Lithium battery management system can be customised
Equipped with a software structure that allows developers to customise the battery management system, the Lithium Balance n3-BMS is a ASIL C-certified battery management system for high voltage applications, said Sensata Technologies.
It is functional safety certified which “significantly” reduces the time to market and costs associated with the ISO 26262 certification process, said the company.
The battery management system is suitable for applications with power up to 1,000V / 2,000A, particularly battery makers and manufacturers of electric lorries, electric buses, and other heavy commercial vehicles. The software structure allows developers to customise the battery management system (BMS) with their own code and algorithms while maintaining ASIL C certification.
The demand for ISO 26262-certified components is increasing as battery packers and electric commercial vehicle OEMs prioritise functional safety but the ISO 26262 certification process can be complex, costly and can take years to complete. An off-the-shelf, Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL C) -certified BMS can therefore reduce the development time and associated costs.
The BMS software architecture consists of a base software (BSW) layer and an external software (ESW) layer which are connected by an open API link layer. All the safety-critical functionalities of the BMS are in the BSW layer which allows developers to implement their own software code and algorithms in the ESW without any risk to the ISO 26262 certification of the system.
The Lithium Balance n3-BMS is a distributed system that consist of up to 30 cell monitoring units for monitoring individual cells and a master control unit, which consolidates the information and controls the battery functions.
The n3-BMS features between 24 and 360 cells in series and three CAN ports.
Sensata will showcase the n3-BMS at its stand (2817) at the Battery Show North America (13 to 15 September) in Novi, Michigan, USA.
Sensata Technologies has a broad portfolio of sensors, electrical protection components and sensor-rich products for customers in the automotive, heavy vehicle and off-road, industrial, and aerospace markets.
