Series-connected self-reconfigurable multicell battery

This paper proposes a novel series-connected, self-reconfigurable, multicell battery design. A new cell switching circuit topology is proposed and implemented by using high-efficiency semiconductor devices for dynamic configuration of the multicell battery. Each cell in the battery only uses two switches to fully control its operation independently. The proposed design can maximally utilize the battery's capacity and is tolerant to failures of single or multiple cells. These prolong the operating time and lifespan and enhance the reliability of the battery system. By using the proposed design, additional monitoring, control, protection and optimization functions can be readily added to each cell and the battery system to produce a smart battery. The proposed design is validated by simulation and experimental results for a six-cell polymer lithium-ion battery pack. The proposed design is universal and can be applied to any type and size of battery cells.