High power wireless resonant energy transfer system

• US 7,880,337 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leslie Farkas
• Original Assignee: Laszlo Farkas
• Inventors: Farkas, Laszlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/978,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/104, 307/652, 320/108, 320/109
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/16 using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system transfers energy across an airgap.

Claims

1. A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system, comprising:

an energy transmission system arranged to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap, wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary resonant circuits, each one of said at least one pair arranged to inductively couple with another of said at least one pair by an inductive coupling to establish a common resonant frequency for said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits; and

an energy reception system positioned to receive said transferred energy across said airgap through a resonant inductive coupling between said transmission and said reception system, said energy transmission system arranged to automatically and electronically vary the spatial direction of said resonant inductive coupling with the alignment between said transmission and reception system, such that energy transfer occurs at a desired location, frequency and power level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils arranged to inductively couple with said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits to provide an electrical load for said primary resonant circuits, said electrical load adjusting said common resonant frequency of said coupled primary and secondary circuits.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that adjusts relative input voltage phase in said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits, said controller connected to receive an input voltage having an automatically adjustable input voltage phase to adjust said spatial direction of said resonant inductive coupling.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that adjusts a pulse width of an input current to each of said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits to adjust the output power of said resonant inductive coupling.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said desirable location is centered along a centerline of said receiver, and does not extend substantially beyond the limits of said receiver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy transmission system is arranged in proximity to a roadway and said energy reception system is arranged on an underside of an electrically chargeable vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said energy transmission systems are arranged in proximity to said roadway such that said electrically chargeable vehicle receives said transferred energy while in motion.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one pair of primary coils and said at least one pair of secondary coils comprise Litz-wire.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary coils, with the coils of each pair arranged in a ferrite core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils, with the coils of each pair arranged in a ferrite core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other.

11. A combined heat and power generation and high power wireless resonant energy transfer system, comprising:

a local energy generation system arranged to generate, store and provide electrical energy for a local site and for an electrically chargeable vehicle in proximity to said local site;

an energy transmission system arranged to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap, wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary coils arranged to form a common resonant circuit, with the coils of each pair arranged to inductively couple to establish a common resonant frequency for said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits; and

an energy reception system positioned to receive said transferred energy across said airgap through a resonant inductive coupling between said transmission and said reception systems, said energy transmission system arranged to automatically and electronically vary the spatial direction of said resonant inductive coupling with the alignment between said transmission and reception system, such that energy transfer occurs at a desired location, frequency and power level.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils arranged to inductively couple with said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits to provide an electrical load for said primary resonant circuits, said electrical load adjusting said common resonant frequency of said primary resonant circuits.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a controller that adjusts relative input voltage phase in said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits, said controller connected to receive an input voltage having an automatically adjustable input voltage phase to adjust said spatial direction of said resonant inductive coupling.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a controller that adjusts a pulse width of an input current to each of said at least one pair of primary resonant circuits to adjust the output power of said resonant inductive coupling.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said desirable location is centered along a centerline of said receiver, and does not extend substantially beyond the limits of said receiver.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said energy transmission system is arranged in proximity to a roadway and said energy reception system is arranged on an underside of an electrically chargeable vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a plurality of said energy transmission systems are arranged in proximity to said roadway such that said electrically chargeable vehicle receives said transferred energy while in motion.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said energy generation system comprises a generator and an alternative and renewable energy source for fueling said generator.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said energy generation system comprises a multi-directional converter for controlling said electrical energy provided to said local site and said electrically chargeable vehicle.

20. An energy transfer system comprising:

a power transmission system, comprising;

first and second primary resonant circuits arranged co-planar with respect to each other within a primary magnetic assembly, each of said first and second primary resonant circuits comprising a primary coil, wherein said first and second primary resonant circuits arranged to inductively couple with each other to establish a common primary resonant inductive coupling frequency for said first and second primary resonant circuits;

first and second independently controlled AC power sources electrically connected to said first and second primary resonant circuits to generate first and second primary currents, respectively, having a matching polarity along a primary center axis of the said primary magnetic assembly, said first and second primary currents having a controllable relative phase-angle between them and arranged to concentrate an energy density substantially along said primary center axis;

a power reception system, comprising;

