System and method for applying pulsation energy to online battery backup systems

• US 8,169,194 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canadus Power Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Canadus Power Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Altman, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US12/175,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 320/141
• US Class Current: 320/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A method of applying pulsation energy to an online battery backup system including the steps of (1) sampling at least one voltage sampling circuit to monitor a float voltage drop across the terminals of each battery unit within a plurality of battery units; (2) selecting from among the plurality of battery units the unit having the greatest float voltage drop; (3) operating a pulse generation circuit to apply pulsation energy across the terminals of only the selected battery unit; and (4) ceasing to operate the pulse generation circuit in response to a predetermined trigger. A generally corresponding method may be performed on each battery cell within the plurality of battery units. Also, battery pulsation systems for an online battery backup system including means for applying pulsation energy across the terminals of only a selected battery unit or a selected battery cell.

Claims

1. A method for applying pulsation energy to an online battery backup system including a battery string having an array of battery units, said method comprising the steps of:

sampling at least one voltage sampling circuit to monitor a float voltage drop across terminals of battery units within said array of battery units;

selecting at least one battery unit, but not all of said battery units, from said array, said at least one battery unit having a float voltage drop greater than a float voltage drop of all remaining battery units sampled of said plurality of battery units; and

supplying pulsation energy to said selected at least one battery unit, but not said remaining battery units, sufficient to effect reconditioning to said selected at least one battery unit.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of ceasing to supply said pulsation energy to said selected battery unit in response to a trigger.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said trigger is an expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said trigger is a preset target change in a float voltage drop of said selected battery unit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said array of said battery units includes a negative end battery unit and a positive end battery unit, and wherein said negative end battery unit and said positive end battery unit are excluded from selection during said selecting step.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said array of said battery units includes a negative end battery unit and a positive end battery unit, and wherein said negative end battery unit, and a first predetermined number of said battery units of said array adjacent to said negative end battery unit, and said positive end battery unit, and a second predetermined number of said battery units of said array adjacent to said positive end battery unit, are excluded from selection during said selecting step.

7. A battery pulsation system for an online battery backup system having a battery string composed of a plurality of connected battery units, with each unit including a pair of positive and negative terminals, the pulsation system comprising:

a plurality of switch devices, each of said switch devices being connected to a different one of said pair of positive and negative terminals of said plurality of battery units;

a pulse generation circuit operatively connected to said plurality of switch devices;

a voltage sampling circuit; and

a controller operatively connected to said pulse generation circuit, said plurality of switch devices, and said voltage sampling circuit;

wherein said plurality of switch devices is configured so that a circuit can be formed selectively by said controller between said pulse generation circuit and across any one of said pairs of terminals within said plurality of battery units and not remaining ones of said pairs of terminals; and

said controller being programmed to sample said voltage sampling circuit to monitor a float voltage drop across said terminals of said battery units within said plurality of battery units;

select at least one of said battery units, but not all of said battery units, from said plurality of battery units, said at least one of said battery units having a float voltage drop greater than a float voltage drop of all remaining battery units sampled of said plurality of battery units; and

actuate said pulse generation circuit to supply pulsation energy to said selected at least one of said battery units, but not said remaining battery units, sufficient to effect reconditioning to said selected at least one battery unit.

8. The battery pulsation system of claim 7, wherein the battery units each include a plurality of battery cells, with each cell including a pair of positive and negative terminals:

wherein said plurality of switch devices is operatively connectable to the pairs of positive and negative terminals in the plurality of battery cells within the plurality of battery units, and configured so that a circuit can be formed between said pulse generation circuit and across any one of the pairs of battery cell terminals within the plurality of battery units; and

wherein said controller is programmed to operate said pulse generation circuit and said switch devices after sampling said voltage sampling circuit so as to apply pulsation energy across only one of the pairs of battery cell terminals at a time.

9. The battery pulsation system of claim 8, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage suitable for pulsing the individual battery cells of the pluralities of battery cells.

10. The battery pulsation system of claim 9, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage sufficient only to suppress, but not reverse, the formation of deposits resistant to decomposition by a typical float charge voltage.

11. The battery pulsation system of claim 7, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage suitable for pulsing the individual battery units of the plurality of battery units.

