High-power ultracapacitor energy storage pack and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack, comprising:
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly;
a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly; and
one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller; and
GFI sensor monitoring for a ground fault interrupt condition of the ultracapacitor assembly, and coupled to the controller.
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Abstract
An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly having a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly; an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly; and one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack, comprising:
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly;
a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly; and
one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller; and
GFI sensor monitoring for a ground fault interrupt condition of the ultracapacitor assembly, and coupled to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
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13. An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack, comprising:
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly;
a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly; and
one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller; and
further including an on/off switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off switching device activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller during abnormal operation, which includes at least one of a GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, when one or more temperature sensors detect an over- temperature condition, and when a pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition.
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
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14. An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack, comprising:
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly;
a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly; and
one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller; and
further including a precharge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the pre-charge relay activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage.
- an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
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15. A method of using an ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack, comprising:
providing an ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack including a ultracapacitor assembly having a plurality of ultracapacitors in series and balancing resistor in series, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly;
an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly;
a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly;
one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller;
a pack voltage sensor to monitor voltage of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller;
a GFI sensor to monitor for a ground fault interrupt condition of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller;
one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure and controlled by the controller to cool the ultracapacitor assembly based upon temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors;
an on/off switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off switching device activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, when the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or when the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and
a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the pre-charge switching device activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage;
automatically discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor energy storage cell with the balancing resistors to balance ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly and assure a safe condition for service personnel;
cooling the ultracapacitor assembly with the one or more cooling fans based upon temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors; and
activating the on/off switching device with the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivating the on/off switching device with the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, when the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or when the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification