Miniature hydro-power genteration system power management
First Claim
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1. A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:
- a control circuit;
a hydro-power generator operable to rotate based on a flow of liquid and generate an electric power output, the electric power output electrically coupled to the control circuit; and
an energy storage device electrically coupled to the control circuit;
the control circuit operable to monitor a magnitude of voltage present on the electric power output and a charge level of the energy storage device;
the control circuit further operable to enable supply of the electric power output generated with the hydro-power generator to a load and the energy storage device in response to the magnitude of voltage present on the electric power output exceeding a first threshold voltage and the charge level of the energy storage device exceeding a second threshold voltage; and
the control circuit further operable to enable the energy storage device to supply stored electric power to the load in response to the magnitude of voltage present on the electric power output being below the first threshold voltage and the charge level of the energy storage device exceeding the second threshold voltage.
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Abstract
A miniature hydro-power generation system may include a hydro-generator, a control circuit and an energy storage device. A flow of liquid may be used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The control circuit may switch the electric power to charge the energy storage device and/or to supply the electric power to an electrical load. The control circuit may also selectively switch the energy storage device to supply electric power to the electrical load. Further, the control circuit may disable both the hydro-generator and the energy storage device from supplying electric power to the load.
138 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:
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a control circuit; a hydro-power generator operable to rotate based on a flow of liquid and generate an electric power output, the electric power output electrically coupled to the control circuit; and an energy storage device electrically coupled to the control circuit; the control circuit operable to monitor a magnitude of voltage present on the electric power output and a charge level of the energy storage device; the control circuit further operable to enable supply of the electric power output generated with the hydro-power generator to a load and the energy storage device in response to the magnitude of voltage present on the electric power output exceeding a first threshold voltage and the charge level of the energy storage device exceeding a second threshold voltage; and the control circuit further operable to enable the energy storage device to supply stored electric power to the load in response to the magnitude of voltage present on the electric power output being below the first threshold voltage and the charge level of the energy storage device exceeding the second threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:
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a hydro-power generator operable to generate electric power in response to rotation with a flow of liquid; a processor electrically coupled with an output of the hydro-power generator and a load supply line; and an energy storage device electrically coupled with the processor; and
the processor configured to monitor a charge stored on the energy storage device and an output voltage of the hydro-power generator; andthe processor further configured to selectively supply a load coupled with the load supply line and the energy storage device with the electric power generated with the hydro-power generator based on the charge stored in the energy storage device and the output voltage of the hydro-power generator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification