Battery Management Systems (BMS)

Understand the purpose of a Battery Management System (BMS)

Importance of BMS, core functions and their relevance for safe operation. Main types of BMS (Centralised, Modular, Primary and Distributed), advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Recognise and understand the different components of BMS and their operations

Battery cell monitor, Cut-off field effect transistors (FET), Temperature monitoring, Cell voltage balance, BMS algorithms, Real-time clock (RTC).

Understand specifics of cell balancing and State of Charge (SOC) estimation

Passive and active balancing, charge dissipation and transfer. Importance of voltage stability and state of charge for the battery life. Typical methods for SOC estimation (as % of total capacity) - voltage methods, Coulomb counting, Kalman filtering. Advantages and limitations of each method.

Understand State of Health (SOH) estimation with regard to battery safety and degradation mechanisms

Techniques to estimate SOH based on direct measurement, data driven and model based predictions. Limitations of each method. Mechanisms of degradation of battery capacity (loss of active material, increase of internal resistance).

Understand the links between BMS and thermal management

Relevance of thermal control for battery performance and safety. Thermal sensors and BMS integration. Thermal management systems and design (air, liquid and refrigerant cooling, heat sinks)

This course is designed to introduce Battery Management Systems (BMS) and their role in modules and packs. The course gives delegates an insight into what BMS are and how the end usage and development informs their function.

This course provides essential information covering the fundamentals of Battery Management Systems (BMS) for transport applications, including the main functions of BMS, as well as design and integration considerations for cells, modules, and packs. The content also includes system safety and failure considerations, supported by industry case studies.

The course can be delivered online, face-to-face or in a pre-recorded format.