GB2471331A - Solar power switching arrangement for vehicle - Google Patents

Solar power switching arrangement for vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2471331A
GB2471331A GB0911087A GB0911087A GB2471331A GB 2471331 A GB2471331 A GB 2471331A GB 0911087 A GB0911087 A GB 0911087A GB 0911087 A GB0911087 A GB 0911087A GB 2471331 A GB2471331 A GB 2471331A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
voltage
switching means
solar power
power system
alternator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0911087A
Other versions
GB2471331B (en
GB0911087D0 (en
Inventor
John Reader
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
G A H
Original Assignee
G A H
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by G A H filed Critical G A H
Priority to GB0911087.5A priority Critical patent/GB2471331B/en
Publication of GB0911087D0 publication Critical patent/GB0911087D0/en
Publication of GB2471331A publication Critical patent/GB2471331A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2471331B publication Critical patent/GB2471331B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L1/00—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/14—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
    • H02J7/1423—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle with multiple batteries
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L8/00—Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L8/00—Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
    • B60L8/003—Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
    • H02J7/0055—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/14—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
    • H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J2207/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J2207/40—Indexing scheme relating to details of circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A solar power system 10 includes a photovoltaic solar cell 20 and a switching means 30. An alternator 40 is also connected to the switching means. The switching means has an voltage output connected to a battery 50 or other cell. The photovoltaic cell is arranged to supply a generated voltage to the switching means. The switching means being controllably arranged to output voltage supplied by the photovoltaic cell to the voltage output under a first condition and to otherwise obtain an auxiliary voltage from the alternator. The switching means may monitor the voltage in the battery and the first condition may be that the battery charge is below a predetermined threshold. The first condition of the switching means may be programmable and may include a mechanical, electromechanical, electronic or software based actuator, logic or control system. The system may be used for retrofitting to a vehicle haven a refrigerated compartment.

Description

Solar Power System and Method The present invention relates to a solar power system and method that is particularly applicable for use in vehicle based applications.
Current vehicle based applications such as refrigeration of compartments are powered by capture of energy produced by the vehicle's engine. Typically, an alternator on the engine is used to charge an auxiliary battery which is in turn used to power the application(s).
A particular disadvantage of this arrangement is that it causes extra load on the engine beyond that which is needed to drive the vehicle. This in turn reduces fuel efficiency and increases the ecological impact of the vehicle on the environment due to increased emission of engine gasses and consumption of fuel.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar power system comprising a photovoltaic solar cell and switching means, wherein: the photovoltaic cell is arranged to supply a generated voltage to the switching means; the switching means being connectable to an alternator for obtaining an auxiliary voltage and having a voltage output connectable to a battery, the switching means being controllably arranged to output voltage supplied by the photovoltaic cell to the voltage output under a first condition and to otherwise obtain an auxiliary voltage from said alternator.
Preferably, the switching means include means for monitoring charge in the battery and the first condition comprises a condition when the means for monitoring charge determines the charge in the battery is below a predetermined threshold.
The switching means may include means for monitoring voltage from the photovoltaic cell and the first condition may be when said voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
The switching means preferably includes an alternator switch arranged to control flow of voltage from the alternator, wherein the switching means is arranged to operate the alternator switch in order to obtain the auxiliary voltage.
Preferably, the first condition of the switching means is programmable. The switching means may include a mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic or programmable software actuator for setting for the threshold.
Preferably, the alternator is the alternator of an engine. Most preferably the engine is a vehicle engine and the solar power system includes mounting means for mounting on or in the vehicle.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar power system as described that can be retro-fitted to an existing vehicle. Preferably, the system is retro-fittable to a vehicle having a refrigerated compartment to enable solar power to take the place of a solely engine driven system.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a corresponding method using power from a photovoltaic solar panel supplemented from voltage from an alternator of an engine.
An embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to that accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a solar power system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The solar power system 10 includes a photovoltaic solar cell 20 and switching means30.
The photovoltaic solar cell 20 is arranged to supply a generated voltage to the switching means via an electrical connection.
The switching means 30 is connectable to an alternator 40 via an alternator switch 31 and a terminal 32 for obtaining an auxiliary voltage. The switching means has a voltage output terminal 33 for connection to a battery 50 or other cell.
The switching means 30 includes logic or other control means for controlling the output voltage supplied to the output terminal 33. Voltage obtained from the photovoltaic cell 20 is supplied to the output terminal 33 under a first condition, otherwise the alternator switch 31 is actuated by the switching means to cause voltage to flow from the alternator 40 to supplement that obtained from the photovoltaic cell 20.
In a preferred embodiment, the switching means 30 includes means 34 for monitoring charge in the battery 50. In such an embodiment, the first condition may comprise a condition when the means 34 for monitoring charge determines the charge in the battery is below a predetermined threshold.
The switching means may include additionally or alternately include means for monitoring voltage from the photovoltaic cell and the first condition may be when said voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. The first condition may be a combination of the two conditions or some other condition/combination. For example, if the voltage level in the cell drops below a predetermined threshold and the voltage from the photovoltaic cell is also below a different predetermined threshold then the auxiliary supply from the alternator may be used.
Other factors such as rate of discharge of the battery may also be taken into account.
Preferably, the first condition of the switching means is programmable. The switching means may include a mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic or software based actuator, logic or control system 35 that can be configured for setting for the threshold.

