ELEVATOR SYSTEM WITH POWER STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20150122589A1
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Mezzadri, Carlo, Foschini, Gianluca, Colombari, Carlo
• Granted Patent: US 9,834,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/290
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/306 with DC powered elevator drive
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 19/007 method for modernisation of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 50/00 Energy efficient technologies in elevators, escalators and moving walkways, e.g. energy saving or recuperation technologies

Abstract

An elevator system is provided that includes an elevator car (12), a counterweight (18), a load bearing flexible member, a motor have a drive, and an elevator control system (22). The car and counterweight are operable to be translated within a hoistway. The load bearing flexible member extends between the elevator car and the counterweight. The motor is operable to move the load bearing member and thereby drive the elevator car and counterweight within the hoistway. The elevator motor and drive are configured to selectively produce regenerative power. The elevator control system includes a power manager unit (24) and a power storage device (26). The power storage device includes a supercapacitor unit (32) and a battery unit (34). The power manager unit is operable to selectively manage the flow of power between the power storage device and the motor drive, and the flow of regenerative power from the motor drive to the power storage device (26).

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising:

an elevator car and a counterweight operable to be translated within a hoistway;

a load bearing flexible member extending between the elevator car and the counterweight;

a motor having a drive, which motor is operable to move the load bearing member and thereby drive the elevator car and counterweight within the hoistway, and wherein the elevator motor and drive are configured to selectively produce regenerative power; and

an elevator control system that includes a power manager unit and a power storage device, wherein the power storage device includes a supercapacitor unit and a battery unit, and wherein the power manager unit is operable to selectively manage a flow of power between the power storage device and the motor drive, and a flow of regenerative power from the motor drive to the power storage device;

wherein the power manager unit is further operable to selectively manage power flow between the supercapacitor unit and the battery unit.

2. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the power manager unit is configured to receive power from a grid, and selectively manage the elevator system drawing power from one or both of the grid and the power storage device.

3. The elevator system of claim 2, wherein the power manager unit is configured to selectively supply grid power to the power storage device.

4. The elevator system of claim 2, wherein the power manager unit is configured to receive power from a power source alternative to the grid and the power storage device.

5. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor unit includes a plurality of supercapacitors.

6. The elevator system of claim 5, wherein the supercapacitors are electric double layer type capacitors.

7. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the battery unit includes one or more lead acid type batteries.

8. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the power manager unit includes an electronic multi-step switching converter.

9. A control system for an elevator system, which elevator system includes an elevator car and counterweight operable to be translated within a hoistway, a load bearing flexible member extending between the elevator car and counterweight, and a motor having a drive, wherein the elevator motor and drive are configured to selectively produce regenerative power, and the motor is engaged with the load bearing flexible member to move the elevator car and counterweight within the hoistway, the control system comprising:

a power storage device including a supercapacitor unit and a battery unit; and

a power manager unit operable to selectively manage a flow of power between the power storage device and the motor drive, and a flow of regenerative power from the motor drive to the power storage device;

the power manager further operable to selectively manage power flow between the supercapacitor unit and the battery unit.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit is configured to receive power from a grid, and at least one of actively and passively manage the elevator system drawing power from one or both of the grid and the power storage device.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the power manager unit is configured to selectively supply grid power to the power storage device.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the power manager unit is configured to receive power from a power source alternative to the grid and the power storage device.

13. The control system of claim 9, wherein the supercapacitor unit includes a plurality of supercapacitors.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the supercapacitors are electric double layer type capacitors.

15. The control system of claim 9, wherein the battery unit includes one or more lead acid type batteries.

16. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit includes an electronic multi-step switching converter.

17. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit is configured to provide a state of charge buffer to at least one of the super capacitors and the battery, and to receive regenerative energy produced during elevator braking.

18. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit is adapted to charge the power storage device at predetermined times within a period of time.

19. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit is configured'"'"'to provide power to a bidirectional communication device during an emergency blackout mode of operation through the supercapacitors.

20. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit includes a DC-DC switching unit configured to receive DC current and provide DC current to the elevator drive.

21. The control system of claim 9, wherein the power manager unit is configured to provide power from the power storage device to another elevator system.