DK201170103A

DK201170103A - Power conditioning device, energy harvesting system, and methods

Info

Publication number: DK201170103A
Application number: DKPA201170103A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Steensen Jakob; Soerensen Thomas
Original assignee: Delta Dansk Elektronik Lys & Akustik
Priority date: 2011-02-25
Filing date: 2011-02-25
Publication date: 2011-03-07

Abstract

The present invention concerns a power conditioning device having improved conditioning components, an energy harvesting system, and related methods.

Claims

1. A power conditioning device for an energy harvesting system, said power conditioning device comprising at least one first circuit comprising: an electrical input terminal connected to an energy source, a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) unit, said MPPT unit being adapted to receive input from the electrical input terminal, and said MPPT unit being adapted to transfer charge to a storage unit, and a first current rectifying means, such as a rectifying unit, connected between the MPPT unit and the storage unit so that the MPPT unit is adapted to transfer charge to the storage unit through the rectifying means, at least one storage unit, said storage unit being adapted for receiving small and/or non-small amounts of energy from the energy source(s) through the MPPT unit and collecting said energy until enough accumulated energy is stored to propel/drive at least one consumer system, such as an electrical system, and at least one electrical output terminal.

2. A power conditioning device for an energy harvesting system, said power conditioning device comprising an electrical converter and load optimizer unit; a storage unit; at least one electrical input supply, and at least one electrical output supply.

3. The power conditioning device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical converter and load optimizer comprises a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) unit.

4. The power conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an electrical converter and load optimizer unit, such as a MPPT unit, is connected to the storage unit by means of a current rectifying means adapted so that charge on the storage unit is prevented from being discharged from the storage unit back to the electrical converter and load optimizer unit.

5. The power conditioning device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage unit is adapted for fast charging.

6. A method for power conditioning using a device or system according to any of the preceding claims.

7. A method for propelling or driving a consumer system, wherein the method comprises use of the device or system according to any of the claims 1-5 for collecting small and/or non-small amounts of energy from one or multiple energy sources and collecting said energy until enough accumulated energy is stored to propel/drive at least one consumer system, such as an electrical system.

8. A method for power conditioning using at least two members selected from the group consisting of a pre-conditioning unit, a MPPT unit, a rectifying means, a fast charging means, an on/off control circuit, and a constant voltage output circuit.

9. A method for power conditioning according to claim 8, wherein one of the at least two members is a MPPT unit. A method for power conditioning wherein at least a first MPPT unit and a second MPPT unit are used for receiving input from, respectively, a first and a second energy source, and said MPPT units being adapted to transfer charge to at least one storage unit through at least one rectifying means.

10. A method for power conditioning wherein the device or system according to any of the claims 1 -5 is used for transferring charge from at least one energy source to a storage unit, wherein the voltage level of the energy source is lower than the voltage level at the storage unit.