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Title Transformer Design Methodology to Improve Transfer Efficiency of Balancing Current in Active Cell Balancing Circuit using Multi-Winding Transformer
Authors Sang-Jung Lee ; Myoung-Ho Kim ; Ju-Won Baek ; Jee-Hoon Jung
DOI https://doi.org/10.6113/TKPE/2018.23.4.247
Page pp.247-255
ISSN 1229-2214
Keywords Active cell balancing ; Cell balancing techniques ; Multi-winding transformer ; BMS(Battery Management System) ; Balancing current transfer efficiency
Abstract This paper proposes a transformer design of a direct cell-to-cell active cell balancing circuit with a multi-winding transformer for battery management system (BMS) applications. The coupling coefficient of the multi-winding transformer and the output capacitance of MOSFETs significantly affect the balancing current transfer efficiency of the cell balancing operation. During the operation, the multi-winding transformer stores the energy charged in a specific source cell and subsequently transfers this energy to the target cell. However, the leakage inductance of the multi-winding transformer and the output capacitance of the MOSFET induce an abnormal energy transfer to the non-target cells, thereby degrading the transfer efficiency of the balancing current in each cell balancing operation. The impacts of the balancing current transfer efficiency deterioration are analyzed and a transformer design methodology that considers the coupling coefficient is proposed to enhance the transfer efficiency of the balancing current. The efficiency improvements resulting from the selection of an appropriate coupling coefficient are verified by conducting a simulation and experiment with a 1 W prototype cell balancing circuit.