Energy supply system and method for operating such energy supply system

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy supply system, in particular for a vehicle. The invention relates to a power plant (10) comprising an energy store (14) having at least one supercapacitor assembly (16), a consumer / generator assembly (12) for receiving energy from the energy store (14) and for providing energy to be stored in the energy store (14), a charging / discharging unit (26) for conducting energy from the consumer / generator assembly (12) into the energy store (14) in a charging operating state, and an actuation unit (30) for actuating the charging / discharging unit (26). The control unit (30) is designed to control the charging / discharging unit (28) in the charging operating state in order to charge the at least one supercapacitor component (16) to a nominal storage voltage, the nominal storage voltage increasing as the aging of the at least one supercapacitor component (16) increases.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an energy supply system, which can be used, for example, to power electrical appliances in a vehicle. The invention also relates to a method for operating such an energy supply system. Background Technology

[0002] Electric vehicles, as well as vehicles powered by internal combustion engines or hybrid systems, increasingly incorporate electrical appliances that are fed by energy storage devices located within the vehicle via an onboard electrical network. Such energy storage devices may include one or more batteries, which in particular can store and provide the energy required to drive the electric drive motor in electric vehicles. Alternatively or additionally, such energy storage devices may include supercapacitor (SCAP) assemblies, which, for example, consist of multiple supercapacitors (SCAPs) connected in series, are capable of absorbing energy released during braking very quickly and releasing energy just as quickly. Therefore, such supercapacitor assemblies are particularly suitable for providing electrical power for short-term auxiliary processes, such as for auxiliary electric steering systems or for powering or assisting the electric traction motor during intense acceleration. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an energy supply system, particularly for vehicles, and a method for operating such an energy supply system, which can prevent excessive aging of the supercapacitor components contained in the energy supply system and thus increase their maximum operating life.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, this task is solved by an energy supply system, particularly for vehicles, comprising:

[0005] An energy storage device having at least one supercapacitor component;

[0006] A power consumer / generator assembly for receiving energy from the energy storage device and for providing energy to be stored in the energy storage device;

[0007] A charging / discharging unit for transferring energy from the power consumer / generator assembly to the energy storage unit during charging operation;

[0008] A control unit is used to control the charging / discharging unit.

[0009] The control unit of the energy supply system constructed according to the present invention is configured to control the charging / discharging unit in a charging operation state in order to charge the at least one supercapacitor assembly to a rated storage voltage, wherein the rated storage voltage increases with the aging of the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0010] The aging of supercapacitor assemblies or supercapacitors contained therein is essentially determined by the voltage or temperature applied thereto, at which these supercapacitor assemblies or supercapacitors operate. Operation under unfavorable temperature conditions, and especially charging to relatively high voltages, contributes to the rapid aging of supercapacitors. Because the rated storage voltage, i.e., the storage voltage to which the supercapacitor assembly is maximized during charging operation, is ensured in the energy supply system according to the invention, it increases with increasing aging. Therefore, relatively low rated storage voltages can be used for a relatively long period of the supercapacitor assembly's operating life, resulting in less aging of the supercapacitor assembly. Because the rated storage voltage increases with the aging of the supercapacitor assembly and the resulting inevitable performance degradation, it ensures that even after a long operating life during auxiliary processes, i.e., when providing electrical energy from the supercapacitor assembly, the electrical power required for operating the power-consuming / generator assembly can be maintained for the duration typically required or demanded for the auxiliary processes.

[0011] In order to operate one or more power-consuming appliances at a defined operating voltage, the charging / discharging unit can be configured to direct energy from the energy storage unit to the power-consuming appliance / generator assembly in a fed-out operating state.

[0012] To ensure that during the auxiliary process, i.e. when power is fed from the at least one supercapacitor assembly, the fed system, i.e. the power consumer / generator assembly, can operate in a defined operating state, especially at a defined voltage, it is proposed that the control unit be configured to control the charging / discharging unit in the power-fed operating state in order to provide the rated operating voltage to the power consumer / generator assembly.

[0013] For this purpose, the charging / discharging unit may include, for example, a DC / DC (direct current / direct current) converter.

[0014] To avoid excessive size of the at least one supercapacitor assembly, but also to be able to supply the required voltage to the power consumer / generator assembly under high load conditions, the control unit can be configured to operate the charging / discharging unit as a boost converter in the power-feeding operation state and / or operate the charging / discharging unit as a buck converter in the charging operation state.

[0015] Depending on the design or size of the at least one supercapacitor assembly, alternatively or additionally, the control unit may be configured to operate as a buck converter charging / discharging unit in a fed-out operating state and / or as a boost converter charging / discharging unit in a charged-out operating state.

[0016] In order to ensure that the supercapacitor assembly is adequately, but not unnecessarily, overcharged during the operating life of the energy supply system or the supercapacitor assembly contained therein, the control unit can be configured to determine the rated storage voltage based on aging state information representing the aging state of the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0017] For example, the aging status information may include operational life information representing the operational life of the at least one supercapacitor assembly. Such operational life information may be represented, for example, by the duration since the energy supply system or supercapacitor assembly was first put into operation, by the sum of the operating duration of, for example, a vehicle containing such an energy supply system, or by the number of charging or discharging processes performed to date, or a combination of these parameters.

[0018] In a design scheme that takes into account actual aging more precisely, aging status information can include operating parameter information representing at least one operating parameter of the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0019] For example, runtime parameter information may include:

[0020] Information regarding the internal resistance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0021] and / or

[0022] Information regarding the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0023] Each of these parameters is related to the aging and therefore the operational life of this supercapacitor assembly. As the capacitance of the supercapacitor assembly or the individual supercapacitors in such an assembly decreases, the increased internal resistance is a significant factor contributing to the decrease in energy released or releasable during discharge as aging increases.

[0024] To obtain such operating parameters, an operating parameter determination component can be set up to determine at least one operating parameter that depends on the aging state of the at least one supercapacitor component.

[0025] The operating parameter determination component may, for example, be configured to determine the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly using known measurement methods and / or, preferably based on the ESR resistance value, the internal resistance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly using known measurement methods.

[0026] To ensure, particularly for older energy supply systems or their supercapacitor assemblies, that the gradually increasing rated storage voltage over the course of operation does not shift into the decomposition voltage range of the supercapacitor assembly or its supercapacitor, it is proposed that a control unit be configured to increase the rated storage voltage to the maximum rated storage voltage, wherein the nominal voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly is greater than or equal to the maximum rated storage voltage. The supercapacitor is, in principle, designed such that its nominal voltage is sufficiently far from the decomposition voltage to prevent voltage-determined decomposition processes within the supercapacitor from being triggered even when the rated storage voltage is increased to the nominal voltage range.

[0027] To provide a sufficiently high storage capacity or a sufficiently high nominal voltage for the supercapacitor assembly, the at least one supercapacitor assembly may comprise multiple supercapacitors connected in series and / or multiple supercapacitors connected in parallel. It should be noted that in the case of multiple supercapacitors connected in series, the nominal voltage of each supercapacitor is added to the nominal voltage of the entire supercapacitor assembly, because, especially when identical supercapacitors are used in the supercapacitor assembly, substantially the same voltage drop occurs across each supercapacitor. In the case of such parallel supercapacitor connections, the energy storage capacity of the supercapacitor assembly is increased, while the nominal voltage of the supercapacitor assembly is not increased in principle due to the number of parallel supercapacitors.

[0028] It should be noted that such supercapacitors, also known as supercapacitors, which are combined into supercapacitor assemblies in parallel and / or series circuits, can be constructed as double-layer capacitors, pseudocapacitors, or hybrid capacitors. Multiple supercapacitor assemblies connected in series and / or in parallel can also be used as energy storage devices in the energy supply system according to the invention, each comprising one or more supercapacitors of the above-described structural form.

[0029] A power consumer / generator assembly may include at least one generator and at least one power consumer. For example, in an electric motor-driven vehicle with wheels individually driven by separate traction electric motors, one or more of these traction electric motors may function as generators during charging operation. Similarly, each traction electric motor of this type may be fed by an energy storage device as an energy consumer.

[0030] The power consumer / generator assembly may include at least one power consumer that, in fed-out operation, is fed from an energy storage unit via a charging / discharging unit. Such a power consumer, fed from an energy storage unit, particularly the at least one supercapacitor assembly, via a charging / discharging unit, is, for example, an electrical power consumer that operates at a defined voltage or within a defined, relatively narrow voltage range for proper functioning.

[0031] Alternatively or additionally, the power consumer / generator assembly may include at least one power consumer that is fed from energy storage without the aid of a charging / discharging unit. Such a power consumer, which is fed not through a charging / discharging unit but, for example, directly from the energy storage or the at least one supercapacitor assembly, is, for example, an electrical power consumer, and a minimum voltage must be set for its proper operation; however, in principle, it can also operate at a higher voltage, especially the maximum voltage that can be provided by the energy storage or the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0032] According to another aspect, the task described at the beginning is solved by a method, particularly in vehicles, for operating an energy supply system constructed according to the invention, in which the rated storage voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly is determined such that the rated storage voltage increases with the aging of the at least one supercapacitor assembly.

[0033] In order to ensure that the supercapacitor modules used in the energy storage system are fully charged at all times during their operational lifespan, but not unnecessarily overcharged, the rated storage voltage may be specified to be increased from the minimum rated storage voltage assigned to the minimum aging state of the at least one supercapacitor module to the maximum rated storage voltage assigned to the maximum aging state of the at least one supercapacitor module.

[0034] By ensuring that the maximum rated storage voltage is less than or equal to the nominal voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly, the rated storage voltage can be prevented from rising to a level that would pose a risk of decomposition within the supercapacitor. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is shown that:

[0036] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates the energy supply system in the vehicle.

[0037] Figure 2 This illustrates the relationship between the aging condition of a supercapacitor assembly and the rated storage voltage that varies according to the aging condition.

[0038] Figure 3 The energy supply system corresponding to the alternative construction is shown. Figure 1 The illustration;

[0039] Figure 4 Another corresponding energy supply system for the alternative construction is shown. Figure 1 The illustration. Detailed Implementation

[0040] exist Figure 1 Vehicle 10 is generally designated as 10. Vehicle 10 may be a vehicle driven by an electric motor, but it may also be a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine or a hybrid drive system. In vehicle 10, the power consumption / generator assembly is generally designated as 12, which includes a plurality of power consumption devices 12b and also includes one or more generators 12a for providing electrical energy, for example, during braking. The power consumption / generator assembly 12 may include an onboard electrical network 13 through which electrical energy can be fed to the power consumption devices 12b or directed to an energy storage device generally designated as 14.

[0041] exist Figure 1 The energy storage device 14 shown includes a supercapacitor assembly 16, which may further include multiple supercapacitors 18, 20, and 22 connected in series. It should be emphasized that the number of supercapacitors connected in series can be selected based on the energy to be stored in the supercapacitor assembly 16, and in particular, based on the nominal voltage of the supercapacitor assembly 16 preset for this energy supply system 24 of the vehicle 10. Depending on the required energy storage capacity, the supercapacitor assembly 16 may alternatively or additionally include supercapacitors connected in parallel. In principle, the energy storage device 14 may also include multiple supercapacitor assemblies 16 connected in parallel and / or multiple supercapacitor assemblies 16 connected in series.

[0042] In particular, when the vehicle 10 is configured as an electric motor driven vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the energy storage unit 14 may include one or more batteries in addition to the supercapacitor assembly 16, at least one of which may be used as a traction battery to store or release electrical energy required to operate the electric traction motor.

[0043] In vehicle 10, the supercapacitor assembly 16 is primarily used to provide the required energy for a relatively short period of time in a power-feeding operation state under high energy demand conditions (e.g., when the electrically driven vehicle needs to accelerate sharply or when a steering process is performed in an electric steering system). Similarly, in short-term energy release conditions, such as during braking intervention, the supercapacitor assembly 16 can absorb and store energy from the power consumer / generator assembly 12 or the on-board electrical grid 13 in a charging operation state.

[0044] The energy flow between the supercapacitor assembly 16 and the power consumer / generator assembly 12 is regulated by the charging / discharging unit 26. The charging / discharging unit 26 may include a DC / DC converter 28, which is controlled by the control unit 30 in the manner and method described below and ensures that a preset or suitable rated operating voltage U is provided for the operation of the power consumer in the power consumer / generator assembly 12 during power-feed operation. B In other words, the supercapacitor assembly 16 is charged to its rated storage voltage U during the charging operation. S .

[0045] Considering that the performance of supercapacitor 18, 20, and 22 degrades during the operational life of the supercapacitor assembly 16 or its supercapacitors 18, 20, and 22, typically resulting in a reduction in the energy that can be released in the discharged state, the nominal voltage of the supercapacitor assembly 16 in its new state is designed to be greater than the nominal voltage that is theoretically required considering the operating characteristics of the DC / DC converter. This means that the supercapacitor assembly 16 is, in principle, oversized for the new state of the supercapacitor assembly 16 or the vehicle 10 having the supercapacitor assembly. Due to this oversized supercapacitor assembly 16 and considering the DC / DC converter operating as a boost converter in the discharged state, the supercapacitor assembly 16 can be charged in the charging state to a relatively low rated storage voltage U preset by the control unit 30. S .

[0046] Because the internal resistance of the supercapacitor assembly 16 or its individual supercapacitors 18, 20, and 22 is relatively small and the capacitance of the supercapacitors 18, 20, and 22, as well as the total capacitance of the supercapacitor assembly 16, is relatively high in the new state, when power is fed into the power consumer / generator assembly 12 in the power supply operation state, the rated storage voltage U is relatively low. S In the same situation, it can also provide sufficient power for the same duration.

[0047] Because the voltage of the supercapacitor assembly 16 drops during this power feeding process, the DC / DC converter 28 is adjusted to provide at its output a substantially constant rated operating voltage U set for operating the power consumer / generator assembly 12. B .

[0048] After the supercapacitor assembly 16 is fully or partially discharged, the DC / DC converter 28 is operated under the control of the control component 30 during charging operation in such a way that the charging voltage applied to the supercapacitor assembly 16 substantially corresponds to the rated storage voltage U. SAlternatively, the charging process may proceed in such a manner that the rated storage voltage U of the supercapacitor assembly 16 is reached. S .

[0049] As in Figure 2 As shown, as the performance of the supercapacitor assembly 16 inevitably degrades during its operating life, the DC / DC converter 28 is operated by means of the control unit 30, so that in the event of repeated charging operation during the operating life, for example from the minimum rated storage voltage U set for a new state of the supercapacitor assembly 16 or the vehicle 10 represented by time point t0. Smin Initially, gradually increase the rated storage voltage U. S Through a higher rated storage voltage U S The decrease in capacitance of supercapacitor assembly 16 or the increase in internal resistance of supercapacitor assembly 16 or its individual supercapacitors 18, 20, 22 during the operating life can be compensated for by charging supercapacitor assembly 16 to a higher rated storage voltage U during subsequent power-fed operation of DC / DC converter 28. S It can be obtained from the higher rated storage voltage U of the supercapacitor assembly 16 S The rated operating voltage U supplied to the power consumption / generator assembly 12 is adjusted. B Furthermore, the rated operating voltage can be maintained for the required time. In this way and by this method, power losses due to higher internal resistance and reduced capacitance as the supercapacitor assembly 16 ages can be compensated.

[0050] This can be achieved by increasing the rated storage voltage U. S The compensation is achieved until the rated storage voltage U is reached at time point t1 corresponding to the maximum aging state of the supercapacitor assembly 16. S Located at the nominal voltage U of supercapacitor assembly 16 N Maximum rated storage voltage U at or below Smax Within the range. The nominal voltage U of the supercapacitor assembly 16 N (It is basically composed of the nominal voltage of supercapacitors 18, 20, and 22) and should not be exceeded to ensure that the decomposition voltage, in which the electrolyte set in such supercapacitors decomposes, is not reached.

[0051] The energy supply system 24 or supercapacitor assembly 16 should be designed such that time point t1 is after, for example, the expected maximum operating life of vehicle 10. In principle, the energy storage system 24 can also continue to operate after time point t1, for example, by not increasing the rated storage voltage U from time point t1 onwards. S This avoids exceeding the nominal voltage U.N Or it may reach the decomposition voltage. However, the performance loss of the supercapacitor assembly 16 must be accepted.

[0052] To adapt the increase in rated storage voltage during its operational life to the aging state of the supercapacitor assembly 16, aging state information representing aging state A of the supercapacitor assembly 16 can be used in the control unit 30 to preset the rated storage voltage and accordingly control the DC / DC converter 28 during charging operation. In a very simple design, for example, the duration since the supercapacitor assembly 16 was first put into operation can be used as this aging state information in the control unit 30. Figure 2 In the diagram, this means that aging state A represents the time axis, on which time point t0 corresponds to the new state and time point t1 represents the point from which the rated storage voltage U remains constant, even if the supercapacitor assembly 16 continues to operate. S No further improvement is possible. Alternatively, the total duration of operation of the vehicle 10 or the supercapacitor assembly 16 can be used as information indicating aging state A. The number of charge or discharge cycles performed can also be used as an indicator of aging state A.

[0053] By assigning an operating parameter determination component 32 to the supercapacitor assembly 16, a more precise consideration of aging state A can be achieved. The supercapacitor assembly can be a standalone structural component or integrated into the control unit 30, for example, by determining the capacitance of the supercapacitor assembly 16 or individual supercapacitors 18, 20, 22 using known measurement methods. Furthermore, the operating parameter determination component 32 can detect or determine the internal resistance of the supercapacitor assembly 16 or individual supercapacitors 18, 20, 22, which essentially determines the internal power loss of the supercapacitor assembly 16. For this purpose, for example, the ESR resistance value, representing AC resistance, can be obtained and converted to DC internal resistance using known correlation coefficients.

[0054] Because as aging increases, that is, as the service life of the supercapacitor assembly 16 increases, the internal resistance increases and the capacitance decreases, the aging state A can be accurately inferred based on these operating parameters. Furthermore, the rated storage voltage U for the supercapacitor assembly 16 can be preset via the control unit 30 based on this operating parameter information, in accordance with the aging state. S And accordingly, in the charging operation state, in order to charge the supercapacitor assembly 16, the DC / DC converter 28 is controlled to the corresponding preset rated storage voltage U. S superior.

[0055] The preceding description describes the operation of the energy supply system 24, in which the rated storage voltage U...S In principle, it should be less than the rated operating voltage U of the power consumer 12b that is powered by electrical energy through the charging / discharging unit 26. B The energy supply system 24 or the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 can also be designed such that the rated storage voltage U S Higher than the rated operating voltage U B Or at least in stages, the voltage should be higher than the rated operating voltage.

[0056] If, in such an energy supply system 24, the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 is charged to a voltage higher than the rated operating voltage U... B And for example, at the rated storage voltage U S If the stored voltage is within the range, then in the subsequent power-feeding operation state, the control unit 30 can control or operate the charging / discharging unit 26 or its DC / DC converter 28 such that the voltage is down-converted, that is, the DC / DC converter 28 operates as a buck converter.

[0057] As long as it is ensured that the storage voltage of at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 does not fall below the rated operating voltage U in such an energy supply system 24. B If the state of the power consumption / generator assembly 12 and the state of the charging voltage generated by the power consumption / generator assembly 12 are in principle less than the minimum storage voltage of the supercapacitor assembly 16, then the DC / DC converter 28 can be constructed in such a way that it can only operate as a buck converter in the power supply operation state and only as a boost converter in the charging operation state.

[0058] If the following operating state may occur in the energy supply system 24, namely, in this operating state, for example in a power supply operating state, the voltage of at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 is initially higher than the rated operating voltage U. B The storage voltage drops to the rated operating voltage U as it continues to discharge. B Hereinafter, the control unit 30 can, for example, in a design scheme where the DC / DC converter is a four-quadrant converter, control the DC / DC converter 28 such that the storage voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 is higher than the rated operating voltage U. B It operates as a buck converter during the phase, and then when the storage voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 is lower than the rated operating voltage U B It operates as a boost converter. In this way and method, it can be ensured, independent of the charging state of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 or its stored voltage, that an operating voltage with a defined level, i.e., the rated operating voltage U, can be provided to the vehicle power grid 13 or the power consumer 12b. B .

[0059] Similarly, in this design scheme of DC / DC converter 28, it can be specified that if the rated storage voltage U S If the charging voltage is higher than that provided by the power consumer / generator assembly 12, or for example, the maximum available charging voltage, then the DC / DC converter 28 operates as a buck converter in the following stages: in which the charging voltage generated by the power consumer / generator assembly 12 is higher than the storage voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16, for example, when the supercapacitor assembly 16 is strongly discharged; and then, as the charging of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 (whose storage voltage reaches the charging voltage) increases, the DC / DC converter 28 operates as a boost converter to charge the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 to a rated storage voltage U higher than the charging voltage. S superior.

[0060] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 The vehicle 10 or energy supply system 24 shown is a variant. In this design of the energy supply system 24, the power consumer / generator assembly 12 includes a power consumer 12b of the vehicle electrical network 13 to be supplied with electrical energy via the charging / discharging unit 26. This is, for example, a power consumer that requires an operating voltage to be generated by the charging / discharging assembly 26 or the DC / DC converter 28 for its operation. Additionally, the power consumer / generator assembly 12 includes a power consumer 12c, which, for example, also operates in combination with or is part of the vehicle electrical network 13, and does not necessarily operate at a defined or relatively narrow range of operating voltages, but rather a minimum operating voltage is preset for the power consumer, which in principle, however, can also operate at a higher voltage.

[0061] These power consumers 12c are not coupled to the energy storage unit 14 or the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 via the charging / discharging component 26. More precisely, the power consumers 12c or the portion of the vehicle electrical network 13 having power consumers are coupled to the energy storage unit 14 or the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 substantially directly, for example, bypassing the charging / discharging component 26, and are therefore fed by it substantially directly and without changing the voltage level.

[0062] This means that the operating voltage U supplied to or applied to these power consumers 12c is... K The storage voltage essentially corresponds to the state of charge of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 associated with the power consumption device. If the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 is charged to the rated storage voltage U... S The operating voltage U supplied to or applied to the power consumption device 12c is then... K Basically corresponding to the rated storage voltage US As the storage voltage decreases, the operating voltage U... K It also decreased.

[0063] In order to ensure the reliable operation of these power consumers 12c that are not fed via the charging / discharging component 26 in this design of the energy supply system 24, for example, it can be specified that when the storage voltage of the at least one supercapacitor component 16 drops below the minimum operating voltage preset for the operation of the power consumers 12c, the control unit 30 causes these power consumers 12c to be fed by other power sources, such as the battery of the energy storage unit 14.

[0064] Other alternative design options for vehicle 10 or energy supply system 24 are available in Figure 4 As shown in the diagram. In this design, all the power consumers 12c of the power consumer / generator assembly 12 are integrated into the vehicle electrical network 13 such that these power consumers are not fed through the charging / discharging unit 26. The charging / discharging unit 26 in this design is used only to charge the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 to a defined rated storage voltage U based on the charging voltage generated by one or more generators 12a. S Above. All electrical appliances are integrated into a portion of the vehicle-mounted electrical network 13, which is coupled substantially directly to, for example, the energy storage unit 14 or the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 and is therefore loaded with an operating voltage U substantially corresponding to the storage voltage of the at least one supercapacitor assembly 16 in the fed-out operation state. K .

[0065] It is possible to extend the operating life of the supercapacitor assembly by utilizing the energy supply system 24 constructed according to the invention or the method for operating the energy supply system described above, since the supercapacitor assembly operates or is charged to the storage voltage at a relatively low voltage compared to the nominal voltage for most of its operating life. This results in less or slower aging of the supercapacitor assembly. Simultaneously, even after a longer operating life, i.e., in cases of significant aging of the supercapacitor assembly, the required rated operating voltage for the system being fed can be provided at the already significantly increased rated storage voltage for the duration required for this auxiliary process or a predetermined duration when using a DC / DC converter in a fed-out operating state.

[0066] Because targeted control intervention can keep the rated storage voltage significantly below the nominal voltage for most of the operating life during charging operation, it is therefore not necessary to achieve a smaller load on the supercapacitor assembly or its individual supercapacitors by setting an excessive number of individual supercapacitors and reducing the voltage drop across each individual supercapacitor in this way and method. Therefore, the energy supply system according to the invention, or the method for operating such an energy supply system, not only enables improved operating life through intelligent control, but this is also achieved with a relatively small number of supercapacitors used in the supercapacitor assembly.

Claims

1. An energy supply system, particularly an energy supply system for vehicles, comprising: Energy storage device (14), the energy storage device having at least one supercapacitor assembly (16); A power consumer / generator assembly (12) for receiving energy from the energy storage unit (14) and for providing energy to be stored in the energy storage unit (14); A charging / discharging unit (26) is used to transfer energy from the power consumer / generator assembly (12) to the energy storage unit (14) during charging operation. The control unit (30) is used to control the charging / discharging unit (26). The control unit (30) is configured to control the charging / discharging unit (26) during the charging operation state in order to charge the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) to the rated storage voltage (U). S ), wherein the rated storage voltage (U) S The value increases as the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) ages.

2. The energy supply system according to claim 1, Its features are, The charging / discharging unit (26) is configured to direct energy from the energy storage unit (14) to the power consumption unit / generator assembly (12) in a power-fed operation state.

3. The energy supply system according to claim 2, Its features are, The control unit (30) is configured to control the charging / discharging unit (26) in the power-feeding operation state in order to provide the rated operating voltage (U) to the power-consuming / generator assembly (12). B ).

4. The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, The charging / discharging unit (26) includes a DC / DC converter (28).

5. The energy supply system according to claim 4, Its features are, The control unit (30) is configured to operate the charging / discharging unit (26) as a boost converter in the power-feeding operation state and / or as a buck converter in the charging operation state. and / or The control unit (30) is configured to operate the charging / discharging unit (26) as a buck converter in the power-feeding operation state and / or as a boost converter in the charging operation state.

6. The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Its features are, The control unit (30) is configured to determine the rated storage voltage (U) based on aging state information representing the aging state (A) of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16). S ).

7. The energy supply system according to claim 6, Its features are, The aging status information includes operational life information representing the operational life of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16).

8. The energy supply system according to claim 6 or 7, Its features are, The aging status information includes operating parameter information representing at least one operating parameter of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16).

9. The energy supply system according to claim 8, Its features are, The operating parameter information includes: Information regarding the internal resistance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16), and / or Information regarding the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16).

10. The energy supply system according to claim 8 or 9, Its features are, The operating parameter determination component (32) is configured to determine at least one operating parameter that depends on the aging state (A) of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16).

11. The energy supply system according to claims 9 and 10, Its features are, The operating parameter determination component (32) is configured to determine the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) and / or to determine, preferably based on the ESR resistance value, the internal resistance of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16).

12. The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, Its features are, The control unit (30) is configured to control the rated storage voltage (U) S Increase to the maximum rated storage voltage (U Smax ), and the nominal voltage (U) of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) N ) is greater than or equal to the maximum rated storage voltage (U) Smax ).

13. The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, Its features are, The at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) includes a plurality of supercapacitors (18, 20, 22) connected in series with each other and / or a plurality of supercapacitors connected in parallel with each other.

14. The energy supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, Its features are, The power consumption / generator assembly (12) includes at least one generator (12a) and at least one power consumption (12b, 12c).

15. The energy supply system according to claim 14, in the context of claim 2, Its features are, The power consumer / generator assembly (12) includes at least one power consumer (12b) that is fed from the energy storage unit (14) by means of the charging / discharging unit (26) in the power-feeding operation state, and / or the power consumer / generator assembly (12) includes at least one power consumer (12c) that is fed from the energy storage unit (14) without means of the charging / discharging unit (26).

16. A method for operating an energy supply system (24) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, particularly in a vehicle, wherein the rated storage voltage (U) of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) is determined. S ), so that the rated storage voltage (U) S The value increases as the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) ages.

17. The method according to claim 16, Its features are, The rated storage voltage (U) S The minimum rated storage voltage (U) from the minimum aging state assigned to the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) Smin Increase to the maximum rated storage voltage (U) of the maximum aging state assigned to the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16). Smax ).

18. The method according to claim 17, Its features are, The maximum rated storage voltage (U) S The nominal voltage (U) of the at least one supercapacitor assembly (16) is less than or equal to that of the supercapacitor assembly (16). N ).

Images