JP6007385B2 - Power storage device, control method therefor, and power supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage device, a control method therefor, and a power supply device, and is particularly useful when applied to a system that reduces power consumption while performing centralized management and monitoring.

  A conventional power supply device has at least a storage battery, a charger, a commercial power input terminal, and a power output terminal, and the storage battery is charged via the charger with a commercial power source connected to the commercial power input terminal. Yes. The storage battery is also connected to a power output terminal, so that the stored power can be supplied to a load connected to the power output terminal.

  An uninterruptible power supply is well known as a kind of power supply having the above components. The uninterruptible power supply is disposed between a commercial power supply and a load, and normally supplies power to the load with the commercial power supply. On the other hand, when it becomes difficult to supply power from a commercial power source to a load due to a power failure or the like, the uninterruptible power supply is automatically switched so as to supply power to the load from the mounted storage battery.

  In recent years, not only small storage batteries but also medium and large storage batteries with larger storage capacities have been used. With the stabilization of performance of these medium and large storage batteries (improvement of safety, etc.), storage battery applications Is spreading greatly. That is, in order to suppress the use of commercial power as well as application to electric vehicles, a power storage device that accumulates electric power generated by natural energy in combination with natural energy such as sunlight and supplies it to a load such as an electronic device The use as is increasing.

  As described above, since the storage battery can be used as a power source, attention has been focused on outdoor use. When used outdoors, not only as a power source for a connected load, but also the power storage device itself is operated using the built-in storage battery as a power source. For this reason, the device for not consuming wastefully the electric power stored in the storage battery is required. For example, when a load to which power is to be supplied is not connected (when no power is used by the load), control is performed to stop the operation of an inverter that is a component of the power storage device.

  Patent documents 1 and 2 are examples of an uninterruptible power supply, and disclose a technique for controlling the operation of an inverter. Patent Document 3 discloses an example of a charging / discharging device that controls charging / discharging of a battery, and discloses a technique for controlling so as to suppress discharging of the battery when not connected to an electronic device or the like. Patent Document 4 is an example of a battery management device, and discloses a technique for setting a CPU and a peripheral device for capacity monitoring to a low power consumption mode (also referred to as a sleep mode) when the battery is not charged or discharged. To do.

JP-A-3-45135 JP-A-7-170678 JP-A-3-226238 JP-A-10-164664

  In general, when the amount of charge of a storage battery decreases, the power storage device has a function of issuing an alarm or the like notifying the user that the storage battery needs to be charged. This is to prevent overdischarge by preventing the remaining amount of power stored in the storage battery from being reduced more than necessary. Even if it is considered to be used as an emergency power supply, it is important to maintain a certain amount of remaining power in the storage battery of the power storage device so that it does not fall below the minimum level that can be used as an emergency power supply. .

  Here, if the storage battery is charged based on the commercial power source, the amount of the commercial power source used cannot be reduced, and the dependence on the commercial power source cannot be suppressed. On the other hand, when charging is performed based on power generation using natural energy without using a commercial power supply, sufficient charging may not be possible. For example, in the case of solar power generation, there may be a case where the amount of power generation at the time of fine weather cannot be expected due to weather such as cloudy or rainy. In wind power generation, the amount of power generation differs depending on whether the wind power is weak or strong, and a stable power generation amount cannot be secured. As described above, in charging based on power generation using natural energy, the amount of power stored in the storage battery may not be sufficient even if charging is performed over time.

  As a result, since the storage battery is discharged without being fully charged, not only the power supplied to the load is reduced, but also the power stored in the storage battery is consumed to operate the power storage device itself. The power stored in the storage battery is prioritized so that the operation of the power storage device malfunctions or stops due to insufficient power to operate the power storage device itself normally, or the power storage device operates normally as much as possible. Attempting to consume to the limit can cause an overdischarge condition that causes degradation.

  In addition, power storage devices have become widespread in buildings, commercial facilities, condominiums, personal houses, etc., and monitoring the deterioration and abnormality of storage batteries to enhance safety, and centralizing the status of multiple power storage devices at a centralized management center, etc. There is a growing need for monitoring and management. In this case, the power storage device itself periodically measures the battery cell state (cell voltage, cell current, temperature, etc.) of each power storage device to be monitored, and is transmitted from the power storage device at the centralized management center. It is necessary to receive the measurement data and monitor the state of the battery cell.