Claims (16)

  1. Claims 1. A solar power system comprising a photovoltaic solar cell and switching means, wherein: the photovoltaic cell is arranged to supply a generated voltage to the switching means; the switching means is connectable to an alternator for obtaining an auxiliary voltage and has a voltage output connectable to a battery, the switching means being controllably arranged to output voltage supplied by the photovoltaic cell to the voltage output under a first condition and to otherwise obtain an auxiliary voltage from said alternator.
  2. 2. A solar power system according to claim 1, wherein the switching means includes means for monitoring charge in the battery, the first condition comprising a condition when the means Q for monitoring charge determines the charge in the battery is below a predetermined threshold. (0
  3. 3. A solar power system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching means includes means for monitoring voltage from the photovoltaic cell, the first condition comprising a condition when said voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
  4. 4. A solar power system according to any preceding claim, wherein the switching means includes an alternator switch arranged to control flow of voltage from the alternator, wherein the switching means is arranged to operate the alternator switch in order to obtain the auxiliary voltage.
  5. 5. A solar power system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first condition of the switching means is programmable.
  6. 6. A solar power system according to any preceding claim when dependent on claim 2 or 3, wherein the switching means includes one or more of a mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic or programmable software actuator for setting for the threshold.
  7. 7. A solar power system according to any preceding claim, wherein the solar power system includes mounting means for mounting on or in a vehicle.
  8. 8. A solar power system according to any preceding claim, wherein the solar power system includes connection means for retro-fitting to a vehicle whereby the switching means is connectable to the alternator of the vehicle.
  9. 9. A solar power system according to claim 8, wherein the battery comprises an auxiliary battery.
  10. 10. A solar power system according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary battery is configured to Q drive a refrigeration compartment. Co
    C\J
  11. 11. A vehicle including a solar power system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the alternator is the alternator of an engine of the vehicle.
  12. 12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a refrigerated compartment, wherein the battery is an auxiliary battery configured, at least in part, to power the refrigeration compartment.
  13. 13. A method of supplementing voltage from a photovoltaic solar panel with voltage from an alternator of an engine, the method comprising: receiving power from a photovoltaic solar panel; and, controllably outputting a voltage supplied by the photovoltaic cell to a voltage output under a first condition and otherwise obtaining an auxiliary voltage from said alternator and outputting a voltage from the photovoltaic cell supplemented by the obtained voltage from the alternator.
  14. 14. A solar power system as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
  15. 15. A vehicle as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
  16. 16. A method as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. (0 Co (\J
GB0911087.5A 2009-06-26 2009-06-26 Solar Power System, Vehicle and Method Expired - Fee Related GB2471331B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0911087.5A GB2471331B (en) 2009-06-26 2009-06-26 Solar Power System, Vehicle and Method

