Energy management and storage system
First Claim
1. Heavy equipment configured for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps, the heavy equipment comprising:
- a generator for providing an electrical output;
working components of the heavy equipment that are driven directly or indirectly by the electrical output of the generator;
an electrical bus for communicating the electrical output of the generator to the working components;
an energy storage component configured to store electricity provided by the generator, and to provide electricity to the working components by way of the electrical bus; and
a controller for selectively coupling the energy storage component to the electrical bus;
wherein the electrical output of the generator is configured to be less than the power used by the heavy equipment during a portion of the work cycle;
wherein the controller couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus to supplement the electrical output of the generator during the portion of the work cycle in which the electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the working components of the heavy equipment;
wherein, when a total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is less than or equal to a total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle, the generator is operated to provide a first level of electrical output; and
wherein, when the total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is greater than the total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle, (i) a portion of the power used by the heavy equipment during at least some repetitions of the substantially-repetitive work cycle is power that was regenerated during one or more previous repetitions of the work cycle and stored in the energy storage component, and (ii) the generator is operated to charge the energy storage component by providing a second level of electrical output that is greater than the first level during one or more initial repetitions of the work cycle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Heavy equipment is designed for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps. The heavy equipment includes a generator, an electrical bus, an energy storage component, and working components. The generator provides a substantially constant electrical output to the electrical bus, which is communicated to the working components. As such, the working components of the heavy equipment are driven directly or indirectly by the electrical output of the generator. The controller selectively couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus, and the energy storage component is configured to store electricity provided by the generator, and to provide electricity to the working components by way of the electrical bus. The electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the heavy equipment during a portion of the work cycle, and the controller couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus to supplement the electrical output of the generator during the portion of the work cycle in which the electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the working components of the heavy equipment.
119 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. Heavy equipment configured for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps, the heavy equipment comprising:
-
a generator for providing an electrical output; working components of the heavy equipment that are driven directly or indirectly by the electrical output of the generator; an electrical bus for communicating the electrical output of the generator to the working components; an energy storage component configured to store electricity provided by the generator, and to provide electricity to the working components by way of the electrical bus; and a controller for selectively coupling the energy storage component to the electrical bus; wherein the electrical output of the generator is configured to be less than the power used by the heavy equipment during a portion of the work cycle; wherein the controller couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus to supplement the electrical output of the generator during the portion of the work cycle in which the electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the working components of the heavy equipment; wherein, when a total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is less than or equal to a total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle, the generator is operated to provide a first level of electrical output; and wherein, when the total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is greater than the total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle, (i) a portion of the power used by the heavy equipment during at least some repetitions of the substantially-repetitive work cycle is power that was regenerated during one or more previous repetitions of the work cycle and stored in the energy storage component, and (ii) the generator is operated to charge the energy storage component by providing a second level of electrical output that is greater than the first level during one or more initial repetitions of the work cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. Heavy equipment configured for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps, the heavy equipment comprising:
-
a generator for providing an electrical output; working components of the heavy equipment, comprising; an electric motor that is powered by the electrical output of the generator; a hydraulic pump selectively driven by the electric motor; a hydraulic actuator coupled to the hydraulic pump; and an articulated arm configured to be moved by the hydraulic actuator; an electrical bus for communicating the electrical output of the generator to the electric motor; an ultra-capacitor configured to selectively store electricity provided by the generator and to selectively provide the electricity to the electric motor by way of the electrical bus; a controller for coupling the ultra-capacitor to the electrical bus, wherein the electrical output of the generator is configured to be less than the power used by the working components during a portion of the work cycle; and wherein the controller couples the ultra-capacitor to the electrical bus to supplement the electrical output of the generator during the portion of the work cycle in which the electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the working components; wherein the ultra-capacitor is configured to augment the electrical output of the generator by at least 20-percent during the portion of the work cycle in which the electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the working components; wherein, when a total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is less than or equal to a total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle, the generator is operated to provide a first level of electrical output; and wherein, when the total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is greater than the total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle, (i) a portion of the power used by the heavy equipment during at least some repetitions of the substantially-repetitive work cycle is power that was regenerated during one or more previous repetitions of the work cycle and stored in the ultra-capacitor, and (ii) the generator is operated to charge the ultra-capacitor by providing a second level of electrical output that is greater than the first level during one or more initial repetitions of the work cycle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of operating heavy equipment configured for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle, comprising steps of:
-
providing; an electrical bus; a generator coupled to the electrical bus, wherein the generator includes an engine coupled to an alternator, an energy storage component configured to selectively store from and release electricity to the electrical bus, an electric motor powered by electricity from the electrical bus, and an articulated arm configured to be driven directly or indirectly by the electric motor; communicating an electrical output of the alternator to the electric motor; storing the electrical output from the alternator on the energy storage component; augmenting the electrical output of the alternator with electricity from the energy storage component; raising at least a portion of the articulated arm; and lowering the at least a portion of the articulated arm; when a total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is less than or equal to a total power output of the generator over the work cycle, operating the engine to provide a first level of power output; and when the total power used by the heavy equipment throughout the work cycle is greater than the total electrical output of the generator over the work cycle; augmenting the electrical output of the alternator during at least some repetitions of the substantially-repetitive work cycle using power stored in the energy storage component that was regenerated during one or more previous repetitions of the substantially-repetitive work cycle; and operating the engine to provide a second level of power output higher than the first level of power output during one or more initial repetitions of the work cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification