Classifications

• • 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
  • H02J7/0013—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially
  • H02J7/0024—Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• • 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
  • H02J1/00—Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
  • H02J1/10—Parallel operation of dc sources
• • 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
  • H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
  • H02J3/28—Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
  • H02J3/32—Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy using batteries with converting means
• • 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
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
  • Y02E10/56—Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Definitions

• Powered systems for supplying alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electrical power from a myriad of non-renewable energy sources typically burn hydrocarbon fuel in engine-generators, turbine-generators, thermal-electric generators, fuel cells, etc., and from a myriad of renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic cells, wind generators, hydroelectric devices, biomass generators, solar thermal systems, geothermal systems, etc., for delivery to various electrical inductive loads, such as motors and ballasts for fluorescent or vapor-arc lighting, and/or resistive loads, such as common filament light bulbs, and/or capacitive loads, such as capacitive motor starters, are well known.
• AC alternating current
• DC direct current
• photovoltaic cells and wind generators depend upon an unpredictable availability of the source of energy, e.g. sunlight or wind
• renewable energy sources typically produce unpredictable, unregulated AC or DC power with uncontrolled frequency or voltage levels at uncertain, variable times.
• powered systems utilizing such sources typically collect and store energy in a DC battery bank over time, then apply the stored DC power directly to the loads as needed, and are typically operated as stand-alone systems.
• the battery bank provides a standby energy reservoir for the powered system.
• the known powered systems are inefficient.
• the supply of power is erratic and variable because one or more of the electrical power sources may not be available at all times and, even when available, may not always be operating at its rated nominal power condition or most economical state.
• the loading condition of the various loads is variable as one or more loads are brought online and offline, as well as during the course of their normal operation.
• the above-mentioned battery bank serves to compensate for such variable power and loading conditions, but charging and recharging the battery bank takes a considerable time, thereby degrading system efficiency.
• System efficiency is lowered with no or poor management of which of the available power sources, and how much of the power from each of such available power sources, is to be distributed and delivered to the one or more of the loads that require such power, especially when all such actions advantageously need to be rapidly performed while the power and loading conditions vary. Greater efficiency is both an economic and conservation goal.
• the sources can include any alternating current (AC) source, such as an AC power grid or supply mains, any direct current (DC) source, or any combined AC/DC source.
• the sources can include any non-renewable energy source, for example, one that typically burns hydrocarbon fuel in engine-generators, turbine-generators, thermal-electric generators, fuel cells, etc., or any renewable energy source, such as photovoltaic cells, wind generators, hydroelectric devices, biomass generators, solar thermal systems, geothermal systems, etc.
• the loads can include any electrical inductive loads, such as motors and ballasts for fluorescent or vapor-arc lighting, and/or any resistive loads, such as common filament light bulbs, and/or any capacitive loads, such as capacitive motor starters.
• the arrangement includes an input terminal connected to each source, an output terminal connected to each load, and a plurality of monitor nodes connected to each input terminal and each output terminal.
• a plurality of electrical power storage cells is connected among the input and output terminals.
• each cell is capable of storing power from at least one of the sources and is capable of discharging stored power to at least one of the loads.
• each cell includes a capacitor by itself, or a parallel combination of a battery and a capacitor, for storing DC voltage from the at least one source and for discharging the stored DC voltage to the at least one load.
• each such cell acts as a voltage regulator and filter, is rechargeable and has an extremely low internal resistance for rapid recharging with a high efficiency in energy storage exceeding 95%.
• the cells are preferably architecturally identical and interchangeable with one another. At least one of the cells is arranged in a base layer.
• the arrangement further includes a plurality of controllable switches connected to the cells and having control inputs for enabling each switch to be switched between switching states.
• each switch is a transistor having a gate, a base or a trigger as the control input.
• Each switch can, for example, be a solid-state switch, such as a field effect transistor (FET), especially a HEXFET or a MOSFET, or a FlipFET, or an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), or a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), or their equivalent, e.g., a relay.
• a plurality of diodes is also connected in the arrangement to control the direction of DC current flowing between the input and output terminals. The diodes block the flow of the DC current along unwanted paths through the arrangement. At least one of the switches and another of the cells are together arranged in a switching layer.
