Abstract: Battery modules with anti-arcing, hot swapping, and/or self-disabling features are provided, as are systems and methods related thereto. For example, an electrical power system configured to provide backup electrical power to a load may include a battery rack having a bus configured to provide power. The system may include a battery module configured to couple with the bus and receive power therefrom, the battery module may include battery cells coupled to a pre-charge electrical path and a main electrical path, and a module controller configured to: detect that the battery module has been inserted into the battery rack, and pre-charge the battery cells of the battery module via the pre-charge electrical path until a voltage level of the battery cells may be synchronized with a voltage level of the bus.

Abstract: Bidirectional electrical power systems are provided that include versatile battery packs. For example, a battery pack is introduced which may have both a first interface or port for high voltage fast charging and discharging, and a second interface or port for low voltage supply of power to present equipment without requiring modification or retrofitting. The battery pack may include, for example, a first battery module within the battery pack; a second battery module within the battery pack; and a switching matrix within the battery pack and configured to connect the first and second battery modules in series or in parallel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing electrical storage batteries monitor magnetic susceptibility of components of the storage batteries. In some embodiments, magnetic susceptibility of a plate in a lead-acid battery is determined to provide an indication of the state of charge of the battery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing electrical storage batteries monitor magnetic susceptibility of components of the storage batteries. In some embodiments, magnetic susceptibility of a plate in a lead-acid battery is determined to provide an indication of the state of charge of the battery.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the conditions a battery comprises applying a discharge pulse to the battery and monitoring a response of the battery to the discharge pulse. In some embodiments a measure of battery condition is based at least in part on at least one of first and second parameters. The first parameter is related to the decrease in battery voltage after the onset of the discharge pulse. The second parameter is related to the recovery of the battery voltage after the discharge pulse. The first and/or second parameters may be supplied as inputs to an evaluation system such as a neural network, a fuzzy logic inference engine or the like.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the conditions a battery comprises applying a discharge pulse to the battery and monitoring a response of the battery to the discharge pulse. In some embodiments a measure of battery condition is based at least in part on at least one of first and second parameters. The first parameter is related to the decrease in battery voltage after the onset of the discharge pulse. The second parameter is related to the recovery of the battery voltage after the discharge pulse. The first and/or second parameters may be supplied as inputs to an evaluation system such as a neural network, a fuzzy logic inference engine or the like.

Abstract: A system for determining the state-of-health of batteries has an adaptive component. The system tests a battery by measuring a number of electrochemical parameters and using fuzzy logic to compute a state-of-health for the battery. The fuzzy logic computations are based upon membership functions which are preferably triangular. The membership functions may be stored in a matrix. The adaptive component adapts the system for use with new models of battery by obtaining a reliable measurement of SoH for a number of calibration batteries. Electrochemical parameters of the calibration batteries are measured. The adaptive component modifies a prototype matrix selected to match the chemistry type of the calibration batteries by scaling, translating and flexing its membership functions to achieve a matrix which specifies membership functions suitable for assessing state-of-health of the new model of battery.

Abstract: A method for testing electrochemical cells applies to a portion of a cycle of a low-frequency excitation waveform to a cell under test while maintaining an amplitude of the excitation waveform below a threshold value. In some cases a quarter cycle of the excitation waveform is used. Phase an amplitude of a response to the excitation waveform may be determined by applying formulae based on geometry.

Abstract: A method for testing electrochemical cells applies to a portion of a cycle of a low-frequency excitation waveform to a cell under test while maintaining an amplitude of the excitation waveform below a threshold value. In some cases a quarter cycle of the excitation waveform is used. Phase an amplitude of a response to the excitation waveform may be determined by applying formulae based on geometry.

Abstract: A method for testing an electrochemical system includes obtaining complex impedance data for the electrochemical system at multiple frequencies; fitting the complex impedance data to two or more models of the system to obtain a set of fitted parameters; and deriving a value for a characteristic of the electrochemical system based upon parameters of the set of fitted parameters. The electrochemical system may be an electrochemical battery. The characteristic may be a state of health, state of charge, or other characteristic of a battery.

Abstract: A method for testing an electrochemical system includes obtaining complex impedance data for the electrochemical system at multiple frequencies; fitting the complex impedance data to two or more models of the system to obtain a set of fitted parameters; and deriving a value for a characteristic of the electrochemical system based upon parameters of the set of fitted parameters. The electrochemical system may be an electrochemical battery. The characteristic may be a state of health, state of charge, or other characteristic of a battery.