Chroma 87001 - 16CH Battery Cell Simulator

The Chroma 87001 Battery Cell Simulator can be used alone with user development software or integrated into a fully functional BMS test system for automated testing to complete the product verification rapidly. The simulator can test the BMS products under master/slave or independent architecture. Optional high-precision temperature simulation is available through Chroma’s customized BMS test system as each battery has temperature sensor simulating function to provide the cell temperature status to BMS for testing.

The simulator has a variety of protection features such as over current protection (OCP), over voltage protection (OVP), under voltage protection (UVP), fan fail protection, and output circuit compensation voltage to make sure that the tests are conducted under a safe environment.

Battery Cell Status In Parallel And Serial Operation Mode

When multiple battery cells are required, the battery cell simulators can be connected in series for use. The simulator supports both serial and separate channel parallel connection modes that can simulate the battery cell status up to 480 cells. The parallel function with automatic current sharing design makes the operation quick and easy allowing for greater simplicity to the user’s operating procedure. The 87001 is equipped with an Ethernet standard interface that can be used for remote control and other automated test applications.

Application Architecture Diagram (Master/Slave Architected Battery Management System)

The Chroma 87001 Battery Cell Simulator can be applied to high-voltage battery cell isolation units to simulate a variety of battery cell strings scenarios. With bidirectional voltage and current source function, it can simultaneously simulate the battery cells connected in series and the loading of external power devices to UUT. The architecture diagram shown below is an example of an integrated battery cell simulator test system that provides a battery management unit (BMU) with subsystem Cell Supervising Circuit (CSC).

Precision Voltage/Current Measurement

The Chroma 87001 Battery Cell Simulator has voltage source and bidirectional current source modes with a built-in 16-bit high-precision A/D converter. The voltage measurement accuracy is up to ±1mV (0.02%FS) with resolution up to 0.1mV.

For the market trend of active and passive balance design, the current measurement is divided into 0~5.2A/0~520mA two ranges with 0.02%FS accuracy. For 0~5A (power increased in parallel connection) range, the accuracy is ± 1mA, which meets most of the industry’s requirements for testing the actively balancing designed circuits with a current measurement resolution up to 100uA.

For 0~500mA range, the accuracy is ±100uA (0.02%F.S.), which can meet most of the industry’s passive balance designs, and the measurement resolution is up to 10uA. In addition to the passive balance for current measurement, it can also be used for cell supervising circuit to measure the current consumption of each battery cell (> 10mA for general consumption).

Programming Sequence And Application

The battery cell simulator has 16 channels that can set the voltage and current limit respectively; program the rise and fall of output voltage, and synchronize the start-up between channels via software. When the low output noise features presents the DC characteristics of a battery cell without any ripples during dynamic load changes, it can quickly provide a steady DC output. Meanwhile, it reduces the surge voltage caused by the load change that could damage the UUT. For non-static products or test applications, it can supply a stable DC voltage source in time.

The Chroma 87001 Battery Cell Simulator provides a high-speed, programmable, dynamic, and bidirectional load mode with less than 100us load change capability, simulating a variety of different true load current waveforms.

System Integration And Support

The Chroma 87001 Battery Cell Simulator allows users to develop application software using the provided SCPI commands, Labview drivers, and LabWindow drivers, or to integrate into the BMS test system with assistance from Chroma.