Energy storage system

• US 10,240,322 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Peter James, Milkowski, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul D
• Application Number:
  US15/499,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20180313060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 701 50, 701 22, 414694, 180 64245, 461490
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/32 working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2091 Control of energy storage means for electrical energy, e.g. battery or capacitors energy recovery arrangements in hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2217
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2095 Control of electric, electro-mechanical or mechanical equipment not otherwise provided for, e.g. ventilators, electro-driven fans control of hydraulic driven equipment E02F9/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools

Abstract

An energy storage system associated with a machine having a work tool and one or more auxiliary loads includes a power source which generates mechanical power. An energy storage device supplies power to the one or more auxiliary loads. An electrical generator is operably coupled to the power source and converts at least a portion of the mechanical power into electrical power. The electrical generator supplies the electrical power to the energy storage device. A controller is communicably coupled to the power source, the work tool, the energy storage device, and the electrical generator. The controller determines a power demand of the work tool. The controller then compares whether the determined power demand exceeds a pre-determined threshold power. The controller disables the electrical generator from supplying the electrical power to the energy storage device if the power demand exceeds the pre-determined threshold power.

Claims

1. An energy storage system associated with a machine, the machine having a work tool and one or more auxiliary loads, the energy storage system comprising:

a power source configured to generate mechanical power;

an energy storage device configured to supply electrical power to the one or more auxiliary loads;

an electrical generator operably coupled to the power source, the electrical generator configured to;

convert at least a portion of the mechanical power into electrical power; and

supply the electrical power to the energy storage device; and

a controller communicably coupled to the power source, the work tool, the energy storage device, and the electrical generator, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine a power demand of the work tool;

compare whether the determined power demand exceeds a pre-determined threshold power; and

disable the electrical generator from supplying the electrical power to the energy storage device, if the power demand exceeds the pre-determined threshold power.

2. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the power demand of the work tool is an estimated power demand for a segment of the work cycle.

3. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the one or more auxiliary loads comprises at least one of an engine cooling load, an operator cabin cooling load, a hydraulic pilot pump load, and a hydraulic oil cooling load.

4. The energy storage system of claim 3, wherein the engine cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.

5. The energy storage system of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic oil cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.

6. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the one or more auxiliary loads comprise electrically-powered accessories of the machine.

7. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined threshold power corresponds to a maximum power demand from the power source to support the operation of the work tool.

8. An energy storage system associated with a machine, the machine having a work tool and one or more auxiliary loads, the energy storage system comprising:

a power source configured to generate mechanical power;

an electrical generator operably coupled to the power source, the electrical generator configured to convert at least a portion of the mechanical power into electrical power;

an energy storage device electrically coupled to the electrical generator;

the energy storage device configured to;

receive the electrical power from the electrical generator; and

supply the electrical power to the one or more auxiliary loads; and

a controller communicably coupled to the power source, the work tool, the electrical generator, and the energy storage device, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine a power demand of the work tool;

determine whether the determined power demand exceeds a pre-determined threshold power;

disable the electrical generator from supplying the electrical power to the energy storage device, if the determined power demand exceeds the pre-determined threshold power; and

regulate the supply of the electrical power to the one or more auxiliary loads to prolong the use of stored energy based on a characteristic property of the one or more auxiliary loads, if the determined power demand exceeds the pre-determined threshold power.

9. The energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the power demand of the work tool is an estimated power demand for a segment of the work cycle.

10. The energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the one or more auxiliary loads comprises at least one of an engine cooling load, an operator cabin cooling load, a hydraulic pilot pump load, and a hydraulic oil cooling load.

11. The energy storage system of claim 10, wherein the engine cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.

12. The energy storage system of claim 10, wherein the hydraulic oil cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.

13. The energy storage system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic property of the one or more auxiliary loads includes a thermal time constant associated with at least one of the engine cooling load, the operator cabin cooling load, and the hydraulic oil cooling load.

14. The energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the one or more auxiliary loads comprise electrically-powered accessories of the machine.

15. The energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the pre-determined threshold power corresponds to a maximum power demand from the power source to support the operation of the work tool.

16. An energy storage system associated with a machine, the machine having a work tool and one or more auxiliary loads, the energy storage system comprising:

a power source configured to generate mechanical power;

an energy storage device configured to supply electrical power to the one or more auxiliary loads;

an electrical generator operably coupled to the power source, the electrical generator configured to;

convert at least a portion of the mechanical power into electrical power; and

supply the electrical power to the energy storage device; and

a controller communicably coupled to the power source, the work tool, the energy storage device, and the electrical generator, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine a power demand of the work tool;

determine whether the determined power demand exceeds a pre-determined threshold power;

disable the electrical generator from supplying the electrical power to the energy storage device, if the power demand exceeds the pre-determined threshold power; and

regulate the supply of the electrical power to the one or more auxiliary loads to prolong the use of stored energy, based on a characteristic property of the one or more auxiliary loads, wherein the one or more auxiliary loads include at least one of an engine cooling load, an operator cabin cooling load, a hydraulic pilot pump load, and a hydraulic oil cooling load.

17. The energy storage system of claim 16, wherein the engine cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.

18. The energy storage system of claim 16, wherein the hydraulic oil cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.

19. The energy storage system of claim 16, wherein the pre-determined threshold power corresponds to a maximum possible power demand of the work tool.

20. The energy storage system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the engine cooling load or the hydraulic oil cooling load includes one or more electric fans arranged in a matrix arrangement.