Active Balancing of Li-Ion Battery Cells Using Transformer as Energy Carrier

A circuit for balancing Li-ion battery cells is proposed. This circuit requires one small transformer and N + 3 bilateral switches to equalize the charging states of N serially connected battery cells. The transformer works as an energy carrier, and the switches select two unbalanced cells that require an energy transfer from one to the other cell. The circuit was tested for a 12-cell Li-ion battery under static, cyclic, and dynamic charging/discharging conditions. Under static condition, the power-transfer efficiency was measured as 80.4% at a balancing power of 0.78 W; two 4400-mA·h battery cells at a state of charge (SOC) = 70 and 80% were equalized after 78 min. The results of cyclic and dynamic charging/discharging conditions show that the circuit is appropriate for balancing the Li-ion battery cells for vehicles and energy storage systems.