WO2009134115A2

WO2009134115A2 - Uninterrupted battery operated generator

Info

Publication number: WO2009134115A2
Application number: PCT/MY2009/000059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chin Song Teoh; De Zheng Teoh
Original assignee: Green-Tech Holdings Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date: 2008-04-29
Filing date: 2009-04-28
Publication date: 2009-11-05
Also published as: WO2009134115A3

Abstract

The uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) of the present invention is a system device that generates electricity without using fossil fuel and without having to use external sources to recharge. It uses two sets of energy storage means (11, 12) alternatingly, to power smaller horsepower rotational torque generating means (15) that drives a bigger horsepower alternator (16), using either direct or indirect drives, thereby generating electrical power. The key feature of the invention is that the energy storage means (11, 12) must have a shorter charging time than the operating time, such as super-capacitor ultra-capacitor, lithium ion-capacitor or other similar storage means. The alternator (16) is coupled to a gyroscopic liked flywheel that stores and multiplies the kinetic energy when it reaches the stipulated speed thus the energy supply to the rotational torque generating means (15) can be cut and feed when necessary, thus giving it an over-unity power. Therefore, supplying energy to load and recharging the standby sets of energy storage means (11 or 12), through a charging means (17). The incorporation of under-current sensor (19), under- voltage sensor (13), and frequency sensor (14) to the controller (10) controls the operation and opening and closing of switches (21 to 26) of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1). Switching the two energy storage means (11, 12) between operating and standby modes, charging the energy storage means (11 or 12) when there is little or no load, and cutting off and supplying power to the rotational torque generating means (15), to enhance the energy efficiency, thus creating a system devise of an uninterrupted battery operated generator (1).

Description

UNINTERRUPTED BATTERY OPERATED GENERATOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

This invention relates to an uninterrupted battery operated generator which is suitable for supplying power to remote areas where capital costs for planting a power station near the load is economically unjustifiable or where the costs for transmission of power from a power station far away from the load centre could not be justified. The system is also suitable for use in situations where continuity of power supply is desirable and even critical. Indeed the uninterrupted battery operated generator of the present invention find applications in all apparatus or devices that require electrical power supply including electric vehicle, motorbike, phone and the like.

Description of Related Arts

There are several conventional methods of power generation, each with quite different cost structures, project lead times, advantages and disadvantages. Conventional methods of power generation include thermal plant, gas turbine and hydro power station. Thermal plant uses fossil oil or coal as feedstock. The burning of fossil oil or coal emits pollutants, notwithstanding that the quantum of emissions could be mitigated through the use of scrubbing apparatus. Gas turbine has much shorter lead time from planning, commissioning to operation, but both the capital cost per MVA and the operating cost are relatively high. Again, there are environmentally polluting emissions from the combustion of gaseous hydrocarbon such as methane or the like. In power generation using hydro power, the lead time is lengthy, the capital cost enormous although the capital cost per MVA is relatively low compared with thermal plant or gas turbine, due to colossal size of projects of this nature which involve substantial civil engineering works in generally remote areas. However, the operating costs are relatively and attractively low. In Malaysia, there are limited sites with consistent ten-year hydrology data that support feasibility of planting hydropower station except in the state of Sarawak. Another shortcoming of hydro power plant is that they are generally located in very remote jungle, necessitating long transmission lines in delivering loads to distant load centres, which add to costs.

Increasingly, people are resorting to environmentally friendly means of generating power. These include harnessing renewable energy such as wind and solar energies. The adoption of photovoltaics technology in the conversion of solar energy into electricity by the use of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays is gaining momentum, making it the world's fastest-growing energy technology. This technology is more suitable in regions where there is abundant sunlight available. The shortcoming of photovoltaics technology is the high cost of phtovoltaics arrays, although the costs are expected to decline as the adoption rate increases. Another renewable energy source is conversion of wind energy into electricity using wind turbine. Wind mapping must first be carried out to determine if a location is suitable for harnessing wind power. The locations found suitable to harness wind power however may not coincide with the location where power is required.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system that does not utilise fossil fuel or gaseous hydrocarbon, and thereby avoiding emissions of pollutants into the environment.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cost effective power generation system to supply power to remote area with dispersed load centres, particularly where the infrastructure costs to bring power to the load centre, whether it be power plant or transmission system, are economically unjustifiable.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a power generation system that would supply power reliably without outages.

The objectives above could be achieved by using the uninterrupted battery operated generator of the present invention. The uninterrupted battery operated generator comprises at least two energy storage means, a rotational torque generating means, an alternator, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a frequency sensor, a charging means, a controller, a set of switches and an on-off push button. The rotational torque generation means is driven by the energy storage means to rotate the rotor of the alternator to generate electrical power. The key feature of the invention is that the energy storage means have charging time that is much shorter than operating time such that when the first energy storage means is exhausted after a period of operation, its power would be restored through charging up by the second energy storage means, which simultaneously also supply power to loads connected to the alternator. A controller is incorporated for controlling the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator. The controller controls the switching between energy storage means and enabling of the charging means through the opening and closing of a set of control switches. The voltage sensor, the currnet sensor and the frequency sensor provide the necessary signals for the controller on switching logic decision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The features and usefulness of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig.l is a block diagram of the uninterrupted battery operated generator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. In accordance with the present invention, it is provided an uninterrupted battery operated generator (1).

Referring to Fig. 1, the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) comprises an alternator (16), a rotational torque generating means (15) to drive the rotor of the alternator (16), at least two energy storage means (11, 12), a first and a second energy storage means (11, 12) to provide electrical input to the rotational torque generating means (15), a voltage sensor (13) to monitor the voltage across the energy storage means (11, 12), a frequency sensor (14) to measure the rotational speed of the rotor of the alternator (16), a charging means (17) for energy storage means (11, 12), a current sensing means (19) to detect load condition, a controller (10) for controlling the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) together with the attendant operation control switches (21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) and an on-off push button (30) for the user to switch on and off of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1).

The energy storage means (11, 12) are preferably DC battery banks of predetermined rating or capacity in ampere hour. More particularly, the DC battery banks are of the type with much shorter recharge time than the operating time. The energy storage means (11, 12) may also be other devices capable of storing electrical energy or charges such as ultra-capacitor, super-capacitor and the like. The energy storage means (11, 12) provide the electrical input for the operation of the rotational torque generating means (15).

The voltage sensor (13) is connected across the energy storage means (11, 12), which is also the input voltage across the rotational torque generating means (15) to monitor the voltage across the first or second energy storage means (11 or 12). Two preferred embodiments of the voltage sensor (13) are step down transformer and voltage divider. The rotational torque generating means (15) may be a DC motor or an AC motor complete with an inverter.

The frequency sensor (14) measures the rotational speed of the rotor of the alternator (16). The current sensor (19) measures the load current drawn by load (18), excluding the load drawn by the charging means (17). The current sensor (19) could be a current transformer.

The outputs of voltage sensor (13), the frequency sensor (14) and the current sensor (19) are connected to the input ports of the controller (10) to provide inputs for the controller (11) on the command to be sent to the appropriate devices to control the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1). With the signals received on the input ports, the controller (10) control the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) by executing the necessary commands to the closing and opening of various switches as will be described later. The controller (10) has one input port electrically connected to a push button (30) which receives command from the user with respect to turning on and off of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1). Another three input ports are electrically connected to receive the outputs of the voltage sensor (13), the frequency sensor (14) and the current sensor (19) respectively. The controller (10) is adapted to monitor and compare the voltage as measured by the voltage sensor (13) against a predefined under voltage condition designed or pre-programmed into the controller (10). The controller (10) is also adapted to monitor and compare the rotational speed and current as measured by the frequency sensor (14) and current sensor (19) against a predefined frequency and current conditions respectively designed or pre-programmed into the controller (10). The controller (10) can be a discrete digital circuit, a discrete analogue circuit, a hybrid discrete analogue and digital circuit, a digital microprocessor or a digital microcontroller. The controller (10) includes a comparator to compare the voltage as measured by the voltage sensor (13) to a predefined under voltage condition. The controller (10) has at least 5 pairs of output ports to control the opening and closing of the switches (21 to 26). The controller may have an internal power source such as DC battery or may derive power source to operate the controller (10) from the energy storage means (11, 12).

The energy storage means (11, 12) are connected in parallel to the input terminals of the rotational torque generating means (15) via switches (21 and 22) respective. The switches (21) and (22), which are controlled by the controller (10), are designed or pre-programmed to interlock with one another, preferably electrically, so that the energy storage means (11, 12) will not be connected simultaneously to the rotational torque generating means (15). The output shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) is mechanically coupled to the rotor of the alternator (16) by a belt and pulley transmission system. The alternator (16) can be a single phase or three-phase alternator with its rotor coupled to the shaft of the DC motor (15) through a suitable transmission system including a belt and pulley transmission system. The alternator (16) is provided with a permanent magnet through which rotor winding of the alternator (16) will cut through the flux during rotation.