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0911087.5A GB2471331B (en) 2009-06-26 2009-06-26 Solar Power System, Vehicle and Method

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0911087D0 GB0911087D0 (en) 2009-08-12
GB2471331A true GB2471331A (en) 2010-12-29
GB2471331B GB2471331B (en) 2014-05-21

Family

ID=41008315

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0911087.5A Expired - Fee Related GB2471331B (en) 2009-06-26 2009-06-26 Solar Power System, Vehicle and Method

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2471331B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103287271A (en) * 2013-06-08 2013-09-11 南宁市桂驰力车有限公司 Electromobile energy storage system
WO2014044464A2 (en) * 2012-09-20 2014-03-27 Webasto SE Motor vehicle and method
EP3741605A1 (en) * 2019-05-24 2020-11-25 Thermo King Corporation Temperature controlled goods vehicles

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH11168834A (en) * 1997-12-04 1999-06-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Underfloor ventilation system
JP2007022211A (en) * 2005-07-13 2007-02-01 Hino Motors Ltd Power supply device for vehicle
US20090113910A1 (en) * 2007-11-07 2009-05-07 Kwang-Sik Shim Vacuum system for refrigerator truck

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH11168834A (en) * 1997-12-04 1999-06-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Underfloor ventilation system
JP2007022211A (en) * 2005-07-13 2007-02-01 Hino Motors Ltd Power supply device for vehicle
US20090113910A1 (en) * 2007-11-07 2009-05-07 Kwang-Sik Shim Vacuum system for refrigerator truck

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014044464A2 (en) * 2012-09-20 2014-03-27 Webasto SE Motor vehicle and method
WO2014044464A3 (en) * 2012-09-20 2014-08-07 Webasto SE Motor vehicle and method
US9776618B2 (en) 2012-09-20 2017-10-03 Webasto SE Motor vehicle and method
CN103287271A (en) * 2013-06-08 2013-09-11 南宁市桂驰力车有限公司 Electromobile energy storage system
EP3741605A1 (en) * 2019-05-24 2020-11-25 Thermo King Corporation Temperature controlled goods vehicles
US11479085B2 (en) 2019-05-24 2022-10-25 Thermo King Corporation Temperature controlled goods vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2471331B (en) 2014-05-21
GB0911087D0 (en) 2009-08-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9643552B2 (en) Electrical power system for hybrid vehicles
US20120126619A1 (en) Hybrid power source
CN1290418A (en) Advanced battery controller with state of charge control
KR100951979B1 (en) Dual power source system of mild hybrid electric vehicle
CA2910928C (en) Power driving system
KR101959498B1 (en) Wind based load isolated electrical charging system
CN102717763A (en) Hybrid control unit of electromobile and power-on and power-off control circuit of hybrid control unit
JP2014511662A (en) Controllable energy storage device and method for operating a controllable energy storage device
WO2009060156A3 (en) Method of energy management in a motor vehicle
KR102086262B1 (en) Battery Control Device And Vehicle Having The Same
KR101860421B1 (en) Apparatus and method for controlling battery for operating a refrigerator/freezer of a refrigerating/freezing truck
JP2010207061A (en) Power supply system for vehicle
US20110231040A1 (en) Use of discontinuous pulse width modulation for an inverter coupled to an electric motor for a vehicle
GB2471331A (en) Solar power switching arrangement for vehicle
RU2012129512A (en) ELECTRIC BATTERY AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
KR101407973B1 (en) Power apparatus for vehicle
KR100698355B1 (en) Parallel Pulse Charging Power Conditioning System using more than two batteries for the standalone solar or windpower generation
JP2007022211A (en) Power supply device for vehicle
CN103010126A (en) Overall vehicle power cutoff control system
CN101633347A (en) Power supply system
JP2007022210A (en) Power supply device for vehicle
CN202854538U (en) Locomotive microcomputer control device based on output drive hot redundancy and reconnection control
CN105818702B (en) The power supply system and method for new-energy automobile
CN102745117B (en) Small vehicle-mounted refrigerator and power supply method thereof
CN107388896B (en) Turn power distribution equipment and control method on a kind of bullet

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20230626