ENERGY SOURCE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES

• US 20120235511A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Watson, Thomas M., Jiang, Junwei, Wyatt, Perry M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/14 Arrangements or processes for adjusting or protecting hybrid or EDL capacitors emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for capacitors, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions H02H7/16; emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltages without disconnection H02H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 : Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 : adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 : characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 : Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 : Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 : with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making

Abstract

System are described that include an energy storage device adapted to store and release energy and an ultracapacitor. The systems include a switching device coupled to the energy storage device to selectively connect and disconnect the energy storage device to a load, and a second switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor and adapted to connect and disconnect the ultracapacitor to the load. The systems may include a sensor adapted to sense the current draw at the load. The first switching device is activated to connect the energy storage device to the load when a rate of change of the current draw at the load is below a threshold, and the second switching device is activated to connect the ultracapacitor to the load when the rate of change of the current draw at the load is greater than or equal to the threshold.

Claims

1. An energy source system, comprising:

an energy storage device configured to store and release energy;

an ultracapacitor;

a first switching device coupled to the energy storage device and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the energy storage device to a load;

a second switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ultracapacitor to the load; and

a current sensor configured to sense the current draw at the load, wherein the first switching device is configured to be activated to connect the energy storage device to the load when a rate of change of the current draw at the load is below a preset threshold and the second switching device is configured to be activated to connect the ultracapacitor to the load when the rate of change of the current draw at the load is greater than or equal to the preset threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first switching device comprises a field-effect transistor configured to connect and disconnect the energy storage device to the load in a variable manner.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second switching device comprises a field-effect transistor configured to connect and disconnect the ultracapacitor to the load in a variable manner.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a controller coupled to the first switching device, the second switching device, and the current sensor and configured to control operation of the first switching device and the second switching device based on the rate of change of the current draw detected by the current sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a starting, lighting, or ignition load.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a draw associated with one or more start-stop operational components.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a draw associated with micro-hybrid operational components.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the preset threshold comprises a current level sufficient to start an internal combustion engine.

9. A method for controlling an energy source system, comprising:

monitoring a parameter corresponding to a demand present at a load;

determining, based on a rate of change of the monitored parameter over time, whether the rate of change of the monitored parameter is greater than or equal to a preset threshold;

controlling a first switch to couple a battery to the load when the rate of change of the monitored parameter is not greater than or equal to the preset threshold; and

controlling a second switch to couple an ultracapacitor to the load when the rate of change of the monitored parameter is greater than or equal to the preset threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the parameter comprises a current level of the demand present at the load.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising monitoring a voltage available from the battery and a voltage available from the ultracapacitor.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising controlling the second switch to couple the ultracapacitor to the load when the rate of change of the monitored parameter is not greater than or equal to the preset threshold and the monitored voltage from the battery is less than the present demand.

13. An energy source system, comprising:

a battery comprising one or more electrochemical cells coupled in series with one another;

an ultracapacitor;

a first switching device coupled to the battery and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the battery to a load;

a second switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ultracapacitor to the load;

a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter configured to electrically couple the battery to the ultracapacitor;

a sensing system configured to sense an operational parameter of the battery, an operational parameter of the ultracapacitor, and a load parameter; and

a controller coupled to the first switching device, the second switching device, and the DC-DC converter and configured to determine, based on the sensed operational and load parameters, an energy flow between the battery, the ultracapacitor, the DC-DC converter, and the load and to control the first switching device, the second switching device, and the DC-DC converter to achieve the determined energy flow.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the load comprises a starting load from an internal combustion engine of an electromechanical vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to control the DC-DC converter to transfer energy from the battery to the ultracapacitor when the operational parameter of the battery indicates that the battery does not have enough stored energy to meet the starting load.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to control the second switching device to couple the ultracapacitor to the load to meet the starting load.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first switching device comprises a field-effect transistor configured to connect and disconnect the battery to the load in a variable manner.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the second switching device comprises a field-effect transistor configured to connect and disconnect the ultracapacitor to the load in a variable manner.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the battery comprises a Pb-acid battery.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the battery comprises a Ni-M(H) battery.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the battery comprises a Ni—

Zn battery.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the operational parameter of the battery comprises the voltage of the battery, the operational parameter of the ultracapacitor comprises the voltage of the ultracapacitor, and the load parameter comprises the load voltage.

23. A method for controlling an energy source system, comprising:

detecting an engine start signal;

determining, based on a received input, if the energy stored in a battery is sufficient to start an internal combustion engine associated with an electromechanical vehicle;

controlling a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter to transfer energy from the battery to an ultracapacitor when the energy stored in the battery is not sufficient to start the internal combustion engine; and

controlling a switch coupled to the ultracapacitor to electrically couple the ultracapacitor to the internal combustion engine to enable a flow of energy from the ultracapacitor to the internal combustion engine to start the internal combustion energy when the energy stored in the battery is not sufficient to start the internal combustion engine.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery comprises a Pb-acid battery.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery comprises a Li-ion battery.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery comprises a Ni-M(H) battery.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery comprises a Ni—

Zn battery.

28. The method of claim 23, comprising controlling a second switch coupled to the battery to electrically couple the battery to the internal combustion engine to enable a flow of energy from the battery to the internal combustion engine to start the internal combustion energy when the energy stored in the battery is sufficient to start the internal combustion engine.

29. A controller for an energy source system having a plurality of energy storage devices, configured to:

detect an engine start signal;

determine, based on a received input, if the energy stored in a battery is sufficient to start an internal combustion engine associated with an electromechanical vehicle;

control a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter to transfer energy from the battery to an ultracapacitor when the energy stored in the battery is not sufficient to start the internal combustion engine; and

control a switch coupled to the ultracapacitor to electrically couple the ultracapacitor to the internal combustion engine to enable a flow of energy from the ultracapacitor to the internal combustion engine to start the internal combustion energy when the energy stored in the battery is not sufficient to start the internal combustion engine.

30. The controller of claim 29, configured to control a second switch coupled to the battery to electrically couple the battery to the internal combustion engine to enable a flow of energy from the battery to the internal combustion engine to start the internal combustion energy when the energy stored in the battery is sufficient to start the internal combustion engine.