US4502000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for balancing parallel strings
Assignee: Energy Development Associates Inc
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Filing: 1983-07-19
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Granted: 1985-02-26
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Expires: 2003-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A battery plant is described which features magnetic circuit means in association with each of the battery strings in the battery plant for balancing the electrical current flow through the battery strings by equalizing the voltage across each of the battery strings. Each of the magnetic circuit means generally comprises means for sensing the electrical current flow through one of the battery strings, and a saturable reactor having a main winding connected electrically in series with the battery string, a bias winding connected to a source of alternating current and a control winding connected to a variable source of direct current controlled by the sensing means. Each of the battery strings is formed by a plurality of batteries connected electrically in series, and these battery strings are connected electrically in parallel across common bus conductors.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew S. Mashikian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/365; H01M10/42; H01M10/4207; H01M50/00; H01M50/50; H01M50/569; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/60; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
In a battery plant having a plurality of battery strings connected electrically in parallel where each of said battery strings is formed by a plurality of batteries connected electrically in series, the improvement comprising: magnetic circuit means in association with each of said battery strings for balancing the electrical current flow through said battery strings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a battery plant having a plurality of battery strings connected electrically in parallel where each of said battery strings is formed by a plurality of batteries connected electrically in series, the improvement comprising: magnetic circuit means in association with each of said battery strings for balancing the electrical current flow through said battery strings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said battery strings are connected electrically in parallel across common bus conductors, and said magnetic circuit means balances the electrical current flow through said battery strings by equalizing the voltages across said common bus conductors for each of said battery strings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention according to claim 2, wherein each of said magnetic circuit means comprises means for sensing the electrical current flow through one of said battery strings, and a saturable reactor having a main winding connected electrically in series with said battery string, a bias winding connected to a source of alternating current and a control winding connected to a variable source of direct current controlled by said sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 3, wherein said variable source of direct current is connected to said sensing means such that direct current flow from said variable source of direct current is dependent upon the current flow through said battery string.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 4, wherein the direct current flow through said control winding controls the magnetic flux density in a magnetic core of said saturable reactor, and thereby controls the inductive reactance of said magnetic core and the voltage across said main winding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention according to claim 5, wherein said source of alternating current provides the electrical power required to increase the voltage across said main winding to compensate for the failure of at least one battery in said battery string.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 6, wherein each of said batteries in said battery plant includes bypass switching means for redirecting electrical current flow around a failed battery in response to a failure condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention according to claim 5, wherein said variable source of direct current includes means for controlling the flow of direct current through said control winding independently of said sensing means, and said source of alternating current provides the electrical power necessary to substantially decrease the flow of electrical current through said battery string.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A battery plant system, comprising: power conditioning means for converting alternating current electrical power to direct current electrical power during the charging of said battery plant and converting direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power during the discharging of said battery plant; a plurality of battery strings connected electrically in parallel across common bus conductors to said power conditioning means; a plurality of battery modules connected electrically in series to form each of said battery strings; bypass switching means, in association with each of said battery modules, for redirecting electrical current flow around a failed battery module in response to a failure condition; and magnetic circuit means in association with each of said battery strings for balancing the electrical current flow through said battery strings in response to at least one failed battery module by equalizing the voltages across said common bus conductors for each of said battery strings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A battery plant system, comprising: power conditioning means for converting alternating current electrical power to direct current electrical power during the charging of said battery plant and converting direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power during the discharging of said battery plant; a plurality of battery strings connected electrically in parallel across common bus conductors to said power conditioning means; a plurality of battery modules connected electrically in series to form each of said battery strings; bypass switching means, in association with each of said battery modules, for redirecting electrical current flow around a failed battery module in response to a failure condition; and magnetic circuit means in association with each of said battery strings for balancing the electrical current flow through said battery strings in response to at least one failed battery module by equalizing the voltages across said common bus conductors for each of said battery strings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention according to claim 9, wherein each of said magnetic circuit means comprises means for sensing the electrical current flow through one of said battery strings, and a saturable reactor having a main winding connected electrically in series with said battery string, a bias winding connected to a source of alternating current and a control winding connected to a variable source of direct current controlled by said sensing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 10, wherein said variable source of direct current is connected to said sensing means such that direct current flow from said variable source of direct current is dependent upon the current flow through said battery string.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 11, wherein the direct current flow through said control winding controls the magnetic flux density in a magnetic core of said saturable reactor, and thereby controls the inductive reactance of said magnetic core and the voltage across said main winding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention according to claim 12, wherein said source of alternating current provides the electrical power required to increase the voltage across said main winding to compensate for the failure of at least one battery in said battery string.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 13, wherein each of said batteries in said battery plant includes bypass switching means for redirecting electrical current flow around a filled battery in response to a failure condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention according to claim 12, wherein said variable source of direct current includes means for controlling the flow of direct current through said control winding independently of said sensing means, and said source of alternating current provides the electrical power necessary to substantially decrease the flow of electrical current through said battery string.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention according to claim 9, wherein said battery plant system is a zinc-chloride battery plant system.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of balancing the electrical current flow through a plurality of battery strings which are connected electrically in parallel and in which each of said battery strings is formed by a plurality of batteries connected electrically in series, comprising the steps of: providing a saturable reactor in association with each of said battery strings such that each of said saturable reactors has a main winding connected electrically in series with one of said battery strings; sensing the electrical current flow through each of said battery strings; and controlling the magnetic flux density through a magnetic core of each of said saturable reactors such that the voltages across each of said main windings equalizes the voltages across common bus conductors for each of said battery strings.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of balancing the electrical current flow through a plurality of battery strings which are connected electrically in parallel and in which each of said battery strings is formed by a plurality of batteries connected electrically in series, comprising the steps of: providing a saturable reactor in association with each of said battery strings such that each of said saturable reactors has a main winding connected electrically in series with one of said battery strings; sensing the electrical current flow through each of said battery strings; and controlling the magnetic flux density through a magnetic core of each of said saturable reactors such that the voltages across each of said main windings equalizes the voltages across common bus conductors for each of said battery strings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-26 | 1988-08-27 | 1989-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-26 | 1992-08-27 | 1993-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-26 | 1996-08-27 | 1997-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |