High-Power Ultracapacitor Energy Storage Pack and Method of Use
First Claim
1. A propulsion energy storage control system in a hybrid electric vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle having an ultracapacitor energy storage pack, the propulsion energy storage control system comprising:
- a processor;
a voltage sensor interface communicably coupled to the processor, the voltage sensor interface configured to receive pack voltage signals;
a ground fault isolation sensor interface communicably coupled to the processor, the ground fault isolation sensor interface configured to receive pack a ground fault interrupt signal;
a temperature sensor interface communicably coupled to the processor, the temperature sensor interface configured to receive pack temperature signals;
an on/off relay interface communicably coupled to the processor, the on/off relay interface configured to transmit on and off relay control signals, such that the on/off relay is activated during normal operation of the ultracapacitor energy storage pack, and the on/off relay is deactivated by an off relay control signal in response to a fault condition signal; and
,a precharge circuit interface communicably coupled to the processor, the precharge circuit interface configured to transmit precharge circuit control signals.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack including an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of ultracapacitors in series; a plurality of interconnections for mechanically and electrically interconnecting the ultracapacitors; and a plurality of balancing resistors, each balancing resistor in parallel with each ultracapacitor to form a resistor divider network that automatically discharges and equalizes each ultracapacitor over time, thereby balancing the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly, and each balancing resistor directly mechanically and electrically connected to an associated interconnection.
59 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A propulsion energy storage control system in a hybrid electric vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle having an ultracapacitor energy storage pack, the propulsion energy storage control system comprising:
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a processor; a voltage sensor interface communicably coupled to the processor, the voltage sensor interface configured to receive pack voltage signals; a ground fault isolation sensor interface communicably coupled to the processor, the ground fault isolation sensor interface configured to receive pack a ground fault interrupt signal; a temperature sensor interface communicably coupled to the processor, the temperature sensor interface configured to receive pack temperature signals; an on/off relay interface communicably coupled to the processor, the on/off relay interface configured to transmit on and off relay control signals, such that the on/off relay is activated during normal operation of the ultracapacitor energy storage pack, and the on/off relay is deactivated by an off relay control signal in response to a fault condition signal; and
,a precharge circuit interface communicably coupled to the processor, the precharge circuit interface configured to transmit precharge circuit control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling a propulsion energy storage control system in a hybrid electric vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle having an ultracapacitor energy storage pack, the method comprising:
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receiving voltage signals associated with the ultracapacitor energy storage pack and indicative of whether or not there is an overvoltage condition; receiving ground fault isolation signals associated with the ultracapacitor energy storage pack and indicative of whether or not there is a ground fault isolation condition; receiving temperature signals associated with the ultracapacitor energy storage pack and indicative of whether or not there is an overtemperature condition; receiving a fault condition signal associated with at least one of voltage signals, ground fault isolation signals, and temperature signals; transmitting on and off relay control signals to an on/off relay, such that the on/off relay is activated during normal operation of the ultracapacitor energy storage pack, and the on/off relay is deactivated by an off relay control signal in response to the receiving the fault condition signal; and
,transmitting precharge circuit control signals to a precharge circuit, such that a precharge relay is activated, causing a pre-charge resistor to limit current entering the ultracapacitor energy storage pack, and the precharge relay is deactivated when the ultracapacitor energy storage pack reaches a predetermined minimum voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification