JP6824616B2 - Portable backup power supply - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a portable backup power supply device in which the battery unit is a split type.

In a portable backup power supply device, if the battery unit is a split type, each split unit can be made small in size and lightweight, and as a result, it can be easily transported manually even in the event of a disaster, for example. It becomes. In addition, it will be possible to initially introduce a small number of units according to the budget and add additional capacities at a later date.

However, if the battery unit is a split type, there is a possibility that unspecified battery units such as battery units having different remaining battery levels and new and old mixed battery units may be connected to each other. If battery units having different battery levels are connected in parallel with each other, a large current may flow through the battery units with a low battery level, causing heat generation or ignition. In addition, if old and new battery units are mixed, it becomes difficult to identify the individual battery units, which causes inconvenience during free repair warranty and accident analysis. Furthermore, it may not be possible to know how many battery units are connected.

Patent Document 1 discloses a storage battery system capable of preventing a large current from flowing through some of a plurality of battery units connected in parallel with each other. In this storage battery system, a plurality of storage battery modules are divided into a plurality of groups, and the current paths of the storage battery modules belonging to each group are connected in parallel to one to form a plurality of group current paths. A plurality of group current paths are connected in parallel to one and connected to the charging / discharging device. A plurality of switching portions of the circuit breaker are inserted into each of the plurality of group current paths, and when one of these switches is opened, the rest are also opened. As a result, according to the storage battery system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an overcurrent flows through one group of storage battery modules, it is possible to prevent the current from concentrating on the storage battery modules of the other group and causing the rated capacity to be exceeded.

International Publication WO2014 / 049655

However, according to the storage battery system described in Patent Document 1, if an overcurrent flows through one of a plurality of storage battery modules connected in parallel, all the storage battery modules are cut off. Therefore, such a system is used. There is a big problem in using it as a backup power supply device that requires power supply in an emergency.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is that it can be used as a backup power supply device, and even when unspecified battery units are connected in parallel with each other, it is surely prevented that a large current flows through some of the battery units. The purpose is to provide a portable backup power supply that can be used.

According to the present invention, the portable backup power supply device includes a plurality of battery units connected in parallel to each other, a charging unit connected to the plurality of battery units and supplying a charging current to the plurality of battery units, and a plurality of charging units. A discharge unit that is connected to the battery unit of the above and receives discharge currents from these multiple battery units, and is connected to the charging unit and the discharge unit, and the charging current is evenly applied to the plurality of battery units and a plurality of batteries. It is equipped with an equalization circuit for evenly flowing the discharge current from the unit.

The equalization circuit allows the charging current to flow evenly to the plurality of battery units and the discharge current to flow evenly from the plurality of battery units, so that even if battery units with different battery levels are connected, It is possible to reliably prevent a large current from flowing through some battery units.

It is preferable that the equalization circuit includes a plurality of battery units and a plurality of diodes connected between the discharge units so that only current flows from the plurality of battery units toward the discharge unit.

It is also preferable that the equalization circuit includes a plurality of diodes connected between the charging unit and the plurality of battery units so that only current flows from the charging unit toward the plurality of battery units.

In addition, the equalization circuit may include a plurality of constant current circuits connected between the charging unit and the plurality of battery units so that a constant current flows through the plurality of battery units, and the output current value can be adjusted. preferable.

In this case, the equalization circuit further includes a circuit that detects the remaining battery level of the plurality of battery units and a circuit that indicates the output current values of the plurality of constant current circuits according to the remaining battery level detected by this circuit. It is more preferable to include it.

After a plurality of battery units are connected to the charging unit and the discharging unit, an addressing circuit for assigning an address to each of the plurality of battery units is further provided, and the plurality of battery units are managed by the addresses assigned in this way. It is also preferable that it is configured to do so.

According to the present invention, even when battery units having different battery levels are connected, it is possible to reliably prevent a large current from flowing through some of the battery units.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic the system configuration in one Embodiment of the portable backup power supply device of this invention. It is a figure which outlines the function of the equalization circuit in the portable backup power supply device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an equalization circuit in the portable backup power supply device of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows schematic the system configuration in another embodiment of the portable backup power supply device of this invention. It is a figure which schematically explains the function of the equalization circuit in the portable backup power supply device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the equalization circuit in the portable backup power supply device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of a communication circuit configuration using a communication bus in the portable backup power supply device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the address assignment circuit in the communication circuit structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the time chart and the flow of the address assignment operation in the address assignment circuit of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the communication operation using the communication bus between a charge and control unit and a battery unit.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a system configuration according to an embodiment of the portable backup power supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 schematically shows a function of an equalization circuit in this portable backup power supply device. FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of this equalization circuit.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the portable backup power supply device of the present embodiment, each unit is composed of a lithium ion battery having a capacity of about 0.55 kWh, and battery units 10a to 10h connected in parallel to each other and these batteries. It includes a charging unit 11 and a discharging unit 12 connected to the units 10a to 10h. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the four battery units 10a to 10d are stacked and arranged, and the four battery units 10e to 10h are stacked and arranged. Although not shown in the figure, a charging unit 11 that supplies a charging current by AC / DC converting a commercial power supply of AC100V is mounted on the stacked battery units 10a to 10d, and the stacked batteries are installed. A discharge unit 12 that converts the output of the battery unit into DC / AC and outputs a discharge current of AC100V is mounted on the units 10e to 10h.

The charging unit 11 may have a DC 12V or 24V input terminal and a solar cell output input terminal in addition to the commercial power input terminal. As a mere example, each of the battery units 10a to 10h has a width of about 320 mm, a length of about 506 mm, a height of about 64 mm, and a weight of about 12.0 kg, and the charging unit 11 has a width of about 320 mm, a length of about 512 mm, and a height. The discharge unit 12 has a width of about 320 mm, a length of about 542 mm, a height of about 126.5 mm, and a weight of about 12.0 kg.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, equalization circuits including diodes 16a, 16c and 16e are connected between the charging unit 11 and the battery units 10a to 10c, respectively. An equalization circuit composed of diodes 16b, 16d and 16f is connected between the battery units 10a to 10c and the discharge unit 12, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the diodes 16a, 16c and 16e are oriented so that only current flows in the direction from the charging unit 11 to the battery units 10a to 10c, and the diodes 16b, 16d and 16f are batteries. The direction is set so that only the current flows from the units 10a to 10c in the direction of the discharge unit 12. By connecting such a diode, it is possible to prevent a large current from flowing between the battery units due to the remaining battery level. That is, by connecting a diode having such a direction to the charging side circuit and the discharging side circuit, it is possible to prevent a large current from flowing from the battery unit 10a having a high battery voltage to the battery unit 10b having a low battery voltage. Further, the charging current of the battery unit (battery unit 10b) having a small battery remaining amount and a low battery voltage becomes large, and the charging current of the battery unit (battery unit 10a) having a large battery remaining amount and a high battery voltage becomes small.

Although only some of the battery units 10a to 10c are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the equalization circuit is similarly connected to the other battery units 10d to 10h, and the same effect and effect are obtained. Is obtained.

As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, the diodes 16a, 16c and 16e are in the direction from the charging unit 11 to the battery units 10a to 10c as an equalizing circuit between the charging unit 11 and the battery units 10a to 10c. The directions are set so as to allow only the current to flow to, and they are connected to each other, and the diodes 16b, 16d, and 16f are connected from the battery units 10a to 10c as an equalizing circuit between the battery units 10a to 10c and the discharge unit 12. Since the directions are set so that only the current flows in the direction of the discharge unit 12 and they are connected to each other, it is possible to reliably prevent a large current from flowing from the battery unit having a high battery voltage to the battery unit having a low battery voltage. , The safety is greatly increased.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a system configuration in another embodiment of the portable backup power supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 schematically explains the function of the equalization circuit in the portable backup power supply device. , FIG. 6 schematically shows the configuration of this equalization circuit.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, also in the present embodiment, the battery units 10a to 10h connected in parallel to each other and the battery units 10a to 10h are connected to each other in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. A charging / controlling unit 11'and a discharging unit 12 are provided. Since the configurations of the battery units 10a to 10h and the discharge unit 12 are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. 1 except for the equalization circuit described below, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the external communication module 13 is further provided, and the battery units 10a to 10h, the charging and controlling unit 11', the discharging unit 12 and the external communication module 13 are the power supply bus 14 and the inter-unit communication bus. It is connected in parallel to 15. Further, for example, a new battery unit 10i made of a fuel cell or the like can be additionally connected.

