SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWER STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT FROM INTERMITTENT POWER SOURCES
First Claim
1. A system for managing electrical power generated by an electric generator disposed on a human-propelled wheeled cart, the electric generator configured to generate electrical power from rotational motion of a wheel of the human-propelled wheeled cart, the system comprising:
- an energy storage unit configured to be electrically coupled to the electric generator disposed in or on the human-powered wheeled cart, the energy storage unit comprising a capacitive storage unit and a rechargeable battery storage unit; and
electronic circuitry configured to be electrically coupled to the energy storage unit and the electric generator, the electronic circuitry configured to provide electrical power to electrical loads disposed in or on the cart from electric power generated by the electric generator, electric power stored by the energy storage unit, or electric power from both the electric generator and the energy storage unit, the electronic circuitry further configured to provide buffered power to the electrical loads on a first timescale and on a second timescale, the second timescale different from the first timescale,wherein the first timescale corresponds to a discharge rate of the capacitive storage unit due to internal resistance and the second timescale corresponds to a recharge rate at which the battery storage unit can recharge the capacitive storage unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power management system is disclosed. Embodiments of the power management system may be configured for use with an electric generator that produces AC or DC voltage from an energy source, which may be intermittent or fluctuating. One embodiment of the power management system includes an energy storage reservoir configured to be electrically coupled to the electric generator. The energy storage reservoir includes at least one ultracapacitor and at least one rechargeable battery. The power management system also includes an electronic controller configured to control storage in the reservoir of energy generated by the electric generator and to control power usage from the reservoir and the generator. The electronic controller is configured to control energy storage and power usage in response to one or more control signals.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for managing electrical power generated by an electric generator disposed on a human-propelled wheeled cart, the electric generator configured to generate electrical power from rotational motion of a wheel of the human-propelled wheeled cart, the system comprising:
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an energy storage unit configured to be electrically coupled to the electric generator disposed in or on the human-powered wheeled cart, the energy storage unit comprising a capacitive storage unit and a rechargeable battery storage unit; and electronic circuitry configured to be electrically coupled to the energy storage unit and the electric generator, the electronic circuitry configured to provide electrical power to electrical loads disposed in or on the cart from electric power generated by the electric generator, electric power stored by the energy storage unit, or electric power from both the electric generator and the energy storage unit, the electronic circuitry further configured to provide buffered power to the electrical loads on a first timescale and on a second timescale, the second timescale different from the first timescale, wherein the first timescale corresponds to a discharge rate of the capacitive storage unit due to internal resistance and the second timescale corresponds to a recharge rate at which the battery storage unit can recharge the capacitive storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for controlling power generated by an electric generator disposed in or on a human-propelled wheeled cart, the method comprising:
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generating electric power with an electric generator disposed in or on a human-propelled wheeled cart, the electric power generated from rotational movement of at least one wheel of the cart; storing at least a portion of the generated electric power in an energy storage unit comprising a capacitive storage unit and a rechargeable battery storage unit; supplying first electric power from the energy storage unit to a first electrical load in or on the cart over a first time period, the first time period corresponding to a discharge rate of the capacitive storage unit due to internal resistance; and supplying second electric power from the energy storage unit to a second electrical load in or on the cart over a second time period, the second time period corresponding to a recharge rate at which the battery storage unit can recharge the capacitive storage unit, the second time period longer than the first time period and the second electric power less than the first electric power, wherein storing at least a portion of the generated electric power comprises; charging the capacitive storage unit from the electric generator when the capacitive storage unit is not fully charged; and charging the rechargeable battery storage unit from the electric generator when the capacitive storage unit is fully charged. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification