CN107112749B

CN107112749B - Configuration and method for dynamically managing power between a power source and an electrical load

Info

Publication number: CN107112749B
Application number: CN201580068914.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·M·艾德尔森
Original assignee: Nextek Power Systems Co
Current assignee: Nextek Power Systems Co
Priority date: 2015-01-08
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2020-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-10
Also published as: JP6482105B2; CA2963150A1; KR20170103743A; WO2016111744A1; EP3243252A4; KR101899132B1; CN107112749A; JP2018501764A; EP3243252A1

Abstract

Power is dynamically managed between one or more power sources and one or more loads. The plurality of monitoring nodes are connected to input terminals connected to the power sources and output terminals connected to the loads. A plurality of power storage units are connected in the input terminal and the output terminal, each unit being capable of storing power from at least one power source and discharging the stored power to at least one load. A plurality of controllable switches are connected to the cells. During operation of each power supply and each load, the master and slave controllers dynamically monitor the operating conditions at the monitoring nodes, and selectively dynamically control the switches in response to the monitored operating conditions, thereby interconnecting the cells in different circuit topologies.

Description

Configuration and method for dynamically managing power between a power source and an electrical load

Background

Power supply systems for supplying Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) power from various non-renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic cells, wind generators, hydroelectric devices, biomass generators, solar thermal systems, geothermal systems, etc., as well as from various renewable energy sources, such as motors and ballasts for fluorescent or vapor arc lighting, to various inductive loads, such as ordinary filament light bulbs, and/or resistive and/or capacitive loads, such as capacitive motor starters, are well known. Because photovoltaic cells and wind generators, for example, rely on the unpredictable availability of energy sources such as sunlight or wind, such renewable energy sources typically produce unpredictable, uncontrollable AC or DC power at uncontrolled frequencies or voltage levels over an indeterminate variable time. Thus, power supply systems using such energy sources typically collect and store energy in DC battery packs over time, then apply the stored DC power directly to a load when needed, and typically operate as a standalone system. The battery pack provides a backup energy storage for the power supply system.

While known power supply systems are generally satisfactory for their intended purposes, they are inefficient. As noted above, the power supply is unstable and variable because one or more of the power sources are not always available and, if available, do not always operate at their rated nominal power state or most economical state. In addition, the loading of various loads varies as one or more loads are connected or disconnected and during normal operation of the loads. The above-described battery packs are used to compensate for such varying power and load conditions, but it takes considerable time to charge and recharge the battery packs, thereby reducing system efficiency. In the event that there is no or poor management of which available power source and how much power is distributed and delivered from each of such available power sources to one or more loads requiring such power, particularly when all of these actions need to be advantageously performed quickly as power and load conditions change, system efficiency decreases. Higher efficiency is a dual goal of economy and economy.

Disclosure of Invention

Briefly, one aspect of the present invention is a configuration for dynamically and efficiently managing power between one or more power sources supplying power and one or more electrical loads consuming power. The power supply may comprise any Alternating Current (AC) source, such as an AC grid or a mains supply, any Direct Current (DC) source, or any combination AC/DC source. The power source may include any non-renewable energy source that typically burns hydrocarbon fuels, such as in generators, turbine generators, thermoelectric generators, fuel cells, and the like, or any renewable energy source such as photovoltaic cells, wind generators, hydro-power generation devices, biomass generators, solar thermal systems, geothermal systems, and the like. The load may comprise any inductive load, such as motors and ballasts for fluorescent or vapor arc lighting, and/or resistive load, such as ordinary filament bulbs, and/or any capacitive load, such as capacitive motor starters.

The configuration includes input terminals connected to respective power sources, output terminals connected to respective loads, and a plurality of monitoring nodes connected to the respective input terminals and the respective output terminals. A plurality of power storage units are connected between the input and output terminals. As described below, each cell is capable of storing power from at least one power source and discharging the stored power to at least one load. Preferably, each cell itself comprises a capacitor or a parallel combination of a battery and a capacitor for storing the DC voltage from the at least one power source and discharging the stored DC voltage to the at least one load. Advantageously, such cells each act as voltage regulators and filters, are rechargeable and have a very low internal resistance to recharge quickly with high energy storage efficiency above 95%. The units are preferably identical in structure and interchangeable with one another. At least one of the cells is configured in the base layer.

The arrangement further comprises a plurality of controllable switches connected to the cells and having control inputs for enabling the switches to switch between switch states. Advantageously, each switch is a transistor having a gate, a base or a flip-flop as a control input. Each switch may be, for example, a solid state switch such as a Field Effect Transistor (FET), in particular a HEXFET or MOSFET or FlipFET, an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), or a controllable silicon rectifier (SCR), or its equivalent such as a relay. A plurality of diodes are also connected in this configuration to control the direction of DC current flowing between the input and output terminals. The diode blocks the flow of DC current along an undesired path in this configuration. At least one of the switches and another of the cells are commonly configured in a switching layer.

The configuration also includes a programmed control system including slave controllers for each tier and a master controller operatively connected to each slave controller. The control system is operable for dynamically monitoring an operating condition, such as an operating voltage, at the monitoring node during operation of each power source and each load, and for selectively dynamically controlling the switches at their control inputs in response to the monitored operating condition, thereby interconnecting the cells in different circuit topologies. The control system enables cells in one of the switching states (e.g., a closed state) to store voltage from at least one power source and enables cells in another of the switching states (e.g., an open state) to discharge the stored voltage to at least one load.

The control system advantageously accesses a memory or look-up table having data corresponding to the stored circuit topology and retrieves the data in response to the monitored operating condition. For example, in some different topologies, all cells are connected to each other in series and/or parallel and/or series-parallel to charge and/or discharge; and in other different topologies, individual cells are selected to be charged and/or discharged. The various topologies may be implemented simultaneously in one or more steps or sequentially.

This configuration, also referred to as a module, comprises the above-mentioned base layer and one or more of the above-mentioned switch layers. The module may have any number of switching layers and is therefore easily scalable. This not only reduces cost, but also makes it possible to select the resolution or number of switching layers as desired for a particular application. The switching layers may be arranged in mutually perpendicular planes. For example, one or more switch layers may be interconnected in two dimensions and lie in a horizontal plane or X-Y plane, and one or more additional switch layers may be interconnected in a third dimension and lie in a vertical plane or Z plane, thereby greatly increasing the number of available circuit topologies that the controller is able to select. In addition, the configuration is symmetrical because the input terminal and the output terminal may be located at the right or left side of the configuration, thereby enabling an external source or an external load to be connected at either side of the configuration.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of dynamically managing power between power sources and power loads. The method is performed by the steps of: connecting each input terminal to a respective power supply, connecting each output terminal to a respective electrical load, connecting a monitoring node to each input and output terminal, connecting power storage units in the input and output terminals, each unit being capable of storing power from at least one power supply and discharging stored power to at least one electrical load, arranging one of the units in a base layer, connecting a controllable switch to the unit, each switch having a control input enabling the switch to switch between switch states, arranging at least one of the switches and another of the units in a switch layer, dynamically monitoring an operating state at the monitoring node during operation of each power supply and each electrical load using a slave controller for each layer and a master controller operatively connected to each slave controller, selectively dynamically controlling the switches at the control inputs by operation of the controller in response to the monitored operating state to thereby control the unit in different circuit topologies The cells are interconnected such that each cell in one of the switched states stores power from at least one power source and each cell in the other of the switched states discharges the stored power to at least one electrical load.

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment for dynamically managing configuration of power between at least one power source and at least one electrical load in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a programmed master controller for the configuration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a look-up table accessed by the host controller of FIG. 2.

Fig. 4 and 5 together comprise a schematic circuit diagram of another embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit of another embodiment of a configuration for dynamically managing power between at least one power source and at least one electrical load according to the present invention, and is similar to FIG. 1, however depicting multiple slave controllers.

FIG. 7 is a circuit schematic depicting how a master controller is connected to each slave controller in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Detailed Description

Reference numeral 10 generally identifies a configuration for dynamically and efficiently managing power in one or more

external power sources

12, 14, and 16 that provide power and one or more external electrical loads R1, R2, and R3 that consume power. The source may include any Alternating Current (AC) source 14, such as an AC power grid or mains, any Direct Current (DC) source 16, or any combined AC/DC source 12.

Sources

12, 14, and 16 may include any non-renewable energy source that typically burns hydrocarbon fuels, such as in generators, turbine generators, thermoelectric generators, fuel cells, or the like, or any renewable energy source such as photovoltaic cells, wind generators, hydro-power generation devices, biomass generators, solar thermal collection systems, geothermal systems, or the like. Although fig. 1 shows three sources, any number of sources including only one source may be employed. The load may comprise any DC resistive loads R1 and R2, such as a common filament light bulb, or inductive loads such as in motors and ballasts for fluorescent or vapor arc lighting, and/or capacitive loads such as capacitive motor starters. Although three loads are shown in fig. 1, any number of loads including only one load may be employed.

The arrangement 10 comprises: at least one input terminal, and as shown IN FIG. 1, includes a plurality of

input terminals

18, 20 and 22 (labeled IN1, IN2 and IN3) connected to

respective sources

12, 14 and 16; at least one output terminal, and as shown in fig. 1, includes a plurality of

output terminals

24, 26 and 28 (labeled as OUT1, OUT2 and OUT3) connected to respective loads R1, R2 and 17; and a plurality of monitor nodes N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, and N9, each node being connected to an input terminal and an output terminal via a resistor R. As described below, the programmed control system dynamically monitors the operating conditions, e.g., operating voltage, at the monitoring nodes during source and load operation. In the embodiment of fig. 1-5, the control system includes a single master controller 30 (see fig. 2). In the embodiment of fig. 6-7, the control system includes a single master controller 42 and multiple slave controllers 44, 46, and 48 (see fig. 7). The master controller 30 of FIG. 2 has input pins 1-9 connected to monitoring nodes N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, and N9, respectively.

A plurality of diodes D1, D2, D6, D7, D11, and D12 are also connected in the configuration 10 to control the direction of DC current flowing between the input and output terminals. The diode blocks the flow of DC current along the undesired path. Monitoring nodes N1, N4, and N7 are connected to input

terminals

18, 20, and 22, respectively. The monitor nodes N3, N6, and N9 are connected to the

output terminals

24, 26, and 28, respectively. Diodes D1, D6, and D11 are connected between monitor node pairs N1, N2, pairs N4, N5, and pairs N7, N8.

A plurality of

power storage units

32, 34, and 36 are connected in the input terminal and the output terminal. As described below, each

cell

32, 34, and 36 is capable of storing power from at least one source and discharging the stored power to at least one load. Preferably, each

cell

32, 34 and 36 or power body itself comprises a capacitor, or a parallel combination of a battery (B1, B2 and B3) and a capacitor (C1, C2 and C3), for storing a DC voltage from at least one source and for discharging the stored DC voltage to at least one load. Advantageously, such cells each (also labeled B-CAP1, B-CAP 2, and B-CAP 3) function as voltage regulators and filters, are rechargeable, and have extremely low internal resistance for rapid recharging with energy storage efficiencies above 95%. Advantageously, the cell is an electrical double layer capacitor, also called a supercapacitor (supercap or ultracap).

Units

32, 34 and 36 are preferably identical in structure and interchangeable with one another.

The arrangement 10 further comprises a plurality of controllable switches M1, M2, M3 and M4 connected to the above-mentioned cells and having control inputs G1, G2, G3 and G4 enabling the switches to be switched between open and closed switch states. Advantageously, each switch is a transistor having a gate, a base or a flip-flop as a control input. The switches may for example be solid state switches such as Field Effect Transistors (FETs), in particular HEXFETs (as shown in fig. 1) or MOSFETs or flipfets, Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs), or controlled silicon rectifiers (SCRs), or equivalents thereof such as relays or the like. Switch M1 is connected across cell 32 between

input terminals

18, 20. Switch M2 is connected across cell 32 between

output terminals

24, 26. Switch M3 is connected across cell 34 between

input terminals

20, 22. Switch M4 is connected across cell 34 between

output terminals

26, 28.

The arrangement 10 also includes a plurality of control input terminals 38, 40 (labeled as IN A and IN B). With the parallel combination of diode D4 and switch MA in one branch and diode D5 and switch MB in the other branch connected across

terminals

38 and 26 and interconnecting cells 32 and 34. Another parallel combination having diode D9 and switch MC in one branch and diode D10 and switch MD in the other branch is connected across

terminals

40 and 28 and interconnects cells 34 and 36. Switches MA, MB, MC, and MD have control inputs GA, GB, GC, and GD. A further switch MX having a control input GX is connected between terminal 38 and ground via a diode D3. A further switch MY with a control input GY is connected between terminal 40 and ground via a diode D8.

