System and method for charging electrochemical cells in series

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863744

DeLuca, William H ^[1]; Gelb, George H ^[2]; Berman, Baruch ^[2]; Moede, Larry W ^[3]

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1. Naperville, IL
2. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
3. Manhattan Beach, CA

A battery charging system capable of equalizing the charge of each individual cell at a selected full charge voltage includes means for regulating charger current to first increase current at a constant rate until a bulk charging level is achieved or until any cell reaches a safe reference voltage. A system controller then begins to decrease the charging rate as long as any cell exceeds the reference voltage until an equalization current level is reached. At this point, the system controller activates a plurality of shunt modules to permit shunting of current around any cell having a voltage exceeding the reference voltage. Leads extending between the battery of cells and shunt modules are time shared to permit alternate shunting of current and voltage monitoring without the voltage drop caused by the shunt current. After each cell has at one time exceeded the reference voltage, the charging current is terminated.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4238721
• OSTI ID: 863744
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
charging
electrochemical
cells
series
battery
capable
equalizing
charge
individual
cell
selected
voltage
means
regulating
charger
current
increase
constant
rate
bulk
level
achieved
reaches
safe
reference
controller
begins
decrease
exceeds
equalization
reached
activates
plurality
shunt
modules
permit
shunting
exceeding
leads
extending
time
shared
alternate
monitoring
drop
caused
exceeded
terminated
voltage monitor
electrochemical cells
electrochemical cell
reference voltage
voltage drop
individual cell
shunt current
charge voltage
constant rate
charging current
current level
voltage monitoring
increase current
battery charging
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