• the arrangement still further includes a programmed control system, including a slave controller for each layer, and a master controller operatively connected to each slave controller.
• the control system is operative for dynamically monitoring operating conditions, e.g., operating voltages, at the monitor nodes during operation of each source and each load, and for selectively dynamically controlling the switches at their control inputs to interconnect the cells in different circuit topologies in response to the monitored operating conditions.
• the control system enables each cell in one of the switching states, e.g., a closed state, to store the voltage from at least one of the sources, and enables each cell in the other of the switching states, e.g., an open state, to discharge the stored voltage to at least one of the loads.
• the control system advantageously accesses a memory or look-up table with data corresponding to the stored circuit topologies, and retrieves the data in response to the monitored operating conditions. For example, in some different topologies, all the cells are connected in series and/or in parallel and/or in series-parallel with one another for charging and/or discharging; and in other different topologies, individual cells are selected for charging and/or discharging.
• the various topologies can be simultaneously or sequentially implemented in single or multiple steps.
• the arrangement also called a module, comprises the aforementioned base layer and one or more of the aforementioned switching layers.
• the module can have any number of switching layers and, hence, the module is readily scalable. This not only reduces cost, but also enables the resolution or number of switching layers to be selected as desired for a particular application.
• the switching layers can be arranged in mutually perpendicular planes. For example, one or more of the switching layers can be interconnected in two dimensions and lie in a horizontal or X-Y plane, and then, one or more additional switching layers can be interconnected in a third dimension and lie in a vertical or Z plane, thereby greatly increasing the number of available circuit topologies that can be selected by the controller.
• the arrangement is symmetrical, in that the aforementioned input terminals, as well as the aforementioned output terminals, can be located at either a right side or a left side of the arrangement, thereby enabling the external sources or the external loads to be connected at either side of the arrangement.
• Still another feature of the present invention resides in a method of dynamically managing electrical power between each electrical power source and each electrical load.
• the method is performed by connecting each input terminal to each source, connecting each output terminal to each load, connecting the monitor nodes to each input and output terminal, connecting the electrical power storage cells among the input and output terminals, each cell being capable of storing power from at least one of the sources and being capable of discharging stored power to at least one of the loads, arranging one of the cells in a base layer, connecting the controllable switches to the cells, each switch having a control input for enabling the switch to be switched between switching states, arranging at least one of the switches and another of the cells together in a switching layer, dynamically monitoring operating conditions at the monitor nodes with a slave controller for each layer, and with a master controller operative!
• FIG. 1 is an electrical circuit schematic of part of one embodiment of an arrangement for dynamically managing electrical power between at least one electrical power source and at least one electrical load in accordance with this invention.
• FIG.2 is a programmed master controller for use with the arrangement of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a look-up table accessed by the master controller of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 together comprise an electrical circuit schematic of another embodiment of the arrangement in accordance with this invention.
• FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit schematic of still another embodiment of an arrangement for dynamically managing electrical power between at least one electrical power source and at least one electrical load in accordance with this invention, and is analogous to FIG. 1, but depicting a plurality of slave controllers.
• FIG. 7 is an electrical circuit schematic depicting how a master controller is connected to each slave controller in the embodiment of FIG. 6.
• Reference numeral 10 generally identifies an arrangement for dynamically and efficiently managing electrical power among one or more external electrical power sources 12, 14 and 16 that supply electrical power and one or more external electrical loads that consume electrical power.
• the sources can include any alternating current (AC) source 14, such as an AC power grid or supply mains, any direct current (DC) source 16, or any combined AC/DC source 12.
• the sources 12, 14 and 16 can include any non-renewable energy source, for example, one that typically burns hydrocarbon fuel in engine-generators, turbine-generators, thermal-electric generators, fuel cells, etc., or any renewable energy source, such as photovoltaic cells, wind generators, hydroelectric devices, biomass generators, solar thermal systems, geothermal systems, etc. Although three sources are illustrated in FIG.
• any number of sources, including just one source, can be employed.
• the loads can include any DC resistive load Rl and R2, such as common filament light bulbs, or any AC load 17, such as inductive loads in motors and ballasts for fluorescent or vapor-arc lighting, and/or capacitive loads, such as capacitive motor starters. Although three loads are illustrated in FIG. 1, any number of loads, including just one load, can be employed.
• the arrangement 10 includes at least one input terminal and, as illustrated, a plurality of input terminals 18, 20 and 22 (labeled IN 1, IN 2 and IN 3) connected to each source 12, 14 and 16, at least one output terminal and, as illustrated, a plurality of output terminals 24, 26 and 28 (labeled OUT 1, OUT 2 and OUT 3) connected to each load Rl, R2 and 17, and a plurality of monitor nodes Nl, N2, N3, N4, NS, N6, N7, N8, and N9, each connected to the input and output terminals via a resistor R.
• a programmed control system dynamically monitors operating conditions, e.g., operating voltages, at the monitor nodes during operation of the sources and the loads. In the embodiments of FIGs.
• the control system comprises a single master controller 30 (see FIG. 2).
• the control system comprises a single master controller 42 and a plurality of slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 (see FIG. 7).
• the master controller 30 of FIG, 2 has input pins 1-9 respectively connected to the monitor nodes Nl, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, and N9.
• a plurality of diodes Dl, D2, D6, D7, Dll and D12 is also connected in the arrangement 10 to control the direction of DC current flowing between the input and output terminals.
• the diodes block the flow of the DC current along unwanted paths.
• Monitor nodes Nl, N4 and N7 are respectively connected to input terminals 18, 20 and 22.
• Monitor nodes N3, N6 and N9 are respectively connected to output terminals 24, 26 and 28.
• Diodes Dl, D6 and Dl 1 are connected between monitor node pairs Nl, N2; N4, NS; and N7, N8.
• each cell 32, 34 and 36 is capable of storing power from at least one of the sources and is capable of discharging stored power to at least one of the loads.
• each cell 32, 34 and 36, or power object includes a capacitor by itself, or a parallel combination of a battery (Bl, B2 and B3) and a capacitor (CI, C2 and C3), for storing DC voltage from the at least one source and for discharging the stored DC voltage to the at least one load.
• each such cell acts as a voltage regulator and filter, is rechargeable and has an extremely low internal resistance for rapid recharging with a high efficiency in energy storage exceeding 95%.
• the cells are electronic double layer capacitors, also known as supercaps or ultracaps.
• the cells 32, 34 and 36 are preferably architecturally identical and interchangeable with one another.
• the arrangement 10 further includes a plurality of controllable switches M 1 , M2, M3 and M4 connected to the cells and having control inputs Gl, G2, G3 and G4 for enabling each switch to be switched between open and closed switching states.
• each switch is a transistor having a gate, a base or a trigger as the control input.
• Each switch can, for example, be a solid-state switch, such as a field effect transistor (FET), especially a HEXFET (as illustrated) or a MOSFET, or a FlipFET, or an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), or a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), or their equivalent, e.g., a relay.
• Switch Ml 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 further includes a plurality of control input terminals 38, 40 (labeled IN A and IN B).
• a parallel combination having diode D4 and switch MA in one branch, and diode D5 and switch MB in another branch, is connected across terminals 38 and 26, and interconnects cells 32 and 34.
• Another parallel combination having diode D9 and switch MC in one branch, and diode D10 and switch MD in another 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.
• Additional switch MX having control input GX is connected via diode D3 between terminal 38 and ground.
• Additional switch MY having control input GY is connected via diode D8 between terminal 40 and ground.
• the master controller 30 dynamically monitors the operating conditions, e.g., the operating voltages, at all the monitor nodes Nl , N2, N3, N4, NS, N6, N7, N8, and N9 during operation of each source and each load.
• the master controller 30 detects the voltages at one or more of these nodes, and determines, for example, whether a particular source is supplying power, and/or whether a particular load is receiving power.
• the master controller 30 also selectively dynamically controls all the switches Ml, 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.
• the controller 30 has output pins 12- 17 and 19-22 respectively connected to these control inputs.
• Pin 10 is supplied with a DC voltage.
• Pin 11 is grounded.
• Pin 18 is reserved.
• the controller 30, the cells 32, 34 and 36, and all the switches Ml , M2, M3, M4, MA, MB, MC, MD, MX and MY are DC devices.
• AC-to-DC rectifiers 13 and 15 are employed to convert the AC voltages supplied by the respective AC sources 12 and 14 to DC voltages.
• a DC-to-AC inverter 19 is connected at the AC load 17.
• the master controller 30 enables each cell in one of the switching states, e.g., a closed state, to store the voltage from at least one of the sources, and enables each cell in the other of the switching states, e.g., an open state, to discharge the stored voltage to at least one of the loads.
• the master controller 30 advantageously accesses a memory or look-up table (see FIG.3) with data corresponding to the stored circuit topologies, and retrieves the data in response to the monitored operating conditions. For example, in some different topologies, all the cells are connected in series and/or in parallel and/or in series-parallel with one another for charging and/or discharging; and in other different topologies, individual cells are selected for charging and/or discharging.
• the various topologies can be simultaneously or sequentially implemented in single or multiple steps.
• the table of FIG. 3 depicts the switches Ml, M2, M3, M4, MA, MB, MC, MD, MX and MY across a top row.
• the first column indicates whether the cells are charged or discharged.
• the second column indicates the topology.
• An "X" at the intersection of a column and a row indicates that a particular switch is switched by the master controller 30 to a closed state.
• An "0" at the intersection of a column and a row indicates that a particular switch is switched by the controller 30 to an open state.
• the cells are preferably arranged in layers.
• One of the cells e.g., 36, is arranged in a base layer 60, preferably together with the diodes Dl 1 and D12 and with the monitor nodes N7, N8 and N9.
• Another of the cells, e.g., 34 is arranged in a switching layer 62, together with one or more of the switches M3, M4, MC, MD and MY, and with the diodes D6 and D7, and with the monitor nodes N4, NS and N6.
• Still another of the cells, e.g., 32, is arranged in another switching layer 64, together with one or more of the switches M 1 , M2, MA, MB and MX, and with the diodes Dl and D2, and with the monitor nodes Nl, N2 and N3.
• the arrangement also called a module, comprises one base layer 60 and one or more of the switching layers 62, 64.
• the module can have any number of switching layers and, hence, the module is readily 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 can be arranged in mutually perpendicular planes.
• the aforementioned base layer 60 and one or more of the aforementioned switching layers 62, 64 can be interconnected in two dimensions and lie in a horizontal or X-Y plane, and then, additional switching layers, which each include additional cells B-CAP 4, B-CAP S and B-CAP 6, as best seen in FIG.4, can be interconnected in a third dimension and lie in a vertical or Z plane, thereby greatly increasing the number of available circuit topologies that can be selected by the controller.
• the arrangement is symmetrical and bi-directional, in that the input terminals 12, 14 and 16, as well as the output terminals 24, 26 and 28, can be located at either a right side or a left side of the arrangement, thereby enabling the external sources or the external loads to be connected at either side of the bi-directional arrangement.
• the multiple path, symmetrical, matrix-like, architecture enables the arrangement 10 to be infinitely expandable, of low cost and highly efficient. In some cases, the efficiency approaches or exceeds 99%.
• the arrangement 10 is comprised of as many duplicate switching layers as desired. The number of such switching layers defines the available resolution of the arrangement.
• the arrangement efficiently integrates multiple external power sources, including different AC and DC sources mat may vary between high and low impedances, and blends one or more of their available output powers for storage in one or more of the cells and/or for delivery to one or more of the loads. If no or insufficient output power is available for a particular loading condition, then the cells assume the responsibility for blending one or more of their available stored powers for delivery to one or more of the loads. Power storage or transfer can occur simultaneously or sequentially.
• the arrangement 10 can be described as an intelligent energy collector and distributor, that operates dynamically, i.e., in real time.
• the base layer and one or more switching layers can be mounted on a single printed circuit board (PCB). Additional PCBs having one or more switching layers can be easily interconnected to the first-mentioned PCB.
• the arrangement 10 employs a simple modular structure assembled in a repetitive pattern. The number of cells is defined by the maximum load power and voltage resolution required. Continuous or frequent monitoring of the state of the loads and of the sources is desired. By monitoring the monitor 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.
• FIG. 6 is identical to FIG. 1 , except that the aforementioned slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 have been illustrated, one for each layer 64, 62 and 60.
• FIG. 7 depicts how these slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 are connected to a master controller 42.
• the nodes, cells, and switches in FIGs. 6-7 are identical in structure and function to those described above in FIGs. 1-3 and, hence, need not be repeated. Rather than relying on the master controller 30 alone 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 with greater speed and efficiency, as well as additional functions.
• the master controller 42 is connected to the slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 over bidirectional or handshake lines SO, 52 and 54.
• the master controller 42 has control outputs Control 1 , Control 2, Control 3, Control 4 and Control 5 that are connected either to control inputs GX, Gl, GA, GB and G2 of the slave controller 44 in switching layer 64, and/or to control inputs GY, G3, GC, GD and G4 of the slave controller 46 in switching layer 62.
• the slave controller 44 monitors the nodes N 1 , N2 and N3 and is connected to the control inputs GX, Gl , GA, GB and G2.
• the slave controller 46 monitors the nodes N4, N5 and N6 and is connected to the control inputs GY, G3, GC, GD and G4.
• the slave controller 48 monitors the nodes N7, N8 and N9.
• the arrangement comprises a plurality of identical cells or power objects in the switching layers.
• Each power object contains a positive input/output and a negative input/output with blocking diodes to ensure polarities are not violated.
• fast charge and discharge energy storage components such as the aforementioned supercaps B-CAP 1, B-CAP 2 and B-CAP 3.
• the controllable switches typically semiconductor devices, such as HEXFETS.
• each of the switching layers has signal input and output lines for controlling the switches and for monitoring the power states available, and the load demands required and/or possible, for the best possible solution (performance) for any given moment in time. Controlling all this is the 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 same.
• the arrangement can be operated as a power pulse consumer (power charging), or as a power pulse generator (power supplier). Charging or discharging the cells can be performed as at least one timed function, or as a series of timed functions. These timed functions (pulses) can be very long, or very short, or any time period in between. A rapid series of long pulses would yield a substantially constant output with little or no variability or shape, i.e., a straight horizontal line function, or DC voltage. Everything else would yield a variable output having at least a slope or even greater variability, or AC voltage.
• each power state can be composed of at least one or an aggregate of pulses (a pulse is comprised of voltage, amperage, and time) for a given time period, it becomes possible to shape any type of power charging function, or power consuming function, as required, for any given source, or any given load.
• the aforementioned slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 with accessible memory is added to each cell in each layer to make each cell “smart".
• the addition of localized "smart" cells provides the additional ability to transfer certain functions, such as charge state, noise control, timing, distortion, shape, etc. at the source where they can be better and faster managed, thereby expanding the sophistication and efficiency of the arrangement.
• the arrangement is always monitored and managed by the master controller with accessible memory for storing a truth table, and for executing additional subroutines for providing customized functionality, such as a specific wave shape, a power limitation, a load priority dropout, and/or a sequence table, etc.
• the slave controllers 44, 46 and 48 monitor local conditions in each layer the same way the master controller does, but each slave controller is assigned specific functions by the master controller to take over or supplement the functions of the master controller. Further, secondary or tertiary functions can be relegated to the slave controllers 44, 46 and 48, such as noise removal or switching distortions.
• the arrangement has the capability to develop many varied power management functions through software development on its hardware platform.

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=56356281

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2015
  • 2015-11-10 KR KR1020177010162A patent/KR101899132B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2015-11-10 JP JP2017535659A patent/JP6482105B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-11-10 CN CN201580068914.4A patent/CN107112749B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-11-10 WO PCT/US2015/059805 patent/WO2016111744A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-11-10 EP EP15877294.7A patent/EP3243252A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-11-10 CA CA2963150A patent/CA2963150A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events