SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE ENERGY STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 20120038216A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Berry, Irene Michelle, King, Robert Dean, Gemin, Paul Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,916,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A propulsion system includes an electric drive, a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the electric drive through a DC link, and a second energy storage system electrically coupled to the first energy storage system in a series connection. The first energy storage system comprises a high specific-energy storage device and the second energy storage system comprises a low specific-power storage device. The propulsion system also includes a third energy storage system comprising a high specific-energy storage device electrically coupled to the second energy storage system. A bi-directional boost converter is electrically coupled to the second and third energy storage systems such that a terminal of the third energy storage system is electrically coupled to a low voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter and a terminal of the second energy storage system is coupled to a high voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter.

Claims

1. A propulsion system comprising:

an electric drive;

a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the electric drive through a direct current (DC) link, the first energy storage system comprising a high specific-energy storage device;

a second energy storage system electrically coupled to the first energy storage system in a series connection, the second energy storage system comprising a high specific-power storage device;

a third energy storage system electrically coupled to the second energy storage system, the third energy storage system comprising a high specific-energy storage device; and

a first bi-directional boost converter electrically coupled to the second and third energy storage systems such that a terminal of the third energy storage system is electrically coupled to a low voltage side of the first bi-directional boost converter and a terminal of the second energy storage system is coupled to a high voltage side of the first bi-directional boost converter.

2. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the first energy storage system comprises a low specific power battery.

3. The propulsion system of claim 2 wherein the first energy storage system comprises at least one of a lithium ion battery, a sodium metal halide battery, and a lead-acid battery.

4. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the third energy storage system comprises a low specific power battery;

and

wherein the third energy storage system has a different chemical composition than the first energy storage system.

5. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the second energy storage system comprises one of a power battery and an ultracapacitor.

6. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein the first bi-directional boost converter is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the third energy storage system to the second energy storage system through the first bi-directional boost converter to maintain a state-of-charge (SOC) of the second energy storage system between an upper threshold and a lower threshold.

7. The propulsion system of claim 1 further comprising a second bi-directional boost converter, wherein a low voltage side of the second bi-directional boost converter is electrically coupled to a terminal of the first energy storage system;

and

wherein a high voltage side of the second bi-directional boost converter is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the DC link.

8. The propulsion system of claim 1 wherein a voltage of the third energy storage system is lower than a voltage of the second energy storage system;

and

wherein a voltage of the first energy storage system is lower than the voltage of the third energy storage system.

9. A method of assembling a control system for an electric drive comprising:

providing a first bi-directional boost converter;

coupling a terminal of a first high specific-energy storage device to a low-voltage side of the first bi-directional boost converter;

coupling a terminal of a high specific-power storage device to a high-voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter;

coupling a first terminal of a second high specific-energy storage device to the terminal of the high specific-power storage device to form a series connection between the high specific-power storage device and the second high specific-energy storage device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a second bi-directional boost converter having a power rating that is higher than a power rating of the first bi-directional boost converter; and

coupling a second terminal of the second high specific-energy storage device to a low voltage side of the second bi-directional boost converter.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of coupling the first high specific-energy storage device to the first bi-directional boost converter and the step of coupling the high specific-power storage device to the first bi-directional boost converter form a parallel connection between the first high specific-energy storage device and the high specific-power storage device.

12. An energy storage arrangement for an electrically powered system, the arrangement comprising:

a first bi-directional boost converter;

a high specific-power storage device having a positive terminal electrically coupled to a high-voltage side of the first bi-directional boost converter; and

a first high specific-energy storage device having a negative terminal electrically coupled to the high-voltage side of the first bi-directional boost converter and to the positive terminal of the high specific-power storage device;

a second high specific-energy storage device having a positive terminal electrically coupled to a low-voltage side of the first bi-directional boost converter; and

wherein a series connection is formed between the high specific-power storage device and the first high specific-energy storage device.

13. The energy storage arrangement of claim 12 wherein the first high specific-energy storage device comprises a low specific power battery.

14. The energy storage arrangement of claim 13 wherein the first high specific-energy storage device comprises a lithium ion battery.

15. The energy storage arrangement of claim 12 wherein the second high specific-energy storage device comprises a low specific power battery.

16. The energy storage arrangement of claim 15 wherein the second high specific-energy storage device comprises a sodium metal halide battery.

17. The energy storage arrangement of claim 12 wherein the high specific-power storage device comprises one of a power battery and an ultracapacitor.

18. The energy storage arrangement of claim 12 wherein the first bi-directional boost converter comprises an energy management system programmed to selectively transmit a charging voltage from the second high specific-energy storage device to the high specific-power storage device.

19. The energy storage arrangement of claim 18 wherein the energy management system is programmed to maintain a state-of-charge (SOC) of the high specific-power storage device between a predetermined lower threshold and a predetermined upper threshold.

20. The energy storage arrangement of claim 12 wherein a voltage of the second high specific-energy storage device is lower than a voltage of the high specific-power storage device;

and

wherein a voltage of the first high specific-energy storage device is lower than the voltage of the second high specific-energy storage device.

21. The energy storage arrangement of claim 12 further comprising a second bi-directional boost converter having a low voltage side electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the first high specific-energy storage device.