Battery Management Systems Having Battery Failure Detection and Related Methods and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs)

• US 20170358934A1
• Filed: 06/08/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Miller, David Glenn, Nandam, Pradeep Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 11,165,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are provided including a processor and a voltage sensor circuit in communication with the processor. The voltage sensor circuit is configured to sense a center point voltage (CPV) of a battery module associated with the UPS and provide the sensed CPV to the processor. The processor is configured to receive the sensed CPV of the battery module, determine if the CPV is less than a predetermined voltage and turn off all battery chargers associated with the battery module if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

Claims

1. A uninterruptible power supply (UPS) comprising:

a processor;

a voltage sensor circuit in communication with the processor,

wherein the voltage sensor circuit is configured to sense a center point voltage (CPV) of a battery module associated with the UPS and provide the sensed CPV to the processor; and

wherein the processor is configured to receive the sensed CPV of the battery module, determine if the CPV is less than a predetermined voltage and turn off all battery chargers associated with the battery module if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

2. The UPS of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to notify a customer of a particular slot in which the battery module is positioned if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

3. The UPS of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to sound an alarm responsive to determining that the CPV is less than the predetermined voltage.

4. The UPS of claim 1, wherein the UPS comprises at least one battery string.

5. The UPS of claim 1, wherein the battery module is positioned in an external battery module (EBM) in communication with the UPS.

6. The UPS of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is no greater than 2.3 volts per cell (V/cell).

7. A system for detection of battery failures, the system comprising:

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS);

a processor associated with the UPS;

a battery module associated with the UPS and the processor; and

a voltage sensor circuit in communication with the processor, the voltage sensor circuit configured to sense a center point voltage (CPV) of the battery module associated with the UPS and provide the sensed CPV to the processor; and

wherein the processor is configured to receive the sensed CPV of the battery module, determine if the CPV is less than a predetermined voltage and turn off all battery chargers associated with the battery module if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

8. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to notify a customer of a particular slot in which the battery module is positioned if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the UPS comprises at least one battery string.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising an external battery module (EBM) in communication with the UPS, wherein the battery module is positioned in the EBM.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined threshold is no greater than 2.3 volts per cell (V/cell).

9. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to sound an alarm responsive to determining that the CPV is less than the predetermined voltage.

13. A method for detecting battery failures, the method comprising:

sensing a center point voltage (CPV) of a battery module associated with a UPS;

providing the sensed CPV to a processor;

determining if the CPV is less than a predetermined voltage; and

turning off all battery chargers associated with the battery module if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying a customer of a particular slot in which the battery module is positioned if the CPV is determined to be less than the predetermined voltage.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising replacing the battery module.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising sounding an alarm responsive to determining that the CPV is less than the predetermined voltage.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the UPS comprises at least one battery string.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery module is positioned in an external battery module (EBM) in communication with the UPS.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold is no greater than 2.3 volts per cell (V/cell).