12. The battery pulsation system of claim 11, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage sufficient only to suppress, but not reverse, the formation of deposits resistant to decomposition by a typical float charge voltage.

13. The battery pulsation system of claim 7, wherein said pulse generation circuit and said voltage sampling circuit are connected in parallel to said plurality of switches via a bus.

14. The battery pulsation system of claim 7, the online battery backup system further having end battery units providing positive and negative terminals for connection, in part, to a means for supplying equipment power, wherein said controller is programmed to not apply pulsation energy across the terminals of the end battery units.

15. A battery pulsation system for an online battery backup system having a battery string composed of a plurality of battery units, each of said battery units including a pair of positive and negative terminals, the pulsation system comprising:

at least one pulse generation circuit and at least one voltage sampling circuit, the circuits each being selectively connectable to one of the plurality of battery units across a first pair of said positive and negative terminals; and

a controller operatively connected to said at least one pulse generation circuit and said at least one voltage sampling circuit;

said controller being programmed to sample said at least one voltage sampling circuit, obtain float voltage drops across each of said pairs of positive and negative terminals in said plurality of battery units, select one of said battery units for pulsation, but exclude from said selection end ones of said battery units of said battery string, and operate said at least one pulse generation circuit to apply pulsation energy across said selected one of said first pair of positive and negative terminals of said selected one of said battery units.

16. The battery pulsation system of claim 15, wherein the battery units each include a plurality of battery cells, each of said cells having a pair of positive and negative terminals;

wherein said at least one pulse generation circuit and said at least one voltage sampling circuit are selectively connectable to a single one of the plurality of battery cells within said one of the plurality of battery units through connection across said first pair of terminals; and

wherein said controller is programmed to obtain float voltage drops across each pair of battery cell terminals within the plurality of battery units, and operate said at least one pulse generation circuit to apply pulsation energy across said first pair of positive and negative terminals if the float voltage drop across the battery cell of the first pair of positive and negative terminals is greater than the float voltage drop across the battery cells of the other pairs of positive and negative terminals.

17. The battery pulsation system of claim 16, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage suitable for pulsing the individual battery cells of the pluralities of battery cells.

18. The battery pulsation system of claim 17, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage sufficient only to suppress, but not reverse, the formation of deposits resistant to decomposition by a typical float charge voltage.

19. The battery pulsation system of claim 15, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage suitable for pulsing the individual battery units of the plurality of battery units.

20. The battery pulsation system of claim 19, wherein said pulse generation circuit is adapted to apply a modulated current and voltage sufficient only to suppress, but not reverse, the formation of deposits resistant to decomposition by a typical float charge voltage.

21. The battery pulsation system of claim 15, the online battery backup system further having end battery units, each including a pair of positive and negative terminals for connection, in part, to a means for supplying equipment power, wherein said controller is programmed so as not to apply pulsation energy across said first pair of positive and negative terminals if said first pair of positive and negative terminals is disposed on an end battery unit.

22. A method of applying pulsation energy to an online battery backup system having a battery string composed of a plurality of battery units, each battery unit thereof including a pair of terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

sampling at least one voltage sampling circuit to sample a float voltage drop across the terminals of each of said battery units within said plurality of battery units of said string;

selecting from among said plurality of battery units one of said battery units, but excluding from said selecting step end ones of said battery units of said battery string;

operating a pulse generation circuit to apply pulsation energy across the terminals of said selected one of said battery units only; and

ceasing to operate the pulse generation circuit in response to a predetermined trigger.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said selected battery unit is selected randomly.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of monitoring a float voltage drop across said battery units of said array, wherein said selected battery unit is selected based upon said float voltage drop across said selected battery unit.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said float voltage drop across said selected battery unit is greater than said float voltage drop across said not-selected battery units of said array.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

actuating a plurality of switch devices so that a circuit is formed between the pulse generation circuit and across the terminals of only the selected battery unit.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the sampling of at least one voltage sampling circuit includes the steps of:

signaling a float voltage drop over a shared data bus; and

collecting signaled float voltage drops for comparison.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the predetermined trigger is a float voltage drop which is less than the float voltage drop of an unselected battery unit.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the predetermined trigger is a predetermined interval of time.