PROTECTING CIRCUIT FOR BATTERY DURING ENGINE STARTING EVENTS
The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing a battery protection circuit during an engine starting event on a vessel. The system includes a first relay, wherein the first relay electrically connects between: a first battery, and a starter motor and a set of on-board accessories, the starter motor mechanically associated with an engine; a battery protection circuit, wherein the battery protection circuit comprises a second relay and a current-limiting circuit in parallel, and electrically connects between: a second battery, and the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories; and a controller, wherein upon receiving a signal to start the engine, the controller is configured to send a first control signal to the first relay and a second control signal to the second relay.
1 . A system for providing a battery protection circuit during an engine starting event on a vessel, the system comprising:
a first relay, wherein the first relay electrically connects between:
a first battery, and
a starter motor and a set of on-board accessories, the starter motor mechanically associated with an engine;
a battery protection circuit, wherein the battery protection circuit comprises a second relay and a current-limiting circuit in parallel, and electrically connects between:
a second battery, and
the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories; and
a controller, wherein upon receiving a signal to start the engine, the controller is configured to send a first control signal to the first relay and a second control signal to the second relay.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first battery comprises a super-capacitor battery.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second battery comprises one of a lead-acid battery, an enhanced flooded battery (EFB), an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery, or a lithium battery.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first relay is a normally-open relay.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein, upon receiving the first control signal from the controller, the first relay is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state, so that the first battery supplies electric power to the starter motor to start the engine.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first relay comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal;
the input terminal of the first relay electrically connects to a positive terminal of the first battery;
the output terminal of the first relay electrically connects to positive terminals of the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories; and
the control terminal of the first relay electrically connects to the controller.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second relay is a normally-closed relay.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein:
before receiving the second control signal from the controller, the second relay is in a closed state, so that the second battery supplies electric power to the set of on-board accessories via the second relay; and
upon receiving the second control signal from the controller, the second relay is configured to switch from the closed state to an open state, so that the second battery supplies electric power to the set of on-board accessories via the current-limiting circuit.
9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second relay comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal;
the input terminal of the second relay electrically connects to a positive terminal of the second battery;
the output terminal of the second relay electrically connects to positive terminals of the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories; and
the control terminal of the second relay electrically connects to the controller.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the current-limiting circuit comprises a resistor or a pulse width modulation (PWM) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).
11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein a resistance value of the resistor or the PWM MOSFET is determined based on a nominal voltage and a maximum discharge current of the second battery.
12 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the resistor or the PWM MOSFET has a resistance value between 0.01 Ohm and 25 Ohm, inclusive.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first control signal and the second control signal is a same signal.
14 . A system for starting an engine in a vessel, the system comprising:
a first battery;
a second battery;
a first relay, wherein the first relay electrically connects between:
the first battery, and
a starter motor and a set of on-board accessories, the starter motor mechanically associated with an engine;
a battery protection circuit, wherein the battery protection circuit comprises a second relay and a current-limiting circuit in parallel, and electrically connects between:
the second battery, and
the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories; and
a controller, wherein upon receiving a signal to start the engine, the controller is configured to send a first control signal to the first relay and a second control signal to the second relay.
15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the first battery comprises a super-capacitor battery.
16 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the second battery comprises one of a lead-acid battery, an enhanced flooded battery (EFB), an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery, or a lithium battery.
17 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the first relay is a normally-open relay.
18 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein, upon receiving the first control signal from the controller, the first relay is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state, so that the first battery supplies electric power to the starter motor to start the engine.
19 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein:
the first relay comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal;
the input terminal of the first relay electrically connects to a positive terminal of the first battery;
the output terminal of the first relay electrically connects to positive terminals of the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories; and
the control terminal of the first relay electrically connects to the controller.
20 . A method of manufacturing a protection circuit, the method comprising:
setting a first relay to electrically connect between:
a first battery, and
a starter motor and a set of on-board accessories, the starter motor mechanically associated with an engine;
setting a battery protection circuit to electrically connect between:
a second battery, and
the starter motor and the set of on-board accessories, wherein the battery protection circuit comprises a second relay and a current-limiting circuit in parallel; and
setting a controller to electrically connect with the first relay and the second relay, wherein upon receiving a signal to start the engine, the controller is configured to send a first control signal to the first relay and a second control signal to the second relay.