What is Battery Management System or BMS – Features of BMS | New Topic [2024]

In this note, we will learn about the Battery Management System or BMS and Features of BMS. Welcome to Poly Notes Hub, a leading destination for Engineering Students Syllabus-Wise.

Author Name: Arun Paul.

What is Battery Management System ?

An essential part of electric vehicles (EVs) that keeps an eye on and regulates the battery pack’s performance is a Battery Management System (BMS). Its main duty is to guarantee the battery system’s lifetime, effectiveness, and safety.

Here are some more specifics on electric car battery management systems (BMS):

• Hardware Components: The hardware components of a typical BMS include relays or switches for disconnecting the battery in an emergency, microcontrollers for processing data and executing control algorithms, sensors for monitoring the voltage, current, and temperature of individual battery cells, and communication interfaces for sharing data with other vehicle systems.
• Software Algorithms: To evaluate sensor data and decide how to operate the batteries, the BMS uses complex software algorithms. These algorithms include balancing algorithms that equalise cell voltages during charging, state estimation algorithms that precisely determine the State of Health (SoH) and State of Charge (SoC), and thermal management algorithms that regulate cooling systems to maintain ideal temperature conditions.
• Safety Features: In EVs, safety is of the utmost importance. To guarantee the battery system operates safely, the BMS includes a number of functions. The protection against short circuits, thermal runaway, overcurrent, undervoltage, and overvoltage are some of these features. The BMS has the ability to reduce power output or disconnect the battery in order to decrease risks in the event of a failure or hazardous condition.
• Data Logging and Analysis: Data on battery performance, such as voltage, current, temperature, and internal resistance, are continuously logged by the BMS. This information is frequently kept on board the car and can be viewed for diagnostic purposes or examined to maximize battery life and raise overall efficiency.
• Integration with Vehicle Systems: To coordinate functions and enhance overall vehicle performance, the BMS communicates with various systems, including the propulsion, regenerative braking, and charging systems. To maximize energy recovery, the BMS might, for instance, prioritize regenerative braking or modify charge rates based on the infrastructure for charging that is now accessible.

Key Features of BMS

Here we listed some features or advantages of Battery Management System:

1. State of Charge (SoC) Estimation: The BMS determines the remaining capacity of the battery pack, allowing the driver to know how much charge is left.
2. State of Health (SoH) Monitoring: It assesses the overall health and degradation of the battery over time, helping to predict when maintenance or replacement may be necessary.
3. Cell Balancing: Different cells in a battery pack may have slightly different capacities or characteristics, leading to imbalances. The BMS ensures that each cell is charged and discharged evenly to maximize the pack’s efficiency and lifespan.
4. Temperature Management: The BMS monitors and controls the temperature of the battery pack to prevent overheating or overcooling, which can degrade performance and shorten the lifespan of the cells.
5. Overcharge and Over-discharge Protection: It prevents the battery from being overcharged or over-discharged, which can damage the cells and pose safety risks.
6. Fault Detection and Diagnostics: The BMS continuously monitors for any abnormalities or faults in the battery system and alerts the driver or takes corrective actions to ensure safe operation.
7. Optimization of Charging and Discharging: By managing the charging and discharging processes, the BMS maximizes the efficiency and range of the EV while also prolonging the battery’s lifespan.