  In any of the above Patent Documents 1 to 4, when a battery is not used (when charging to the battery or discharging from the battery to the load is not required), a specific circuit is stopped, and so on. Therefore, even when a battery is used, operation control for an apparatus that can be switched to the low power consumption mode is not considered. In particular, it only switches whether or not to enter the low power consumption mode regardless of the amount of electricity stored in the battery. For example, the power storage device that is not supplied with power from the outside is easily operated for a short time in a state where the power storage device operates independently.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a power storage device, a control method for the power storage device, and a power supply device that can realize rational operation by suppressing the amount of power consumption stored in view of the above-described conventional technology.

The first aspect of the present invention is:
A battery cell group configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells;
A monitoring device for obtaining information about the battery cell by measuring and monitoring a parameter including a cell voltage, which is a voltage based on each battery cell for determining the state of each battery cell;
Information relating to the battery cell is received from the monitoring device and predetermined control is performed, and for the predetermined control, the cell voltage is a voltage representing a fully charged state of the battery cell as the information. And a management device having a function of outputting a control signal instructing
The management device determines whether or not the cell voltage has become lower than a discharge limit voltage, which is a predetermined voltage representing a discharge limit, in a state in which the battery cell group can be charged and discharged. When it is detected that the voltage is lower than the discharge limit voltage, a part of the function of the monitoring device other than the measurement of the cell voltage is stopped and the function necessary for outputting the control signal The power storage device is characterized in that it can shift to a sleep mode in which a part of the functions of the management device except for the function is stopped.
The second aspect of the present invention is:
In the power storage device described in the first aspect,
The management device, the charging operation and the discharging operation for the battery cell group is determined whether the unwanted condition, when the charging operation and the discharging operation for the battery cell group is detected to be unnecessary, the in the sleep mode, in a power storage device part of the functions also characterized the Turkey stopping of the monitoring device including a measurement of the cell voltage.
The third aspect of the present invention is:
In the power storage device described in the second aspect,
The management device determines whether or not a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are necessary, and a state of a switch between the battery cell group and a current supply system that supplies current to the battery cell group Detect
The management device
When the switch is on, as the sleep mode, to perform the function necessary for measuring the cell voltage and outputting the control signal in the monitoring device ,
Wherein when the switch is off, as the sleep mode, in the power storage device, wherein the benzalkonium stops the functions necessary for measurement of the cell voltage in the monitoring device.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is:
In the power storage device described in any one of the first to third aspects,
The management device has a timer that counts an elapsed time after shifting to the sleep mode, and recovers the function that was stopped by the sleep mode when the timer measured a predetermined time elapsed in advance. The power storage device is characterized by being made to be.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention,
In the power storage device described in any one of the first to fourth aspects,
When the cell voltage monitoring function that operates during the sleep mode detects an increase in cell voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold of the cell voltage during the sleep mode, the management device The power storage device is characterized by being controlled so as to release the power.

The sixth aspect of the present invention is:
In the power storage device described in any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The management device is a power storage device having communication means for performing communication for exchanging predetermined information with a host device.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is
In a method for controlling a power storage device having a battery cell group configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells,
A parameter including a cell voltage that is a voltage based on each battery cell for determining the state of each battery cell is measured, and predetermined control is performed based on the parameter. With the function of outputting a control signal that indicates that the cell voltage has become a voltage representing the fully charged state of the battery cell,
In a state in which the battery cell group can be charged and discharged, it is determined whether or not the cell voltage has become lower than a discharge limit voltage, which is a predetermined voltage representing a discharge limit. The power storage device is capable of transitioning to a sleep mode in which a part of functions of the power storage device other than those necessary for measuring the cell voltage and outputting the control signal are stopped. It is in the control method.
The eighth aspect of the present invention is
In the power storage device control method according to the seventh aspect,
It is determined whether or not a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are unnecessary, and when it is detected that a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are unnecessary, in the sleep mode, the some of the functions of the power storage device including a measurement of the cell voltage in a control method of a power storage device comprising a benzalkonium stopped.
The ninth aspect of the present invention provides
In the power storage device control method according to the eighth aspect,
As a determination of whether or not a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are necessary, a state of a switch between the battery cell group and a current supply system that supplies current to the battery cell group is detected.
When the switch is on, as the sleep mode, the function necessary for measuring the cell voltage and outputting the control signal is performed ,
Wherein when the switch is off, as the sleep mode, the control method of a power storage device, characterized in that shifts to the sleep mode to stop the functions necessary for measurement of the cell voltage.

The tenth aspect of the present invention provides
In the power storage device control method according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects,
In the method of controlling a power storage device, the elapsed time after shifting to the sleep mode is counted, and the function stopped by the sleep mode is restored when the count value reaches a predetermined value .

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is
A method of controlling a power storage device according to any one of seventh to tenth aspects,
When the cell voltage monitoring function operated during the sleep mode detects an increase in cell voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold of the cell voltage during the sleep mode, the sleep mode is canceled. The power storage device control method is characterized by the following.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention provides
A power supply device in which any one of the first to sixth power storage devices is connected between a power source and a load via a shunt circuit,
The shunt circuit is configured to be controlled by the management device so that charging of the power storage device from the power source is stopped by the control signal .

The thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides
In the power supply device described in the twelfth aspect,
The power source is a power supply device that generates power using natural energy.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that the amount of power stored in the battery cell group has decreased or when it is determined that power supply to the load is not necessary, the power storage device itself is set to sleep mode to store the battery cell group. Power consumption can be reduced. In particular, since the power storage device itself can be put into a sleep mode according to the amount of power storage, even when the power storage device itself is operating independently, the power storage device itself operates as stably as possible. I can leave it to you.

  In addition, since the power storage device can be easily shifted from the sleep mode to the normal operation mode, power consumption can be reduced while realizing centralized management and monitoring.

  Furthermore, as a power supply device, the power storage device itself is put into a sleep mode according to the amount of power stored in the storage battery, even when using natural energy with unstable power generation as a power source for charging, in combination with the sleep function. Therefore, stable power can be supplied to the load over a long period of time.

It is a block diagram which shows the electrical storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a power supply device which has this. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of shifting to sleep (low power consumption) mode in the electrical storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of transfering from the sleep mode in the electrical storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention to normal operation mode. It is another operation | movement flowchart in the case of transfering from sleep mode to normal operation mode in the electrical storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the power storage device 50 according to this embodiment includes a plurality (two sets in the figure) of battery cells (two sets in the figure) including a plurality (two in the figure) battery cells (131, 132) and (133, 134). 13A, 13B, monitoring devices (CMU: cell monitor units) 16A, 16B for monitoring the states of the battery cell groups 13A, 13B, and a management device (BMU: battery management unit) 17 for controlling the entire power storage device 50 And have. The battery cell groups 13A and 13B are configured by connecting in series each unit formed by battery cells (131, 132) and (133, 134) in which a plurality (two in the figure) of secondary batteries are connected in series. is there. Monitoring devices 16A and 16B are provided corresponding to each battery cell group 13A and 13B. The monitoring devices 16A and 16B determine the state of the battery cells 131 to 134 such as the cell voltage, the cell current, and the cell temperature in order to confirm the states of the battery cells 131 to 134 constituting the battery cell groups 13A and 13B. The state of the battery cells 131 to 134 is monitored by measuring the parameters of and determining the presence or absence of an abnormality. The management device 17 includes a control unit 17A that functions as a central processing unit (CPU), a timer 17B, and a communication unit 17C. The control means 17A receives information on the state of the battery cells 131 to 134 determined by the monitoring devices 16A and 16B, generates predetermined control signals for performing various operations, and outputs them. The timer 17B is used for counting a specified time for control by the control means 17A, and the details of the function will be described later. The communication unit 17C transmits information on the state of the battery cells 131 to 134 sent from the control unit 17A to a host device (not shown), or receives information from the host device and sends it to the control unit 17A. .

  The power supply device I according to this embodiment having the power storage device 50 includes the solar power generation device connection input unit 11, the shunt circuit 12, the inverter 14, and the output unit 15 for receiving power generated by natural energy in addition to the power storage device 50. Have The solar power generation device connection input unit 11 is connected to a solar cell (not shown). Therefore, direct-current power is supplied from the solar power generation apparatus connection input unit 11. Such DC power is supplied to the battery cells 131 to 134 of the power storage device 50 via the shunt circuit 12 to charge the battery cells 131 to 134. Here, the shunt circuit 12 controls the charging operation for each of the battery cells 131 to 134 by the control signal of the control means 17A. More specifically, the control means 17A uses the voltages at both ends of the battery cell groups 13A and 13B (the positive side of the battery cell 131 and the negative side of the battery cell 134 (ground side)) via the monitoring devices 16A and 16B. A certain storage voltage is monitored, and supply of charging current from the shunt circuit 12 to the battery cells 131 to 134 is interrupted when the storage voltage reaches a full charge voltage representing a fully charged state. Here, the full charge voltage is a value less than the maximum charge voltage of the battery cells 131 to 134. This prevents overcharging of the battery cells 131-134. Here, the full charge voltage is set as a voltage higher than the overdischarge voltage. The full charge voltage may be for each of the battery cells 131 to 134, or may be the above-described storage voltage in which the battery cells 131 to 134 are viewed as one storage battery. In the former case, overcharging can be easily prevented by operating the shunt circuit 12 when any one of the battery cells 131 to 134 is fully charged. In the latter case, it is possible to charge each battery cell without waste by providing a balance circuit that uniformly charges the battery cells 131 to 134.

  All of the power generated by the solar battery in a state where the supply of charging current to the battery cells 131 to 134 is interrupted by the shunt circuit 12 is supplied to the inverter 14, converted into AC power by the inverter 14, and output unit 15. To the load (not shown). However, there are places where the power based on solar power generation is not stable due to the impact of the sunlight on the solar panel based on the weather and the layout of the solar panel, and if more power than necessary is generated, for example, a shunt circuit 12, the surplus power is sent to the ground side.

  On the other hand, the inverter 14 is also supplied with the discharge current of the power storage device 50 via the shunt circuit 12. That is, the shunt circuit 12 connects the battery cell groups 13A and 13B and the load side until the storage voltage reaches the full charge voltage, and the discharge current of the storage device 50 is supplied to the load via the inverter 14 and the output unit 15. To be controlled. Such control is performed by the control means 17A.

  When the voltage of the battery cell groups 13A and 13B drops below a predetermined value, the control unit 17A shifts the power storage device 50 to the sleep mode. Details of the specific control in the sleep mode will be described later.

  Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 1, power consumed by the monitoring devices 16A and 16B and the management device 17 of the power storage device 50 is supplied from the battery cell groups 13A and 13B. Further, as described above, the power supply apparatus I according to the present embodiment is configured so that information can be exchanged with the host apparatus via the communication unit 17C. It is also possible to construct a system that is arranged in a distributed manner so that the power supply devices I are monitored or controlled in a batch by the host device.

  An operation relating to the transition to the low power consumption mode (Sleep mode) in the power storage device 50 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart in the power storage device 50 for shifting to the sleep mode.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control means 17A of the management device 17 starts a monitoring process for determining whether or not to shift to the sleep mode (step S11). In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the control unit 17A shifts to the sleep mode using the cell voltage that is the voltage across the battery cell groups 13A and 13B via the monitoring devices 16A and 16B. Since the cell voltage decreases as the storage amount decreases, monitoring the cell voltage may cause the storage amount of the battery cell groups 13A and 13B to decrease more than necessary, so that it can be used as an emergency power source. It can be prevented that the battery cells 131 to 134 are deteriorated due to being unable to be performed or being overdischarged.

  The control means 17A of the management device 17 determines whether or not the voltage has become lower than the discharge limit voltage indicating the discharge limit of the cell voltage (step S12). The discharge limit voltage at this time is set to be larger than a battery voltage value (referred to as an emergency holding voltage) corresponding to a minimum storage amount that can be used as an emergency power source by the power supply apparatus I. This is because the discharge limit voltage is set high in order to delay as much as possible the decrease to the minimum amount of stored electricity that can be used as an emergency power source. If the voltage value for determining the risk of overdischarge is the overdischarge voltage, the relationship is overdischarge voltage <emergency holding voltage <discharge limit voltage.

  If it is determined in the above determination that the cell voltage is lower than the discharge limit voltage to be compared, the control unit 17A notifies the host device that performs centralized management via the communication unit 17C that the cell voltage has decreased. (Step S13), the monitoring devices 16A and 16B are shifted to the sleep mode (Step S14). Thereafter, the control means 17A itself shifts to the sleep mode (step S15). Here, the sleep modes of the monitoring devices 16A and 16B and the management device 17 (control means 17A) are performed by stopping the power supply necessary for the operation. As another sleep mode, the operation can be stopped by fixing the signal level input to the monitoring devices 16A and 16B and the management device 17 (control means 17A). Considering current reduction, it is more effective to reduce power consumption to stop power supply.

  Here, in the sleep mode of the monitoring devices 16A and 16B in the present embodiment, some of the monitoring operations for the battery cells 131 to 134 (even in the battery information necessary for returning from the sleep mode such as cell voltage monitoring and in the sleep mode) In the sleep mode of the management device 17, the monitoring device 16A, 16B in the control unit 17A sends out the operation of each circuit that performs monitoring except for the necessary battery information monitoring circuit). It is assumed that the operation of each circuit that performs the processing operation on the incoming signal and data and the control processing operation of each unit in the power storage device 50 is stopped. As described above, the power storage device 50 is shifted to the sleep mode (step S16). If there is no particular problem with the management device 17, the timer 17B and the communication unit 17C may be in the sleep state. However, in this embodiment, even if the control unit 17A is in the sleep state, the timer 17B of the management device 17 The communication means 17C is operable. The reason why these components are operated is that the timer 17B shifts from a sleep mode, which will be described later, to a normal mode, so that the communication unit 17C prevents a reception error in data transmitted from the outside. . Further, when battery information is not used for returning from the sleep mode and battery information is not necessary in the sleep mode, all the circuits that perform the monitoring operation of the monitoring devices 16A and 16B may be stopped in the sleep mode. Good.

  Note that the storage voltage and the cell voltage can be detected in the monitoring devices 16A and 16B regardless of the operation for shifting to the sleep mode shown in FIG. This is because, in the present embodiment, as described above, the cell voltage is used for returning from the sleep mode. The storage voltage and the cell voltage are detected by, for example, starting the control unit 17A every time a predetermined time is counted by the timer 17B, and starting the monitoring devices 16A and 16B from the started control unit 17A. This can be realized by entering the sleep mode again after performing the detection. In addition, the components for detecting the voltages of the monitoring devices 16A and 16B can be realized by supplying power so that the operation can be continued even in the sleep mode. Along with the detection result of this voltage, the operation control to the shunt circuit 12 in the control means 17A is also performed. The control of the shunt circuit 12 based on the storage voltage and the cell voltage in the control means 17A of the management device 17 can be continuously performed, so that the charging operation or discharging operation in the battery cell groups 13A and 13B can be performed even in the sleep mode. Can continue. As a result, even when the battery cell groups 13A and 13B are being charged or discharged, the management device 17 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B can be set in the sleep mode, and the consumption of the charged amount can be actively suppressed. Thus, electric power generated by solar power generation is input from the solar power generation apparatus connection input unit 11 and supplied to the output unit 15 via the inverter 14 and can be charged to the battery cell groups 13A and 13B. The return from the sleep mode of FIGS. 3 and 4 can also be easily realized. In addition, in order to allow the discharge operation of the battery cells 131 to 134 to be continued even in the sleep mode, the monitoring operation of the cell voltage in the monitoring devices 16A and 16B is performed even in the sleep mode as in this embodiment. Is valid. In this way, by monitoring the cell voltage, it is possible to detect whether or not the cell voltage has reached the overdischarge voltage even during the sleep mode, and the battery cells 131 to 134 are in the overdischarge state. That can be suppressed.

  Next, operations when the monitoring devices 16A and 16B and the management device 17 shift from the sleep mode to the normal mode will be described. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart when the power storage device 50 shifts from the sleep mode to the normal operation mode, and is a case where the timer 17B is used to shift.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the management device 17 enters the sleep mode because the monitoring devices 16A and 16B are in the sleep state (step S16), the timer 17B is reset in accordance with the transition to the sleep mode. It is released and starts counting. The timer 17B is set with a first specified time for specifying a time corresponding to the timing for detecting the storage voltage and the cell voltage, and a second specified time for specifying the sleep time. The first specified time is shorter than the second specified time. That is, the timer 17B is started when the mode is changed to the sleep mode and starts the count operation. When the count value corresponding to the first specified time is reached, the timer 17B sends a signal to that effect to the control means 17A. Based on the output signal, the control means 17A is temporarily activated to perform the voltage detection described above. Thereafter, when the monitoring devices 16A and 16B and the control unit 17A again enter the sleep mode and the timer 17B reaches the count value corresponding to the second specified time, a signal instructing from the timer 17B is sent to the control unit 17A. (Step S21). In the present embodiment, after the output of this signal, a reset signal is supplied and maintained so that the counting operation of the timer 17B is stopped by the activated control means 17A.

  When the count value of the timer 17B reaches the count value corresponding to the second specified time (the specified time has elapsed), the control means 17A enters the sleep mode in order to put the management device 17 into the normal operation state again. Power is supplied to the circuit in the management device 17 that is in the operation stop state when the transition is made, and the management device 17 is shifted from the sleep state to the normal operation state (step S22).

  When the management device 17 returns to the normal operation state, the control means 17A of the management device 17 instructs the monitoring devices 16A and 16B to return the monitoring devices 16A and 16B from the sleep state to the normal operation state (step S23). When the monitoring devices 16A and 16B return to the normal operation state, the monitoring devices 16A and 16B measure the cell voltages of the battery cells 131 to 134 constituting the target battery cell groups 13A and 13B and send them to the management device 17. Based on the measured cell voltage and stored voltage, the management device 17 returns to step S11 in FIG. 2 to perform the monitoring process to determine whether or not to shift to the sleep mode again.

  Next, another operation when the management device 17 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B shift from the sleep mode to the normal mode will be described. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the power storage device 50 in the sleep mode, and is a case where the power storage device 50 is activated by an interrupt process.

  Similar to FIG. 3, in FIG. 4, the power storage device 50 is in the sleep mode (step S <b> 16). At this time, the above-described timer 17B based on FIG. 3 is executing the counting operation.

  When the voltage is detected when the timer 17B reaches the count value corresponding to the first specified time, the power storage device 50 monitors whether or not the cell voltage has increased beyond a predetermined threshold by the control means 17A. If a rise in the cell voltage exceeding is confirmed, an interrupt process is performed (step S31). By executing this interrupt process, the monitoring devices 16A and 16B shift from the sleep state to the normal operation state (step S32). Note that the threshold value in this case is a value set to confirm that the voltage value has sufficiently exceeded the discharge limit voltage, and is equal to or higher than the value corresponding to the discharge limit voltage.

  When the monitoring devices 16A and 16B return to the normal operation state, the monitoring devices 16A and 16B transmit a signal requesting a transition from the sleep state to the normal operation state to the management device 17 (step S33). The management device 17 that has received the signal shifts to the normal operation state even if the count value by the timer 17B has not reached the value corresponding to the second specified time (step S34).

  When the management device 17 shifts to the normal operation state, the monitoring devices 16A and 16B measure the cell voltage and send it to the management device 17 (step S35). As a result, based on the measured cell voltage, the management device 17 returns to step S11 in FIG. 2 to perform a monitoring process as to whether or not to shift to the sleep mode again.

  With this control, the management device 17 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B can be set in the sleep mode, and the amount of power stored in the battery cell groups 13A and 13B can be suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the power generated by the power generation device using natural energy is used as the power source of the power storage device has been described. However, the present invention need not be limited to such an embodiment. For example, even if it is a device that can be connected not only to the power generated by the power generation device using natural energy but also to a commercial power source, the power source for driving the power from the battery cell group to each component in the device If it is used also, it is possible to apply the present invention, and the same actions and effects can be obtained. Further, the present invention can be applied even to an apparatus that can be connected to a commercial power supply instead of a power generation apparatus that utilizes natural energy. In this case, it is necessary to provide a converter that converts AC power, which is a commercial power source, into DC power.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the power storage device enters the sleep mode based on the storage amount of the storage battery has been disclosed, but in addition to this, there is no load based on the connection state of the load by detecting the connection of the load. If it is determined to be connected, the power storage device is controlled to enter the sleep mode, or no load current is generated (or not driven based on the presence or absence (large or small) of the load current. In the case of a certain amount of minute current), the power storage device may enter a sleep mode. You may make it add controlling that an electrical storage apparatus enters sleep mode, when charging / discharging to a storage battery is not performed for the predetermined time. In this way, if the power storage device is put into the sleep mode under various conditions, it is possible to further reduce the amount of power stored in the storage battery in the power storage device.

  Further, as a method of shifting from the sleep mode to the normal mode, the control unit 17A and the control unit 17A are configured so as to be interrupted by a return instruction command from the outside (for example, a host device) via the communication unit 17C in the operating state. The monitoring devices 16A and 16B may be activated. With such a configuration, it is possible to shift from the sleep mode to the normal mode using a configuration that needs to be operated even in the sleep mode.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even during the sleep mode, the circuit for monitoring the cell voltage of the shunt circuit 12 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B is operated to enable charging and discharging operations for the battery cells 131 to 134. However, if the charging operation or the discharging operation for the battery cells 131 to 134 is not required during the sleep mode, the circuit for monitoring the cell voltage of the shunt circuit 12 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B in the sleep mode. Also, the operation may be stopped. In this case, the power input from the solar power generation apparatus connection input unit 11 is not connected to the shunt circuit 12 between the solar power generation apparatus connection input unit 11 and the battery cells 131 to 134 so that the power does not enter the battery cells 131 to 134. It is preferable to provide a switch for cutting off the connection and turn the switch off. The on / off state of the switch is detected by the control means 17A, and based on this state, the operation of the circuit that monitors the cell voltage of the shunt circuit 12 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B in the sleep mode is stopped (when the switch is off). ) Or to be operated (when the switch is turned on) may be selectively controlled.

  Furthermore, when charging or discharging the battery cell groups 13A and 13B is not required, for example, the power generated based on natural energy is large enough to drive the load, and the battery cell groups 13A and 13B When the battery cell groups 13A and 13B are sufficiently charged, the circuits related to the charging and discharging operations of the battery cell groups 13A and 13B may be set to the sleep mode. In the present embodiment, the output unit 15 to which the load is connected via the inverter 14 without supplying the power input from the photovoltaic device connecting input unit 11 to the battery cell groups 13A and 13B by the power supply device I. In the operation mode (referred to as solar power generation mode) to be supplied to the general circuit for monitoring the battery cells 131 to 134 in the monitoring devices 16A and 16B and the management device 17 (necessary for making a judgment of returning from the sleep mode) Can be shifted to the sleep mode. In this case, the return from the sleep mode may be performed by resuming the power supply to the management device 17 and the monitoring devices 16A and 16B in response to the power supply device I ending the photovoltaic power generation mode. Further, a circuit for recognizing whether or not the solar power generation mode is used by the control means 17A is driven even during the sleep mode, and 1) a state change of a signal whose voltage level changes depending on whether or not the solar power generation mode is selected. ) The timer 17B is also driven during the sleep mode, and it is checked whether or not the count value that has started counting with the transition to the sleep mode has reached a predetermined count, or 3) the communication means 17C is also driven during the sleep mode. The management device 17 can be returned from the sleep mode by sending interrupt information for urging the return from the sleep mode to the communication unit 17C when the solar power generation mode ends, and then the monitoring devices 16A and 16B can be returned.

  Moreover, when it sees as the power supply device I, when measuring the open circuit voltage (OCV: Open Circuit Voltage) of the battery cells 131-134, the charge operation and discharge operation to the battery cell groups 13A and 13B are not performed. The shunt circuit 12 can be set to the sleep mode at such timing to stop the operation of the shunt circuit 12. In this case, the solar power generation device connection input unit 11 and the battery cells 131 to 134 are connected to the shunt circuit 12 so that the power from the solar power generation device connection input unit 11 is not supplied to the battery cell groups 13A and 13B. It is better to provide a switch that shuts off. This switch operates when the command for measuring the open circuit voltage of the battery cells 131 to 134 is issued, and the switch is turned off (connection between the solar power generation apparatus connection input unit 11 and the battery cells 131 to 134). The shunt circuit 12 is put into the sleep mode, and when the signal for instructing the end of the measurement of the open circuit voltage of the battery cells 131 to 134 is generated, the sleep mode of the shunt circuit 12 is canceled and the switch is turned on ( The connection between the solar power generation apparatus connection input unit 11 and the battery cells 131 to 134 may be maintained). This control may be performed by the control unit 17A of the management device 17 if the management device 17 does not enter the sleep mode when measuring the open circuit voltage of the battery cells 131 to 134.

  The present invention can be effectively used in an industrial field in which, for example, an emergency power supply device is constructed using a power storage device, and this emergency power supply is used as a power supply for an electronic device or the like.

I Power supply device 11 Photovoltaic power generator connection input unit 12 Shunt circuit 13A, 13B Battery cell group 14 Inverter 15 Output unit 16A, 16B Monitoring device 17 Management device 17A Control unit 17B Timer 17C Communication unit 50 Power storage devices 131-134 Battery cell

Claims (13)

A battery cell group configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells;
A monitoring device for obtaining information about the battery cell by measuring and monitoring a parameter including a cell voltage, which is a voltage based on each battery cell for determining the state of each battery cell;
Information relating to the battery cell is received from the monitoring device and predetermined control is performed, and for the predetermined control, the cell voltage is a voltage representing a fully charged state of the battery cell as the information. And a management device having a function of outputting a control signal instructing
The management device determines whether or not the cell voltage has become lower than a discharge limit voltage, which is a predetermined voltage representing a discharge limit, in a state in which the battery cell group can be charged and discharged. When it is detected that the voltage is lower than the discharge limit voltage, a part of the function of the monitoring device other than the measurement of the cell voltage is stopped and the function necessary for outputting the control signal A power storage device characterized by being capable of shifting to a sleep mode in which a part of functions of the management device other than the control device are stopped. The power storage device according to claim 1,
The management device, the charging operation and the discharging operation for the battery cell group is determined whether the unwanted condition, when the charging operation and the discharging operation for the battery cell group is detected to be unnecessary, the in the sleep mode, power storage device part of the functions also characterized the Turkey stopping of the monitoring device including a measurement of the cell voltage. The power storage device according to claim 2,
The management device determines whether or not a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are necessary, and a state of a switch between the battery cell group and a current supply system that supplies current to the battery cell group Detect
The management device
When the switch is on, as the sleep mode, to perform the function necessary for measuring the cell voltage and outputting the control signal in the monitoring device ,
Wherein when the switch is off, as the sleep mode, the power storage device comprising a Turkey stops the functions necessary measurement of the cell voltage in the monitoring device. In the electrical storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The management device has a timer that counts an elapsed time after shifting to the sleep mode, and recovers the function that was stopped by the sleep mode when the timer measured a predetermined time elapsed in advance. And a power storage device. In the electrical storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
When the cell voltage monitoring function that operates during the sleep mode detects an increase in cell voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold of the cell voltage during the sleep mode, the management device A power storage device that is controlled so as to be released. In the electrical storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5,
The power storage device, wherein the management device includes a communication unit that performs communication for exchanging predetermined information with a host device. In a method for controlling a power storage device having a battery cell group configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells,
A parameter including a cell voltage that is a voltage based on each battery cell for determining the state of each battery cell is measured, and predetermined control is performed based on the parameter. With the function of outputting a control signal that indicates that the cell voltage has become a voltage representing the fully charged state of the battery cell,
In a state in which the battery cell group can be charged and discharged, it is determined whether or not the cell voltage has become lower than a discharge limit voltage, which is a predetermined voltage representing a discharge limit. The power storage device is capable of transitioning to a sleep mode in which a part of functions of the power storage device other than those necessary for measuring the cell voltage and outputting the control signal are stopped. Control method. The power storage device control method according to claim 7,
It is determined whether or not a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are unnecessary, and when it is detected that a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are unnecessary, in the sleep mode, the control method for a power storage device part of the functions of the power storage device including a measurement of the cell voltage, wherein the benzalkonium stopped. The power storage device control method according to claim 8,
As a determination of whether or not a charging operation and a discharging operation for the battery cell group are necessary, a state of a switch between the battery cell group and a current supply system that supplies current to the battery cell group is detected.
When the switch is on, as the sleep mode, the function necessary for measuring the cell voltage and outputting the control signal is performed ,
Wherein when the switch is off, as the sleep mode, the control method of a power storage device, characterized in that shifts to the sleep mode to stop the functions necessary for measurement of the cell voltage. In the control method of the power storage device according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A method for controlling a power storage device, comprising: counting an elapsed time after shifting to the sleep mode; and returning the function stopped in the sleep mode when the count value reaches a predetermined value. In the control method of the power storage device according to any one of claims 7 to 10,
When the cell voltage monitoring function operated during the sleep mode detects an increase in cell voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold of the cell voltage during the sleep mode, the sleep mode is canceled. A method for controlling a power storage device. A power supply device in which the power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is connected between a power source and a load via a shunt circuit,
The power supply device, wherein the shunt circuit is configured to be controlled by the management device so that charging of the power storage device from the power supply is stopped by the control signal. The power supply device according to claim 12,
The power source is a power source device that generates power using natural energy.

Images