Battery Management

Battery management systems (BMS) are based on monitoring systems, which measure and display key battery parameters. The main objective is to detect cell or battery module failures at an early stage. The information gained from the monitoring system is fed back to the battery system for the purpose of electrical management. It is very important that the BMS be optimized for the particular type of battery that is being used, that is, the BMS should be matched to the battery. The combined battery plus BMS unit is then called a "battery system." Additionally, the BMS should also be matched to the application. For example, a BMS that is optimized for photovoltaic applications may not be suitable for uninterruptable power supply (UPS) applications. The optimized operation of a BMS is not only important for lead-acid batteries but even more important for advanced battery systems, such as lithium batteries and high-temperature batteries. As BMSs are based on microcontroller systems, therefore, it is possible to integrate additional, helpful features. For example, the storage of historical data (data logging) and communication via Internet are possible.