Battery Management System and its Applications

1 Why Does a Battery Need a BMS?

1.1 General Introduction to a BMS

1.1.1 Why a Battery Needs a BMS

A battery management system (BMS) is an essential part of any energy storage system. It controls battery charging and discharging, manages optimum operating conditions, governs the safety limits, runs the battery charge and health algorithms, monitors battery parameters, and communicates with other associated devices [1, 2]. A BMS or similar monitoring and control system is strongly recommended for other electrical energy systems, such as a fuel cell, supercapacitor, superbat capacitor, or other hybrid combinations of electrical energy storage systems. A BMS allows the system to be efficient and to use an application for stored energy up to the safe operating limit [3]. It makes energy storage cost effective for short-term applications such as consumer electronics. With an efficient control over optimum charge and discharge ranges, the BMS adequately extends the life of energy storage. The increased life makes the energy storage economically viable for long-term applications such as grid, automotive, and stationary applications [4].

1.1.2 What Is a BMS?

A BMS is a control system that ensures optimum use of the battery energy in powering any portable or non-portable system. This is achieved by monitoring and controlling the battery’s charging and discharging processes along with careful control over the surrounding environment. The BMS becomes essential in all storage systems ...