Power strand module and method of use and manufacturing thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a power string module and methods of use and manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a housing and an energy module (1) included in the housing and (2) comprising a battery pack configured to provide an initial voltage. The arrangement further comprises a conversion module (1) comprised in the housing and (2) comprising a high voltage DC / DC converter and an ultra-high voltage DC / DC converter. And the conversion module is used for receiving the initial voltage and outputting the converted voltage by using the high-voltage DC / DC converter and the ultrahigh-voltage DC / DC converter.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 719,957, filed November 13, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. background

[0002] The implementation described herein relates to power systems, and more specifically, to power string modules surrounding batteries and converters.

[0003] Despite causing harmful anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the energy source for most vehicles, stationary power systems, etc., remains the combustion of fossil fuels in internal combustion engines. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there has recently been a push to shift from fossil fuel (e.g., diesel) powered vehicles and / or stationary power systems to hybrid and / or all-electric vehicles and / or stationary power systems.

[0004] Several challenges continue to hinder the widespread adoption of alternative power sources. For example, larger and heavier batteries are typically used to enable electric vehicles to achieve the same range as fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Furthermore, the challenges of powering electric vehicles increase as they become larger, heavier, and used in off-road conditions. For instance, as vehicles scale up (or as the power requirements of some implementations (such as stationary power systems) increase), the batteries used to power the vehicles / systems may become heavier, larger, use more energy, get hotter, become more unsafe, require longer charging times, and be subject to more stringent regulations and standards, among other things. Additionally, the higher voltages used in such electrical systems can increase safety risks, thermal management complexities (e.g., given the increased heat generation), unwanted electromagnetic interference, and weight and stress on components. These challenges become apparent, for example, when these electrical systems (e.g., those included in mining vehicles / equipment, locomotives, ships, etc.) are used in off-highway environments or other potentially harsh environments. For example, off-road setups or environmental influences may increase the risk of water damage to the battery, the risk of mechanical damage due to bumpy terrain, the risk of fire due to overheating or short circuits, and generally require a robust and / or sturdy design.

[0005] The challenges are amplified when existing vehicles or power systems are retrofitted. For example, a “clean sheet” design for mining tractor trucks powered by alternative power sources (e.g., hybrid diesel / battery, hybrid hydrogen / battery, all-electric, etc.) would require significant costs and long delivery times before such trucks could be deployed in large numbers to mining sites, delaying the environmental and cost-effectiveness of powering such vehicles with alternative power sources instead of fossil fuels (e.g., diesel). Similarly, converting existing stationary power systems to electricity would require significant costs and delivery times. Instead of redesigning electric off-highway vehicles or stationary power systems from scratch and pre-emptively considering some of these challenges, vehicles or stationary power systems can be retrofitted, or at least partially retrofitted, to incorporate such alternative power sources. However, retrofitting existing vehicles or stationary power systems presents unique challenges, such as compatibility issues, space constraints, centralized control systems, etc.

[0006] Some hybrid and / or electric vehicles use battery packs. However, some battery packs were not designed for industrial and / or large-scale implementations and may therefore not be optimized for such applications. For example, some battery packs may use housings that do not include voltage and / or current regulation, conversion, etc., because such integration may not be necessary or desirable in smaller-scale applications. Alternatively, battery power / storage and regulation / conversion devices exist as separate components housed in separate housings. However, using separate housings to handle voltage conversion can increase wiring harness complexity (e.g., because properly sealing and protecting multiple housings may be more complex than properly sealing and protecting a single integrated housing), cooling complexity (e.g., because multiple separate housings may use their own separate cooling systems, which can complicate thermal management), and integration complexity (e.g., to ensure all housings work together; separate housings may require additional wiring and connections between housings, which increases the risk of failure and introduces potential vulnerabilities).

[0007] Therefore, it may be desirable to combine battery energy and voltage with the hardware used for DC / DC conversion into a single product rather than separate products. Furthermore, it may be desirable for such a single product to be retrofitted into existing vehicles, particularly large off-highway vehicles and / or other large power systems (e.g., stationary power systems). Overview

[0008] In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing and an energy module included within the housing. The energy module includes a battery pack configured to provide an initial voltage. The apparatus also includes a conversion module included within the housing. The conversion module includes a high-voltage DC / DC converter and an ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter. The conversion module is configured to receive the initial voltage and output a converted voltage using the high-voltage DC / DC converter and the ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter.

[0009] In some embodiments, the high-voltage DC / DC converter is configured to receive the initial voltage and generate an intermediate voltage, and the ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter is configured to receive the intermediate voltage and generate the converted voltage.

[0010] In some implementations, the housing is a single housing.

[0011] In some implementations, the housing is configured to protect the correct orientation of the energy module and the conversion module.

[0012] In some embodiments, the energy module and the conversion module are electrically coupled and positioned within the housing to satisfy one or more creepage distance requirements or clearance requirements.

[0013] In some embodiments, the energy module is a first energy module, the conversion module is a first conversion module, and the first energy module and the first conversion module are included in a first power string module, which is included in the housing. The device further includes: Second energy module; and The second conversion module, the second energy module, and the second conversion module are included in the second power string module, which is included in the housing.

[0014] In some implementations, the first power string module is located within a first housing, and the second power string module is located within a second housing.

[0015] In some embodiments, the housing is a device housing, the energy module is a first energy module, and the conversion module is a first conversion module, the first energy module and the first conversion module are included in a first power string module, the first power string module being positioned within the first housing, and the device further includes: Second energy module; and A second conversion module, electrically coupled to a second energy module, wherein the second energy module and the second conversion module are positioned within a second housing, and wherein: The first housing and the second housing are positioned inside the device housing.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first energy module and the first conversion module are included in the first power string module, which is located within the first housing; the second energy module and the second conversion module are included in the second power string module, which is located within the second housing; and the first housing and the second housing are removably located within the device housing such that the first power string module and the second power string module can be selectively removed from the device.

[0017] In one implementation, a method includes: The initial voltage is provided via a first module included in the housing; The initial voltage is received at a first DC / DC converter included in the housing to generate an intermediate voltage; and The intermediate voltage is received at a second DC / DC converter included in the housing to generate the converted voltage.

[0018] In some embodiments, the housing is included in a diesel / battery hybrid vehicle.

[0019] In some implementations, the diesel / battery hybrid vehicle is one of a mining haul truck, locomotive, or vessel.

[0020] In some implementations, the first module is a first energy module, which includes one or more battery packs configured to generate the initial voltage and one or more battery management systems configured to selectively connect and disconnect the one or more battery packs.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first DC / DC converter and the second DC / DC converter are included in a first conversion module, which further includes a switch, a battery management system regulator, and a battery power string controller. The first conversion module is configured to receive the initial voltage and generate the converted voltage.

[0022] In one embodiment, an electric power system includes: A power source electrically coupled to the high-voltage routing channel and the power system and configured to generate power, the power source comprising: - Multiple energy modules configured to generate an initial voltage; - A plurality of conversion modules, each electrically coupled to one of the plurality of energy modules, the plurality of conversion modules being configured to receive the initial voltage and generate a converted voltage, wherein: -- Each energy module and coupled conversion module defines one of the multiple power string modules; -- Each power string module is positioned within one of multiple enclosures; and -- Each power string module is electrically coupled to the high-voltage routing channel.

[0023] In some implementations, the plurality of housings are removably coupled to the power source, allowing the plurality of power string modules to be selectively removed from the power source.

[0024] In some embodiments, the plurality of energy modules further include: Multiple battery packs, the multiple battery packs being configured to generate the initial voltage; and One or more battery management systems, said one or more battery management systems being operatively coupled to said plurality of battery packs and configured to selectively engage said plurality of battery packs.

[0025] In some embodiments, the plurality of conversion modules further include: A switch configured to electrically connect the conversion module to a corresponding energy module; Multiple DC / DC converters are configured to receive the initial voltage and generate the converted voltage; A battery management system regulator configured to regulate one or more battery management systems of the corresponding energy module; and A battery power string controller, configured to control at least one of the plurality of battery packs of the corresponding energy module or one or more battery management systems, wherein: The energy module and the conversion module are positioned within the housing to meet one or more creepage distance requirements or clearance requirements.

[0026] In some implementations, each of the plurality of power string modules is located within a corresponding housing among the plurality of housings and coupled to the high-voltage routing channel, such that each power string module can be removed and replaced within the power system by removing and replacing one or more of the plurality of housings. Brief description of the attached diagram

[0027] Figure 1 A system block diagram of at least a portion of a power system according to an embodiment is shown.

[0028] Figure 2 A flowchart of a method for generating a converted voltage according to an embodiment is shown.

[0029] Figure 3 A circuit diagram of a power string module according to an embodiment is shown.

[0030] Figure 4 A power source / sink of a power system according to an embodiment is shown, which is electrically coupled to a high-voltage routing channel.

[0031] Figure 5 The conversion module and energy module are shown in their respective separate casings.

[0032] Figure 6A A power string module of a power system according to an embodiment is shown.

[0033] Figure 6B Showing from Figure 6A An internal view of the power string module.

[0034] Figure 6C Showing from Figure 6A External view of the power string module.

[0035] Figure 6D The image shows the source set in the casing. Figure 6A Various components of the power series module.

[0036] Figure 6E The image shows the arrangement of the source in the housing. Figure 6A A bottom view of a component of a power string module.

[0037] Figure 6F The image shows the arrangement of the source in the housing. Figure 6A A top view of a component of the power string module.

[0038] Figure 7A A side view of a vehicle including a power system is shown.

[0039] Figure 7B and Figure 7C They are shown respectively Figure 7A The power system is shown in perspective internal and external views, illustrating a set of energy modules and a set of individual conversion modules.

[0040] Figure 7D It shows Figure 7A An enlarged side view of the power system.

[0041] Figure 8AA perspective exterior view of at least a portion of the electrical system of a vehicle according to an embodiment, comprising a set of power string modules, is shown.

[0042] Figure 8B It shows Figure 8A A perspective external view of at least a portion of the power system, with some components removed to better show the power string modules housed within the enclosure.

[0043] Figure 8C and Figure 8D They are shown respectively Figure 8A The power system is shown in perspective internal and external views, which show the electrical connections associated with multiple power string modules.

[0044] Figure 9 A perspective view of at least a portion of an electric power system according to an embodiment is shown. Detailed description

[0045] Some implementations relate to power string modules. For example, a power string module can be configured to provide power to an electric vehicle (or a hybrid electric vehicle). In some implementations, the vehicle can be, for example, a mining tractor, locomotive, vessel, and / or other large industrial vehicle (e.g., a supercar). Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, the power string module can be retrofitted into an existing vehicle. For example, a fossil fuel-powered vehicle (such as a vehicle with a diesel combustion engine) can be retrofitted to include a power string module (e.g., converted to a diesel / battery hybrid unit). Alternatively, a conventional internal combustion engine can be removed from an existing vehicle and the vehicle can be retrofitted to include a power string module (e.g., converted to an all-electric power unit). Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, the power string module can be configured to provide power to a vehicle configured to travel off-road in, for example, a mining environment. As another example, a fossil fuel-based stationary power system can be retrofitted to include and / or can be otherwise supplemented or replaced with the power string module described herein.

[0046] In some embodiments, a power string module includes a housing or housing for one or more energy modules (e.g., a battery pack) and one or more conversion modules (e.g., voltage converters, such as DC / DC converters). In some embodiments, the power string module is used, for example, to provide and / or absorb regulated high-voltage DC power for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and / or all-electric vehicles. In some embodiments, the battery pack and DC / DC converter are integrated into a single product, which addresses many of the previously mentioned drawbacks of having energy modules and conversion modules in separate housings.

[0047] In some implementations, the power string module has multiple battery packs. In some implementations, the power string module includes at least 14 battery packs. In some implementations, battery packs in the power string module can be removed and / or not installed (e.g., if not required for a particular use case), thus providing greater adaptability compared to systems in which all power components need to be fully integrated (e.g., for retrofitting into existing vehicles).

[0048] Figure 1 A system block diagram of at least a portion of an electrical system 100 (also referred to herein as "System 100") according to an embodiment is shown. System 100 may include one or more power string modules, such as power string module 102A and power string module 102B. Each power string module may include an energy module and a conversion module within its own separate housing. In some embodiments, System 100 is included in a diesel / battery hybrid vehicle. The diesel / battery hybrid vehicle may be, for example, a mining tractor, locomotive, vessel, or any other suitable diesel / battery hybrid vehicle. Alternatively, System 100 may be implemented in a stationary power system (e.g., a power plant). Thus, vehicles, power plants, etc., may include electrical components configured to be powered by one or more power string modules (e.g., power string module 102A, power string module 102B, etc.).

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, power string module 102A includes a housing 101A that houses and / or surrounds energy module 104A and conversion module 106A (operably coupled to each other). Similarly, power string module 102B includes a housing 101B that houses and / or surrounds energy module 104B and conversion module 106B (operably coupled to each other). Each conversion module may include one or more DC / DC converters (e.g., multiple DC / DC converters, only two DC / DC converters, only one DC / DC converter, etc.). For example, conversion module 106A includes a high-voltage (e.g., 60 volts DC (VDC) to 1,500 VDC) DC / DC converter 108A and an ultra-high-voltage (e.g., above 1,500 VDC) DC / DC converter 110A, and conversion module 106B includes a high-voltage DC / DC converter 108B and an ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 110B. In some embodiments, at least one DC / DC converter may include at least one buck converter and at least one boost converter. Although the techniques described herein use high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converters to accommodate larger vehicles, other lower-voltage DC / DC converters can be used in some implementations (e.g., for smaller vehicles).

[0050] Energy module 104A may include one or more battery packs, and each of the battery packs may include battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple battery cells are used in energy module 104A, and the multiple battery cells are connected in series (e.g., not in parallel). The one or more battery packs are configured to provide an initial voltage. Conversion module 106A is configured to receive the initial voltage and output a converted voltage using high-voltage DC / DC converter 108A and ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 110A. For example, high-voltage DC / DC converter 108A may be configured to receive the initial voltage from energy module 104A and generate an intermediate voltage. Then, ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 110A may be configured to receive the intermediate voltage from high-voltage DC / DC converter 108A and generate the converted voltage.

[0051] Similarly, energy module 104B may include one or more battery packs, each of which may include battery cells. The one or more battery packs are configured to provide an initial voltage. Conversion module 106B is configured to receive the initial voltage and output a converted voltage using high-voltage DC / DC converter 108B and ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 110B. For example, high-voltage DC / DC converter 108B may be configured to receive the initial voltage from energy module 104B and generate an intermediate voltage. Then, ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 110B may be configured to receive the intermediate voltage from high-voltage DC / DC converter 108B and generate the converted voltage.

[0052] In some implementations, energy modules 104A and / or 104B are configured to provide an initial voltage, and ultra-high voltage DC / DC converters 110A and / or 110B can be configured to receive the initial voltage and generate an intermediate voltage. Then, high voltage DC / DC converters 108A and / or 108B can be configured to receive the intermediate voltage from ultra-high voltage DC / DC converters 110A and / or 110B and generate the converted voltage. Therefore, DC / DC converters 108A and / or 108B can be configured to "boost" and / or "buck" the initial voltage.

[0053] In some embodiments, each power string module includes and / or is housed in a separate housing. In other words, each of power string modules 102A and 102B is housed in its own separate housings 101A and 101B, respectively, which include and / or house their own separate energy modules 104A and 104B and conversion modules 106A and 106B, respectively. Therefore, in some embodiments, power string module 102A can generate an initial voltage and output a converted voltage without relying on other circuitry outside of power string module 102A. Similarly, power string module 102B can generate an initial voltage and output a converted voltage without relying on other circuitry outside of power string module 102B. By combining the components of each power string module into a single housing (e.g., housing 101A or 101B), instead of using separate housings to separate energy components (e.g., energy module 104A) from conversion components (e.g., conversion module 106A), advantages such as reduced complexity, improved cooling, and improved wiring harnesses are provided. For example, when the components of each power string module are in a single housing, advantages may include spacing between the components and the power string module that meets creepage distance and clearance requirements; reduced wiring harnesses due to the proximity of the components within the housing; reduced external wiring harnesses due to the reduction in internal wiring harnesses; housing-protected component orientation (e.g., vertical / horizontal, etc. for impact considerations); reduced assembly time for system 100 because the housing can be easily removed and replaced, thereby allowing for the removal and replacement of the power string modules; and other desired parameters regarding system 100. While the techniques described herein may be implicit in a variety of use cases, these advantages may be particularly desirable for off-highway hybrid / electric or all-electric vehicles, given the demanding power and environmental requirements of such vehicles. For example, if the energy components and conversion components are housed in separate enclosures and the hybrid electric vehicle experiences severe bumps, one or both components are more likely to become, for example, disconnected, improperly sealed, or incorrectly oriented. Furthermore, housing the energy components and conversion components in the same enclosure allows for increased flexibility, modularity, and / or compatibility. That is, housing the energy components and conversion components in the same enclosure allows them to be interchanged and quickly connected / disconnected from system 100, and results in the energy components and conversion components occupying less space in system 100 compared to housing them separately, thus promoting compatibility.

[0054] In some embodiments, system 100 includes an outer housing and / or support structure that accommodates the power string modules included in system 100. For example, the outer housing and / or support structure may provide a structure or feature for mounting the power string modules to a vehicle. That is, all power string modules in system 100 may be housed within an outer housing and / or support structure that protects the power string modules from external influences (e.g., debris, wind, water, etc.). However, in some embodiments, such a housing or support structure may partially cover the power string modules while exposing other aspects of the power string modules. For example, such a housing and / or support structure may expose the top portion (or any other suitable portion) of each power string module to allow physical and / or electrical access, thermal management, etc.

[0055] In some implementations, although Figure 1 Although not shown, system 100 may include a cooling system and / or may be used in conjunction with a cooling system. The cooling system may be configured to reduce the temperature of components included in power string modules 102A, 102B. Because the techniques described herein can be applied to high-voltage and / or ultra-high-voltage conditions that may lead to increased heat generation, the cooling system may be used to regulate the temperature of power string modules 102A and 102B (and / or one or more of their components) within a predetermined acceptable range. In some embodiments, a single cooling system is used to cool all power string modules included in system 100. Alternatively, system 100 may include multiple cooling systems (or subsystems), wherein each power string module is cooled by an independent, separate, or dedicated cooling system (or subsystem). Alternatively, system 100 may include independent, separate, or dedicated cooling systems (or subsystems) to cool the energy module and conversion module of each power string module.

[0056] Figure 2 A flowchart of a method 200 for generating a converted voltage according to an embodiment is shown. At 202, an initial voltage is provided via a first module (e.g., energy module 104A) included in a housing (e.g., housing 101A) of a power string module. In some embodiments, the power string module is included in a diesel / battery hybrid vehicle (e.g., a mining tractor, locomotive, ship, etc.). At 204, the initial voltage is received at a first DC / DC converter (e.g., high-voltage DC / DC converter 108A) included in the housing, and an intermediate voltage is generated. At 206, the intermediate voltage is received at a second DC / DC converter (e.g., ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 110A) included in the housing, and the converted voltage is generated. The converted voltage may, for example, be greater than, equal to, or less than the initial voltage.

[0057] Figure 3 A power string module according to an embodiment is shown (e.g., referenced above). Figure 1 The circuit diagram describes power string modules 102A and / or 102B. The circuit diagram shows voltage source 302 and power converters 304 and 306, as well as other electrical components. Furthermore, the circuit may include electrical components such as one or more disconnecting devices (e.g., DISC1 and DISC2), one or more switches (e.g., K1, K2, and K3), one or more resistors (e.g., R1), one or more diodes (e.g., D1) protecting at least a second DC / DC converter, one or more fuses (e.g., F1, other fuses) configured to protect electrical components from overcurrent conditions, one or more insulation monitoring devices (e.g., IMD1) configured to monitor the resistance between two or more conductors in the circuit, one or more voltage transducers (e.g., VT1) configured to sense voltage along at least a portion of the circuit, one or more current transducers (e.g., CT1) configured to sense current along at least a portion of the circuit, etc. IMD1, C1, and C2 may be connected to or grounded by the chassis of the vehicle.

[0058] Voltage source 302 can be, for example, a battery-based (e.g., lithium-ion battery-based) on-board energy storage system comprising any number of battery packs. Figure 3 The voltage source 302 may be rated and / or may provide, for example, 504-910 volts (VDC) at 30.9 kWH, but in some embodiments other types of battery packs and / or other voltage and power ratings may be used. The voltage generated by the voltage source 302 is received at a power converter 304 (e.g., a first power converter), which generates at least one output with an intermediate voltage. The intermediate voltage is then received at a power converter 306 (e.g., a second power converter), which outputs the converted voltage.

[0059] like Figure 3As shown, the first power converter 304 may be a first DC / DC converter configured to receive voltage from a voltage source (e.g., a battery pack), convert the voltage to an intermediate voltage, and provide one or more intermediate voltage outputs. The first power converter 304 may be configured such that the current associated with each voltage output is the same (or substantially the same) or different. For example, the first power converter 304 may have two outputs, one received by a second power converter 306 and the other received by one or more auxiliary systems. The first intermediate voltage output by the first power converter 304 may have a higher current (e.g., 950V, 360A) than a second intermediate voltage output (e.g., 950VDC, 120A). The second power converter 306 (e.g., a second DC / DC converter) may receive the first intermediate voltage output by the first power converter 304 and convert the intermediate voltage to a converted voltage. For example, the converted voltage may be an ultra-high voltage (e.g., 2,400VDC, 200A) suitable for delivery to the drive system of a super vehicle or similar drive / electric system. Furthermore, the auxiliary system may receive a second intermediate voltage output from the first power converter 304. For example, the auxiliary system is configured to supply power to vehicle components that are not part of the drive system (such as lights, radio, air conditioning, windows, pumps, cooling systems, etc.), while the drive system is configured to propel the vehicle (e.g., by converting the voltage into mechanical power to drive the wheels via one or more drive motors).

[0060] Figure 4 A power source / sink 400 electrically coupled to a high-voltage routing channel and a portion of a power system, according to an embodiment, is shown. The power source / sink 400 may include an energy module 402 and a conversion module 404. Although Figure 4Not shown, but each pair of energy modules 402 and conversion modules 404 can be combined into a single housing and / or housed within a single housing (e.g., instead of separate housings). Combining them into a single housing provides advantages such as improved volumetric efficiency, reduced mechanical complexity, simplified interconnect and safety architecture, and less external high-voltage wiring. For example, energy modules 402 and conversion modules 404 can be arranged such that there are gaps for creepage distances and clearance requirements, which can also help cool and reduce bus bundles, particularly external wiring, while the housing can protect the orientation of the components of energy modules 402 and conversion modules 404 and reduce the assembly time of the power source / power sink 400, as the housing can be quickly removed and replaced, thereby replacing energy modules 402 and conversion modules 404. Energy modules 402 and conversion modules 404 can be included in a first power string module, which also includes a housing that houses and / or surrounds energy modules 402 and conversion modules 404. The power source / power sink 400 may also include additional energy modules and conversion modules, such as… Figure 4 As shown. The additional energy modules and conversion modules may have a similar or substantially the same architecture as energy module 402 and conversion module 404, and each may be housed in the enclosure to form any number of power string modules. Therefore, the additional power string modules are not described in detail herein.

[0061] Energy module 402 may include one or more battery packs 406 and may be electrically coupled to battery management system (BMS) 408. In some embodiments, energy module 402 may include, for example, 14 battery packs 406 connected in series. In other embodiments, energy module 402 may include more or fewer battery packs 406. Output from energy module 402 may be received at conversion module 404. Conversion module 404 includes switch 410, which, when closed, allows output from energy module 402 to be received at high-voltage DC / DC converter 412. Output from high-voltage DC / DC converter 412 may then be received at ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter 416. Battery power string controller (BPSC) 418 may also be electrically coupled to BMS 408 (e.g., to turn BMS 408 on or off and / or otherwise disconnect battery packs 406 by opening one or more circuits).

[0062] BMS regulator 414 can be configured to regulate BMS 408. For example, BMS regulator 414 can be configured to repeatedly (e.g., continuously, periodically, sporadically) monitor voltage, current, temperature, charge state, etc., at energy module 402 and / or conversion module 404. In response to a predetermined trigger (e.g., overcharge, over-discharge, overheat, short circuit), BMS regulator 414 can perform one or more actions and / or cause one or more actions to be performed to resolve the trigger state (e.g., sending an electrical signal to BMS 408 to turn on a switch; activating a cooling system). In some embodiments, BMS regulator 414 is configured as a controller.

[0063] As used herein, a “controller” (e.g., BPSC 418; BMS regulator 414) may include (or) any suitable controller or control system. For example, a controller may be a controller for a hybrid vehicle and / or may be part of a controller for a hybrid vehicle. That is, a vehicle’s control system may be used and / or modified to be used as a controller to control the operation of the power string module. A controller may include any and / or all suitable components to implement the operation of the control system. In some embodiments, a controller may include at least a processor configured to execute instructions or code stored in memory. Such a processor may be, for example, a hardware-based integrated circuit (IC) or any other suitable processing device configured to run and / or execute a set of instructions or code. For example, a processor may be a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array (PLA), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a programmable logic controller (PLC), etc. In some embodiments, a processor may be configured to perform any of the methods and / or parts of the methods discussed herein.

[0064] The controller may include any suitable memory or storage medium. For example, memory may be or include random access memory (RAM), memory buffers, hard disk drives, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), etc. In some cases, memory may store, for example, one or more software programs and / or code, which may include instructions that cause the processor to perform one or more processes, functions, etc. In some embodiments, memory may include expandable storage units that can be incrementally added and used. In some embodiments, memory may be portable memory (e.g., flash drives, portable hard disks, etc.) operatively coupled to the processor. In some cases, memory may be operatively coupled remotely to a computing device (not shown). For example, a remote database device may be used as memory and operatively coupled to a computing device. Memory may include various components (e.g., machine-readable media), including, for example, random access memory (RAM) components, read-only components, and any combination thereof. In one example, a basic input / output system (BIOS) may be stored in memory, the BIOS including basic routines that facilitate, for example, the transfer of information between elements within a computing system (e.g., the controller) during startup. The memory may also include any number of program modules, including, for example, an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, program data, and any combination thereof.

[0065] Figure 5 The diagram shows that the energy module 502 and the conversion module 504 are housed in their respective separate enclosures. Figure 5 As shown, energy module 502 and conversion module 504 are each housed in a separate housing (rather than combined into one housing). Therefore, to generate the desired voltage, energy module 502 and conversion module 504 must be properly coupled (e.g., electrically and / or mechanically). However, with separate housings, there are numerous vulnerabilities, such as improper sealing of energy module 502, improper sealing of conversion module 504, mechanical decoupling of conversion module 504 and energy module 502, electrical decoupling of conversion module 504 and energy module 502, improper coupling of the wrong conversion module to the wrong energy module, and / or similar issues. Additionally, in embodiments where existing vehicles (e.g., mining tractor trucks) are retrofitted to include an electrical system, space for the electrical system may be limited. In such embodiments, housing energy module 502 and conversion module 504 in separate housings may reduce space utilization efficiency, which in turn may limit the number of battery packs included in each energy module 502.

[0066] In comparison, Figure 6AA power string module 606 according to an embodiment is shown. In some embodiments, the power string module 606 includes an energy module and a conversion module within a single housing 601. In such a configuration, regarding... Figure 5 The shortcomings of the discussion were mitigated (and in at least some cases even eliminated).

[0067] Figure 6B An internal view of the power string module 606 is shown. The interior of the power string module 606 and / or at least the housing 601 may include, for example, a low-voltage bundle 602, a coolant inlet port 604, a coolant outlet port 608, and a vent 610. The low-voltage bundle 602 may be and / or may include interfaces, connectors, inputs / outputs, etc., allowing the power string module 606 to be electrically coupled to one or more auxiliary or relatively low-voltage components, devices, systems, etc., which do not require the high voltage levels associated with powering the drive system of a vehicle. The coolant inlet port 604 may be configured to receive coolant (e.g., from a heat exchanger, cooler, etc.), which may be passed through the housing 601 to cool or otherwise remove heat from the components of the power string module 606. The coolant outlet port 608 may be configured to output and / or deliver a coolant flow out of the housing 601 or the power string module 606 (e.g., a coolant outlet flow after the coolant has absorbed heat from the components of the power string module 606). Vent 610 can be configured to allow air to flow into and / or out of housing 601. In some embodiments, airflow through housing 601 can further dissipate heat released by components of power string module 606, thereby preventing overheating and ensuring components remain cooled for efficient operation. Coolant inlet port 604, coolant outlet port 608, and vent 610 can be used to maintain power string module 606 within a predetermined, acceptable, and / or desired temperature range, which may be particularly desirable for high-power systems.

[0068] Figure 6CAn external view of the power string module 606 is shown. At least the outer side of the power string module 606 and / or housing 601 may include electrical interfaces such as a positive high-voltage connector, port, terminal, etc. (HV+ terminal 611), a negative high-voltage connector, port, terminal, etc. (HV- terminal 612), a positive high-voltage auxiliary connector, port, terminal, etc. (HVAux+ terminal 614), and a negative high-voltage auxiliary connector, port, terminal, etc. (HVAux- terminal 616). The outer side of the power string module 606 and / or at least the housing 601 may further include, for example, one or more grounding studs 622, a negative manual service disconnect device (MSD- 618), and a positive manual service disconnect device (MSD+ 620). The HV+ terminal 611 and HV- terminal 612 can be used to connect the power string module 606 to a drive system configured to propel a vehicle (e.g., by converting the converted voltage into mechanical power to drive the wheels via one or more drive motors). HVAux+ terminals 614 and HVAux- terminals 616 can be used to connect the power string module 606 to an auxiliary system configured to power vehicle components that are not part of the drive system. Grounding stud 622 is configured to provide one or more ground connections to the power string module 606. MSD- 618 and MSD+ 620 can be configured to isolate the circuitry or system from its power source (i.e., the battery pack included in the power string module 606).

[0069] Figure 6D Various components of a power string module 606 disposed in a housing 601 are shown (e.g., the housing 601 is shown as partially transparent). The power string module 606 includes a battery pack 626, a power string management component 623 (and / or device), and a conversion component 624 (and / or device). In this embodiment, the power string module 606 includes 14 battery packs. Figure 6E A bottom view of the power string module 606 is shown, illustrating 14 battery packs and the wires or other interconnections connecting the battery packs in series. While the power string module 606 is... Figure 6D and 6E The diagram is shown to include 14 battery packs 626, but in some embodiments, the power string module 606 may include fewer or more than 14 battery packs.

[0070] The power string module 606 is configured to allow power (or voltage) to be transmitted between the battery pack 626 and a circuit including a power string management component 623 and a conversion component 624, and Figure 6F This is shown in detail. For example, the power string management unit 623 (in...) Figure 6F (As shown within the dashed lines) may include, for example, a battery management system (BMS 650), which is structurally and / or functionally similar to the reference above. Figure 4The described BMS 408. The power string management unit 623 may also include one or more insulation monitoring devices (ICM 638) configured to monitor the resistance between two or more conductors in the circuit; one or more current sensors 640 configured to sense current along at least a portion of the circuit; one or more fuses 642 configured to protect at least a portion of electrical components from overcurrent conditions; one or more voltage transducers 652 configured to sense voltage along at least a portion of the circuit; one or more resistors 654 configured to resist current flow along at least a portion of the circuit; and one or more contactors 656 configured to provide switching, for example, along high-current / high-voltage portions of the circuit. In one example, the power string management unit 623 may respond to a predetermined set of criteria (e.g., temperature, current, or voltage outside a predetermined acceptable range) at the battery pack 626 and / or switching unit 624 to enable MSD-618 and / or MSD+620 (e.g., ...). Figure 6C and 6F (As shown) Activate / isolate power string module 606.

[0071] The conversion component 624 may include any suitable conversion hardware. For example, such as Figure 6F As shown, the conversion unit 624 includes an ultra-high voltage DC / DC converter (DCUHV 628), a high voltage DC / DC converter (DCHV 648), one or more diodes 646, a low voltage distribution block 630, a regulator 632, an Ethernet converter 634, and an electronic control unit (ECU 636). The DCUHV 628 and DCHV 648 are electrically connected in series with one or more diodes 646. The conversion unit 624 can be configured to receive power from the battery pack 626, convert and / or modify the received energy, and output the converted voltage to, for example, a high voltage busbar 644 (e.g., the high voltage busbar 644 includes or is electrically connected to HV+ terminals 611, HV- terminals 612, HVAux+ terminals 614, and HVAux+ terminals 616 (collectively, "HV terminals")). Alternatively, during regeneration, the conversion unit 624 may receive an input voltage from, for example, a delayed grid or other suitable device (e.g., via HV terminals and HV busbar 644), convert and / or modify it into the received energy, and output a converted voltage for recharging the battery pack 626.

[0072] Figure 7A The diagram illustrates an electrical system installed in a hybrid / electric or all-electric vehicle (e.g., a diesel / battery hybrid or all-electric mining truck). Figure 7AIt includes an energy module 702 and a conversion module 704. As shown in the figure, each of the energy module 702 and the conversion module 704 has its own separate module / casing. In other words, the energy module 702 and the conversion module 704 are housed in different casings.

[0073] Figure 7A It is also shown that the energy module 702 is included in the housing / support structure 714, and the conversion module 704 is located above the energy module 702. Figure 7A The outer shell / support structure 714 extends above it. For example... Figure 7A As shown, the distance between the top of the energy module 702 and the conversion module 704 can be approximately 100 millimeters (mm). Figure 7A A cooling system 706 is also shown. The cooling system 706 can be configured as a cooling energy module 702 and / or a conversion module 704. (As shown) Figure 7A As shown, a single cooling system can be used.

[0074] Figure 7B A perspective interior view of a vehicle including multiple conversion modules 704 and an energy module is shown. A high-voltage (HV) interconnect 708 is used to connect to a voltage output. Low-voltage (LV) components 710 indicate low-voltage components (e.g., lights, radio, air conditioning, windows, etc.) that do not power the vehicle's drive system. An MT coolant circuit 712 is used to cool the heat generated by the manual transmission using engine coolant circulating through a dedicated transmission cooler. Figure 7B The conversion module 704 is shown.

[0075] Figure 7C Showing from Figure 7B An external view of the vehicle. HV I / O 718 can be configured to send and / or receive data. Disconnect switch 715 can be configured to function as a disconnector (e.g., to disconnect or reconnect the power string module to other electrical components). Similarly, disconnect switch 715 can be configured to selectively isolate the electrical system (i.e., the battery power system) from the truck's electrical system. LT coolant circuit 716 can be configured to manage the temperature of the vehicle's transmission fluid. Energy module 702 is located below conversion module 704. Figure 7D An enlarged side view of a portion of the power system is shown. Figure 7D The delayed power grid 720 and its supporting structure are shown above the energy module 702, conversion module 704, and housing / support structure 714. (See diagram.) Figure 7DAs shown, the delayed grid 720 is positioned close to the energy module 702 and the conversion module 704, which may be undesirable in some situations. For example, placing the delayed grid 720 near the energy module 702 and the conversion module 704 can cause problems such as thermal management (e.g., component degradation due to overheating), electrical interference (e.g., EMI problems), and impacts (e.g., if the delayed grid 720 hits the conversion module 704 or the energy module 702 (or vice versa)).

[0076] Furthermore, when implemented in mining tractor trucks, the truck's pallet can extend above the loading platform, which again imposes constraints on the height of components fixed to the loading platform. In some embodiments, raising the delay grid 720 to provide additional space between the delay grid 720 (or its support structure) and the conversion module 704 may be undesirable. Therefore, the limited amount of space can impose limitations on the size, number, and / or configuration of the battery pack included in the energy module 702.

[0077] Figure 8A A perspective exterior view of at least a portion of the power system of a vehicle comprising a set of power string modules, according to an embodiment, is shown. Figure 8A The diagram illustrates a power string module 802, a housing / support structure 804, a cooling system 810, an electrical cabinet 806, a delay grid 808, and a converter 812. The cooling system 810 can be configured to maintain and / or change the temperature of the power string module 802. The delay grid 808 can be used to decelerate or maintain a stable speed for the vehicle and can be used to generate power for recharging the battery pack included in the power string module 802. The converter 812 is configured as a high-level converter / isolator to allow the power string module 802 to be integrated into the vehicle's existing electrical system (and / or integrated with a delay / recharge / regenerative system). Although not shown, the electrical system can be electrically connected (e.g., via any number / type of interfaces) to one or more components of the electrical cabinet 806.

[0078] Figure 8B It shows Figure 8A A perspective external view of at least a portion of the power system, with some components removed to better show the power string modules. Figure 8B The power string module 802, housing / support structure 804, electrical cabinet 806, and cooling system 810 are shown, but the source of the power string module 802, housing / support structure 804, electrical cabinet 806, and cooling system 810 are not shown. Figure 8A The delay grid 808 and converter 812. The power string module 802, housing / support structure 804, cooling system 810, delay grid 808 and / or converter 812 can work together to operate the vehicle in a way that is less prone to failure and undesirable risks, despite the challenges of retrofitting large electric vehicles and powering them.

[0079] Figure 8C and Figure 8D They are shown respectively Figure 8A The diagram shows a portion of the power system, including internal and external perspective views, illustrating the electrical connections associated with multiple power string modules. A delay grid 808 is located above the power string module 802. MT coolant 816 and low-voltage components 814 are positioned adjacent to the power string module 802. In addition to the converter 812, power string module 802, and delay grid 808, Figure 8D Also shown are the large disconnect switch 818, HV I / O 820, and LT coolant 822.

[0080] Figure 9 A perspective view of at least a portion of an electrical system 900 according to an embodiment is shown. The electrical system 900 may be modular or substantially modular, thereby allowing its use in any number of embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the electrical system 900 may be used and / or installed on the right-hand cargo platform of a mining tractor truck. In some embodiments, the electrical system 900 may be used and / or installed in other large / industrial vehicles, such as locomotives, ships, aircraft, etc. In still other embodiments, the electrical system 900 may be used and / or installed in a stationary power plant.

[0081] Figure 9An electrical system 900 is shown, comprising multiple power string modules 902, a delay grid 904, a DC link disconnect device 906, a thermal management system tower disconnect device (TMS disconnect device 908), a computing module 910, a loading dock under-platform routing channel 912, and a disconnect switch 914. The delay grid 904 may be located above the power string modules 902 (e.g., but not directly connected to them). The delay grid 904 may be a dynamic braking system and / or any other renewable energy system configured to output electrical energy for recharging a battery pack included in the power string modules 902. The disconnect switch 914 may be configured to connect or disconnect the power string modules 902 to other electrical components of the vehicle. The computing module 910 may communicate with the TMS disconnect device 908 and the DC link disconnect device 906, and may, for example, at least partially control one or more of their associated components. For example, TMS disconnect device 908 may be configured to monitor the temperature of power string module 902, and DC link disconnect device 906 may be configured to monitor the DC voltage at or associated with the output of power string module 902. In some embodiments, calculation module 910 may receive a temperature indication from TMS disconnect device 908 at power string module 902 and / or a DC voltage level indication from DC link disconnect device 906 at or associated with power string module 902. When each of the temperature and DC voltage level is within a predetermined, desired, and / or acceptable range, calculation module 910 may control or otherwise allow disconnect switch 914 to close, thereby connecting power string module 902 to one or more external circuits (e.g., of a vehicle). Conversely, in response to either or both of the temperature or DC voltage level being outside a predetermined, desired, and / or acceptable temperature or DC voltage level range, calculation module 910 may send a signal to disconnect switch 914 to open, thereby disconnecting power string module 902 from one or more external circuits.

[0082] All combinations of the foregoing concepts and the additional concepts discussed herein (provided that these concepts are not inconsistent with each other) are intended to be part of the subject matter disclosed herein. Terms explicitly adopted herein that may also appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference shall be given the meaning most consistent with the specific concepts disclosed herein.

[0083] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the subject matter described herein. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; in some cases, various aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein may be exaggerated or enlarged in the drawings to facilitate understanding of different features.

[0084] This application as a whole (including the cover, title, subheadings, background, overview, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, embodiments, abstract, drawings, appendices, etc.) illustrates, by way of description, various examples in which embodiments can be practiced. The advantages and features of this application are merely representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. Rather, they are presented to aid understanding and teaching of embodiments and do not represent all embodiments. Therefore, certain aspects of this disclosure are not discussed herein. The failure to provide alternative embodiments for specific parts of the innovation, or the possibility that alternative embodiments not further described may be applicable to certain parts, should not be considered as excluding these alternative embodiments from the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that many embodiments in those not described incorporate the same innovative principles, and other embodiments are equivalent. Therefore, it should be understood that some implementations can be utilized, and functional, logical, operational, organizational, structural, and / or topological modifications can be made without departing from the scope and / or spirit of this disclosure. Therefore, throughout this disclosure, all examples and / or implementations are considered non-limiting.

[0085] Furthermore, apart from the need to reduce space and redundancy, no inferences should be drawn regarding the embodiments discussed herein in relation to those not discussed herein. For example, it should be understood that the logical and / or topological structure of any combination of any program components (sets of components), other components, and / or any current feature set as described in the figures and / or throughout is not limited to a fixed order of operation and / or arrangement; rather, any disclosed order is exemplary, and this disclosure covers all equivalents, regardless of the order.

[0086] Various concepts can be embodied in one or more methods, and at least one example has been provided. Actions performed as part of a method can be ordered in any suitable manner. Therefore, implementations in which actions are performed in an order different from that shown can be constructed, which may include the simultaneous execution of some actions, even those shown as sequential in the illustrative implementation. In other words, it should be understood that such features are not necessarily limited to a specific execution order, but can be performed serially, asynchronously, concurrently, in parallel, simultaneously, synchronously, etc., in a manner consistent with this disclosure. Therefore, some of these features may be contradictory, as they cannot coexist in a single implementation. Similarly, some features may apply to one aspect of the innovation but not to others.

[0087] Furthermore, this disclosure may include other innovations not currently described. The applicant reserves all rights to such innovations, including the right to implement such innovations, file supplemental applications, continuation applications, partial continuation applications, divisional applications, etc. Therefore, it should be understood that the advantages, implementation methods, examples, functions, features, logic, operation, organization, structure, topology, and / or other aspects of this disclosure should not be considered as limitations on this disclosure as defined by its implementation methods or on its equivalents. Depending on the specific needs and / or characteristics of individual and / or enterprise users, database configuration and / or relational models, data types, data transmission and / or network frameworks, syntax structures, etc., various implementations of the technologies disclosed herein can be implemented in a manner that achieves the considerable flexibility and customization described herein.

[0088] All definitions used herein should be understood to take precedence over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or the general meaning of the terms defined.

[0089] Unless clearly indicated to the contrary, the indefinite articles “a” and “an” used herein in the specification and implementation should be understood to mean “at least one”.

[0090] The phrase “and / or” as used herein in the specification and embodiments should be understood to mean “any one or both” of the elements so combined, that is, elements that exist in combination in some cases and not in combination in others. Multiple elements listed with “and / or” should be understood in the same way, that is, “one or more” of the elements so combined. Other elements may optionally exist, whether related to or unrelated to those explicitly identified by the “and / or” clause. Thus, as a non-limiting example, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “including”, a reference to “A and / or B” may in one embodiment refer only to A (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, only to B (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, both A and B (optionally including other elements); and so on.

[0091] As used herein in the specification and embodiments, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" should be interpreted as inclusive, that is, including at least one of the listed elements and optionally additional unlisted items, but also including more than one. Only terms that explicitly indicate the opposite, such as "only one of them" or "exactly one of them" or "consisting of..." as used in embodiments, will refer to including exactly one of the listed elements. Generally, when preceded by an exclusive term such as "any," "one of them," "only one of them," or "exactly one of them," the term "or" as used herein should be interpreted only to indicate an exclusionary alternative (i.e., one or the other, but not both). "Substantially consisting of..." when used in embodiments should have its ordinary meaning in the field of patent law.

[0092] As used herein in the specification and embodiments, the phrase "at least one" when referring to a list of one or more elements should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each element specifically listed in the list of elements, and does not exclude any combination of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for the optional presence of elements other than those explicitly identified in the list of elements referred to by the phrase "at least one," whether related to or not related to those explicitly identified elements. Therefore, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B", or, equivalently, "at least one of A and / or B") may refer to at least one A (optionally including more than one A) without B (and optionally including elements other than B) in one embodiment; at least one B (optionally including more than one B) without A (and optionally including elements other than A) in another embodiment; at least one A (optionally including more than one A) and at least one B (optionally including more than one B) (and optionally including other elements); etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: shell; An energy module, the energy module (1) being included in the housing, and (2) including a battery pack configured to provide an initial voltage; and The conversion module (1) is included in the housing and (2) includes a high voltage DC / DC converter and an ultra-high voltage DC / DC converter. The conversion module is configured to receive the initial voltage and output the converted voltage using the high voltage DC / DC converter and the ultra-high voltage DC / DC converter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The high-voltage DC / DC converter is configured to receive the initial voltage and generate an intermediate voltage, and the ultra-high-voltage DC / DC converter is configured to receive the intermediate voltage and generate the converted voltage.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The outer casing is a single casing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The housing is configured to protect the correct orientation of the energy module and the conversion module.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The energy module and the conversion module are electrically coupled and positioned within the housing to satisfy one or more creepage distance requirements or clearance requirements.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The energy module is a first energy module, the conversion module is a first conversion module, and the first energy module and the first conversion module are included in a first power string module, which is included in the housing. The device further includes: Second energy module; and The second conversion module, the second energy module, and the second conversion module are included in the second power string module, which is included in the housing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The first power string module is located inside the first housing, and the second power string module is located inside the second housing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The outer casing is a device casing, the energy module is a first energy module, and the conversion module is a first conversion module. The first energy module and the first conversion module are included in a first power string module, which is located within the first outer casing. The device also includes: Second energy module; and A second conversion module, electrically coupled to a second energy module, wherein the second energy module and the second conversion module are positioned within a second housing, and wherein: The first housing and the second housing are positioned inside the device housing.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: The first energy module and the first conversion module are included in the first power string module, which is located inside the first housing; The second energy module and the second conversion module are included in the second power string module, which is located inside the second housing; and The first housing and the second housing are removably positioned within the device housing, such that the first power string module and the second power string module can be selectively removed from the device.

10. A method comprising: The initial voltage is provided via a first module included in the housing; The initial voltage is received at a first DC / DC converter included in the housing to generate an intermediate voltage; and The intermediate voltage is received at a second DC / DC converter included in the housing to generate the converted voltage.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The outer shell is included in a diesel / battery hybrid vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The diesel / battery hybrid vehicle is one of mining haul trucks, locomotives, or vessels.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The first module is a first energy module, which includes one or more battery packs configured to generate the initial voltage and one or more battery management systems configured to selectively connect and disconnect the one or more battery packs.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The first DC / DC converter and the second DC / DC converter are included in a first conversion module, which further includes a switch, a battery management system regulator, and a battery power string controller. The first conversion module is configured to receive the initial voltage and generate the converted voltage.

15. An electric power system, comprising: A power source electrically coupled to the high-voltage routing channel and the power system and configured to generate power, the power source comprising: - Multiple energy modules configured to generate an initial voltage; - A plurality of conversion modules, each electrically coupled to one of the plurality of energy modules, the plurality of conversion modules being configured to receive the initial voltage and generate a converted voltage, wherein: -- Each energy module and coupled conversion module defines one of the multiple power string modules; -- Each power string module is positioned within one of multiple enclosures; and -- Each power string module is electrically coupled to the high-voltage routing channel.

16. The power system according to claim 15, wherein, The plurality of housings are removably coupled to the power source, such that the plurality of power string modules can be selectively removed from the power source.

17. The power system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of energy modules further comprises: Multiple battery packs, the multiple battery packs being configured to generate the initial voltage; and One or more battery management systems, said one or more battery management systems being operatively coupled to said plurality of battery packs and configured to selectively engage said plurality of battery packs.

18. The power system according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of conversion modules further comprises: A switch configured to electrically connect the conversion module to a corresponding energy module; Multiple DC / DC converters are configured to receive the initial voltage and generate the converted voltage; A battery management system regulator, configured to regulate one or more battery management systems of the corresponding energy module; and A battery power string controller, configured to control at least one of the plurality of battery packs of the corresponding energy module or one or more battery management systems, wherein: The energy module and the conversion module are positioned within the housing to meet one or more creepage distance requirements or clearance requirements.

19. The power system according to claim 15, wherein, Each of the plurality of power string modules is located within a corresponding enclosure among the plurality of enclosures and coupled to the high-voltage routing channel, such that each power string module can be removed and replaced within the power system by removing and replacing one or more of the plurality of enclosures.

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