The charging and control unit 11'in the present embodiment is configured by providing a bus management unit in the charging unit 11 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and the battery units 10a to 10i are provided with the inter-unit communication bus 15. Communication circuits for communicating with the bus management unit are provided. As will be described later, the battery units 10a to 10i are configured so that addresses are assigned for the first time in the address assignment mode executed when the portable backup power supply device is started.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the present embodiment, an equalization circuit including constant current converters 56a, 56c and 56e is provided between the charging and control unit 11'and the battery units 10a to 10c, respectively. It is connected, and an equalization circuit composed of diodes 56b, 56d and 56f is connected between the battery units 10a to 10c and the discharge unit 12, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the constant current converters 56a, 56c and 56e have batteries at the current value indicated by the computer 57 provided in the charging and control unit 11'via the communication line 58 (inter-unit communication bus 15). The charging current to the units 10a to 10c is controlled respectively. The computer 57 grasps the remaining battery level of the battery units 10a to 10c by communication via the inter-unit communication bus 15, and determines and instructs the current value according to the remaining battery level. The directions of the diodes 56b, 56d and 56f are set so that only the current in the direction of the discharge unit 12 flows from the battery units 10a to 10c. By connecting such a constant current converter and a diode, it is possible to prevent a large current from flowing between the battery units due to the remaining battery level. That is, by connecting a constant current converter whose current value is controlled to the charging side circuit, the remaining battery levels of the battery units are controlled to be equal to each other, and the battery unit 10a having a high battery voltage to the battery having a low battery voltage have a low battery voltage. It is possible to prevent a large current from flowing to the unit 10b. Further, the charging current of the battery unit (battery unit 10b) having a small battery remaining amount and a low battery voltage becomes large, and the charging current of the battery unit (battery unit 10a) having a large battery remaining amount and a high battery voltage becomes small. Further, by connecting a diode having the above-mentioned orientation to the discharge side circuit, it is possible to prevent a large current from flowing from the battery unit 10a having a high battery voltage to the battery unit 10b having a low battery voltage. Furthermore, the discharge current of the battery unit (battery unit 10b) having a small battery level and a low battery voltage becomes small, and the discharge current of the battery unit (battery unit 10a) having a large battery level and a high battery voltage increases.

Although only some of the battery units 10a to 10c are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the equalization circuit is similarly connected to the other battery units 10d to 10h, and the same effect and effect are obtained. Is obtained.

By using a constant current converter as the equalization circuit, it is possible to prevent loss due to a forward voltage drop (about 0.5 to 1.0 V) when a diode is used.

It goes without saying that a constant current converter whose current value is controlled may be provided as the equalization circuit on the discharge side.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a communication circuit configuration using a communication bus in the portable backup power supply device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 schematically shows a configuration of an addressing circuit in this communication circuit configuration. FIG. 9 shows a time chart and a flow of the address assignment operation in this address assignment circuit.

The bus management unit 70 shown in FIG. 7 is provided in the charging and control unit 10', and the bus management unit 70 and the communication circuit 72 of the battery unit 10a, for example, are a data transmission / reception bus of the inter-unit communication bus 15. It is configured so that data can be transmitted and received via 71. The bus management unit 70 is provided with a board 70a of the computer 57 and a full-duplex driver 70b, and the computer 57 is connected to the data transmission / reception bus 71 via the board 70a and the driver 70b. The communication circuit 72 of the battery unit 10a includes a full-duplex driver 72a, a computer 72b, a battery voltage measuring unit 72c corresponding to a circuit for detecting the remaining battery level of the battery unit 10a, and a flip-flop for addressing. 72d is provided. The communication circuit 73 of the battery unit 10b is provided with a full-duplex driver 73a, a computer 73b, a battery voltage measuring unit 73c of the battery unit 10b, and a flip-flop 73d for addressing. Similar communication circuits are provided in other battery units.

As described above, the battery units 10a to 10i in the present embodiment do not have a predetermined unique address, and after these battery units 10a to 10i are connected to the power supply bus 14 and the inter-unit communication bus 15, An address is assigned by the bus management unit 70 of the charging and control unit 11'. After the address is assigned, these battery units 10a to 10i transmit and receive data using the assigned address. Further, by assigning this address, the bus management unit 70 can surely grasp the connected battery units, including how many battery units are connected.

Next, the address assignment operation of each battery unit will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the address assignment control line 77 of the inter-unit communication bus 15 is connected to the GPIO1 to GPIO4 terminals of the substrate 70a, and the address assignment control line 77 is assigned an address of each battery unit. Flip-flops 72d to 76d for use are connected.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the computer 57 of the bus management unit 70 controls the voltages of the GPIO1 to GPIO3 terminals, and Q of the flip-flops (D-type flip-flops) 72d to 76d for addressing each battery unit. Outputs EN1 to EN5 are sequentially set to level "1". When the Q output reaches the level "1", the battery unit can communicate with the bus management unit 70. For example, when the Q output EN1 reaches the level "1", the communication circuit 72 of the battery unit 10a uses the connection data transmission / reception bus 71 connected to the DI, DO, RO and R / E terminals of the board 70a. It becomes possible to communicate with the bus management unit 70. In this state, the bus management unit 70 assigns an address to the battery unit. Similarly, when addresses are assigned to all battery units and addresses are assigned to the terminal battery units, the control line of the GPIO4 terminal changes from level "0" to level "1", so that the bus management unit 70 Can know that addresses have been assigned to all battery units, and can also know the number of connected battery units.

FIG. 9B illustrates the above-described address assignment processing flow. That is, while the Q output ENn of the battery unit n is level "1" (High), the battery unit n requests the address assignment, the bus management unit 70 assigns the address, and the battery unit n acknowledges (ACK). Addressing is done in the procedure of doing.