The charging means (17) receives power from the output of the alternator (16) via a charger switch (26). The opening and closing of the charger switch (26) is controlled by the controller (10). The controller (10) will send a command to close the charger switch (26) either when the controller (10) detects an under voltage condition on the output of the voltage sensor (13) or a low load condition on the output of the current sensor (19).

The operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) will now be described with reference to Fig. 1. To start the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) running, the user actuates a push button (30) on the controller (10). When the push button (30) is actuated, the controller (10) closes the supply switch (21) or (22), depending on the programming mode set into the controller (10). For convenience in the description, we assume that supply switch (21) has been set to close first. The closing of the supply switch (21) is followed in a very short time lag by the closing of motor switch (25) by the controller (10). On receiving power supply, the rotational torque generating means (15) is energised, converting electrical energy input from the energy storage means (11, 12) into rotational mechanical energy on the output, namely the rotation of the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15). The rotation of the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) is translated into rotational mechanical energy of the rotor of the alternator (16) as the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) is mechanical coupled to the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15). Preferably, the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) is coupled to the rotor of the alternator (16) by a pulley and belt transmission system. Preferably, the pulley at the rotational torque generating means (15) has a diameter that is at least three times larger than that of the pulley coupled to the rotor of the alternator (16). This increases the speed of rotation of the rotor of the alternator (16) by the same ratio, thus reducing the power input to the rotational torque generating means (15) in the electricity generation process. The pulley coupled to the rotor of the alternator (16) also has a gyroscope flywheel mouthed thereon to enhance the kinetic momentum of the rotor of the alternator (16). A frequency sensor (14) is mounted on the alternator (16) to monitor the rotational speed of the rotor of the alternator (16). It should be obvious to someone skilled in the art that the frequency sensor (14) could also be mounted in the rotational torque generating means (15) to measure the rotational speed of the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15). The output of the frequency sensor (14) is connected to an input port of the controller (10) to regulate on-off of the motor switch (25), so as to energise or de-energise the rotational torque generating means (15), and hence reduces the input energy required in generating electricity by the alternator (16).

The rotating rotor of the alternator (16) cuts the magnetic flux generated by a permanent magnet or the magnetic flux generated by the stator winding of the alternator (16), converting rotational mechanical energy into electrical energy via a commutator in the rotor of the alternator (16). The electrical power is then feed to the loads (18) or the charger (17) for charging the energy storage means (11 or 12), where appropriate.

As time past, the energy stored in the first energy storage means (11) will deplete and the voltage across the output of the first energy storage means (11), as measured by the voltage sensor (15), will drop. When voltage across the output of the first energy storage means (11) drops to a predefined voltage level, the controller (10) causes supply switch (22) to close and in a very short time lag, the controller causes the supply switch (21) to open so that the necessary power for the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) will be sourced from the second energy storage means (12). As the second energy storage means (12) is connected into the system before the disconnection of the first energy storage means (11), the power supply to the load (18) would be continuous without interruption. At a short time lag after closing the supply switch (22), the controller (10) causes charger switch (26) to close, connecting the outputs of the alternator (16) to the inputs of the charging means (17). Simultaneously, the controller (10) causes charging switch (23) to close. In this way, part of the power converted from the second energy storage means (12) is used to supply load (18) and part for the charging of the first energy storage means (11). In this embodiment, the first energy storage means (11) are DC battery banks of the type with much shorter recharge time than the operating time. As a result the first energy storage means (11) will be fully charged up before the power of the second energy storage means (12) is depleted. When the first energy storage means (11) is fully charged up, the controller (10) causes charger switch (26) and charging switch (23) to open.

When the voltage across the output of the second energy storage means (12) drops to a predefined voltage level, the controller (10) causes the supply switch (21) to close and in a very short time lag, the controller causes the supply switch (22) to open so that the necessary power for the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) will be sourced from the newly charged up first energy storage means (11). As the first energy storage means (11) is connected into the system before the disconnection of the second energy storage means (12), the power supply to the load (18) would be continuous without interruption. At a short time lag after closing the supply switch (21), the controller (10) causes charger switch (26) to close, connecting the outputs of the alternator (16) to the inputs of the charging means (17). Simultaneously, the controller (10) causes the charging switch (24) to close. In this way, part of the power converted from the first energy storage means (12) is used to supply load (18) and part for the charging of the second energy storage means (12). In this embodiment, the second energy storage means (12) are DC battery banks of the type with much shorter recharge time than the operating time. As a result the second energy storage means (12) will be fully charged up before the power of the first energy storage means (11) is depleted. When the second energy storage means (12) is fully charged up, the controller (10) causes charger switch (26) and charging switch (24) to open. The current sensor (19) measures the load current drawn by the load (18). As described earlier, the output of the current sensor (19) is connected to an input port of the controller (10). When the controller (10) detects a low load current of a predetermined value, the controller (10) closes charging switch (26) and either charging switch (23 or 24) that is associated with the idling energy storage means (11 or 12), i.e. energy storage means (11 or 12) that is not supplying energy to the rotational torque generating means (15) at the time.

The above operating sequence will be repeated to generate environmentally friend power until a component in the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) reaches its useful life span and that component can be selectively replaced to put the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) in operation again.

The above description is made with reference to only two energy storage means (11, 12). It is obvious to those skilled in the art that three or more energy storage means could be included in the system to extend the operating time and service life of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1).

Although the present invention have been described in detail above with certain preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment above without materially departing from the novel teachings of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims or equivalent thereof.

Claims

1. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) comprising: at least two energy storage means (11₃ 12), a first and a second energy storage means (11, 12), a rotational torque generating means (15) with the input connectable to the first energy storage means (11) via supply switch (21) or to the second energy storage means (12) via supply switch (22); an alternator (16), with the rotor of the alternator (16) mechanically coupled to the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) and with the output of the alternator (16) connectable to the load ( 18) ; a voltage sensor (13) to monitor the voltage at the input terminals of the the DC motor (15); a charging means (17) for energy storage means (11, 12) with the inputs connected to the outputs of the alternator (16) and with the outputs connected to the first or the second the energy storage means (11, 12) via charging switch (23) or (24); a controller (10) for controlling the operation of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) via control on the opening and closing of control supply switches (21, 22), motor switch (25), charging switch (23, 24) and charger switch (26); and an on-off push button (30) for the user to switch on and off of the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1); wherein the energy storage means (11, 12) has recharging time that is shorter than the running time.

2. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the energy storage means (11, 12) are DC battery banks and wherein the DC battery banks have recharging time that is shorter than the running time.

3. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the energy storage means (11, 12) is a super capacitor bank.

4. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the speed of the rotor of the alternator (16) is at least three times the speed of the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15), thereby generating higher electrical output from a given electrical supply input.

5. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 4, wherein the ratio of the speed of the rotor of the alternator (16) to that of the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) is controlled by way of sizing the diameter of the pulleys coupled to the rotor and shaft respectively.

6. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein a gyroscope flywheel is provided and mouthed to the alternator (16) to enhance the kinetic momentum of the rotor of the alternator (16)

7. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) is further provided with a frequency sensor (14), the frequency sensor (14) being mounted on the DC motor (15) or on the alternator (16) to monitor the rotational speed of either the shaft of the rotational torque generating means (15) or the rotor of the alternator (16) to provide input to the controller (10) to regulate on-off of the motor switch (25), and therefore excitation or de-excitation of the rotational torque generating means (15), and hence minimising power input into the rotational torque generating means (15) in generating electricity.

8. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1 or 7, wherein the uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) is further provided with a current sensor (19), the current sensor (19) adapted to measure the load current (18) drawn by the load (18), with the output of the current sensor (19) connected to the input port of the controller (10) to provide an input signal to the controller (10) to send appropriate command to effect charging of the idling energy storage means (11 or 12) when the load is low.

9. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the alternator (16) is a single phase alternator.

10. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the alternator is a three phase alternator.

11. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the system includes more than two energy storage means.

12. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the controller (10) is a discrete digital circuit, a discrete analogue circuit, a hybrid discrete analogue and digital circuit, a digital microprocessor or a digital microcontroller.

13. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the rotational torque generating means (15) may be a DC motor or an AC motor provided with an inverter.

14. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the power of an energy storage means (11, 12) is deemed depleted when the voltage across the output terminals of the energy storage means (11, 12), as measured by the voltage sensor (13), drops below a predefined voltage designed or pre-programmed into the controller (10).

15. An uninterrupted battery operated generator (1) as in claim 1, wherein the power supply to the controller may be an internal power source such as DC battery or may be power drawn from the energy storage means (11, 12) operating at the time.