Safety of operation of lithium batteries with active-passive BMS systems in mining machinery systems

Abstract

The use of lithium batteries in power supply systems for devices and/or machines in mines requires ensuring an appropriate level of work safety. This applies in particular to hard coal mines, and especially methane mines and mines at risk of fire or explosion. For this reason, the lithium cells used must, together with the BMS battery management system, be isolated from the influence of the environment by placing them in special explosion-proof housings. In connection with the above, the operation of cells without the so-called BMS is, as the authors' preliminary research shows, practically prohibited. In practice, various BMSs are used, most often with the so-called passive balancing. However, their use means that the lithium battery is balanced only during charging, which means that the weakest cells in the battery determine its operating time. As for active BMSs, they are used less often due to their rather complicated structure and costs, but their use extends the operation of the lithium battery.

The article presents a new version of the special structure of the BMS system, which will balance the battery cells using the passive and active method. This will extend the battery life and ensure a safe charging process. The BMS system can be used in mining machines and devices and energy storage devices powered by a battery consisting of lithium cells.