Next, with respect to the transmission / reception of data such as the remaining battery level and the set current value of the constant current converter between the battery unit n to which the address is assigned as described above and the bus management unit 70, refer to FIG. I will explain. As the communication protocol, for example, an asynchronous start-stop method is used.

FIG. 10A shows a processing flow of data transmission from the bus management unit 70 to the battery unit n. First, the bus management unit 70 sends the address n and the command to the battery unit n, and the battery unit n returns ACK. Next, the bus management unit 70 sends m-byte data, for example, set current value data of the constant current converter of the battery unit to the battery unit n, and the battery unit n returns ACK.

FIG. 10B shows a processing flow of data request from the bus management unit 70 to the battery unit n. First, the bus management unit 70 sends the address n and the command to the battery unit n, and the battery unit n returns ACK. Next, m-byte data, for example, battery level data of the battery unit is sent from the battery unit n to the bus management unit 70, and the bus management unit 70 returns ACK.

FIG. 10C shows a processing flow of data transmission from the battery unit n to the bus management unit 70. First, the battery unit n sends the address 0 and the number of data to be sent to the bus management unit 70, and the bus management unit 70 returns ACK. Next, m-byte data, for example, battery level data of the battery unit is sent from the battery unit n to the bus management unit 70, and the bus management unit 70 returns ACK. After that, the battery unit n sends a 1-byte checksum to the bus management unit 70, and the bus management unit 70 returns ACK or NACK.

In the above description, the full-duplex driver is used as the drivers 70b and 71a of the inter-unit communication bus 72, but it is clear that a half-duplex driver may be used instead. ..

As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, the constant current converter 56a, in which the current value is set according to the remaining battery level as an equalization circuit between the charging and control unit 11'and the battery units 10a to 10c, 56c and 56e are connected respectively, and the diodes 16b, 16d and 16f as an equalizing circuit between the battery units 10a to 10c and the discharge unit 12 only carry the current in the direction from the battery units 10a to 10c to the discharge unit 12. Since the directions are set so that the current flows and they are connected to each other, it is possible to reliably prevent a large current from flowing from the battery unit having a high battery voltage to the battery unit having a low battery voltage, and the safety is greatly improved. Further, the constant current converters 56a, 56c and 56e charge the batteries evenly so that the remaining batteries are aligned during charging. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the battery unit does not have a unique address and the address is assigned after the battery unit is connected, the connected battery including how many battery units are connected. You can surely grasp the unit.

All of the above-described embodiments are exemplary and not limited to the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented in various other modifications and modifications. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and their equivalents.

10a-10i Battery unit 11 Charging unit 11'Charging and controlling unit 12 Discharging unit 13 External communication module 14 Power supply bus 15 Unit-to-unit communication bus 16a to 16f, 56b, 56d, 56f Diode 56a to 56c Constant current converter 57, 72b, 73b Computer 58 Communication line 70 Bus management unit 71 Data transmission / reception bus 70a Board 70b, 72a, 73a Full-duplex driver 72 Communication circuit 72c, 73c Battery voltage measurement unit 72d to 76d Flip flop 77 Address assignment control line

Claims (2)

A plurality of battery units connected in parallel to each other, a charging unit connected to the plurality of battery units and supplying a charging current to the plurality of battery units, and a plurality of charging units connected to the plurality of battery units. The plurality of battery units are connected to the charging unit and the discharging unit, and are connected to the charging unit and the discharging unit, and the plurality of battery units are connected so as to flow only the current from the plurality of battery units toward the discharging unit. And a plurality of diodes connected between the discharge units, and a plurality of diodes connected between the charging unit and the plurality of battery units so that a constant current flows through the plurality of battery units, and the output current value can be adjusted. The constant current circuit and the addressing circuit for assigning an address to each of the plurality of battery units after the plurality of battery units are connected to the charging unit and the discharging unit.
The address assignment circuit sequentially enables communication between the plurality of battery units, sequentially assigns addresses to the communicable battery units among the plurality of battery units, and terminates the battery among the plurality of battery units. Ri knowledge that the address is assigned to the unit, is configured to manage the plurality of battery units in the assigned address, the address assignment circuit address assignment control line (GPIO1~GPIO4) A plurality of D-type flip flops for assigning addresses to the plurality of battery units connected to the computer of the bus management unit via the bus management unit are provided, and the Q output of the plurality of D-type flip flops sequentially becomes level "1". At that time, addresses are sequentially assigned to the corresponding battery units from the computer of the bus management unit, and when the address is assigned to the terminal battery unit, the address assignment control line (GPIO4) is leveled from level "0". A portable backup power supply device characterized in that it is configured to know that an address has been assigned to all battery units by setting "1" . It is characterized by further including a circuit for detecting the remaining battery level of the plurality of battery units and a circuit for instructing the output current value of the plurality of constant current circuits according to the remaining battery level detected by the circuit. The portable backup power supply device according to claim 1.

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