Battery monitoring and diagnostic system

The Diagnostic Module is independent of the rectifier (making it compatible with any rectifier model): it does not interfere with the electronic control and alarms of the equipment; it measures the battery parameters and reports them via Ethernet.

To monitor the batteries individually, the Diagnostic Module is connected to sensors called VTZ, placed on the outside of each battery.

Each VTZ sensor is connected to each of the batteries or modules that make up the system and monitors voltage (V), temperature (T) and impedance (Z), feeding directly from the battery and communicating in series.

In addition to monitoring the battery parameters, the Diagnostic Module can equalize the voltages of each battery if dispersions are detected and optionally perform partial discharges to test the battery to check its state of health.

During the operation of the batteries a large volume of information is collected that allows, among other variables (SoX), to estimate the battery life (SoH):

• Voltage dispersion.
• Impendance Spectroscopy (EIS).
• Temperature histogram.
• Charge management histogram (cycles/DOD).
• Histogram of electrochemical data as a function of depths of discharge. 

The information reported by the system can be integrated into specific monitoring software, or it can be integrated into the customer´s own asset management systems.

Optionally, it is possible to connect a discharge resistor to discharge the batteries as a maintenance operation. The value of the resistor, the power dissipated and the mounting position of the resistor must be studied in each case to adapt to the voltages and capacities of the batteries.

The Diagnostic Module is prepared to monitor distributed lead acid or NiCd batteries, and can be extended to other electrochemical batteries, including Lithium.