Battery comprising circuitry for charge and discharge control, and method of operating a battery

摘要

A battery includes a battery module that includes a plurality of submodules electrically connected in series. Each submodule comprises first and second submodule terminals and a cell. At least one submodule in each battery module is a switchable submodule comprising a submodule switching circuit. The submodule switching circuit is switchable between a first state and a second state. The submodule switching circuit electrically connects the cell of the switchable submodule between the first and second submodule terminals when the submodule switching circuit is in the first state. The submodule switching circuit provides an electrical bypass connection between the first and second submodule terminals and the cell of the switchable submodule is electrically disconnected from at least one of the first and second submodule terminals when the switching circuit is in the second state. The battery further comprises a control unit for operating the switching circuit of each module.