In this QuickChat, Electronic Design's Technology Editor, Andy Turudic, chats about high-voltage battery-management systems (BMS) and high-voltage junction box considerations and solutions with Jerry Shi, Sector General Manager of Hybrid, Electric & Powertrain Systems at Texas Instruments.
Jerry talks about the importance of safer operation in HEV/EVs. The discussion focuses on how advanced diagnostics and early detection are impacting and enabling the prevention of thermal runaway in batteries while delivering maximum HV battery-pack longevity, reliability, vehicle range, and vehicle performance.
He mentions that the key to delivering on this strategy has classically been the use of sensors, ranging from cell voltage and current to temperature varieties. As packs get larger to deliver range, acceleration, or higher-speed charging, the number of cells and their associated measured parameters becomes unwieldy.
Thus, the processing of such data, including data from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, is moving toward the use of AI, which is embedded in some TI MCU architectures. State of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), and thermal events are detected and determined on a per-cell basis using a complete BMS portfolio of semiconductor solutions, with a designer's choice of wired and wireless interconnection systems.
Shi also mentions that supercharging brings its own headaches, where the BMS needs to closely monitor cell temperatures with minimal latency. Texas Instruments's Intelligent Junction Box solutions also manage pyrofuses, pack current, contactors, and pack voltage to maximize vehicle performance and safety.
For more details on BMS design considerations and solutions, check out this QuickChat, as well as our Electrification (BMS) TechXchange and eBook.