The master controller 30 dynamically monitors the operating states, e.g., operating voltages, at all of the monitoring nodes N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, and N9 during operation of the respective sources and the respective loads as described above. The master controller 30 detects the voltage at one or more of these nodes and determines, for example, whether a particular source is supplying power and/or a particular load is receiving power. The master controller 30 also selectively dynamically controls all of the switches M1, M2, M3, M4, MA, MB, MC, MD, MX, and MY at their respective control inputs to interconnect the

cells

32, 34, and 36 in different circuit topologies in response to the monitored operating conditions. Controller 30 has output pins 12-17 and 19-22 connected to these control inputs, respectively. A DC voltage is supplied to pin 10. Pin 11 is grounded. Pin 18 remains. The controller 30, the

cells

32, 34 and 36 and all switches M1, M2, M3, M4, MA, MB, MC, MD, MX and MY are DC devices. Thus, AC-

DC rectifiers

13 and 15 are employed to convert the AC voltage provided by the

respective AC sources

12 and 14 to a DC voltage. Similarly, a DC-AC inverter 19 is connected at the AC load 17.

The main controller 30 enables the cells in one of the switching states, such as the closed state, to store voltage from at least one source, and enables the cells in the other of the switching states, such as the open state, to discharge the stored voltage to at least one load. The master controller 30 advantageously accesses a memory or look-up table (see fig. 3) having data corresponding to the stored circuit topology and retrieves the data in response to the monitored operating conditions. For example, in some different topologies, all cells are connected in series and/or parallel and/or in series-parallel with each other for charging and/or discharging; and in other different topologies, individual cells are selected to be charged and/or discharged. The various topologies may be implemented simultaneously in a single or multiple steps or sequentially.

More specifically, the table of fig. 3 depicts switches M1, M2, M3, M4, MA, MB, MC, MD, MX, and MY in the top row. The first column indicates whether the cell is charged or discharged. The second column indicates the topology. An "X" at the intersection of a column and a row indicates that the particular switch is switched to a closed state by controller 30. An "O" at the intersection of a column and a row indicates that the particular switch is switched to an open state by the controller 30.

The cells are preferably configured in layers. One of the cells such as 36 is preferably configured in the base layer 60 in common with the diodes D11 and D12 and with the monitoring nodes N7, N8 and N9. Another one of the cells, such as 34, is configured in the switch layer 62 in common with one or more of the switches M3, M4, MC, MD and MY, as well as with the diodes D6 and D7 and with the monitoring nodes N4, N5 and N6. Another one of the cells, such as 32, is configured in another switch layer 64 in common with one or more of the switches M1, M2, MA, MB, and MX, and with the diodes D1 and D2, and with the monitoring nodes N1, N2, and N3. This configuration, also referred to as a module, includes a base layer 60 and one or more of switch layers 62, 64. The module can have any number of switching layers so that the module is easily scalable. This not only reduces cost, but also enables the resolution or number of layers to be selected as desired for a particular application. The layers may be arranged in mutually perpendicular planes. For example, one or more of the base layer 60 and the switch layers 62, 64 may be interconnected in two dimensions and lie in a horizontal plane or X-Y plane, and additional switch layers, each including additional cells B-CAP 4, B-CAP 5, and B-CAP 6, as best shown in FIG. 4, may be interconnected in a third dimension and lie in a vertical plane or Z-plane, thereby greatly increasing the number of available circuit topologies that may be selected by the controller. Furthermore, the configuration is symmetrical and bi-directional in that the

input terminals

12, 14 and 16 and the

output terminals

24, 26 and 28 may be located on the right or left side of the configuration, thereby enabling an external source or external load to be connected on either side of the bi-directional configuration.

