System and method for maximizing short-term energy storage in a supercapacitor array for engine start applications
First Claim
1. A system for starting an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- a battery system that stores and outputs a DC battery power therefrom;
a charger connected to the battery system to receive the DC battery power therefrom and convert the DC battery power to a DC charging current;
a supercapacitor array connected to the charger to receive the DC charging current therefrom, the supercapacitor array comprising a plurality of supercapacitor cells; and
a motor starter configured to start the internal combustion engine responsive to receiving a direct current (DC) input from the supercapacitor array;
wherein the charger is configured to provide for modifying a voltage of the plurality of supercapacitor cells in an on-demand fashion, the charger being programmed to;
provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to hold the plurality of supercapacitor cells at a first voltage;
receive a bump-up command indicative of an upcoming engine start; and
responsive to receiving the bump-up command, provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to increase a voltage of the plurality of supercapacitor cells to a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for starting an internal combustion engine includes a battery system, a charger to receive DC battery power from the battery system and convert the power to a DC charging current, a supercapacitor array having a plurality of supercapacitor cells connected to the charger to receive the DC charging current therefrom, and a motor starter to start the internal combustion engine responsive to a DC input from the supercapacitor array. The charger modifies a voltage of the supercapacitor cells in an on-demand fashion, with the charger programmed to provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to hold the supercapacitor cells at a first voltage, receive a bump-up command indicative of an upcoming engine start and, responsive to receiving the bump-up command, provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to increase a voltage of the supercapacitor cells temporarily to a second voltage higher than the first voltage.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for starting an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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a battery system that stores and outputs a DC battery power therefrom; a charger connected to the battery system to receive the DC battery power therefrom and convert the DC battery power to a DC charging current; a supercapacitor array connected to the charger to receive the DC charging current therefrom, the supercapacitor array comprising a plurality of supercapacitor cells; and a motor starter configured to start the internal combustion engine responsive to receiving a direct current (DC) input from the supercapacitor array; wherein the charger is configured to provide for modifying a voltage of the plurality of supercapacitor cells in an on-demand fashion, the charger being programmed to; provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to hold the plurality of supercapacitor cells at a first voltage; receive a bump-up command indicative of an upcoming engine start; and responsive to receiving the bump-up command, provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to increase a voltage of the plurality of supercapacitor cells to a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A charger for charging an arrangement of supercapacitor cells in a starting system for an internal combustion engine with a starter that runs from a battery system that is recharged from the internal combustion engine when running, the charger comprising:
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a DC-DC converter configured to convert a DC battery power received from a DC battery to a DC charging current for output to the arrangement of supercapacitor cells; a control module operably connected to the DC-DC converter to control operation of the DC-DC converter for outputting the DC charging current; and a bump-up command module operably connected to the control module to selectively transmit a bump-up command thereto; wherein the control module is programmed to; receive a bump-up command from the bump-up command module; and responsive to receiving the bump-up command, cause the DC-DC converter to output DC charging current to the arrangement of supercapacitor cells to temporarily increase a voltage of the arrangement of supercapacitor cells to a higher start-up voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for starting an internal combustion engine of a machine that comprises a starter for starting the internal combustion engine and that runs from a battery system that is recharged from the internal combustion engine when running, the system comprising:
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a battery system comprising one or more batteries configured to store and output a DC battery power therefrom; a charger connected to the battery system to receive the DC battery power therefrom and convert the DC battery power to a DC charging current; a supercapacitor array connected to the charger to receive the DC charging current therefrom, the supercapacitor array comprising a plurality of supercapacitor cells; and a bump-up command module operably connected to the charger to selectively transmit a bump-up command thereto; wherein, upon receipt of the bump-up command from the bump-up command module, the charger is programmed to provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to increase a voltage of the plurality of supercapacitor cells to a higher engine start-up voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification