Solar automobile photovoltaic-super capacitor integrated system

By replacing the vehicle body structural components with supercapacitor modules and combining them with dual-stage boost technology, the integrated design of photovoltaic modules and supercapacitor modules is achieved. This solves the shortcomings of solar vehicles in terms of energy conversion and storage efficiency, structural and functional integration, and system reliability, thereby improving system efficiency and safety and optimizing energy utilization.

CN223934550UActive Publication Date: 2026-02-24UNIV OF SCI & TECH OF CHINA
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202520720734.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-04-16
Publication Date
2026-02-24
Estimated Expiration
2035-04-16

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing solar-powered vehicles have shortcomings in energy conversion and storage efficiency, structural and functional integration, energy management strategies, and system reliability. Traditional designs fail to effectively utilize the energy storage and structural support potential of supercapacitors, and the independent installation of photovoltaic modules and energy storage units results in large space occupation, increased weight, and difficulty in the system responding quickly to dynamic operating conditions.

Method used

By replacing the vehicle body structural components with supercapacitor modules and combining them with dual-stage boost and bypass control technologies, an integrated design of photovoltaic modules and supercapacitor modules is achieved. Flexible and lightweight rigid photovoltaic modules are used, and the high power density and fast charging and discharging characteristics of supercapacitors are utilized. Combined with MPPT and DC/DC boost modules to optimize energy distribution, the triple functions of power generation, energy storage and structural support are realized.

Benefits of technology

It significantly improves system efficiency and safety, reduces energy loss, extends the lifespan of power batteries, enhances system stability and reliability, can quickly respond to fluctuations in photovoltaic module output, and optimizes energy utilization.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of electric automobiles, in particular to a solar automobile photovoltaic-super capacitor integrated system, which is integrated on an automobile shell, and utilizes rigidity of a super capacitor metal pole plate to replace part of automobile body structural members to realize triple functions of power generation, energy storage transfer and structural support. The super capacitor module serves as a boost transfer energy storage unit, and converts low-voltage direct current output by the photovoltaic module into high-voltage and stable direct current through the DC / DC boost module. The master control module is provided with a bypass control circuit which allows photovoltaic current to bypass the power battery to directly supply power to the motor, energy loss is reduced, and the service life of the power battery is prolonged. The master control module can optimize an energy distribution strategy in real time, preferentially utilizes photovoltaic direct supply, and is supplemented by a power battery when the photovoltaic direct supply is insufficient. The system integration level and the energy utilization efficiency can be remarkably improved, light weight, high reliability and dynamic response performance are achieved, and the system is suitable for scenes of solar automobiles, mobile energy storage equipment and the like.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electric vehicle technology, specifically to a solar-powered photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system for automobiles, which achieves efficient energy conversion and dynamic management through an integrated structure and a two-stage boost design. Background Technology

[0002] With the escalating global energy crisis and environmental pollution, new energy vehicle technology has become a key development direction for many countries. Solar-powered vehicles, as an important branch of electric vehicles, convert solar energy into electricity through photovoltaic modules to power the vehicle. They offer significant advantages such as zero emissions and renewable energy, and are considered a crucial direction for future transportation development. However, the current development of solar-powered vehicles still faces technical bottlenecks, including insufficient energy conversion and storage efficiency, limitations in the separation of structure and function, a lack of diverse energy management strategies, and insufficient system integration and reliability.

[0003] Traditional solar-powered cars rely on batteries (such as lead-acid and lithium batteries) to store photovoltaic energy. However, batteries suffer from low energy density, poor charge / discharge efficiency, and short lifespan. For example, lead-acid batteries have an energy density of only 30–50 Wh / kg, a charge / discharge efficiency of 70%–80%, and a cycle life of 300–500 cycles. Coupled with their slow charging rate (8–10 hours), these factors severely restrict system energy efficiency and reliability. While lithium batteries have a higher energy density (100–250 Wh / kg), they are expensive (approximately 900 RMB / kWh) and prone to thermal runaway at high temperatures, potentially leading to fires, explosions, and other safety hazards. Furthermore, photovoltaic modules are significantly affected by fluctuations in sunlight intensity, resulting in uncertain output power. Existing systems struggle to respond quickly to dynamic operating conditions, leading not only to low energy utilization but also increased systemic safety risks.

[0004] Current solar-powered cars typically mount photovoltaic (PV) modules independently on the roof or body surface, with energy storage systems (such as batteries) arranged separately, resulting in significant space occupation and increased weight. Traditional systems employ a fixed path of "PV charging → battery storage → motor drive," requiring multiple energy conversions (such as DC / DC boost and battery charging / discharging), leading to increased losses. Furthermore, in existing technologies, PV modules, energy storage units, and the vehicle structure are independent, lacking coordinated design. For example, some models require additional metal frames to enhance the wind resistance of PV modules, resulting in structural redundancy; others add lithium batteries as intermediate energy storage units, occupying interior space. While supercapacitors offer high power density and rapid charging / discharging characteristics, traditional designs fail to fully utilize the structural support potential of their rigid plates, failing to achieve integrated "energy storage + structure" functionality.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, those skilled in the art have attempted to improve performance by enhancing energy storage technology and system integration. For example, patent CN201220374767.7 proposes a supercapacitor vehicle body structure, embedding a supercapacitor module into the vehicle body structure to achieve energy storage and weight reduction. However, this solution, using the supercapacitor as the final energy storage unit, will severely limit the vehicle's driving range. Currently, the energy density of mainstream supercapacitors is 5–30 Wh / kg, far lower than that of lithium batteries (100–250 Wh / kg). Moreover, supercapacitors suffer from severe self-discharge, with a self-discharge rate of approximately 1.8% / hour at room temperature, which doubles at high temperatures. Therefore, supercapacitors are not suitable as final energy storage units, but rather as intermediate energy storage units. Furthermore, this solution does not consider the integrated use of photovoltaic modules and supercapacitors, nor does it consider the role of supercapacitors in onboard photovoltaic systems.