The multi-path, symmetric, matrix-like configuration enables the arrangement 10 to be infinitely extended at low cost and efficiently. In some cases, the efficiency reaches or exceeds 99%. Configuration 10 includes as many repeating switch layers as desired. The number of such switching layers defines the available resolution (resolution) of the configuration. A configuration efficiently integrates multiple external power sources, including different AC and DC sources that can vary between high and low impedances, and mixes one or more of their available output powers for storage in one or more units and/or delivery to one or more loads. If there is no or insufficient output power available for a particular loading situation, the unit assumes the task of mixing one or more of its stored available power for delivery to one or more loads. Power storage or power transfer may occur simultaneously or sequentially.

The configuration 10 may be described as an intelligent energy collector and distributor, which operates dynamically, i.e., in real-time. The base layer and the one or more switch layers may be mounted on a single Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Further PCBs with one or more switching layers may easily be interconnected to the first-mentioned PCB. Configuration 10 employs a single-module structure assembled in a repeating pattern. The number of cells is limited by the maximum load power and the required voltage resolution. Continuous or frequent monitoring of the state of the load and source is required. By monitoring the monitoring nodes, the controller 30 can detect whether any particular layer or PCB is defective and can control the switches to bypass any such defective layer or PCB.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. For example, the two HEXFETs MA and MB and their diodes D4 and D5 may be replaced by a single FlipFET.

Turning now to the embodiment of fig. 6-7, fig. 6 is the same as fig. 1 except that the slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 described above are shown, one for each of the layers 64, 62 and 60. FIG. 7 depicts how these slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 are connected to the master controller 42. The nodes, cells and switches in fig. 6-7 are identical in structure and function to those depicted above in fig. 1-3, and therefore need not be repeated. Rather than relying solely on the master controller 30 to perform its above-described functions, in FIGS. 6-7, the master controller 42 and its slave controllers 44, 46, and 48 perform these same functions, but at a higher speed and efficiency, and also perform additional functions.

As shown in FIG. 7, the master controller 42 is connected to the slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 by two-way or handshake lines 50, 52 and 54. The main controller 42 has the following control outputs: control 1, control 2, control 3, control 4, and control 5, which are connected to control inputs GX, G1, GA, GB, and G2 from controller 44 in switch layer 64 and/or input GY, G3, GC, GD, and G4 from controller 46 in switch layer 62. The nodes N1, N2, and N3 are monitored from the controller 44 and are connected to control inputs GX, G1, GA, GB, and G2. The nodes N4, N5, and N6 are monitored from the controller 46 and are connected to the control inputs GY, G3, GC, GD, and G4. The slave controller 48 monitors nodes N7, N8, and N9.

Thus, according to the present disclosure, the configuration includes a plurality of identical cells or power bodies in the switching layer. Each power body includes a positive input/output and a negative input/output with blocking diodes to ensure that the polarity is not reversed. There is always a connection to ground and a connection to a power supply. Power and ground may be of either polarity. At the center of the power body are fast charge and discharge energy storage elements such as the super capacitors B-CAP1, B-CAP 2, and B-CAP 3 described above. Connected to all signal paths, except for power, are controllable switches, typically semiconductor devices such as HEXFETs. By controlling these switches, the available power is directed to the power body for charging, and then the power is released to the desired load or target in the required form such as voltage, amperage, waveform, and timing (timing) as appropriate. Each of the switch layers has signal input and output lines for controlling the switches and for monitoring the available power state, as well as the required and/or possible load requirements for the best possible scenario (performance) at any given moment. Controlling all of this is a control system and programmable ROM. The various timings and component combinations define not only the state of the power, but also the shape and timing of the power.

The arrangement may operate as a power pulse consumer (power charging), or a power pulse generator (power supply). Charging or discharging the cells may be performed as at least one timing function (timed function) or as a series of timing functions. These timing functions (pulses) may be very long or very short, or any period in between. A fast series of long pulses will produce a substantially constant output with little or no change in shape or an output that is substantially constant in shape, i.e., a horizontal straight-line function or DC voltage. Any other condition will produce a variable output, or AC voltage, with at least one slope or even greater variation. Since each power state may include at least one pulse or pulse ensemble (pulses include voltage, amperage, and time) for a given period of time, any type of power charging function or power consumption function may be shaped as desired for any given source or any given load.

