Download Title : Intelligent battery charger

Title : Intelligent battery
charger
Supervisor : Maeve Duffy
Student : Noel Walsh
Introduction
• The project was a proposal from the PEP program carried out at
Blue Tree.
• The Proposal : Intelligent Back-up Battery charger attached to a Dry
trailer system.
• The circuit is expected to :
– Integrate with the R:COM system
– Provide an interface to the tractor’s power source (Battery) when the
unit is attached.
• The charger circuitry must provide a degree of intelligence to
determine
– Is power source attached from tractor unit
– Type of battery chemistry in back-up battery
– Charging algorithm required for back-up battery
– Safe voltage, current and temperature levels.
Introduction
• Variation in chemistries is to allow a choice for their customers
based on
– Cost
– Capacity
• Why Back-up battery is required.
Research
• Battery chemistries: (Initially)
– 20Ah Sealed Lead Acid ( 6 cells -> 12v) Panasonic
– 2Ah Lithium Ion (3 cells -> 11.1v) Worley-Parsons
• Battery chemistries: (development)
– Nickel Cadmium
• R:COM Power requirements:
– Input voltage operates between 11v to 24v (buck converter at input)
– Normal mode -> 2W
– Sleep Mode
Research
• R:COM system is available in USA and Europe
– USA tractor unit battery -> 12v
– Europe Tractor unit battery -> 24v
– Switch mode converter required.
• Charging Algorithms:
– When to begin a charge cycle
– Monitor process, voltage, current and temperature.
– Finishing a charge cycle
• Hardware Components:
– Operating Conditions
– Safety issues
Research
• Software Required
– Eagle : Schematic and Layout.
– Pspice : test and simulation.
– Microcontroller development environment.
Project Timetable
Sept Oct
Research
Design
Requirements
Simulate/ test
Schematic
Hardware
Prototype
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Project Timetable
Sept Oct
Firmware
Test Prototype
Production
Board
Debug
Test with R:COM
system
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Project Outline
• Research battery chemistries and charging algorithms
– Lead Acid
– Lithium-Polymer
– Nickel Cadmium
• Outline the requirements and functionality of system.
–
–
–
–
Power requirements of R:COM system and connections
Monitor Voltage, Current and Temperature
Interface with tractor power source
Monitor back-up battery charge.
• Decide and source hardware components.
– Microcontroller
– Operating conditions for each part
Project Outline
• Analyse and simulate charging algorithms.
– Properties of battery chemistries
– Determine when to charge back-up battery, monitor the process and
when to stop.
– Simulate with Pspice
• Design Schematic using Eagle.
• Prototype the hardware.
– Test design
• Write firmware for microcontroller.
– C programming language
– Control charging process and monitor V,I and temp.
Project Outline
•
•
•
•
Test Prototype for each charging algorithm.
Create production board in eagle layout.
Debug production board.
Test with R:COM system.
Expected Outcomes
• Develop a good understanding of battery re-charging circuits.
• Experience with hardware and software
– High level of control required from both elements
• Research and analyse information/data.
• Standard expected for a commercial design.