Solid state energy storage and management system

• US 10,046,644 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velocity Magnetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Velocity Magnetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Marzano, Domenic P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duda, Rina
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOSEPH, DEVON A
• Application Number:
  US14/505,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 318135
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/03 Electric propulsion by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/005 for control of propulsion for vehicles propelled by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/28 Eddy-current braking
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 31/00 Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for energy storage and management may be useful for a variety of applications, including launch devices. A system can include a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages. The system can also include an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus and configured to supply the DC bus with energy. The system can further include an input configured to receive energy from a power grid, wherein the power grid is configured to supply fewer than 250 amps of power. The system can additionally include an output configured to supply more than 250 amps of power. The system can also include a controller configured to control charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors and configured to control the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.

Claims

1. An ultra-capacitor based launch system comprising:

a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages;

an input to the DC bus adapted to receive power from a power grid;

an output and an alternating current (AC) power supply for operating one or more linear synchronous motors that drive an amusement park vehicle on a track;

an array of ultra-capacitor units capable of continuously receiving power from the input via the DC bus during operation of the vehicle wherein the array of ultra-capacitor units are configured to provide power to the output;

a switch, wherein the switch operatively couples the array of ultra-capacitor units to the output; and

a controller for controlling the charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a recycling system comprising an energy input for supplying energy to the array of ultra-capacitor units via the DC bus.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a regenerative braking circuit obtaining power from magnetic braking of the vehicle on the closed track.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the magnetic braking is eddy current braking utilizing an air gap and a stator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of ultra-capacitors provide about 250 to 4,000+ amps for a predetermined amount of time to the output.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a discharge unit in communication with the array of ultra-capacitors.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the array of ultra-capacitors outputs more than 250 amps of power to launch the vehicle on the closed track via the one or more linear synchronous motors.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the input comprises an active front-end circuit.

9. A system, comprising:

a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages;

an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus and configured to supply the DC bus with energy;

an input adapted to be continuously connected to a power grid during operation of an amusement park vehicle;

an output configured to supply more than 250 amps of power to an alternating current (AC) power supply for operating one or more linear synchronous motors for launching the vehicle on a closed track; and

a controller configured to control charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors and configured to control the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the AC power supply is a three-phase alternating current (AC) power supply, wherein the AC power supply is configured to be driven by the DC bus.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more linear synchronous motors are configured to be driven by the AC power supply.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the output is configured to provide about 250 to 4,000+ amps for a predetermined amount of time.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

an energy recovery circuit configured to recycle energy discharged through the output at a second input, wherein the second input is configured to receive power from a regenerative braking circuit.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the input comprises an active front-end circuit.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the output and the AC power supply comprise a variable frequency drive.

16. A method, comprising:

operating a direct current (DC) bus of a system within a predetermined range of voltages;

supplying the DC bus with energy using an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus;

receiving energy from a power grid via an input of the system, wherein the power grid is configured to supply input power in a continuous connection during operation at a current level less than needed to drive an amusement park vehicle on a closed track via one or more linear synchronous motors;

supplying output power via an output of the system at a current level above the input power for launching the vehicle;

controlling charging and discharging of the plurality of ultra-capacitors with one or more controllers; and

controlling the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages with the one or more controllers.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

supplying three-phase alternating current (AC) power driven by the DC bus.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein supplying output power via the output comprises providing about 250 to 4,000+ amps for a predetermined amount of time.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

recycling, with an energy recovery circuit, energy discharged through the output at a second input, wherein the second input receives power from a regenerative braking circuit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the regenerative braking circuit utilizes magnetic braking.