Systems and methods for controlling multiple storage devices

• US 8,957,623 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Sisk, Brian C., Nguyen, Thanh T., Wyatt, Perry M., Mascarenhas, Ryan S., Jiang, Junwei
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/422,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/14 Arrangements or processes for adjusting or protecting hybrid or EDL capacitors emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for capacitors, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions H02H7/16; emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltages without disconnection H02H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 : Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 : adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 : characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 : Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 : Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 : with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling multiple storage devices are provided. A system may include a first storage device and a second storage device, each adapted to store and release electrical energy. The system may also include a controller coupled to the first storage device, the second storage device, and a load. The controller is adapted to optimize operation of the system relative to a first system parameter by controlling the channeling of electric charge in a variable manner between the first storage device, the second storage device, and the load.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a group of storage devices comprising;

a first storage device configured to store and release electrical energy;

a second storage device configured to store and release electrical energy;

an electromechanical system electrically coupled to the first storage device and the second storage device, wherein the electromechanical system is configured to;

generate an energy demand; and

utilize electrical energy received from the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof, to fulfill the energy demand; and

control logic communicatively coupled to the first storage device, the second storage device, and the electromechanical device, wherein the control logic is configured to achieve a predetermined objective by;

determining a first flow of electric charge between the first storage device and the second storage device and a second flow of electric charge between the group of storage devices and the electromechanical system, wherein the first and second flows achieve the predetermined objective while meeting the energy demand;

controlling;

a first amount of electrical energy received from, released by, or a combination thereof, the first storage device based on the determined first and second flows of electric charge; and

controlling a second amount of electrical energy received from, released by, or a combination thereof, the second storage device based on the determined first and second flows of electric charge.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined objective comprises:

maximizing, minimizing, or maintaining within a predetermined window a parameter of the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof;

minimizing a monetary cost of operation of the system, or

maximizing a fuel efficiency of the system.

3. The control system of claim 2, comprising a sensor system configured to measure the parameter, a second parameter of the surrounding environment, or a combination thereof, and to communicate measured data to the control logic.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the first parameter, the second parameter, or a combination thereof comprises an ambient temperature, a device temperature, a device lifetime, a state of charge, a state of health, a voltage, a capacity retention rate, a power density fade, or a combination thereof.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical system comprises an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first storage device,the second storage device, or a combination thereof comprises a charge storage device or an energy storage device.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first storage device,the second storage device, or a combination thereof comprises a capacitor, a bank of capacitors, a lithium-based battery, a nickel-based battery, a lead-based battery, a bank of substantially similar batteries, a fuel cell, a capacitive electrode, a carbon electrode, a lead-carbon composite electrode, a lithium-carbon electrode, or an electrode comprising titanium.

8. The control system of claim 1, comprising a first switch coupled to the first storage device and a second switch coupled to the second storage device, and wherein the control logic is configured to control the first and second amounts of electrical energy by controlling the position of the first and second switches, respectively.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the group of storage devices is electrically coupled to the electromechanical system by power conversion circuitry, and wherein the control logic is configured to control the first and second amounts of electrical energy by controlling the power conversion circuitry.

10. A controller for a storage system configured to:

receive data corresponding to a parameter of a first storage device, a second storage device, or a combination thereof, wherein the parameter is related to a predetermined objective;

determine a first electric charge flow between the first storage device and the second storage device and a second electric charge flow between an electromechanical system and the combination of the first and second storage devices based on the parameter that achieves the predetermined objective while meeting an energy demand generated by the electromechanical system;

control a first amount of electrical energy received from, released by, or a combination thereof, the first storage device based on the determined first and second electric charge flows; and

control a second amount of electrical energy received from, released by, or a combination thereof, the second storage device based on the determined first and second electric charge flows.

11. The controller of claim 10, configured to:

receive one or more inputs corresponding to a driving pattern of a user, a driving history of a user, a user preference, an ambient temperature measurement, a humidity measurement, a vehicle destination, weather data, traffic data, fuel economy, monetary costs of operation, or a combination thereof; and

determine the first electric charge flow, the second electric charge flow, or a combination thereof based at least on the one or more inputs.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein the parameter comprises a device temperature, a device lifetime, a state of charge, a state of health, a voltage, a capacity retention rate, or a power density fade of the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof.

13. The controller of claim 10, wherein the predetermined objective comprises:

maximizing, minimizing, or maintaining within a predetermined window the parameter of the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof;

minimizing a monetary cost of operation of a system comprising the first storage device, the second storage device, and the electromechanical system;

or

maximizing a fuel efficiency of the system.

14. The controller of claim 10, wherein controlling the first amount of electrical energy comprises controlling a state of a first switch coupled to the first storage device and controlling the second amount of electrical energy comprises controlling a position of a second state coupled to the second storage device.

15. A control system for an electromechanical system of a vehicle, comprising:

a first storage system comprising;

a first storage device configured to store and release electrical energy;

a first switch electrically coupled to the first storage device; and

a first communication device configured to control a state of the first switch;

a second storage system comprising;

a second storage device configured to store and release electrical energy;

a second switch electrically coupled to the second storage device; and

a second communication device configured to control a state of the second switch;

a load configured to utilize electrical energy received from the first storage system, the second storage system, or a combination thereof; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the first communication device, the second communication device, and the load, wherein the controller is configured to achieve a predetermined objective by;

determining a first electric charge flow between the first storage system and the second storage system and a second electric charge flow between the load and a combination of the first storage system and the second storage system that achieves the predetermined objective while meeting an energy demand generated by the load;

sending a first control signal to the first communication device to control the state of the first switch based on the determined first and second electric charge flows; and

sending a second control signal to the second communication device to control the state of the second switch based on the determined first and second electric charge flows.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the load comprises an electromechanical system comprising an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle.

17. The control system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined objective comprises:

maximizing, minimizing, or maintaining with a predetermined window a parameter of the first storage system, the second storage system, or a combination thereof;

maximizing a lifespan of the first storage system, the second storage system, or a combination thereof;

minimizing a monetary cost of operation of the system, or

maximizing a fuel efficiency of the system.

18. The control system of claim 17, comprising a sensor system configured to measure the first operating parameter, the second operating parameter, the third operating parameter, a fourth operating parameter of the surrounding environment, or a combination thereof, and to communicate measured data to the control logic.

19. A method for a control system, comprising:

receiving a predetermined objective;

receiving a parameter of a first storage device, a second storage device, or a combination thereof, wherein the parameter is related to the predetermined objective;

determining a first electric charge flow between the first storage device and the second storage device and a second electric charge flow between an electromechanical system and the combination of the first and second storage devices that achieves the predetermined objective based on the parameter while meeting an energy demand;

controlling a first amount of electrical energy received from and released by the first storage device based on the determined first and second electric charge flows; and

controlling a second amount of electrical energy received from and released by the second storage device based on the determined first and second electric charge flows.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined objective comprises maximizing the parameter of the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof;

minimizing the parameter of the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof;

restricting the parameter of the first storage device, the second storage device, or a combination thereof within a parameter window;

minimizing a monetary cost of operation of a system comprising the first storage device, the second storage device, and the electromechanical system;

or maximizing a fuel efficiency of the system.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the parameter comprises a device temperature, a device lifetime, a state of charge, a state of health, a voltage, a capacity retention rate, or a power density fade.