MODULAR AUXILIARY POWER UNIT ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A propulsion system comprising:
- an electric motor;
an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor; and
a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit, each of the plurality of APUs comprising;
a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output;
a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power; and
a controller configured to;
receive a power command from the at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit;
determine an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command; and
selectively activate a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for a propulsion system includes an electric motor and an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor. The propulsion system also includes a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit. Each of the plurality of APUs includes a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output, a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power, and a controller. The controller receives a power command from the electric motor and/or the energy storage unit, determines an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command, and selectively activates a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A propulsion system comprising:
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an electric motor; an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor; and a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit, each of the plurality of APUs comprising; a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output; a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power; and a controller configured to; receive a power command from the at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit; determine an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command; and selectively activate a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for supplying auxiliary power to a vehicle comprising:
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providing a vehicle propulsion system comprising an electric motor, an energy storage device, and a DC link electrically connecting the electric motor and the energy storage device; electrically connecting each of a plurality of crankshaft-less engine and linear generator combinations to the DC link; determining a band-limited power requirement of the vehicle propulsion system; and selectively activating a number of the plurality of crankshaft-less engine and linear generator combinations to provide power to the DC link based on the vehicle propulsion system band-limited power requirement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An auxiliary power assembly comprising:
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a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to generate a secondary power, each of the plurality of APUs comprising a free-piston combustion engine (FPE) and a linear generator; and a controller configured to; sense a power requirement of at least one of an electric motor and an energy storage device; determine an optimal operation strategy of the plurality of APUs based on the sensed power requirement; and operate the plurality of APUs according to the optimal operation strategy to provide the secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification