WO2008002076A1 - Battery test apparatus and battery test method - Google Patents

Battery test apparatus and battery test method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008002076A1
WO2008002076A1 PCT/KR2007/003122 KR2007003122W WO2008002076A1 WO 2008002076 A1 WO2008002076 A1 WO 2008002076A1 KR 2007003122 W KR2007003122 W KR 2007003122W WO 2008002076 A1 WO2008002076 A1 WO 2008002076A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
impedance
storage battery
voltage
unit
signal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2007/003122
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dong-Seok Hyun
Hyun-Chul Jung
Original Assignee
Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR1020060058377A external-priority patent/KR100811608B1/en
Priority claimed from KR1020060058379A external-priority patent/KR100793666B1/en
Application filed by Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University filed Critical Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
Publication of WO2008002076A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008002076A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/389—Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
    • G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
    • G01R31/396—Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a battery test apparatus and a method thereof, more specifically to a battery test apparatus and a method thereof that test the deterioration of a storage battery, which is connected to an uninterruptible power supply, a DC power supply, an inverter and a converter, functioning as a supplementary power supply, in order to supply power to a load in case that the supply of inputted power is abnormally interrupted.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical uninterruptible power supply.
  • the uninterruptible power supply includes a converter 110, for rectifying supplied alternating current power, an inverter 120, for converting a direct current, outputted from a rectifying unit, into an alternating current, a bypass unit 130, for directly supplying alternating current power to a load, a storage battery 140, placed between the converter 110 and the inverter 120 and supplying emergency power, and a load 150.
  • the uninterruptible power supply is also equipped with the storage battery for supplying power to the electronic system and the communication system in case that the power is unexpectedly interrupted.
  • the electronic system and the communication system receive the power for operation from the storage battery equipped in the uninterruptible power supply. Accordingly, the storage battery equipped in the uninterruptible power supply is required to be fully charged in order to supply power to the electronic system and the communication system against an interruption of power supply.
  • the capacity of the storage battery may be reduced according to the change of charging factors in the storage battery, caused by impedance increase, pole corrosion and electrolyte decrease, due to the aging.
  • the storage battery is unable to supply power for allowing the electronic system and the communication system to stably operate.
  • the charging capacity of the storage battery must be regularly tested to make sure that it will perform its role.
  • the storage capacity must be fully charged (i.e. in a floating charge state) at all times.
  • the first method is to supply power to a load (e.g. the electronic system and the communication system) through discharging the storage battery while power supply to the uninterruptible power supply is cut off, and to monitor the drop in electric pressure of the discharging storage battery and its amperage.
  • a load e.g. the electronic system and the communication system
  • the first method remotely measures a voltage and a current in order to determine that the storage battery is in poor condition.
  • the second method monitors the condition of the storage battery by measuring the voltage and current of the storage battery by use of a portable voltage and current tester.
  • the third method tests an impedance of the storage battery by using an apparatus supplying a certain voltage and frequency to two points of the positive and negative poles of a one-cell storage battery to test the impedance.
  • the fourth method similar to the third method, remotely measures and monitors the change in impedance of the storage battery by connecting two points of the positive and negative poles of every cell of the storage battery
  • the aforementioned third and fourth methods transmit noise having a certain value to the storage battery, compute its reflected value to measure a pertinent impedance value and determine the condition of the storage battery based on the measured impedance value.
  • the frequency transmitted from a tester for testing the storage battery is distorted by minute ripples generated from a power transformer such as the uninterruptible power supply and the DC power supply, the corresponding result value is very unreliable.
  • the storage battery is measured when the storage battery is separated from the power transformer and is discharged, the measuring value may be distorted due to the same problem caused by a harmonics component generated by a load. Accordingly, although every kind of testers using frequencies emphasizes its function of noise filtering, the measurement connected to the load is actually meaningless since a reference frequency is changed by a frequently distorted load.
  • the capacity and discharge characters of the of storage battery are dependant on various parameters such as internal resistor, chemical and machine factors, and using environments, measuring one parameter is useless. Accordingly, the aforementioned methods are very limitedly used to determine the condition of a separated storage battery, which has already been determined to be poor.
  • the fourth method may cause the deterioration of the storage battery along with the problem of the third method due to periodically providing certain noise to the storage battery of the uninterruptible power supply. This may adversely affect the operation of an electronic system (e.g. a precision instrument and a medical instrument) or a communication system (e.g. a wire/wireless communication instrument). Further, in accordance with the fourth method, it is costly to configure and install the tester since a measuring point for testing the storage battery must be assigned per cell of the storage battery.
  • an electronic system e.g. a precision instrument and a medical instrument
  • a communication system e.g. a wire/wireless communication instrument
  • the present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect relatively different capacitance and internal impedance in all storage battery cells.
  • the present invention also provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can detect the difference of charging capacity of a storage battery without sending noise to a measured subject.
  • the present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect an impedance value without being affected by a ripple voltage, generated by being connected with a power transformer, and a harmonics component, generated by a load.
  • the present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect an impedance while a storage battery, connected to a power transformer, is being charged (i.e. an equalized charge state), is fully charged (a floating charge state) or is discharged.
  • the present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can identify a relatively lowered storage battery cell among all storage battery cells regardless of reference values, such as an initial impedance value, manufacturer, voltage, type, capacity and surrounding temperature, as well as setting the reference of secular variation per used year.
  • reference values such as an initial impedance value, manufacturer, voltage, type, capacity and surrounding temperature, as well as setting the reference of secular variation per used year.
  • the present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can determine whether a value, which is determined by voltage non-uniformity with an internal impedance of a storage battery, is positioned in a relatively proper range.
  • an aspect of the present invention features a storage battery test apparatus.
  • an apparatus for testing a group of storage batteries coupled to a power transformer testing a charging capacity of at least some storage batteries among the group of storage batteries by comparing and detecting impedance by use of the Whestone bridge method.
  • the apparatus can include a comparison detecting unit for comparing and detecting a plurality of internal impedances of at least some storage batteries of the group of the storage batteries without noise; a central processing unit for determining whether a difference between the plurality of impedances is within a predetermined range; and a state displaying unit for displaying a result determined by the central processing unit.
  • the apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit, located between the comparison detecting unit and the central processing unit to protect a circuit in an inappropriate electric state.
  • the comparison detecting unit can include a third impedance, placed facing a first storage battery of the storage batteries and corresponding to a first internal impedance of the first storage battery; a fourth impedance, placed facing a second storage battery of the storage batteries and corresponding to a second internal impedance of the second storage battery; a detecting resistor, connecting a first node, which is a center point between the first storage battery and the second storage battery, with a second node, which is a center point between the third impedance and the fourth impedance; and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor.
  • the central processing unit can include a transient state processing unit, processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal; first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and first and second comparators for comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
  • a transient state processing unit processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor
  • a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal
  • first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal
  • the transient state processing unit can include a plurality of resistors coupled in series and parallel.
  • the each of the first and second reference signal generating units can include a variable resistor to allow a user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
  • the first and second comparators can receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports, receive the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit, through their non-inverting ports and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal.
  • the circuit protecting unit can include a varistor for cutting off a surge- voltage or an over- voltage; and a discharging unit, including a transistor for discharging a voltage outputted from the voltage detector if the voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage.
  • the state displaying unit is able to transmit the currently compared impedance value of the first storage battery or the second storage battery and a warning signal.
  • the state displaying unit is able to output a digital command signal for replacement if the central processing unit outputs the currently compared impedance value of the first storage battery or the second storage battery and determines that the first storage battery or the second storage battery is in an abnormal condition.
  • the state displaying unit is able to output a result determined by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form.
  • the result in the analog or digital form is able to be remotely outputted through a communication network.
  • the communication network is any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP.
  • the third impedance and the fourth impedance, respectively, comprise a serial capacitor and resistor.
  • an apparatus for testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing and detecting the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery.
  • the apparatus can include a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing any one of a plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors in order to provide the reference impedance.
  • a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing any one of a plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors in order to provide the reference impedance.
  • the plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors can have different impedance values from one another.
  • the reference impedance providing unit can include a switch, capable of selecting a reference impedance of the same type as the measured storage battery among the plurality of selectable storage batteries; and a variable impedance unit, capable of adjusting to a suitable value when the reference impedance is changed.
  • a voltage applied to the reference impedance providing unit has an identical magnitude to that of the measured storage battery and is provided independently of the voltage of the measured storage battery.
  • the apparatus can include a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing the reference impedance in a digital form.
  • the apparatus can include a reference impedance providing unit for providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery; a comparison detecting unit for comparing an impedance of a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer with the reference impedance without noise for detection; a central processing unit for determining whether the difference between the impedances is within a predetermined range; and a state displaying unit for displaying a result determined by the central processing unit.
  • the reference impedance providing unit can include a plurality of impedance units; a selection switch for selecting any one of the plurality of impedance units; and an independent power source for supplying an independent voltage identical to that of the measured storage battery.
  • the comparison detecting unit can include a first impedance, placed facing the measured storage battery and corresponding to an internal impedance of the measured storage battery; a second impedance, placed facing the reference impedance and corresponding to the reference impedance; a detecting resistor, connecting a first node, which is a center point between the measured storage battery and the reference impedance, with a second node, which is a center point between the first impedance and the second impedance; and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor.
  • the apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit, located between the comparison detecting unit and the central processing unit to protect a user or a circuit in an inappropriate electric state.
  • the central processing unit can include a transient state processing unit, processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal; first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and first and second comparators for comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
  • a transient state processing unit processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor
  • a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal
  • first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage
  • the first and second comparators can receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports and receive the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit, through their non-inverting ports and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal.
  • the circuit protecting unit can include a varistor for cutting off a surge- voltage or an over-voltage; and a discharging unit, including a transistor for discharging a voltage outputted from the power detector if the voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage
  • the state displaying unit is able to output a warning signal.
  • the state displaying unit is able to output a digital command signal for replacement of the storage battery if the central processing unit determines that the storage battery is in an abnormal condition.
  • the state displaying unit is able to output a result determined by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form.
  • an aspect of the present invention features a storage battery test method.
  • a method of testing a group of storage batteries coupled to a power transformer testing a charging capacity of at least some storage batteries among the group of storage batteries by comparing and detecting impedance by use of the Whestone bridge method.
  • the method can include steps of comparing and detecting a plurality of internal impedances of at least some storage batteries of the group of the storage batteries without noise; determining whether the difference between the plurality of impedances is within a predetermined range; and displaying a result of the determining.
  • the step of detecting can include providing a third impedance corresponding to a first internal impedance of the first storage battery of the storage batteries; providing a fourth impedance corresponding to a second internal impedance of the second storage battery of the storage batteries; and detecting a voltage, between opposite ends, applied between a center point of the first storage battery and the second storage battery and a center point of the third impedance and the fourth impedance.
  • the step of determining can include processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; outputting an amplified voltage signal by amplifying a weak voltage outputted after the step of processing the transient state; generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
  • a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery is able to be designated by a user.
  • a warning signal can be transmitted.
  • a digital command signal informing replacement of the storage battery can be outputted.
  • the result is outputted in a digital form or in an analog form.
  • the result in the analog or digital form is remotely outputted through a communication network.
  • a method of testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection.
  • the method can include steps of providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery; comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection; and testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery.
  • the steps of providing the reference impedance can include selecting a reference impedance of the same type as the measured storage battery of the plurality of selectable storage batteries; and adjusting to a suitable value when the reference impedance is changed.
  • a voltage applied to the reference impedance can have an identical magnitude to that of the measured storage battery and can be provided independently of the voltage of the measured storage battery.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical uninterruptible power supply
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • first and second can be used in describing various elements, but the above elements shall not be restricted to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one element from the other. For instance, the first element can be named the second element, and vice versa, without departing the scope of claims of the present invention.
  • the term “and/or” shall include the combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the storage battery test apparatus can include an impedance comparison detecting unit 210, for comparing and detecting a plurality of impedances from different storage battery cells without noise, a central processing unit 220, for determining whether the difference between the plurality of impedances is positioned in a predetermined range, and a state displaying unit 230, for displaying the determining result of the central processing unit 220.
  • the storage battery test apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit
  • the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 compares and detects impedance values of a storage battery between a node A and a node B and another storage battery between the node B and a node C without noise.
  • the state displaying unit 230 can display a determining result of the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form in order that a user can easily process a warning or check whether there is an error.
  • an analog or digital value can be remotely outputted through a communication network.
  • the communication network can be any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a first impedance XcI of a first capacitor Cl and a first resistor Rl multiplied by an internal impedance Xc3 of an internal capacitor C(B-C) and an internal resistor r((B-C) of a first storage battery BAl between a node B and a node C is equal to a second impedance Xc2 of a second capacitor C2 and a second resistor R2 multiplied by an internal impedance Xc4 of an internal capacitor C(A-C) and an internal resistor r(A-C) of a second storage battery BA2 between a node A and a node C.
  • the following formula 1 is satisfied.
  • the detected values are not only a simple internal resistor value of the storage battery but also a synthesized impedance value, as shown in the following formula 2.
  • the capacitors Cl and C2 having suitable capacity are mounted and variable resistors Rl and R2 are properly adjusted such that the first and second impedances XcI and Xc2 can maintain a resonance state with an internal impedance Xc3 of the first storage battery BAl or an internal impedance Xc4 of the second storage battery BA2, that is, a zero voltage is maintained to be supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3.
  • the central processing unit 220 includes a transient state processing unit 221, processing a transient state of a voltage supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, a signal amplifying unit 222, amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit 221 and outputting the amplified voltage signal, first and second reference signal generating units 223 and 225, generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal, and first and second comparators 224 and 226, comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
  • the transient state processing unit 221 includes resistors R4, R5 and R7, coupled in series and parallel, and cuts off some portions of a transient voltage to output a voltage signal.
  • the signal amplifying unit 222 which includes an amplifier, amplifies a weak voltage signal at a rate of a resistor R9 per resistor R6 (i.e. R9/R6).
  • the first reference signal generating unit 223 and the second reference signal generating unit 225 including the variable resistors VRl and VR2, respectively, can allow the user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
  • the first and second comparators 224 and 226 receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports (-) and the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit 222, through their non-inverting ports (+) and compares the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal to output the signals.
  • the poor condition is displayed in a digital or analog form through a resistor RlO in the state displaying unit 230. If the first storage battery BAl is poor, the poor condition is displayed in the digital or analog form through a resistor Rl 1 in the state displaying unit 230.
  • Varistors C3 and C4 in the circuit protecting unit 240 primarily cut off and send to the resistors R4 and R5 a surge- voltage or an over- voltage, supplied due to the user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery so that the voltage flows into a collector of a transistor TRl through the resistor R7, which is lower than a resistor R6.
  • a higher voltage than the reference voltage, for cutting off the over- voltage, of a comparator IC2 in the circuit protecting unit 240 flows a corresponding instrument is secondly protected because a voltage is supplied to a base of a transistor TRl , to thereby allow the over- voltage to be discharged.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the storage battery test apparatus can include a reference value selecting unit 410, for selecting a reference value, having the impedance of a normal state of an identical standard to a measured storage battery, of a plurality of reference values, detecting the present voltage of the measured storage battery and supplying the identical voltage to the detected present voltage through an independent power source 460 as the reference value, an impedance comparison detecting unit 210, for comparing and detecting a plurality of impedances from the measured storage battery and the selected reference impedance value without noise, a central processing unit 220, for amplifying a difference value between the plurality of impedances and determining whether the difference value is within a predetermined range, and a state displaying unit 230, for displaying the result determined by the central processing unit 220.
  • the storage battery test apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit
  • the reference value selecting unit 410 is predetermined with impedance values of a plurality of selectable normal state storage batteries and allows a user to select an impedance value of the identical standard to the measured storage battery in an analog or digital form.
  • the reference value selecting unit 410 supplies the same voltage as the value detected in the measured storage battery to an independent power circuit, that is, the selected impedance of a plurality of impedances through the independent power source 460.
  • the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 compares and detects the impedances of a measured object storage battery and the reference value selecting unit 410 without noise.
  • the state displaying unit 230 can display a determined result by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form in order that a user can easily process a warning or check whether there is an error.
  • an analog or digital value can be remotely outputted through a communication network.
  • the communication network can be any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP.
  • the circuit protecting unit 240 protects a user and a tester against over- voltage that may be supplied from a transient state caused by the user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • a reference impedance of the reference value selecting unit 410 includes a selection switch 414, for selecting any one of a plurality of impedance units 411, 412, ..., 41 n having different impedances.
  • Each of the plurality of impedance units 411, 412, ..., 41 n includes a variable resistor and a variable capacitor, connected in series.
  • an initial value of each reference impedance unit Xc3 is predetermined to have an impedance of a normal state per standard and type.
  • an identical voltage to an inputted voltage is provided through the independent power source 460, which is independently connected to the measured storage battery in order not to be affected by the voltage detected in the measured storage battery and supplies power to the reference impedance unit.
  • a first impedance XcI of a first capacitor Cl and a first resistor Rl multiplied by an selected internal impedance Xc3 of the reference value selecting unit 410 is equal to a second impedance Xc2 of a second capacitor C2 and a second resistor R2 multiplied by an internal impedance Xc4 of an internal capacitor C(A-B) and an internal resistor r(A-B) of a storage battery BA between a node A and a node B.
  • the foregoing formula 1 is satisfied.
  • the first impedance XcI, the second impedance Xc2 and an impedance Xc3 of the reference value selecting unit 410 are constant values, if the difference between an internal impedance Xc4 of the storage battery and the reference value is generated, a voltage is supplied between opposite ends of a detecting resistor R3, to thereby allow a current to occur.
  • an internal resistor value of the storage battery is simply detected, and a synthesized impedance value is detected as shown in the foregoing formula 2.
  • a voltage is supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, and a corresponding impedance is detected through an ICI sensor of the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 without noise.
  • the central processing unit 220 includes a transient state processing unit 221 , processing a transient state of a voltage supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, a signal amplifying unit 222, amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit 221 and outputting the amplified voltage signal, first and second reference signal generating units 223 and 225, generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal, and first and second comparators 224 and 226, comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
  • the transient state processing unit 221 includes resistors R4, R5 and R7, coupled in series and parallel, and cuts off some of a transient voltage to output a voltage signal.
  • the signal amplifying unit 222 which includes an amplifier, amplifies a weak voltage signal at a rate of a resistor R9 per resistor R6 (i.e. R9/R6).
  • the first reference signal generating unit 223 and the second reference signal generating unit 225 including the variable resistors VRl and VR2, respectively, can allow a user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
  • the first and second comparators 224 and 226 receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports (-) and the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit 222, through their non-inverting ports (+) and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal to output the signals.
  • the poor condition is displayed in a digital or analog form through a resistor RlO in the state displaying unit 230.
  • Varistors C3 and C4 in the circuit protecting unit 240 firstly cut off and send to the resistors R4 and R5 a surge- voltage or an over- voltage, supplied due to the user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery so that the voltage flows into a collector of a transistor TRl through the resistor R7, which is lower than a resistor R6.
  • a higher voltage than the reference voltage, for cutting off the over- voltage of a comparator in the circuit protecting unit 240 flows, a corresponding instrument is secondarily protected because a voltage is applied to a base of a transistor TRl, to thereby allow the over- voltage to be discharged, protecting a corresponding instrument secondarily.
  • Fuses Fl and F2 having suitable capacity are placed before points contacted to a node A, a node B and a node C and connected to prevent an error caused by an abnormal transient state such as an internal breakdown of a tester in order to protect the storage battery.
  • the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect the minute difference of internal impedance of a relatively different storage battery among all storage battery cells
  • the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can detect the difference of charging capacity of a storage battery by using a comparing value of the storage battery itself without causing the deterioration of a storage battery due to sending no noise to a measured subject or without having an effect on the load of a precision instrument, a medical instrument, a wire or wireless communication instrument and a high frequency instrument.
  • the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect an impedance value without being affected by a ripple voltage, generated by being connected with a power transformer, and a harmonics component, generated by a load.
  • the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect the difference of charging capacity of a storage battery in a state where a storage battery, connected to a power transformer, is being charged (i.e. an equalized charge state), is fully charged (a floating charge state) or is discharged.
  • the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect impedance in a state where a storage battery, connected to a power transformer, is being charged (i.e. an equalized charge state), is fully charged (a floating charge state) or is discharged.
  • the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can determine whether a value, which is determined by voltage non-equilibrium with an internal impedance of a storage battery, is relatively within a normal range.

Abstract

A storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof are disclosed. The storage battery test apparatus for testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer tests a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]
BATTERY TESTAPPARATUS AND BATTERY TEST METHOD
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a battery test apparatus and a method thereof, more specifically to a battery test apparatus and a method thereof that test the deterioration of a storage battery, which is connected to an uninterruptible power supply, a DC power supply, an inverter and a converter, functioning as a supplementary power supply, in order to supply power to a load in case that the supply of inputted power is abnormally interrupted.
[Background Art]
The advancement in electronics technologies and communications technologies generally leads to the development and use of electronic systems and communication systems for the convenience of life. Supplying stable power is required to allow the electronic system and the communication system to stably operate. For supplying the stable power, an uninterruptible power supply, for example, is equipped and operated in the electronic system and the communication system. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical uninterruptible power supply.
The uninterruptible power supply includes a converter 110, for rectifying supplied alternating current power, an inverter 120, for converting a direct current, outputted from a rectifying unit, into an alternating current, a bypass unit 130, for directly supplying alternating current power to a load, a storage battery 140, placed between the converter 110 and the inverter 120 and supplying emergency power, and a load 150.
The uninterruptible power supply is also equipped with the storage battery for supplying power to the electronic system and the communication system in case that the power is unexpectedly interrupted. In other words, if power supply is interrupted, the electronic system and the communication system receive the power for operation from the storage battery equipped in the uninterruptible power supply. Accordingly, the storage battery equipped in the uninterruptible power supply is required to be fully charged in order to supply power to the electronic system and the communication system against an interruption of power supply.
However, as time goes on, the capacity of the storage battery may be reduced according to the change of charging factors in the storage battery, caused by impedance increase, pole corrosion and electrolyte decrease, due to the aging. In the worst case, if supplying the power to the uninterruptible power supply is cut off, the storage battery is unable to supply power for allowing the electronic system and the communication system to stably operate.
To prevent the worst situation, the charging capacity of the storage battery must be regularly tested to make sure that it will perform its role. In particular, the storage capacity must be fully charged (i.e. in a floating charge state) at all times. To solve the aforementioned problems, the following methods are used to test an existing storage battery.
The first method is to supply power to a load (e.g. the electronic system and the communication system) through discharging the storage battery while power supply to the uninterruptible power supply is cut off, and to monitor the drop in electric pressure of the discharging storage battery and its amperage.
If the voltage of the storage battery drops below a certain voltage and more quickly than a reference time per reference capacity, the first method remotely measures a voltage and a current in order to determine that the storage battery is in poor condition. The second method monitors the condition of the storage battery by measuring the voltage and current of the storage battery by use of a portable voltage and current tester.
The third method tests an impedance of the storage battery by using an apparatus supplying a certain voltage and frequency to two points of the positive and negative poles of a one-cell storage battery to test the impedance. The fourth method, similar to the third method, remotely measures and monitors the change in impedance of the storage battery by connecting two points of the positive and negative poles of every cell of the storage battery
The aforementioned third and fourth methods transmit noise having a certain value to the storage battery, compute its reflected value to measure a pertinent impedance value and determine the condition of the storage battery based on the measured impedance value.
In accordance with the above-described methods, it is inconveniently necessary to know exact surrounding factors, such as the initial impedance value, manufacturer, type, charging capacity, surrounding temperature and secular variation of the storage battery, in order to measure the charging capacity of the storage battery.
With the foregoing methods, it is possible to exactly detect any error of the storage battery when it is completely disassembled. However, since the frequency transmitted from a tester for testing the storage battery is distorted by minute ripples generated from a power transformer such as the uninterruptible power supply and the DC power supply, the corresponding result value is very unreliable. Although the storage battery is measured when the storage battery is separated from the power transformer and is discharged, the measuring value may be distorted due to the same problem caused by a harmonics component generated by a load. Accordingly, although every kind of testers using frequencies emphasizes its function of noise filtering, the measurement connected to the load is actually meaningless since a reference frequency is changed by a frequently distorted load. Particularly, since the capacity and discharge characters of the of storage battery are dependant on various parameters such as internal resistor, chemical and machine factors, and using environments, measuring one parameter is useless. Accordingly, the aforementioned methods are very limitedly used to determine the condition of a separated storage battery, which has already been determined to be poor.
The fourth method may cause the deterioration of the storage battery along with the problem of the third method due to periodically providing certain noise to the storage battery of the uninterruptible power supply. This may adversely affect the operation of an electronic system (e.g. a precision instrument and a medical instrument) or a communication system (e.g. a wire/wireless communication instrument). Further, in accordance with the fourth method, it is costly to configure and install the tester since a measuring point for testing the storage battery must be assigned per cell of the storage battery.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]
The present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect relatively different capacitance and internal impedance in all storage battery cells.
The present invention also provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can detect the difference of charging capacity of a storage battery without sending noise to a measured subject. The present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect an impedance value without being affected by a ripple voltage, generated by being connected with a power transformer, and a harmonics component, generated by a load.
The present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect an impedance while a storage battery, connected to a power transformer, is being charged (i.e. an equalized charge state), is fully charged (a floating charge state) or is discharged.
The present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can identify a relatively lowered storage battery cell among all storage battery cells regardless of reference values, such as an initial impedance value, manufacturer, voltage, type, capacity and surrounding temperature, as well as setting the reference of secular variation per used year.
In addition, the present invention provides a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can determine whether a value, which is determined by voltage non-uniformity with an internal impedance of a storage battery, is positioned in a relatively proper range.
Other problems that the present invention solves will become more apparent through the following description.
[Technical Solution]
To solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention features a storage battery test apparatus.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided an apparatus for testing a group of storage batteries coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of at least some storage batteries among the group of storage batteries by comparing and detecting impedance by use of the Whestone bridge method.
The apparatus can include a comparison detecting unit for comparing and detecting a plurality of internal impedances of at least some storage batteries of the group of the storage batteries without noise; a central processing unit for determining whether a difference between the plurality of impedances is within a predetermined range; and a state displaying unit for displaying a result determined by the central processing unit.
The apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit, located between the comparison detecting unit and the central processing unit to protect a circuit in an inappropriate electric state. The comparison detecting unit can include a third impedance, placed facing a first storage battery of the storage batteries and corresponding to a first internal impedance of the first storage battery; a fourth impedance, placed facing a second storage battery of the storage batteries and corresponding to a second internal impedance of the second storage battery; a detecting resistor, connecting a first node, which is a center point between the first storage battery and the second storage battery, with a second node, which is a center point between the third impedance and the fourth impedance; and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor. The central processing unit can include a transient state processing unit, processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal; first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and first and second comparators for comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
The transient state processing unit can include a plurality of resistors coupled in series and parallel. The each of the first and second reference signal generating units can include a variable resistor to allow a user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
The first and second comparators can receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports, receive the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit, through their non-inverting ports and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal.
The circuit protecting unit can include a varistor for cutting off a surge- voltage or an over- voltage; and a discharging unit, including a transistor for discharging a voltage outputted from the voltage detector if the voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage.
The state displaying unit is able to transmit the currently compared impedance value of the first storage battery or the second storage battery and a warning signal. The state displaying unit is able to output a digital command signal for replacement if the central processing unit outputs the currently compared impedance value of the first storage battery or the second storage battery and determines that the first storage battery or the second storage battery is in an abnormal condition.
The state displaying unit is able to output a result determined by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form. The result in the analog or digital form is able to be remotely outputted through a communication network.
The communication network is any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP. The third impedance and the fourth impedance, respectively, comprise a serial capacitor and resistor.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided an apparatus for testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing and detecting the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery.
The apparatus can include a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing any one of a plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors in order to provide the reference impedance. Here, the plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors can have different impedance values from one another.
The reference impedance providing unit can include a switch, capable of selecting a reference impedance of the same type as the measured storage battery among the plurality of selectable storage batteries; and a variable impedance unit, capable of adjusting to a suitable value when the reference impedance is changed. A voltage applied to the reference impedance providing unit has an identical magnitude to that of the measured storage battery and is provided independently of the voltage of the measured storage battery.
The apparatus can include a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing the reference impedance in a digital form.
The apparatus can include a reference impedance providing unit for providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery; a comparison detecting unit for comparing an impedance of a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer with the reference impedance without noise for detection; a central processing unit for determining whether the difference between the impedances is within a predetermined range; and a state displaying unit for displaying a result determined by the central processing unit.
The reference impedance providing unit can include a plurality of impedance units; a selection switch for selecting any one of the plurality of impedance units; and an independent power source for supplying an independent voltage identical to that of the measured storage battery.
The comparison detecting unit can include a first impedance, placed facing the measured storage battery and corresponding to an internal impedance of the measured storage battery; a second impedance, placed facing the reference impedance and corresponding to the reference impedance; a detecting resistor, connecting a first node, which is a center point between the measured storage battery and the reference impedance, with a second node, which is a center point between the first impedance and the second impedance; and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor. The apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit, located between the comparison detecting unit and the central processing unit to protect a user or a circuit in an inappropriate electric state.
The central processing unit can include a transient state processing unit, processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal; first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and first and second comparators for comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
The first and second comparators can receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports and receive the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit, through their non-inverting ports and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal.
The circuit protecting unit can include a varistor for cutting off a surge- voltage or an over-voltage; and a discharging unit, including a transistor for discharging a voltage outputted from the power detector if the voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage
The state displaying unit is able to output a warning signal.
The state displaying unit is able to output a digital command signal for replacement of the storage battery if the central processing unit determines that the storage battery is in an abnormal condition. The state displaying unit is able to output a result determined by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form.
To solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention features a storage battery test method. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a method of testing a group of storage batteries coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of at least some storage batteries among the group of storage batteries by comparing and detecting impedance by use of the Whestone bridge method.
The method can include steps of comparing and detecting a plurality of internal impedances of at least some storage batteries of the group of the storage batteries without noise; determining whether the difference between the plurality of impedances is within a predetermined range; and displaying a result of the determining.
The step of detecting can include providing a third impedance corresponding to a first internal impedance of the first storage battery of the storage batteries; providing a fourth impedance corresponding to a second internal impedance of the second storage battery of the storage batteries; and detecting a voltage, between opposite ends, applied between a center point of the first storage battery and the second storage battery and a center point of the third impedance and the fourth impedance.
The step of determining can include processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; outputting an amplified voltage signal by amplifying a weak voltage outputted after the step of processing the transient state; generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
In the step of generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal, a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery is able to be designated by a user.
In the step of displaying the result, a warning signal can be transmitted. In the step of displaying the result, if it is determined that the storage battery is in an abnormal condition in the determining step, a digital command signal informing replacement of the storage battery can be outputted.
In the step of displaying the result, the result is outputted in a digital form or in an analog form. The result in the analog or digital form is remotely outputted through a communication network.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a method of testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection.
The method can include steps of providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery; comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection; and testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery.
The steps of providing the reference impedance can include selecting a reference impedance of the same type as the measured storage battery of the plurality of selectable storage batteries; and adjusting to a suitable value when the reference impedance is changed. A voltage applied to the reference impedance can have an identical magnitude to that of the measured storage battery and can be provided independently of the voltage of the measured storage battery.
[Description of Drawings] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical uninterruptible power supply;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[Mode for Invention]
The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent through the below description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Since there can be a variety of permutations and embodiments of the present invention, certain embodiments will be illustrated and described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This, however, is by no means to restrict the present invention to certain embodiments, and shall be construed as including all permutations, equivalents and substitutes covered by the spirit and scope of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, similar elements are given similar reference numerals. Throughout the description of the present invention, when describing a certain technology is determined to evade the point of the present invention, the pertinent detailed description will be omitted.
Terms such as "first" and "second" can be used in describing various elements, but the above elements shall not be restricted to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one element from the other. For instance, the first element can be named the second element, and vice versa, without departing the scope of claims of the present invention. The term "and/or" shall include the combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items.
When one element is described as being "connected" or "accessed" to another element, it shall be construed as being connected or accessed to the other element directly but also as possibly having another element in between. On the other hand, if one element is described as being "directly connected" or "directly accessed" to another element, it shall be construed that there is no other element in between.
The terms used in the description are intended to describe certain embodiments only, and shall by no means restrict the present invention. Unless clearly used otherwise, expressions in the singular number include a plural meaning. In the present description, an expression such as "comprising" or "consisting of is intended to designate a characteristic, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a part or combinations thereof, and shall not be construed to preclude any presence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts or combinations thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, including technical terms and scientific terms, used herein have the same meaning as how they are generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Any term that is defined in a general dictionary shall be construed to have the same meaning in the context of the relevant art, and, unless otherwise defined explicitly, shall not be interpreted to have an idealistic or excessively formalistic meaning.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or corresponding elements will be given the same reference numerals, regardless of the figure number, and any redundant description of the identical or corresponding elements will not be repeated.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the storage battery test apparatus can include an impedance comparison detecting unit 210, for comparing and detecting a plurality of impedances from different storage battery cells without noise, a central processing unit 220, for determining whether the difference between the plurality of impedances is positioned in a predetermined range, and a state displaying unit 230, for displaying the determining result of the central processing unit 220. The storage battery test apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit
240, placed between the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 and the central processing unit 220 and protecting a circuit in an inappropriate electric state. The impedance comparison detecting unit 210 compares and detects impedance values of a storage battery between a node A and a node B and another storage battery between the node B and a node C without noise.
The state displaying unit 230 can display a determining result of the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form in order that a user can easily process a warning or check whether there is an error. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an analog or digital value can be remotely outputted through a communication network. At this time, the communication network can be any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP.
The circuit protecting unit 240 protects a user and a tester against over- voltage that may be supplied in a transient state caused by a user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Thevenin's theorem can be applied to the present invention. In the impedance comparison detecting unit 210, a first impedance XcI of a first capacitor Cl and a first resistor Rl multiplied by an internal impedance Xc3 of an internal capacitor C(B-C) and an internal resistor r((B-C) of a first storage battery BAl between a node B and a node C is equal to a second impedance Xc2 of a second capacitor C2 and a second resistor R2 multiplied by an internal impedance Xc4 of an internal capacitor C(A-C) and an internal resistor r(A-C) of a second storage battery BA2 between a node A and a node C. In other words, the following formula 1 is satisfied.
[Formula 1 ]
Xcl*Xc2=Xc3*Xc4
Accordingly, in a state where the first impedance XcI and the second impedance Xc2 are constant values, if at least one of the internal impedance Xc3 of the first storage battery and the internal impedance Xc4 of the second storage battery is changed, a voltage is supplied between opposite ends of a detecting resistor R3, to thereby allow a current to occur. At this time, the detected values are not only a simple internal resistor value of the storage battery but also a synthesized impedance value, as shown in the following formula 2.
[Formula 2]
Figure imgf000022_0001
Here, when the storage battery is set, the capacitors Cl and C2 having suitable capacity are mounted and variable resistors Rl and R2 are properly adjusted such that the first and second impedances XcI and Xc2 can maintain a resonance state with an internal impedance Xc3 of the first storage battery BAl or an internal impedance Xc4 of the second storage battery BA2, that is, a zero voltage is maintained to be supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3.
If an impedance value of an individual storage battery settled as a uniformity state has a non-uniformity state due to the deterioration of the storage battery, a voltage is supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, and a corresponding impedance is detected through an ICI sensor of the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 without noise.
The central processing unit 220 includes a transient state processing unit 221, processing a transient state of a voltage supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, a signal amplifying unit 222, amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit 221 and outputting the amplified voltage signal, first and second reference signal generating units 223 and 225, generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal, and first and second comparators 224 and 226, comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal. In particular, the transient state processing unit 221 includes resistors R4, R5 and R7, coupled in series and parallel, and cuts off some portions of a transient voltage to output a voltage signal.
The signal amplifying unit 222, which includes an amplifier, amplifies a weak voltage signal at a rate of a resistor R9 per resistor R6 (i.e. R9/R6). The first reference signal generating unit 223 and the second reference signal generating unit 225, including the variable resistors VRl and VR2, respectively, can allow the user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
The first and second comparators 224 and 226 receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports (-) and the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit 222, through their non-inverting ports (+) and compares the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal to output the signals.
If the second storage battery BA2 is poor, the poor condition is displayed in a digital or analog form through a resistor RlO in the state displaying unit 230. If the first storage battery BAl is poor, the poor condition is displayed in the digital or analog form through a resistor Rl 1 in the state displaying unit 230.
Varistors C3 and C4 in the circuit protecting unit 240 primarily cut off and send to the resistors R4 and R5 a surge- voltage or an over- voltage, supplied due to the user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery so that the voltage flows into a collector of a transistor TRl through the resistor R7, which is lower than a resistor R6. At this time, in case that a higher voltage than the reference voltage, for cutting off the over- voltage, of a comparator IC2 in the circuit protecting unit 240 flows, a corresponding instrument is secondly protected because a voltage is supplied to a base of a transistor TRl , to thereby allow the over- voltage to be discharged.
Fuses Fl, F2 and F3 having suitable capacities are placed before points, contacted to a node A, a node B and a node C and connected to prevent an error caused by an abnormal transient state such as an internal breakdown of a tester, in order to protect the storage battery. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, the storage battery test apparatus can include a reference value selecting unit 410, for selecting a reference value, having the impedance of a normal state of an identical standard to a measured storage battery, of a plurality of reference values, detecting the present voltage of the measured storage battery and supplying the identical voltage to the detected present voltage through an independent power source 460 as the reference value, an impedance comparison detecting unit 210, for comparing and detecting a plurality of impedances from the measured storage battery and the selected reference impedance value without noise, a central processing unit 220, for amplifying a difference value between the plurality of impedances and determining whether the difference value is within a predetermined range, and a state displaying unit 230, for displaying the result determined by the central processing unit 220. The storage battery test apparatus can further include a circuit protecting unit
240, placed between the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 and the central processing unit 220 and protecting a circuit in an inappropriate electric state.
The reference value selecting unit 410 is predetermined with impedance values of a plurality of selectable normal state storage batteries and allows a user to select an impedance value of the identical standard to the measured storage battery in an analog or digital form.
Also, the reference value selecting unit 410 supplies the same voltage as the value detected in the measured storage battery to an independent power circuit, that is, the selected impedance of a plurality of impedances through the independent power source 460.
The impedance comparison detecting unit 210 compares and detects the impedances of a measured object storage battery and the reference value selecting unit 410 without noise.
The state displaying unit 230 can display a determined result by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form in order that a user can easily process a warning or check whether there is an error. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an analog or digital value can be remotely outputted through a communication network. At this time, the communication network can be any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP. The circuit protecting unit 240 protects a user and a tester against over- voltage that may be supplied from a transient state caused by the user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storage battery test apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. A reference impedance of the reference value selecting unit 410 includes a selection switch 414, for selecting any one of a plurality of impedance units 411, 412, ..., 41 n having different impedances. Each of the plurality of impedance units 411, 412, ..., 41 n includes a variable resistor and a variable capacitor, connected in series. Here, an initial value of each reference impedance unit Xc3 is predetermined to have an impedance of a normal state per standard and type. Also, in the case of comparing the measured value, an identical voltage to an inputted voltage is provided through the independent power source 460, which is independently connected to the measured storage battery in order not to be affected by the voltage detected in the measured storage battery and supplies power to the reference impedance unit.
