Short-cycling serial hybrid drivetrain with high power density storage

• US 7,808,214 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley Wayne Bartilson
• Original Assignee: Bradley Wayne Bartilson
• Inventors: Bartilson, Bradley Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/686,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 363/59, 363/97, 363/106, 323/281, 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 323/285, 323/901, 320/150, 320/166, 320/167, 318/86, 318/87, 318/88, 318/152, 318/376, 318/717, 318/800, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 903/905
• US Class Current: 320/167
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine

Abstract

A serial hybrid drivetrain enables “super-efficiency” (fuel efficiency exceeding 100 miles-per-gallon) in a lightweight transportation vehicle, utilizing only high power density storage media (for example ultracapacitor media), with the total energy of storage constrained to minimize storage mass, and the resulting low energy requiring a short-cycle of charge and discharge. A unique control system design enables a high extraction of the total energy from the medium, as well as full-rate recovery of regenerative braking energy.

Claims

1. A system for providing power to drive a vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator coupled to the internal combustion engine;

an energy storage and management system connected to the generator, the energy storage and management system comprising (i) a comparative circuit for monitoring a primary voltage from a power source to a load, (ii) a DC-DC boost converter connected to the load, and (iii) a contactor switch in series between the power source and the load, the switch configured to select either a direct connection from the power source to the load or a connection from the power source through a DC-DC boost converter to the load, the switch selection based on a first voltage threshold level;

wherein the generator is configured to (i) provide power to the load from the internal combustion engine when the power source is below a second threshold level and to (ii) recharge the power source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source is an ultra-capacitor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the load comprises an electric motor that provides rotational power to drive a wheel.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the electric motor is a DC brushless motor and further comprising a DC motor controller in electrical communication with the DC motor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the load comprises a DC electric motor that provides rotational power to drive a wheel and further comprising a braking system wherein the braking system is configured to induce a reverse current flow when the wheel speed is decreased below the speed of the DC electric motor.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a motor controller configured to transfer braking power using the reverse current flow to the energy storage system.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a drive control unit operative to control the internal combustion engine.

8. The system of claim 7 further wherein the load comprises a DC electric motor that provides rotational power to drive a wheel and a DC motor controller in electrical communication with the DC electric motor.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a braking system wherein the braking system is configured to induce a reverse current flow when the wheel speed is decreased below the speed of the DC electric motor.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a motor controller configured to transfer braking power using the reverse current flow to the energy storage system.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the drive controller controls the sequencing of the engine at its peak efficiency point.