INTELLIGENT DETERMINATION AND USAGE OF ENERGY IN ENERGY SYSTEMS

• US 20160068121A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd. (Mahindra & Mahindra Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Limited
• Inventors: Maini, Chetan Kumar, Ramaraju, Prakash, Diwakar, Vinten D, Kar, Pallavi, Gopal, Kartik, Satyanarayana, Nagendra Babu
• Granted Patent: US 10,479,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a method and a system for automatic and intelligent determination and usage of internal reserve energy in an energy system associated with a vehicle. The system processes pre-configured inputs and inputs collected in real time, generates a distribution optimization profile which possesses information on values of different control parameters required to keep selected components operational, by considering energy availability in the energy storage system. Further, the system distributes energy to selected components, based on the distribution optimization profile. Further, the system verifies whether the selected distribution optimization profile matches a safe use profile and if not, automatically overrides settings associated with the distribution optimization profile to ensure safe driving of the vehicle, with at least a minimum comfort level.

Claims

1. A method for controlling internal reserve energy usage in an energy system, said method comprising:

determining the amount of said internal reserve energy in said energy system by a Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

selecting at least an energy distribution mode by the Reserve Energy Estimation Engine, wherein said energy distribution mode comprises energy estimation for at least one of a propulsion requirement and an auxiliary load requirement;

verifying said energy distribution mode by a mission priority and decision making engine; and

distributing said internal reserve energy based on said energy distribution mode by a control strategy engine.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selection of said energy distribution mode comprises generating said energy distribution mode based on at least one of a pre-configured user input and a real time input.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said propulsion requirement and said auxiliary load requirement are configured to be arranged in an order of priority in said energy distribution mode.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said verification of said energy distribution mode comprises,

conducting a safety analysis of said energy distribution mode, wherein said selected energy distribution mode is configured to be overridden by at least a default energy distribution mode, if said safety analysis yields a negative result;

and

verifying if the energy distribution module is in line with at least a user preference.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said safety analysis comprises at least one of possibility of the system reaching a destination, and reaching nearest charging station.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distribution of said internal reserve energy based on said energy distribution mode comprises,

calculating a value of at least one parameter associated with said selected energy distribution mode;

creating a distribution optimization profile, wherein said distribution optimization profile possesses said calculated value of said at least one parameter associated with said selected energy distribution mode; and

controlling said energy distribution to at least one component based on said at least one calculated value of said parameter.

7. An energy usage optimization module for controlling internal reserve energy usage in an energy system, said energy usage optimization module configured for:

determining the amount of said internal reserve energy in said energy system using a Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

selecting at least an energy distribution mode using the Reserve Energy Estimation Engine, wherein said energy distribution mode comprises energy estimation for at least one of a propulsion requirement and an auxiliary load requirement;

verifying said energy distribution mode using a mission priority and decision making engine; and

distributing said internal reserve energy based on said energy distribution mode using a control strategy engine.

8. The energy usage optimization module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine is configured for selecting said energy distribution mode by generating said energy distribution mode based on at least one of a pre-configured user input and a real time input.

9. The energy usage optimization module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine is configured for arranging said propulsion requirement and said auxiliary load requirement in an order of priority in said energy distribution mode.

10. The energy usage optimization module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mission priority and decision making engine is configured for verifying said energy distribution mode by,

conducting a safety analysis of said energy distribution mode, wherein said selected energy distribution mode is configured to be overridden by at least a default energy distribution mode, if said safety analysis yields a negative result;

and

verifying if the energy distribution module is in line with at least a user preference.

11. The energy usage optimization module as claimed in claim 10, wherein said safety analysis comprises at least one of possibility of the system reaching a destination, and reaching nearest charging station.

12. The energy usage optimization module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control strategy engine is configured for distributing said internal reserve energy based on said energy distribution mode by,

calculating a value of at least one parameter associated with said selected energy distribution mode;

creating a distribution optimization profile, wherein said distribution optimization profile possesses said calculated value of said at least one parameter associated with said selected energy distribution mode; and

controlling said energy distribution to at least one component based on said at least one calculated value of said parameter.

13. A method for determining amount of internal reserve energy that is available in an energy storage system, the method comprising:

determining capacity of the energy storage system by Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

collecting historical data relating to the energy storage system by said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

determining state of health of the energy storage system based on the collected historical data by said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

determining current state of the energy storage system by a Mission Priority and Decision Management Engine; and

computing the amount of internal reserve energy available below a threshold level based on at least one of the determined capacity, state of health, and current state of the energy storage system by said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said determining of amount of internal reserve energy in the energy storage system is based on at least one of a capacity of the energy storage system, age of the energy storage system, recharging behaviour of the energy storage system, number of charge and discharge cycles the energy storage system has experienced, historic usage pattern derived by collecting data representing at least one of historic driving pattern, historic terrain pattern, a current driving pattern, and impedance of the energy storage system.

15. An energy usage optimization module for determining amount of internal reserve energy that is available in an energy storage system, said energy usage optimization module configured for:

determining capacity of the energy storage system using a Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

collecting historical data relating to the energy storage system using said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

determining state of health of the energy storage system based on the collected historical data using said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine;

determining current state of the energy storage system using a Mission Priority and Decision Management Engine; and

computing the amount of internal reserve energy available below a threshold level based on at least one of the determined capacity, state of health, and current state of the energy storage system using said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine.

16. The energy usage optimization module as claimed in claim 15, said energy usage optimization module configured for determining amount of internal reserve energy in the energy storage system based on at least one of a capacity of the energy storage system, age of the energy storage system, recharging behaviour of the energy storage system, number of charge and discharge cycles the energy storage system has experienced, historic usage pattern derived by collecting data representing at least one of historic driving pattern, historic terrain pattern, a current driving pattern, and impedance of the energy storage system, using said Reserve Energy Estimation Engine.