As described above, Thevenin's theorem can be applied to the present invention. In the impedance comparison detecting unit 210, a first impedance XcI of a first capacitor Cl and a first resistor Rl multiplied by an selected internal impedance Xc3 of the reference value selecting unit 410 is equal to a second impedance Xc2 of a second capacitor C2 and a second resistor R2 multiplied by an internal impedance Xc4 of an internal capacitor C(A-B) and an internal resistor r(A-B) of a storage battery BA between a node A and a node B. In other words, the foregoing formula 1 is satisfied.
Accordingly, in a state where the first impedance XcI, the second impedance Xc2 and an impedance Xc3 of the reference value selecting unit 410 are constant values, if the difference between an internal impedance Xc4 of the storage battery and the reference value is generated, a voltage is supplied between opposite ends of a detecting resistor R3, to thereby allow a current to occur.
At this time, an internal resistor value of the storage battery is simply detected, and a synthesized impedance value is detected as shown in the foregoing formula 2. In a state where a normal storage battery is maintained to be in an equilibrium state, if the impedance value of the measured storage battery is relatively changed due to the deterioration of the storage battery, a voltage is supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, and a corresponding impedance is detected through an ICI sensor of the impedance comparison detecting unit 210 without noise. The central processing unit 220 includes a transient state processing unit 221 , processing a transient state of a voltage supplied between the opposite ends of the detecting resistor R3, a signal amplifying unit 222, amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit 221 and outputting the amplified voltage signal, first and second reference signal generating units 223 and 225, generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal, and first and second comparators 224 and 226, comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal. In particular, the transient state processing unit 221 includes resistors R4, R5 and R7, coupled in series and parallel, and cuts off some of a transient voltage to output a voltage signal.
The signal amplifying unit 222, which includes an amplifier, amplifies a weak voltage signal at a rate of a resistor R9 per resistor R6 (i.e. R9/R6). The first reference signal generating unit 223 and the second reference signal generating unit 225, including the variable resistors VRl and VR2, respectively, can allow a user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
The first and second comparators 224 and 226 receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports (-) and the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit 222, through their non-inverting ports (+) and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal to output the signals.
If the storage battery BA is in a poor condition, the poor condition is displayed in a digital or analog form through a resistor RlO in the state displaying unit 230.
Varistors C3 and C4 in the circuit protecting unit 240 firstly cut off and send to the resistors R4 and R5 a surge- voltage or an over- voltage, supplied due to the user's poor operation or breakdown of the storage battery so that the voltage flows into a collector of a transistor TRl through the resistor R7, which is lower than a resistor R6. At this time, in case that a higher voltage than the reference voltage, for cutting off the over- voltage of a comparator in the circuit protecting unit 240, flows, a corresponding instrument is secondarily protected because a voltage is applied to a base of a transistor TRl, to thereby allow the over- voltage to be discharged, protecting a corresponding instrument secondarily.
Fuses Fl and F2 having suitable capacity are placed before points contacted to a node A, a node B and a node C and connected to prevent an error caused by an abnormal transient state such as an internal breakdown of a tester in order to protect the storage battery.
The drawings and detailed description are only examples of the present invention, serve only for describing the present invention and by no means limit or restrict the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, any person of ordinary skill in the art shall understand that a large number of permutations and other equivalent embodiments are possible. The true scope of the present invention must be defined only by the spirit of the appended claims.
[Industrial Applicability]
The present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect the minute difference of internal impedance of a relatively different storage battery among all storage battery cells The present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can detect the difference of charging capacity of a storage battery by using a comparing value of the storage battery itself without causing the deterioration of a storage battery due to sending no noise to a measured subject or without having an effect on the load of a precision instrument, a medical instrument, a wire or wireless communication instrument and a high frequency instrument.
The present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect an impedance value without being affected by a ripple voltage, generated by being connected with a power transformer, and a harmonics component, generated by a load.
The present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect the difference of charging capacity of a storage battery in a state where a storage battery, connected to a power transformer, is being charged (i.e. an equalized charge state), is fully charged (a floating charge state) or is discharged.
The present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can accurately detect impedance in a state where a storage battery, connected to a power transformer, is being charged (i.e. an equalized charge state), is fully charged (a floating charge state) or is discharged. In addition, the present invention can provide a storage battery test apparatus and a method thereof that can determine whether a value, which is determined by voltage non-equilibrium with an internal impedance of a storage battery, is relatively within a normal range.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1 ]
An apparatus for testing a group of storage batteries coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of at least some storage batteries among the group of storage batteries by comparing and detecting impedance by use of the Whestone bridge method.
[Claim 2]
The apparatus of Claim 1 , comprising: a comparison detecting unit for comparing and detecting a plurality of internal impedances of at least some storage batteries of the group of the storage batteries without noise; a central processing unit for determining whether a difference between the plurality of impedances is within a predetermined range; and a state displaying unit for displaying a result determined by the central processing unit.
[Claim 3]
The apparatus of Claim 2 further comprising a circuit protecting unit, located between the comparison detecting unit and the central processing unit to protect a circuit in an inappropriate electric state.
[Claim 4]
The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein the comparison detecting unit comprises: a third impedance, placed facing a first storage battery of the storage batteries and corresponding to a first internal impedance of the first storage battery; a fourth impedance, placed facing a second storage battery of the storage batteries and corresponding to a second internal impedance of the second storage battery; a detecting resistor, connecting a first node, which is a center point between the first storage battery and the second storage battery, with a second node, which is a center point between the third impedance and the fourth impedance; and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor.
[Claim 5]
The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein the central processing unit comprises: a transient state processing unit, processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal; first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and first and second comparators for comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
[Claim 6] The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the transient state processing unit comprises a plurality of resistors coupled in series and parallel.
[Claim 7]
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein each of the first and second reference signal generating units comprises a variable resistor to allow a user to designate a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery.
[Claim 8]
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the first and second comparators receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports, receive the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit, through their non-inverting ports and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal.
[Claim 9]
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the circuit protecting unit, comprises: a varistor for cutting off a surge- voltage or an over- voltage; and a discharging unit, including a transistor for discharging a voltage outputted from the voltage detector if the voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage.
[Claim 10]
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the state displaying unit is able to transmit the currently compared impedance value of the first storage battery or the second storage battery and a warning signal.
