Systems and methods for absorbing waste electricity from regenerative braking in hybridized vehicles
First Claim
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1. A system for absorbing electric energy from regenerative braking, comprising:
- a battery;
a thermoelectric module in thermally-conductive contact with the battery;
a generator for generating an electric current from regenerative braking, the generator connected to the battery via a first switch and connected to the thermoelectric module via a second switch;
a sensor for measuring a temperature and a charge state of the battery; and
a controller for deactivating the first switch and activating the second switch when the charge state is greater than a maximum charge state of the battery, wherein the electric current is transferred to the thermoelectric module and has a polarity that causes the thermoelectric module to cool the battery.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system for absorbing electric energy from regenerative braking. The system includes a battery, a thermoelectric module in thermally-conductive contact with the battery, a generator for generating an electric current from regenerative braking, the generator connected to the battery via a first switch and connected to the thermoelectric module via a second switch, and a sensor for measuring a temperature and a charge state of the battery. The system also comprises a controller for activating and deactivating the first switch and the second switch when certain conditions have been met.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for absorbing electric energy from regenerative braking, comprising:
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a battery; a thermoelectric module in thermally-conductive contact with the battery; a generator for generating an electric current from regenerative braking, the generator connected to the battery via a first switch and connected to the thermoelectric module via a second switch; a sensor for measuring a temperature and a charge state of the battery; and a controller for deactivating the first switch and activating the second switch when the charge state is greater than a maximum charge state of the battery, wherein the electric current is transferred to the thermoelectric module and has a polarity that causes the thermoelectric module to cool the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for absorbing electric energy from regenerative braking, comprising:
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a battery; a thermoelectric module in thermally-conductive contact with the battery; a generator for generating an electric current from regenerative braking, the generator connected to the battery via a first switch and connected to the thermoelectric module via a second switch; a first sensor for measuring a temperature of the battery; a second sensor for determining a charge state of the battery; a memory for storing a minimum operating battery temperature, a maximum operating battery temperature, and a maximum charge state of the battery; and a controller for (i) deactivating the first switch and activating the second switch when the charge state is greater than or equal to the maximum charge state of the battery, wherein the electric current is transferred to the thermoelectric module and the polarity of the electric current periodically or randomly alternates to cause the thermoelectric module to heat and cool the battery, (ii) deactivating the first switch and activates the second switch when the temperature of the battery is greater than or equal to the maximum operating battery temperature, wherein the electric current is transferred to the thermoelectric module and has a polarity that causes the thermoelectric module to cool the battery, and (iii) deactivating the first switch and activates the second switch when the temperature of the battery is less than or equal to the minimum operating battery temperature, wherein the electric current is transferred to the thermoelectric module and has a polarity that causes the thermoelectric module to heat the battery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for absorbing electric energy from regenerative braking, comprising:
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a battery having a charge state and a temperature; a generator for generating an electric current from regenerating braking, the generator connected to the battery via a first switch, and conducting the electric current to the battery when the first switch is closed; a thermoelectric module connected to the generator via a second switch and for receiving the electric current when the second switch is closed, the thermoelectric module actuating a heat exchange with the battery based on a polarity of the received electric current; and a controller connected to the first switch and the second switch, when the charge state reaches or exceeds a maximum charge state of the battery, the controller configured to open the first switch for disconnecting the generator from the battery, and close the second switch for connecting the thermoelectric module to the generator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification