SMART BATTERY DISCONNECT AND PROTECTION ARCHITECTURE FOR AIRBORNE HIGH-POWER MODULAR MULTI-STRING BATTERY PACK

Methods and systems for protection/disconnect of high-power/energy high-voltage modular multi-string battery packs, such as battery packs for electric propulsion systems in all-electric or hybrid-electric aircraft. The methods and systems use a smart mid-point battery disconnect (14), comprising a current sensor (46) and a mid-point disconnect contactor (48), in conjunction with centralized battery management system (22). The resulting battery disconnect/protection system is configured to detect bus faults, load faults and string faults and then take appropriate action to isolate the detected fault. For example, in response to a short circuit in one battery string, the faulty battery string may be disconnected from the positive and negative busbars while the remaining battery strings continue to provide power.