Battery management system and apparatus with anomaly reporting

• US 7,616,002 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Askality, LLC
• Original Assignee: BatteryCorp, Inc.
• Inventors: Quint, Jonathan B., Dworkin, Steven H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/125,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/109, 320/132, 324/425, 324/426, 324/429, 324/430, 324/432, 324/435, 702/59, 702/62, 702/63, 702/65, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/185
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to the management of large stationary batteries. The invention is a comprehensive process for the management of stationary batteries that are used for backup power and are deployed in widely dispersed locations. The OMS™ (Optimization Management System) solution is comprised of Mega-Tags (preferably serialized bar-coded identification labels), a battery testing and data acquisition device, and web-based software. The OMS™ system employs algorithmic testing to determine whether a particular battery unit needs to be replaced or whether it can be advantageously redeployed. It also determines whether a particular deployment location contains anomalous readings, signifying potential problems with either the batteries themselves or possibly with other electrical equipment at the location. These components work together to provide a platform for managing a large number of perishable, expensive, and geographically dispersed assets.

Claims

1. A method for managing batteries by determining an anomaly, comprising the steps of:

creating a battery health standard, the battery health standard having a set of standard values;

creating a unique identifier for a battery;

inputting the unique identifier into a battery tester;

performing a plurality of tests on the battery with the battery tester;

generating a test value from the each test performed on the battery;

associating the test value with the unique identifier;

storing the test value in a database;

comparing the stored test value with a selected standard value of the battery health standard;

determining whether the test value meets the selected standard value;

generating an anomaly report for test values that fail to meet the standard value;

describing an anomaly in the anomaly report;

storing the anomaly report in the database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a chart representing data in the anomaly report;

storing the chart in the database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the database to a computer network;

transmitting data in the anomaly report to a user of the computer network;

receiving a message with the transmitted data on a device connected to the computer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard values comprise an impedance value, a degradation value, and an age value.

5. A method for managing batteries by determining an anomaly, comprising the steps of:

creating a plurality of battery health standards, each standard having a nominal voltage value;

creating a unique identifier for a battery;

inputting the unique identifier into a battery tester;

performing a plurality of tests on the battery with the battery tester;

generating a voltage value from rests performed on the battery;

associating the voltage value with the unique identifier;

storing the voltage value in a database;

comparing the voltage value with the nominal voltage value;

calculating a difference between the voltage and the nominal voltage value;

storing a first anomaly value in the database if the voltage exceeds the nominal value by a predetermined percentage;

storing a second anomaly value in the database if the rated nominal value exceeds rated voltage value by the predetermined percentage; and

generating an anomaly report having anomaly data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the database to computer network;

transmitting data in the anomaly report to a user of the computer network;

receiving a message with the transmitted data on a device connected to the computer network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said predetermined percentage is about 16.7 percent.