SAFE BATTERY ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM NODES, AND METHODS

A system and method for hierarchical arc fault monitoring in an energy storage system is disclosed where the energy storage system includes a plurality of stacks that are 5 electrically coupled together. Each stack includes a plurality of battery management system nodes that are electrically coupled together. The method includes (1) obtaining respective electrical measurement values for each stack; (2) determining, for each stack, that the stack is free of arc faults, using the respective electrical measurement values for the stack; (3) obtaining electrical measurement values for the energy storage system; and (4) determining 10 that the energy storage system is free of arc faults outside of the plurality of stacks. The method and system include using (a) the electrical measurement values for the energy storage system and (b) a subset of the respective electrical measurement values for each stack. 15 [FIG. 1] (N U) :I co + CN U') ~CN NI CNI Eco CN f~I n an + fn fn fnU =o -6 'ET >, )) 0 14 (/) (/) 0 ~ N oCo C)3- -5ac. Ca, U) ~ Ua Cl) C)0 04J 0- C - 0 0C 04-E C A Aco CD CN T T - co co ICN CN CN CN CN ___ I < 'ICN -0 a a CN L ~ a, 0