first and second secondary resonant circuits arranged co-planar with respect to each other within a secondary magnetic assembly, each of said first and second secondary resonant circuits comprising a secondary coil, wherein said first and second secondary resonant circuits positioned to establish an inductive couple with and provide a secondary circuit electrical load to said first and second primary resonant circuits to establish an energy transfer system resonant frequency and provide a wireless high-power energy transfer from said power transmission system across an air-gap in proximity of said power transmission system; and

a power vector-direction regulator electrically connected to said power transmission system comprising;

a power level regulator;

a frequency and primary zero-current crossing synchronization lock circuit for unity input power-factor electrically connected to said power level regulator; and

a relative phase-displacement controller electrically connected to said lock circuit and arranged to regulate said first and second AC power sources for adjusting any misalignment between said primary and said secondary resonant circuits.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said wireless high-power energy transfer is between 5 kW and 150 kW of power to transfer from transferring 10 kWh to 100 kWh of energy between said power transmission and reception system.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said airgap between said primary and secondary coil-core assemblies is from 7 cm to 18 cm (˜

3″

to ˜

7″

).

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising a vehicle on a surface, wherein said power transmission system is disposed under said surface and said energy reception system is arranged on an underside of said vehicle, said wireless high-power energy transfer occurring from said surface to said vehicle.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of said power transmission systems arranged under said surface and having a spacing between each of said plurality of said power transmission systems sufficient to provide a continuous power transmission to a moving vehicle passing over said surface, each of said plurality arranged to be activated sequentially when said moving vehicle passes over a respective one of said plurality of said power transmission systems.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle is electric.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle is a hybrid-electric propulsion vehicle.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle is a cargo vehicle.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle is one of the set comprising an electric locomotive, a magnetically levitated train, or a mobile platform.

29. The system of claim 20, further comprising first and second switchmode DC to AC inverters electrically connected to said first and second primary resonant circuits, respectively, and are arranged to control a power level of said energy transfer by regulation of an input DC voltage and a pulse-width, and having a switching frequency equal to said common primary resonant inductive coupling frequency using a primary current zero crossing synchronization.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first and second switchmode DC to AC inverters have an operational frequency between 17 kHz and 35 kHz.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein a first and second output voltage of said first and second switchmode DC to AC inverters have a phase-displacement established by said power vector-direction regulator to correct for uneven energy distribution in said air-gap due to any misalignment.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein said power vector-direction regulator is arranged to independently power a plurality of loads connected to said power reception system.

33. The system of claim 20, said power reception system further comprising a secondary energy storage system electrically connected to said first and second secondary resonant circuits.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said secondary energy storage systems comprises a battery, a capacitor bank or a flywheel.

35. The system of claim 20, wherein said power vector-direction regulator further comprises an onboard reverse power-flow controller for transferring stored energy from said power reception system to said power transmission system.

36. The system of claim 20, further comprising a high efficiency local combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) generation, storage and distribution system arranged to generate, store and distribute electrical energy locally to said energy transfer system, and to receive, store and distribute regenerated energy from said secondary energy storage system.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said reverse power-flow controller is arranged to transfer said stored energy from said power reception system to said first and second primary resonant circuits to provide a portable back-up power for said (CCHP) during station power failure.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein said local energy generation system comprises one or more renewable energy sources and is electrically connected to said energy transfer system, to a host facility for providing heat and electricity, and to a utility grid for load leveling.

39. A method for wireless energy transfer, comprising:

positioning an electrically chargeable vehicle comprising a power reception system within electromagnetic proximity of one or more high-power energy transfer transmitters of a power transmission system;

synchronizing DC to AC inverters of said power transmission system at low power to a power transmission frequency and phase at which a primary current zero-crossing coincides with the inverter voltage zero-crossing;

establishing input unity power factor, maximum real power transmission and low switching losses at an operating switching frequency range of 17-30 kHz;

modulating a relative phase angle between said DC to AC inverters and a power vector-direction regulator to optimize energy distribution within an airgap between said power transmission and reception system to correct vehicle-transmitter misalignments; and

regulating said wireless energy transfer to full power (10 kW-150 kW) based on the charge state or propulsion requirements of said vehicle by controlling the input DC voltage level or by modulating the synchronized pulse width of the said DC to AC inverters.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising reversing energy flow from a vehicle energy storage system to a local stationary energy storage system in a standby power source mode or in a regenerative braking mode in case of moving vehicles.