German researchers develop battery sensor system without dedicated data wiring

Researchers at Germany’s Kiel University have developed a battery monitoring system that transmits sensor data through existing power connections, eliminating the need for dedicated data wiring inside battery cells.

The system, described in the journal Communications Engineering, uses a small circuit embedded within a battery cell to convert measurements from an internal temperature sensor into a digital signal. The signal is then transmitted via the same electrical connections used for charging and discharging.

The research team said the approach could enable batteries to detect potentially hazardous conditions, such as rising internal temperatures or gas formation, earlier than conventional systems, which typically monitor temperature only at the outside of the cell.

According to the university, the design could reduce monitoring system costs by about 35% compared with solutions requiring separate sensor wiring, while also avoiding the additional space needed for dedicated data cables.

The researchers said the concept, which they describe as a “talking battery,” could eventually support other types of sensors, including pressure and gas sensors, and could be used in applications ranging from electric vehicles to utility-scale and residential battery energy storage systems.

From pv magazine Deutschland