To further increase the versatility and power of this configuration, the above-described slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 with accessible memory are added to each unit in each tier to make each unit "intelligent". The addition of localized "smart" units provides additional capability to deliver specific functions such as state of charge, noise control, timing, distortion, shape, etc. at the source, enabling them to be better and more quickly managed, extending the advancement and efficiency of the configuration. This configuration is always monitored and managed by the master controller, which has an accessible memory to store the truth table and execute additional subroutines that provide customized functions such as specific waveforms, power limits, load priority loss, and/or sequence tables. The slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 monitor local conditions in the layers in the same manner as the master controller, however each slave controller is assigned a specific function by the master controller to take over or supplement the functions of the master controller. In addition, a second or third function, such as noise removal or switching distortion, may be transferred to the slave controllers 44, 46 and 48. This configuration has the ability to develop many different power management functions through software development on its hardware platform.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as a configuration and method for dynamically managing power in one or more power sources and one or more electrical loads, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as novel and desired to be protected by letters patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An arrangement for dynamically managing power between at least one power source supplying power and at least one electrical load consuming power, the arrangement comprising:

at least one input terminal connected to the at least one power source;

at least one output terminal connected to the at least one electrical load;

a plurality of monitoring nodes connected to the at least one input terminal and the at least one output terminal;

a plurality of power storage units connected between the at least one input terminal and the at least one output terminal, each power storage unit being capable of storing power from the at least one power source and discharging the stored power to the at least one electrical load, one of the power storage units being disposed in a foundation layer;

a plurality of controllable switches connected to the power storage unit and having a control input for enabling each of the plurality of controllable switches to switch between switch states, at least one of the switches and another of the power storage units being arranged in a switch layer; and

a programmed control system comprising slave controllers for respective layers and a master controller operably connected to each slave controller, the control system operable to:

dynamically monitoring an operating condition at the monitoring node during operation of the at least one power source and the at least one electrical load,

selectively dynamically controlling the switches at the control inputs in response to monitored operating conditions to interconnect the power storage units in different circuit topologies,

causing each power storage unit in one of the switching states to store power from the at least one power source, an

Causing each power storage unit in another of the switching states to discharge the stored power to the at least one electrical load.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

there are a plurality of input terminals, one of which is connected to a combined source of Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), another of which is connected to an AC source only, and yet another of which is connected to a DC source only.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein,

there are a plurality of output terminals, one of which is connected to an AC load and another of which is connected to a DC load.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

one of the monitoring nodes is connected to the at least one input terminal and another of the monitoring nodes is connected to the at least one output terminal.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

each power storage unit includes a capacitor for storing a voltage from the at least one power source and for discharging the stored voltage to the at least one electrical load.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

each power storage unit includes a parallel combination of a battery and a capacitor for storing voltage from the at least one power source and for discharging the stored voltage to the at least one electrical load.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

each switch is a transistor having one of a gate, a base, and a flip-flop as the control input.

8. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein,

there are a plurality of diodes for controlling the direction of the DC current flowing between the at least one input terminal and the at least one output terminal.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

the control system accesses a memory having data corresponding to the stored circuit topology and retrieves the data in response to the monitored operating condition.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein,

the master controller and/or the slave controller are operable to control the switches in a timed manner and implement the circuit topology in one or more steps.

11. A method for dynamically managing power between at least one power source providing power and at least one electrical load consuming power, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting at least one input terminal to the at least one power source;

connecting at least one output terminal to the at least one electrical load;

connecting a plurality of monitoring nodes to the at least one input terminal and the at least one output terminal;

connecting a plurality of power storage units between the at least one input terminal and the at least one output terminal, each power storage unit being capable of storing power from the at least one power source and discharging the stored power to the at least one electrical load;

configuring one of the power storage units in a base layer;

connecting a plurality of controllable switches to the power storage unit, the plurality of controllable switches having control inputs for enabling each of the plurality of controllable switches to switch between switch states;

configuring at least one of the switches and another of the power storage units in common in a switch layer;

dynamically monitoring an operational condition at the monitoring node during operation of the at least one power source and the at least one electrical load using slave controllers for each tier and a master controller operably connected to each slave controller;

selectively dynamically controlling the switches at the control inputs by operation of the master controller and/or the slave controllers in response to monitored operating conditions to interconnect the power storage units in different circuit topologies;

causing each power storage unit in one of the switching states to store power from the at least one power source; and