Charge equalization apparatus with parallel connection of primary windings of multiple transformers

• US 8,766,598 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, SK On Company Limited (SK Innovation Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, SK Innovation Company Limited
• Inventors: Oh, Jeon Keun, Lee, Joong Hui, Jang, Soo Yeup, Moon, Gun Woo, Kim, Chong Eun, Park, Hong Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/303,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,576 Days
• Field of Search: 320/119
• US Class Current: 320/119
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• 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

The present invention relates, in general, to a charge equalization apparatus for batteries and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus, in which the primary windings (M11 to M1N) of a number of transformers (T1 to TN) corresponding to the number of battery cells are connected in parallel with each other, a switch (S) for controlling the flow of current of the primary windings (M11 to M1N) of the parallel-connected transformers is connected in series with the parallel-connected primary windings, respective secondary windings (M21 to M2N) corresponding to the primary windings are connected in parallel with the battery cells, and the battery cells are connected in series with each other.

Claims

1. A charge equalization apparatus, comprising:

multiple transformers, each having a primary winding and a secondary winding wound around the transformer, the primary windings of the transformers being connected in parallel with each other, the secondary windings of the transformers being connected in parallel with battery cells;

wherein the primary windings and the secondary windings of the multiple transformers form flyback converters;

multiple first current transfer devices connected in series with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, respectively;

multiple battery cells connected in series with each other, and connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, the battery cells being constructed so that a first end of the multiple series-connected battery cells is connected to first ends of the parallel-connected primary windings of the multiple transformers;

a first switch connected to the first ends of the parallel-connected primary windings of the multiple transformers, thus controlling flow of current of the primary windings in a first direction or a second direction; and

a voltage sensing and switch drive signal generation unit for sensing voltages of the multiple battery cells and turning on/off the first switch,

wherein the charge equalization apparatus is operated such that, when the first switch is turned on, current flows through the primary windings in the first direction, and current is induced in the secondary windings, thus enabling equalized charge to be distributed to the multiple battery cells; and

wherein the polarity of the primary winding in the multiple transformers is opposite to the one of the secondary winding;

when the first switch is on, the first current transfer devices prevent the current flow and store the magnetic energy on the secondary winding;

when the first switch is off, the magnetic energy stored on the secondary winding charges the battery cell so that the charge becomes equalized.

2. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple transformers have a same turns ratio.

3. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first switch is a semiconductor switching device.

4. A charge equalization apparatus, comprising:

multiple transformers, each having a primary winding and a secondary winding wound around the transformer, the primary windings of the transformers being connected in parallel with each other, the secondary windings of the transformers being connected in parallel with battery cells;

multiple first current transfer devices connected in series with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, respectively;

multiple battery cells connected in series with each other, and connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, the battery cells being constructed so that a first end of the multiple series-connected battery cells is connected to first ends of the parallel-connected primary windings of the multiple transformers;

a first switch connected to the first ends of the parallel-connected primary windings of the multiple transformers, thus controlling flow of current of the primary windings in a first direction or a second direction; and

a voltage sensing and switch drive signal generation unit for sensing voltages of the multiple battery cells and turning on/off the first switch,

wherein the charge equalization apparatus is operated such that, when the first switch is turned on, current flows through the primary windings in the first direction, and current is induced in the secondary windings, thus enabling equalized charge to be distributed to the multiple battery cells;

wherein the primary windings and the secondary windings of the multiple transformers are coupled to each other in structures of forward converters, the charge equalization apparatus further comprising multiple second current transfer devices connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, and provided with cathodes connected to cathodes of the first current transfer devices;

further comprising multiple inductors interposed between the cathodes of the first current transfer devices and the battery cells, respectively;

wherein the polarity of the primary winding in the multiple transformers is same with the one of the secondary winding;

when the first switch is on, the current flow from the secondary winding charges the battery cell through the first current transfer devices and the inductor;

when the first switch is off, the magnetic energy stored on the inductor charges the battery cell through the current loop comprising the inductor, the second current transfer devices, and the battery cell.

5. A charge equalization apparatus, comprising:

multiple transformers, each having a primary winding and a secondary winding wound around the transformer, the primary windings of the transformers being connected in parallel with each other, the secondary windings of the transformers being connected in parallel with battery cells;

multiple first current transfer devices connected in series with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, respectively;

multiple battery cells connected in series with each other, and connected in parallel with the secondary windings of the multiple transformers, the battery cells being constructed so that a first end of the multiple series-connected battery cells is connected to first ends of the parallel-connected primary windings of the multiple transformers;

a first switch connected to the first ends of the parallel-connected primary windings of the multiple transformers, thus controlling flow of current of the primary windings in a first direction or a second direction; and

a voltage sensing and switch drive signal generation unit for sensing voltages of the multiple battery cells and turning on/off the first switch,

wherein the charge equalization apparatus is operated such that, when the first switch is turned on, current flows through the primary windings in the first direction, and current is induced in the secondary windings, thus enabling equalized charge to be distributed to the multiple battery cells;

wherein the primary windings and the secondary windings of the multiple transformers are implemented in structures of half-bridge converters;

wherein the primary windings of the multiple transformers are respectively wound around first portions of multiple cores of the multiple transformers, the secondary windings of the multiple transformers are implemented using respective pairs of secondary windings, wound around second portions of the multiple cores of the multiple transformers so that the pairs of the secondary windings are connected in parallel with respective battery cells, the first current transfer devices are implemented using respective pairs of first current transfer devices, connected in series with the pairs of secondary windings, and the first switch is implemented using a pair of first switches required to control respective pairs of secondary windings; and

wherein when one of a pair of first switches is one, the current flows in the primary windings of a number of transformers by means of the battery cell and accordingly voltage is induced in the first winding and the second winding of corresponding secondary winding and current is generated to the forward direction and thus current is charged in the battery cell;

when the other switch is on, the current flows in the primary windings of a number of transformers by means of the battery cell to the contrary direction from the direction when the above switch is on, and accordingly voltage is induced in the first winding and the second winding of corresponding secondary winding and current is generated to the reverse direction and thus current is charged in the battery cell.

6. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pair of first switches is constructed such that one is connected to first ends of the primary windings connected in parallel with the battery cells, and a remaining one is connected to second ends of the primary windings connected in parallel with the battery cells.