Elevator system using a supercapacitor as a backup power source
First Claim
1. A method for storing electric energy needed in an elevator system and for supplying the elevator system with reserve power, comprising:
- placing a supercapacitor in the electricity supply circuit of the elevator motor;
pre-charging the supercapacitor with electric energy after start-up of the system;
charging the supercapacitor with electric energy during substantially low energy consumption of the elevator by closing a charging switch; and
discharging electric energy from the supercapacitor to the motor during substantially high energy consumption of the elevator or in the case of a failure of the electric power supply by closing a discharging switch;
conducting the pre-charging current to the supercapacitor via a first switching branch consisting essentially of a series connection of a closed pre-charging switch and a resistor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An elevator system uses a supercapacitor to store electric energy. Furthermore, the supercapacitor can be used as a source of reserve power in emergency situations, such as power failures. The supercapacitor is connected together with three switching branches to a rectified signal of the power supply of the motor. By closing and opening the switches, the supercapacitor can be charged when the motor load is small. When the motor load is large or when the power supply fails, the electric energy contained in the supercapacitor can be discharged for use by the motor. In an emergency, the motor drives the elevator at a speed lower than normal, and therefore a supply voltage lower than normal is sufficient. Also, energy obtained from braking of the elevator can be stored in the supercapacitor, which has a storage capacity of considerable magnitude as compared to an ordinary capacitor. By applying the invention, the energy consumption of the elevator can be reduced because the waste energy obtained from the power supply can be stored and utilized when more energy is needed.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for storing electric energy needed in an elevator system and for supplying the elevator system with reserve power, comprising:
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placing a supercapacitor in the electricity supply circuit of the elevator motor; pre-charging the supercapacitor with electric energy after start-up of the system; charging the supercapacitor with electric energy during substantially low energy consumption of the elevator by closing a charging switch; and discharging electric energy from the supercapacitor to the motor during substantially high energy consumption of the elevator or in the case of a failure of the electric power supply by closing a discharging switch; conducting the pre-charging current to the supercapacitor via a first switching branch consisting essentially of a series connection of a closed pre-charging switch and a resistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for storing electric energy needed in an elevator system and for supplying the elevator system with reserve power, comprising;
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pre-charging the supercapacitor with electric energy, via a first switching branch, after start-up of the system; charging the supercapacitor with electric energy, via a second switching branch, during substantially low energy consumption of the elevator by closing a charging switch; and discharging electric energy from the supercapacitor, via a third switching branch, to the motor during substantially high energy consumption of the elevator or in the case of a failure of the electric power supply by closing a discharging switch; conducting the alternating-current electric energy obtained as power supply into a rectifier; connecting the first, second and third switching branches in parallel to the rectified power supply signal; connecting the parallel connection of the switching branches in series with the supercapacitor; conducting the rectified power supply signal into an inverter; and conducting the inverted power supply signal to the motor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for storing energy needed in an elevator system and for supplying reserve power to the elevator system, comprising:
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at least one elevator; a motor driving said at least one elevator; further comprising; a supercapacitor placed in the electricity supply circuit of the elevator motor; a pre-charging switch to allow the supercapacitor to be pre-charged with electric energy after start-up of the system; a charging switch to allow the supercapacitor to be charged with electric energy during substantially low energy consumption by the elevator; a discharging switch to allow electric energy to be discharged from the supercapacitor to the motor during substantially high energy consumption by the elevator or in the case of a failure of the power supply; and a first switching branch consisting essentially of a series connection of a resistor and the pre-charging switch to allow pre-charging current to be conducted to the supercapacitor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for storing energy needed in an elevator system and for supplying reserve power to the elevator system comprising:
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at least one elevator; a motor driving said at least one elevator; a supercapacitor placed in the electricity supply circuit of the elevator motor; a pre-charging switch to allow the supercapacitor to be pre-charged with electric energy after start-up of the system; a charging switch to allow the supercapacitor to be charged with electric energy during substantially low energy consumption by the elevator; and a discharging switch to allow electric energy to be discharged from the supercapacitor to the motor during substantially high energy consumption by the elevator or in the case of a failure of the power supply; a first switching branch; a second switching branch; a third switching branch; a rectifier for an alternating-current power supply; a parallel connection of the first, second and third switching branches connected to the output of the rectifier; a series connection of the parallel connection of the switching branches and the supercapacitor; an inverter for the rectified power supply signal; and the motor connected to the output of the inverter. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification