage unit to the two first battery sets;
a second regulator circuit configured to balance voltages across two second battery sets of the plurality of batteries, wherein each set in the two first battery sets includes one set from the two second battery sets; and
a controller connected to the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit and configured to;
monitor voltages across the two first battery sets and voltages across the two second battery sets;
identify voltage imbalances between the two first battery sets and voltage imbalances between the two second battery sets; and
adjust the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit to minimize the voltage imbalances between the two first battery sets and the voltage imbalances between the two second battery sets.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are herein disclosed for efficiently and cost-effectively balancing the voltages across batteries and/or cells in an energy storage system. A controller monitors the battery voltages and instructs regulator circuits to balance voltages between any batteries or sets of batteries having imbalanced voltages. Regulator circuits implementing a modified Ćuk converter can be utilized. Regulator circuits can have two capacitive circuits, one inductive circuit, and two switches. Two capacitors, an inductor, and two field effect transistors can be used in each regulator circuit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy storage system comprising:
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a plurality of batteries connected in series; a first regulator circuit configured to balance voltages across two first battery sets of the plurality of batteries, the first regulator circuit comprising at least one switchable connection and at least one energy storage unit, wherein the at least one switchable connection connects the at least one energy storage unit to the two first battery sets; a second regulator circuit configured to balance voltages across two second battery sets of the plurality of batteries, wherein each set in the two first battery sets includes one set from the two second battery sets; and a controller connected to the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit and configured to; monitor voltages across the two first battery sets and voltages across the two second battery sets; identify voltage imbalances between the two first battery sets and voltage imbalances between the two second battery sets; and adjust the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit to minimize the voltage imbalances between the two first battery sets and the voltage imbalances between the two second battery sets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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monitoring voltages across two first battery sets; monitoring voltage across two second battery sets, wherein each set in the two first battery sets includes one set from the two second battery sets; determining if a difference between the voltages across the two first battery sets exceeds a voltage imbalance threshold; instructing a first regulator circuit, associated with the two first battery sets, to balance the voltages across the two first battery sets, by; storing bypass energy in an energy storage unit; and distributing the stored bypass energy to at least one of the first set of batteries and the second set of batteries; determining if a difference between the voltage across the two second battery sets exceeds the voltage imbalance threshold; and instructing a second regulator circuit, associated with the two second battery sets, to balance the voltages across the two second battery sets. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An energy storage system comprising:
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a plurality of batteries connected in series; a first regulator circuit coupled to two first sets of batteries in the plurality of batteries and configured to balance voltages of the two first sets, and wherein the first regulator circuit comprises; an inductive circuit; a first switch; and a second switch; a second regulator circuit coupled to two second sets of batteries in the plurality of batteries and configured to balance voltages of the two second sets, wherein each set in the first sets includes one set from the second sets; and a controller connected to the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit and configured to at least; adjust the first switch and the second switch to minimize imbalance between the voltages of the two first sets; and minimize imbalance between the voltages of the two second sets. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification