HYBRID ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM

• US 20110169273A1
• Filed: 01/24/2009
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ARB Greenpower LLC
• Original Assignee: ARB Greenpower LLC
• Inventors: Martin, Alan
• Application Number:
  US13/119,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/006 wind power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 3/00 Arrangement or mounting of steam or gaseous-pressure propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; gaseous-pressure transmission arrangements B60K17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• 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: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A hybrid energy conversion system is described which utilizes a drive engine configured to output mechanical energy at a generally uniform rotational speed under varying mechanical load conditions. The mechanical energy is used to turn an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the drive engine. The electrical energy output from the electrical generator is then used to power an electrical motor coupled to a mechanical load.

Claims

1. A hybrid energy conversion system comprising:

a drive engine configured to output mechanical energy at a generally uniform rotational speed under varying mechanical load conditions;

an electrical generator mechanically coupled to said drive engine, said electrical generator comprising a plurality of rare earth magnets affixed to a rotor of said electrical generator, said plurality of rare earth magnets configured to induce an electrical energy flow in a stator of said electrical generator sufficient to power an electrical motor operating under a generally uniform mechanical load when said rotor is turned by said drive engine;

an electrical energy storage unit electrically coupled in parallel with an output of said electrical generator, said electrical energy storage unit having a capacitive energy storage cell configured to provide an electrical energy storage capacity sufficient to compensate for at least a portion of any electrical energy output shortfall from said electrical generator;

an electrical controller electrically coupled in parallel with said output of said electrical generator and said electrical energy storage unit, said electrical controller configured to control electrical energy flow to said electrical motor.

2. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein said drive engine is selected from the group consisting of a steam engine, an electrical motor, an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, a turbine engine, a pneumatic engine, and a hydraulic engine.

3. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rare earth magnets are constructed from alloys of neodymium or samarium.

4. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein said electrical storage unit further includes one or more battery cells.

5. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein said electrical energy storage unit is charged using excess electrical energy generated by said electrical generator during a declining mechanical load condition.

6. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 5 further comprising an electrical regulator for regulating electrical energy flow to and from said electrical energy storage unit.

7. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 6 wherein said electrical regulator regulates the rate of charge and discharge electric energy to and from said electrical energy storage unit in dependence on variations in said mechanical load condition.

8. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein said electric motor is selected from the group consisting of a direct current series wound motor, a permanent magnet direct current motor and a three phase alternating current induction motor.

9. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 8 further comprising a direct current to alternating current inverter configured to provide sufficient electrical energy for said three phase alternating current induction motor.

10. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein said electrical energy generator has an electrical energy output capacity of at least 10 kilowatts.

11. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 1 wherein each of said rare earth magnets generates a surface field of at least 5,000 gauss.

12. A hybrid energy conversion system comprising:

an internal combustion engine configured to output mechanical energy at a generally constant rotational speed under varying mechanical load conditions;

an electrical generator mechanically coupled to said internal combustion engine, said electrical generator comprising a plurality of rare earth magnets affixed to a rotor of said electrical generator and configured to induce an electrical energy flow in a stator of said electrical generator sufficient to power an electrical motor operating under a generally constant mechanical load condition when said rotor is turned by said engine;

an electrical energy storage unit electrically coupled in parallel with an output of said electrical generator, said electrical energy storage unit having a capacitive energy storage cell configured to provide an electrical storage capacity sufficient to compensate for at least a portion of any electrical energy output shortfall from said electrical generator when said electrical motor encounters a varying mechanical load condition;

an electrical controller electrically coupled in parallel with said output of said electrical generator and said electrical energy storage unit, said electrical controller configured to control electrical energy flow to said electrical motor;

wherein said electrical motor is configured to output mechanical energy to a mechanical load.

13. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 12 wherein the mechanical load includes a wheel, a propeller or a jet nozzle.

14. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 13 wherein said mechanical load further includes a transmission.

15. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 12 wherein said electrical energy storage unit is configured to output at least 25 kilowatts peak.

16. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 12 wherein said electrical motor is configured to output at least 20 horsepower.

17. A hybrid energy conversion system comprising:

an internal combustion engine configured to output mechanical energy at a generally constant rotational speed under varying mechanical load conditions;

an electrical generator mechanically coupled to said internal combustion engine, said electrical generator comprising a plurality of neodymium alloy magnets affixed to a rotor of said electrical generator and configured to induce an electrical energy flow in a stator of said electrical generator sufficient to power an electrical motor operating under a generally constant mechanical load condition when said rotor is turned by said internal combustion engine;

an electrical energy storage unit electrically coupled in parallel with an output of said electrical generator, said electrical energy storage unit having a capacitive energy storage cell configured to provide an electrical storage capacity sufficient to compensate for at least a portion of any electrical energy output shortfall from said electrical generator when said electrical motor encounters a varying mechanical load condition;

an electrical controller electrically coupled in parallel with said output of said electrical generator and said electrical energy storage unit, said electrical controller configured to control electrical energy flow to said electrical motor;

a transmission mechanically coupled to said electrical motor configured to transfer mechanical output from said electrical motor to at least one wheel of a vehicle.

18. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 17 wherein said electrical generator comprises at least 14 neodymium or samarium alloy magnets.

19. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 17 wherein said electric motor is selected from the group consisting of a direct current series wound motor, a permanent magnet direct current motor and a three phase alternating current induction motor.

20. The hybrid energy conversion system of claim 17 wherein said electrical energy storage unit is configured to output at least 25 kilowatts peak.