Systems and methods for scalable configurations of intelligent energy storage packs

• US 8,686,693 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• 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: Bhowmik, Shibashis, Macris, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/716,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 320/152, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 320/152
• 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 independent current measurements of a plurality of energy storage cells electrically connected to a plurality of respective converter circuits from a plurality of respective control circuits, wherein the respective converter circuits transform respective input voltages from the plurality of respective energy storage cells to respective desired output bus contribution voltages, wherein a summation of the respective desired output bus contribution voltages equals a total desired bus voltage, and wherein the plurality of energy storage cells are part of a multi-cell storage pack;

providing independent voltage measurements of the plurality of energy storage cells; and

receiving first control signals for a first energy storage cell of the plurality of energy storage cells, wherein the first control signals are determined according to a load policy, wherein the load policy is based on estimation of cell lifetime of the first energy storage cell relative to estimation of cell lifetimes of other energy storage cells of the plurality of energy storage cells, and wherein a first converter circuit from a first control circuit transforms a first input voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first output 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:

receiving second control signals for a second energy storage cell of the plurality of energy storage cells, wherein the second control signals are determined according to the load policy, and wherein a second converter circuit from a second control circuit transforms a second input voltage from the second energy storage cell to a desired second output 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 the multi-cell 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 output bus contribution voltage and the second output bus contribution voltage are coordinated to provide the total desired bus voltage from the multi-cell 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.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising disconnecting the first energy storage cell from the multi-cell storage pack when the first energy storage cell is unable to achieve the desired first output bus contribution voltage.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of energy storage cells from a multi-cell storage pack; and

a plurality of control circuits electrically connected to the plurality of respective energy storage cells, the plurality of control circuits having a plurality of respective converter circuits, wherein the plurality of control circuits

provides independent current measurements of the plurality of respective energy storage cells electrically connected to the plurality of respective converter circuits, wherein the plurality of respective converter circuits transform respective input voltages from the plurality of respective energy storage cells to respective desired output bus contribution voltages, and wherein a summation of the respective desired output bus contribution voltages equals a total desired bus voltage; and

provides independent voltage measurements of the plurality of respective energy storage cells; and

wherein a first control circuit of the plurality of control circuits receives first control signals for a first energy storage cell, wherein the first control signals are determined according to a load policy, wherein the load policy is based on estimation of cell lifetime of the first energy storage cell relative to estimation of cell lifetimes of other energy storage cells of the plurality of energy storage cells, and wherein a first converter circuit transforms a first input voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first output 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 control circuit of the plurality of control circuits receiving second control signals for a second energy storage cell, wherein the second control signals are determined according to the load policy, and wherein a second converter circuit transforms a second input voltage from the second energy storage cell to a desired second output 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 the multi-cell 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 output bus contribution voltage and the second output bus contribution voltage are coordinated to provide the total desired bus voltage from the multi-cell 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.

22. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first control circuit disconnects the first energy storage cell from the multi-cell storage pack when the first energy storage cell is unable to achieve the desired first output bus contribution voltage.

15. A system, comprising:

a central processing system in communication with a database;

a plurality of control circuits in communication with the central processing system, the plurality of control circuits electrically connected to a plurality of respective energy storage cells, the plurality of control circuits having a plurality of respective converter circuits, wherein the plurality of control circuits provides independent current measurements of the plurality of respective energy storage cell electrically connected to the plurality of respective converter circuits, wherein the respective converter circuits transform respective input voltages from the plurality of respective energy storage cells to respective desired output bus contribution voltages, wherein a summation of the respective desired output bus contribution voltages equals a total desired bus voltage, and wherein the plurality of energy storage cells are part of a multi-cell storage pack; and

provides independent voltage measurements of the plurality of respective energy storage cells; and

wherein a first control circuit of the plurality of control circuits receives first control signals for a first energy storage cell, wherein the first control signals are determined according to a load policy, wherein the load policy is based on estimation of cell lifetime of the first energy storage cell relative to estimation of cell lifetimes of other energy storage cells of the plurality of energy storage cells, and wherein a first converter circuit transforms a first input voltage from the first energy storage cell to a desired first output bus contribution voltage according to the first control signals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first control circuit further provides a first temperature 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 of the plurality of control circuits receiving second control signals for a second energy storage cell of the plurality of energy storage cells, wherein the second control signals are determined according to the load policy, and wherein a second converter circuit transforms a second input voltage from the second energy storage cell to a desired second output bus contribution voltage according to the second control signals.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second control circuit further provides a second temperature measurement of the second energy storage cell.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are electrically connected together in the multi-cell 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 output bus contribution voltage and the second output bus contribution voltage are coordinated to provide the total desired bus voltage from the multi-cell storage pack.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the first control circuit disconnects the first energy storage cell from the multi-cell storage pack when the first energy storage cell is unable to achieve the desired first output bus contribution voltage.