Method of charging double electric layer electrochemical capacitors
First Claim
1. A method of charging an electrochemical capacitor, comprising:
- connecting said electrochemical capacitor to a constant current electrical energy source;
charging said electrochemical capacitor with electrical energy from said constant current electrical energy source;
measuring the voltage of said electrochemical capacitor;
comparing the measured voltage with a predetermined voltage value(s);
based on a comparison of measured voltages, either further charging said electrochemical capacitor or terminating said charging process;
wherein the passing of specified portions of said charging electrical energy by said electrochemical capacitor during charging is controlled;
after a specified portion of charging electrical energy is passed by said electrochemical capacitor, recurrently turning off said constant current electrical energy source so as to produce alternating charging and rest periods, each having some duration;
measuring the voltage of said electrochemical capacitor at the end of each rest period;
comparing the measured voltage at the end of each rest period with the measured voltage obtained at the preceding rest period;
using said comparison of voltage measurements to determine a voltage increment; and
terminating said charging process when said voltage increment reaches some predetermined value.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods for the automatic charging of an electrochemical electrical energy storage device. Charging may be performed until a pre-assigned voltage increment value measured across the terminals of the storage device is reached. Recurrent periods of charging and rest may be employed, with measurements of voltage taken and voltage increment determined after the passage of an assigned quantity of electrical energy. Automatic completion of the charging process is provided for, irrespective of the design features and number of energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors) in a module, the initial state of charge and/or temperature of the storage device, or the value and/or time instability of the charging current.
31 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of charging an electrochemical capacitor, comprising:
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connecting said electrochemical capacitor to a constant current electrical energy source; charging said electrochemical capacitor with electrical energy from said constant current electrical energy source; measuring the voltage of said electrochemical capacitor; comparing the measured voltage with a predetermined voltage value(s); based on a comparison of measured voltages, either further charging said electrochemical capacitor or terminating said charging process; wherein the passing of specified portions of said charging electrical energy by said electrochemical capacitor during charging is controlled; after a specified portion of charging electrical energy is passed by said electrochemical capacitor, recurrently turning off said constant current electrical energy source so as to produce alternating charging and rest periods, each having some duration; measuring the voltage of said electrochemical capacitor at the end of each rest period; comparing the measured voltage at the end of each rest period with the measured voltage obtained at the preceding rest period; using said comparison of voltage measurements to determine a voltage increment; and terminating said charging process when said voltage increment reaches some predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of charging an electrochemical capacitor, comprising:
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connecting said electrochemical capacitor to an electrical energy source; charging said electrochemical capacitor with electrical energy from said electrical energy source; after a specified portion of charging electrical energy is passed by said electrochemical capacitor, recurrently turning off said electrical energy source so as to produce alternating charging and rest periods, each having some duration; measuring the voltage of said electrochemical capacitor at the end of each rest period; comparing the measured voltage at the end of each rest period with the measured voltage obtained at the preceding rest period; using said comparison of voltage measurements to determine a voltage increment; and terminating said charging process based on the value of said voltage increment; wherein the passing of specified portions of said charging electrical energy by said electrochemical capacitor during charging is controlled. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of charging an electrochemical capacitor, comprising:
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connecting said electrochemical capacitor to an electrical energy source having a randomly changing current value; charging said electrochemical capacitor with electrical energy from said electrical energy source; after a specified portion of charging electrical energy has been passed by said electrochemical capacitor, recurrently turning off said electrical energy source so as to produce alternating periods of charging and rest, each having some duration; measuring the voltage of said electrochemical capacitor at the end of each period of rest; comparing the measured voltage at the end of each period of rest with the measured voltage obtained at the preceding period of rest; using said comparison of voltage measurements to determine a voltage increment; and terminating said charging process based on the value of said voltage increment; wherein the passing of specified portions of said charging electrical energy by said electrochemical capacitor during charging is controlled. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification