What is a Battery Management System (BMS)?

On a ship, a Battery Management System (BMS) is an integrated control and monitoring software which continually ensures the safe operation of a battery propulsion and/or storage system on board.

BMS software has large bandwidth and uses an ethernet connection with remote update capability and protocols to mitigate packet loss.

BMS carry out the following services:

• Ensures smooth and safe system start-up
• Provides current control to ensure the optimal charge/discharge rate for battery longevity
• Alarms and warnings including early identification of potential points of failure, hidden failures and failure prediction
• Remote monitoring and reporting of battery performance to inform maintenance

Redundancy is provided using direct emergency stop controls for the crew, redundant power supplies for each string, Redundant Management Software and remote monitoring for onshore investigation of anomalies by the service team.

– Information from SHIFT Clean Energy –