Structure to optimize electricity generation in a vehicle

• US 10,202,043 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kurple, Alexander Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Adam
• Application Number:
  US15/131,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20170297436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide system for optimizing electricity generation in a vehicle by managing temperature in vehicle engine and various components to increase efficiency of the engine and various components. In one embodiment, the electricity management system includes a generator connected to a high-power storage device, such as a battery or a capacitor, and a DC-DC converter which includes multiple voltage set-points.

Claims

1. A vehicle electricity optimization system comprising:

a DC-to-DC converter configured to;

draw power from a high energy storage device and a high power storage in communication with various controllers, which are in communication with various high power loads;

distribute the power to vehicle components through voltage set points, each of the voltage set points set at an optimal operating voltage of each of the vehicle components; and

monitor temperatures of the vehicle components.

3. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 1, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is configured to convert output power from the high power storage device to lower power for the vehicle components.

4. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 1, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is further configured to distribute the power drawn from the high power storage device and the high energy storage device to start a vehicle engine and manage at least one of the temperatures.

6. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 1, wherein the high power storage device is one of a group consisting of:

(a) a battery, and (b) a capacitor.

7. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 1, wherein the high energy storage device is one of a group consisting of:

(a) a battery, and (b) a capacitor.

2. A vehicle electricity optimization system comprising:

a DC-to-DC converter configured to;

draw power from a high power storage device and a high energy storage device;

distribute the power to a plurality of vehicle components through a plurality of voltage set points, each of the voltage set points set at an optimal operating voltage of each of the plurality of vehicle components; and

monitor temperatures of the plurality of vehicle components; and

a generator configured to output power to the high power storage device,

wherein the generator includes one of a group consisting of;

(a) an alternator, (b) a solar panel, (c) a hydraulic pump, (d) an air compressor, and (e) a water pump.

5. A vehicle electricity optimization system comprising:

a DC-to-DC converter configured to;

draw power from a high power storage device and a high energy storage device; and

distribute the power to a plurality of vehicle components through a plurality of voltage set points, each of the voltage set points set at an optimal operating voltage of each of the plurality of vehicle components,

wherein the DC-to-DC converter includes a temperature module configured to monitor temperatures of the plurality of vehicle components, and

wherein the temperature module is in communication with a vehicle cooling and heating system and the temperature module is configured to use the vehicle cooling and heating system to manage at least one of the temperatures.

8. A vehicle electricity optimization system comprising:

a DC-to-DC converter configured to;

draw power from a high power storage device and a high energy storage device, wherein the high power storage device is in communication with various controllers, which are in communication with various high power loads;

distribute the power to a plurality of vehicle components through a plurality of voltage set points, each of the voltage set points set at an optimal operating voltage of each of the plurality of vehicle components;

monitor temperatures of the plurality of vehicle components; and

manage the temperatures based on the monitored temperatures.

10. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 8, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is configured to convert output power from the high power storage device to lower power for the plurality of vehicle components.

11. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 8, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is further configured to distribute the power drawn from the high power storage device and the high energy storage device to start a vehicle engine.

12. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 8, wherein the DC-to-DC converter further includes a temperature module configured to the temperatures.

13. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 12, wherein the temperature module is in communication with a vehicle cooling and heating system and the temperature module is further configured to use the vehicle cooling and heating system to manage at least one of the temperatures.

14. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 8, wherein the high power storage device is one of a group consisting of:

(a) a battery, and (b) a capacitor.

15. The vehicle electricity optimization system of claim 8, wherein the high energy storage device is one of a group consisting of:

(a) a battery, and (b) a capacitor.

9. A vehicle electricity optimization system comprising:

a DC-to-DC converter configured to;

draw power from a high power storage device and a high energy storage device;

distribute the power to a plurality of vehicle components through a plurality of voltage set points, each of the voltage set points set at an optimal operating voltage of each of the plurality of vehicle components;

monitor temperatures of the plurality of vehicle components; and

manage the temperatures based on the monitored temperatures; and

a generator configured to output power to the high power storage device,

wherein the generator includes one or more of a group consisting of;

(a) an alternator, (b) a solar panel, (c) a hydraulic pump, (d) an air compressor, and (e) a water pump.