The Importance of Marine Battery Management System

Table of Contents
An advertisement image highlighting the importance of a marine battery management system, featuring a high-speed motorboat cruising on the ocean and a circuit board showcasing the Moko Energy brand.

Currently, the most used power system for marine is the diesel marine power system. However, there are many problems with the diesel marine power system. So electric boats are gradually replacing traditional fuel-powered ships. In this, the marine battery management system is very important.

As more and more attention is paid to the problems of environmental pollution and resource scarcity, the pollution problem in the shipping industry is also receiving more and more attention. In recent years, the shipping industry in various countries has been actively taking action to promote and expand the application of greenship technology. While the industry is exploring various new energy sources for ships, such as biomass fuels, solar energy, hydrogen, fuel cells, and lithium batteries, only lithium battery electric ships currently can achieve zero emissions and are being gradually promoted within the maritime sector. They represent the initial market for new energy-powered vessels. Pure battery-powered boats are mainly suitable for fixed routes, short voyages and convenient replenishment points. And for relatively long routes, diesel-electric hybrids are better able to take into account energy saving, emission reduction and voyage adaptability. A quality BMS can greatly improve the performance and reliability of the marine.

The Importance of BMS in Marine Batteries

BMS is an important part of Li-ion battery electric ships. A good BMS acts as a guardian to prevent thermal runaway and fire from the battery. By monitoring and balancing the voltage of the ship’s battery, BMS prevents the charging and discharging process from producing overcharging and deep discharging. It ensures that the battery delivers optimal performance during operation. At the same time, it optimizes battery performance and maximizes capacity by managing energy and providing accurate SOC and SOH estimation. In this way, the vessel can extend its range and improve endurance. There are also fault detection functions in the BMS, which can monitor battery problems and take countermeasures on time. the BMS protection boards provide temperature and short-circuit protection for the batteries, which extends the service life of the batteries and ensures the safety of the vessel. Through the optimization and research of BMS, the charging and discharging efficiency of the battery can be improved, the energy loss can be reduced, and the performance of the whole ship system can be improved.

Key Technologies of Marine Battery Management System

An excellent BMS should have several key technologies, which are battery state monitoring, charging and discharging control technology, fault diagnosis and protection technology, smart balancing methods, and thermal management.

1. Battery state monitoring

Marine battery management system can monitor the battery with accurate data. It can accurately estimate the battery’s remaining charge, available capacity and health status through real-time data acquisition and analysis of voltage, current, and temperature parameters. And potential problems are detected promptly. These methods can maximize the performance of the battery pack throughout its life cycle.

2. Charging and discharging control technology

The charging process of marine batteries will directly affect the life and safety of the battery. Therefore, BMS needs to adjust the charging power according to the real-time characteristics of the power battery, the temperature, and the power level of the charger to control the charger to charge the battery safely. In addition, in order to ensure the safe and economic operation of the electric boat, BMS should reasonably control the energy output of the power battery and the energy recovery of regenerative braking to avoid overcharging/over-discharging, etc. Moreover, BMS should also reasonably allocate the direction of the battery energy flow to ensure the best output performance. In the process of battery charging and discharging, real-time collection of terminal voltage and temperature, charging and discharging current, and total battery pack voltage of each battery in the battery pack of the electric ship, to prevent the battery from over-charging or over-discharging phenomenon.

3. Fault diagnosis and protection technology

Battery safety protection function mainly refers to the fault diagnosis and safety control of the battery packs. The faults that BMS needs to diagnose usually include over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current, over-temperature, short-circuit faults, insulation faults, etc. It also involves the faults of electronic components such as sensors, actuators and controllers. After monitoring the faults, BMS should also provide timely warnings and take measures to intervene in a timely manner to ensure the safety of electric boats.

4. Smart balancing methods

Battery balancing is the equalization of charging and discharging of single batteries in a battery pack. Inconsistency in battery performance can lead to imbalance and inefficiency. Battery balancing methods can make each battery in the battery pack achieve a balanced and consistent state. This technology is divided into active and passive balancing. This technology increases the capacity of the battery, making it an essential component for long-term marine shipping.

5. Thermal Management System

Battery operation is not only affected by the ambient temperature but also by its own charging and discharging heat. Temperature regulation and heat dissipation are critical factors in the marine environment. Extreme conditions can even lead to thermal degradation. Therefore, there is a strong need for BMS to integrate a battery thermal management module. It can decide the intensity of heating/cooling according to the temperature distribution information in the battery pack and the charging/discharging demand so that the battery can work at the most suitable temperature possible, and fully utilize the performance of the battery.

Application Examples of BMS in Electric Boats

Electric boats

1. River patrol boat
River patrol boats usually need to work for a long time, so they have high requirements on the service life and range of the battery. By optimizing the battery management system, the cycle life and charging/discharging efficiency of the battery can be improved, so as to extend the working time and range of the patrol boat.
2. Yacht
Yacht is a common transportation tool in water tourism, which has high requirements for comfort and reliability. Through the optimization of the BMS, it can realize the smooth sailing and low noise operation of the yachtes, and enhance the comfort of the passengers.
3. Fishing Vessels
For fishing boats, the key to BMS is to ensure that the battery can provide stable power output under different loads and working conditions. The power performance and sailing stability of the fishing vessel can be improved through the precise control and state estimation of the BMS

What MOKOEnergy BMS Can Do in This Field

MOKOEnergy is at the forefront of BMS innovation, offering solutions tailored specifically for marine applications. Our advanced boat BMS technology incorporates state-of-the-art monitoring, balancing, and thermal management capabilities, ensuring optimal performance and safety for lithium batteries in the harsh marine environment.

One of our recent success stories involves a collaboration with a leading electric yacht manufacturer. By integrating MOKOEnergy’s BMS into their high-end vessels, they were able to achieve an impressive 30% increase in battery life and a 20% improvement in overall range. This not only enhanced the yachting experience for their customers but also demonstrated our commitment to sustainability and efficiency.

At MOKOEnergy, we are proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, offering cutting-edge BMS solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the marine environment. Our advanced technologies, combined with a deep understanding of marine power requirements, position us as a trusted partner for small electric boat manufacturers.

 

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