Hybrid electric vehicle DC power generation system

• US 6,683,389 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Original Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Inventors: Geis, Everett R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO C
• Application Number:
  US09/938,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 322/16, 290/40.R
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle, such as a bus or delivery vehicle, includes batteries and a turbogenerator/motor connected through a double conversion control system. The batteries and the turbogenerator/motor are each connected to a DC bus through bi-directional power converters operating as customized bi-directional switching converters configured, under the control of a power controller, to provide an interface between the DC bus and the batteries and turbogenerator/motor, respectively.

Claims

1. A hybrid electric vehicle power generation system, comprising:

a turbo generator/motor;

a DC bus;

a first power converter connecting said turbogenerator/motor and said DC bus, said first power converter serving as an AC to DC convertor when power is supplied from said turbogenerator/motor to said DC bus and as a DC to AC convertor when power is supplied from said DC bus to said turbogenerator/motor;

an energy storage device;

a second power converter connecting said energy storage device and said DC bus, said second power converter transferring power between said DC bus and said energy storage device;

said first and second power converters together serving to regulate DC bus voltage to a desired voltage independent of turbogenerator/motor speed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said turbogenerator/motor includes a permanent magnet rotor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a resistive load connected across said DC bus to dissipate power from said DC bus whenever DC bus voltage exceeds the desired voltage.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device is a battery.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device is a flywheel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device is an ultracapacitor.

7. A hybrid electric vehicle power generation system, comprising:

a DC bus;

a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

a battery;

a power controller that regulates DC bus voltage to a desired voltage independent of permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor speed, said power controller having

a first power converter, connecting said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor and said DC bus, that serves as an AC to DC convertor when power is supplied from said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to said DC bus and as a DC to AC convertor when power is supplied from said DC bus to said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor,

a second power converter, connecting said battery and said DC bus, that serves as a DC to DC converter when power is supplied from said DC bus to said battery and as a reverse DC to DC converter when power is supplied from said battery to said DC bus; and

a resistive load connected across said DC bus to dissipate power from said DC bus whenever DC bus voltage exceeds the desired voltage.