[Claim 11 ]
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the state displaying unit is able to output a digital command signal for replacement if the central processing unit outputs the currently compared impedance value of the first storage battery or the second storage battery and determines that the first storage battery or the second storage battery is in an abnormal condition.
[Claim 12]
The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein the state displaying unit is able to output a result determined by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form.
[Claim 13] The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein the result in the analog or digital form is able to be remotely outputted through a communication network.
[Claim 14]
The apparatus of Claim 13, wherein the communication network is any one of RS232, RS422 and the Internet using TCP-IP.
[Claim 15]
The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein the third impedance and the fourth impedance, respectively, comprise a serial capacitor and resistor.
[Claim 16]
A method of testing a group of storage batteries coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of at least some storage batteries among the group of storage batteries by comparing and detecting impedance by use of the Whestone bridge method.
[Claim 17]
The method of Claim 16, comprising: comparing and detecting a plurality of internal impedances of at least some storage batteries of the group of the storage batteries without noise; determining whether the difference between the plurality of impedances is within a predetermined range; and displaying a result of the determining.
[Claim 18]
The method of Claim 17, wherein the detecting comprises: providing a third impedance corresponding to a first internal impedance of the first storage battery of the storage batteries; providing a fourth impedance corresponding to a second internal impedance of the second storage battery of the storage batteries; and detecting a voltage, between opposite ends, applied between a center point of the first storage battery and the second storage battery and a center point of the third impedance and the fourth impedance.
[Claim 19]
The method of Claim 18, wherein the determining comprises: processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; outputting an amplified voltage signal by amplifying a weak voltage outputted after the step of processing the transient state; generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
[Claim 20]
The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal, a maximum permissible range of impedance change of the storage battery is able to be designated by a user.
[Claim 21 ]
The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of displaying the result, a warning signal is transmitted.
[Claim 22]
The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of displaying the result, if it is determined that the storage battery is in an abnormal condition in the determining step, a digital command signal informing replacement of the storage battery is outputted.
[Claim 23]
The method of Claim 19, wherein in the step of displaying the result, the result is outputted in a digital form or in an analog form.
[Claim 24]
The method of Claim 23, wherein the result in the analog or digital form is remotely outputted through a communication network.
[Claim 25] An apparatus for testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing and detecting the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery.
[Claim 26]
The apparatus of Claim 25, comprising a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing any one of a plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors in order to provide the reference impedance, wherein the plurality of serially-connected capacitors and resistors have different impedance values from one another.
[Claim 27]
The apparatus of Claim 26, wherein the reference impedance providing unit comprises: a switch, capable of selecting a reference impedance of the same type as the measured storage battery among the plurality of selectable storage batteries; and a variable impedance unit, capable of adjusting to a suitable value when the reference impedance is changed.
[Claim 28] The apparatus of Claim 26, wherein a voltage applied to the reference impedance providing unit has an identical magnitude to that of the measured storage battery and is provided independently of the voltage of the measured storage battery.
[Claim 29]
The apparatus of Claim 25, comprising a reference impedance providing unit capable of providing the reference impedance in a digital form.
[Claim 30] The apparatus of Claim 27 or 28, comprising: a reference impedance providing unit for providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery; a comparison detecting unit for comparing an impedance of a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer with the reference impedance without noise for detection; a central processing unit for determining whether the difference between the impedances is within a predetermined range; and a state displaying unit for displaying a result determined by the central processing unit.
[Claim 31]
The apparatus of Claim 30, wherein the reference impedance providing unit comprises: a plurality of impedance units; a selection switch for selecting any one of the plurality of impedance units; and an independent power source for supplying an independent voltage identical to that of the measured storage battery.
[Claim 32] The apparatus of Claim 31 , wherein the comparison detecting unit comprises: a first impedance, placed facing the measured storage battery and corresponding to an internal impedance of the measured storage battery; a second impedance, placed facing the reference impedance and corresponding to the reference impedance; a detecting resistor, connecting a first node, which is a center point between the measured storage battery and the reference impedance, with a second node, which is a center point between the first impedance and the second impedance; and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor.
[Claim 33]
The apparatus of Claim 32, further comprising a circuit protecting unit, located between the comparison detecting unit and the central processing unit to protect a user or a circuit in an inappropriate electric state.
[Claim 34]
The apparatus of Claim 30, wherein the central processing unit comprises: a transient state processing unit, processing a transient state of the voltage between opposite ends of the detecting resistor; a signal amplifying unit for amplifying a weak voltage signal outputted through the transient state processing unit and outputting the amplified voltage signal; first and second reference signal generating units for generating a first reference signal and a second reference signal, respectively, to contrast the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal; and first and second comparators for comparing the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the amplified voltage signal.
[Claim 35] The apparatus of Claim 34, wherein the first and second comparators receive the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, through their inverting ports and receive the voltage signal, outputted from the signal amplifying unit, through their non-inverting ports and compare the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively, with the voltage signal.
[Claim 36]
The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the circuit protecting unit comprises: a varistor for cutting off a surge- voltage or an over- voltage; and a discharging unit, including a transistor for discharging a voltage outputted from the power detector if the voltage is higher than a predetermined reference voltage.
[Claim 37]
The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the state displaying unit is able to output a warning signal.
[Claim 38]
The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the state displaying unit is able to output a digital command signal for replacement of the storage battery if the central processing unit determines that the storage battery is in an abnormal condition.
[Claim 39]
The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the state displaying unit is able to output a result determined by the central processing unit 220 in a digital form or in an analog form.
[Claim 40]
A method of testing a measured storage battery coupled to a power transformer, testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery by providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery and comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection.
[Claim 41 ]
The method of Claim 40 comprising: providing a reference impedance having properties identical to a normal storage battery; comparing the reference impedance with an impedance of the measured storage battery for detection; and testing a charging capacity of the measured storage battery.
[Claim 42] The method of Claim 41, wherein the providing the reference impedance comprises: selecting a reference impedance of the same type as the measured storage battery of the plurality of selectable storage batteries; and adjusting to a suitable value when the reference impedance is changed.
[Claim 43]
The method of Claim 42, wherein a voltage applied to the reference impedance has an identical magnitude to that of the measured storage battery and is provided independently of the voltage of the measured storage battery.
PCT/KR2007/003122 2006-06-28 2007-06-27 Battery test apparatus and battery test method WO2008002076A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2006-0058377 2006-06-28
KR10-2006-0058379 2006-06-28
KR1020060058377A KR100811608B1 (en) 2006-06-28 2006-06-28 Battery Test Apparatus and its Methods
KR1020060058379A KR100793666B1 (en) 2006-06-28 2006-06-28 Battery Test Apparatus and its Methods

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US20190094307A1 (en) * 2017-09-26 2019-03-28 E-Xteq Europe Differential Battery Testers
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