Battery Management Algorithm

Inspiration

We were inspired by the hackathon's theme, which emphasized tackling climate change issues. We aimed to reduce carbon emissions by optimizing the efficiency, lifespan, and safety of EV batteries.

What it does

Our Intelligent Battery Management System (BMS) uses an adaptive charging algorithm based on the state of charge (SoC) and temperature data to optimize charging current. It incorporates a Coulomb counting method to estimate SoC, temperature monitoring, and safety features such as overcurrent protection. Additionally, we use Matplotlib to visualize SoC, current, voltage, and temperature over time.

How we built it

We developed our project using Python and Replit, and connected it to GitHub at the end. We integrated a Coulomb counting method to estimate SoC and leveraged the Matplotlib Python library to create dynamic visualizations.

Challenges we ran into

Designing the adaptive charging algorithm and creating an accurate temperature model were challenging but crucial tasks, as temperature plays a significant role in battery life extension. Through some background research, we were able to make some simplifications that allowed us to integrate temperature modelling into our algorithm.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're all very proud of creating a functional project with a wonderful application and contribution to climate change through a BMS simulation that promotes safety, optimization of battery lifespan, and EV adoption all at once.

What we learned

We learned a lot about how algorithms can govern complex hardware systems like Batteries in this case, in addition to gaining an appreciation for designing for safety. We also learned a lot about using the MatPlotLib Python library, which provided an immense aid for visualizing data.

What's next for Battery Management Algorithm

Over time, we intend to further refine and fortify our algorithm by implementing more features. We will make it more compatible with other EV types, as well as integrate it with charging infrastructure. A key functionality that we would like to develop next is Cell Balancing to improve battery stability.