[0006] In summary, existing solar-powered vehicle technologies have significant shortcomings in energy conversion and storage efficiency, structural and functional integration, energy management strategies, and system reliability. Therefore, this invention proposes a photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system for solar-powered vehicles, achieving true photovoltaic-electric vehicle integration, significantly improving system integration and energy utilization efficiency, and overcoming the bottlenecks of existing technologies. Utility Model Content

[0007] This invention proposes a solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system. By replacing structural components in the vehicle body with supercapacitor modules, it achieves a triple function of "power generation + energy storage + support." Combined with dual-stage boost and bypass control technology, it significantly improves system efficiency and safety. The specific technical solution is as follows:

[0008] This utility model provides a solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system, comprising:

[0009] Photovoltaic modules are applied to the surface of the car body.

[0010] An insulating and heat-insulating layer is placed between the photovoltaic module and the supercapacitor module to isolate electrical and heat transfer.

[0011] The supercapacitor module is composed of multiple flat single supercapacitors connected in series and parallel, and its metal plates replace some of the vehicle body structural components to achieve structural support function.

[0012] An insulating protective layer covers the supercapacitor module to isolate it from contact with the vehicle's passengers;

[0013] The photovoltaic module, MPPT boost control module, supercapacitor module, DC / DC boost module and main control module are electrically connected in sequence;

[0014] The MPPT boost control module is used to boost the low-voltage DC power output from the photovoltaic module in one stage before transmitting it to the supercapacitor module.

[0015] The DC / DC boost module is used to boost the electrical energy output from the supercapacitor module in two stages to the high-voltage DC power for vehicles.

[0016] The main control module is equipped with a bypass control circuit, which is used to bypass the power battery and directly supply the power generator or transmit the photovoltaic current to the power battery for charging according to the system status.

[0017] Furthermore, the photovoltaic module includes a flexible photovoltaic module or a lightweight rigid photovoltaic module;

[0018] The flexible photovoltaic module is selected from perovskite, copper indium gallium selenide, or multi-junction cells.

[0019] The lightweight rigid photovoltaic module is selected from monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or silicon-based cells.

[0020] Furthermore, a diode is provided between the MPPT boost control module and the supercapacitor module to prevent the supercapacitor module from reverse charging the photovoltaic module.

[0021] Furthermore, the DC / DC boost module adopts an LLC resonant circuit to boost the 60-80V voltage output from the supercapacitor module to 380-500V automotive high-voltage DC power.

[0022] Furthermore, the main control module is configured to optimize the energy distribution strategy in real time, prioritizing the direct power supply of photovoltaic current to the motor through the bypass control circuit, and supplementing the power supply by the power battery when insufficient; during regenerative braking, energy is prioritized to be stored in the supercapacitor module.

[0023] Furthermore, the insulating and heat-insulating layer is made of aerogel or glass fiber material, and the insulating protective layer is made of insulating rubber or insulating varnish.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0025] 1. This invention utilizes a two-stage boost circuit design to gradually boost the low-voltage DC power output from the photovoltaic module (18-36V) to the high-voltage DC power for automotive applications (380-500V), effectively reducing voltage fluctuations and boost losses. In traditional systems, the photovoltaic module undergoes multiple energy conversions (such as DC / DC boost and battery charging / discharging), resulting in a system efficiency of only 65%. This system, through the synergistic effect of the MPPT boost module and the supercapacitor module, increases the system efficiency to 73%. Furthermore, the high charging / discharging efficiency and rapid response capability of the supercapacitor further reduce energy loss and improve overall energy efficiency.

[0026] 2. This invention combines the rigidity of supercapacitor metal plates with vehicle body structural components, achieving a triple function of "power generation + energy storage and transfer + structural support." The supercapacitor module not only serves as an energy storage unit but also replaces some vehicle body structural components, reducing the use of independent energy storage units and metal frames in traditional designs, thus significantly reducing vehicle weight. Simultaneously, the long cycle life (supporting over 100,000 charge-discharge cycles) and high stability of the supercapacitor significantly improve the system's reliability and service life.

[0027] 3. The supercapacitor module of this invention features high power density and rapid charge / discharge characteristics, enabling it to complete charging within tens of seconds and quickly respond to fluctuations in photovoltaic module output. This characteristic allows the system to better adapt to dynamic operating conditions, fully utilize the instantaneous power generation capacity of the photovoltaic modules, and reduce energy waste. Furthermore, the dual-stage boost circuit design further stabilizes the voltage output, ensuring the system maintains efficient operation even with changes in light intensity.

[0028] 4. This invention, through its bypass control circuit design, allows photovoltaic current to bypass the power battery and directly supply power to the motor, reducing the number of charge-discharge cycles of the power battery and extending its service life. Simultaneously, the dual-stage boost circuit effectively reduces voltage fluctuations, preventing system failures caused by voltage instability. Furthermore, the collaborative working mode of the supercapacitor module and the power battery ensures that the power battery can promptly supplement power supply when photovoltaic power is insufficient, improving the overall stability of the system.

[0029] 5. The overall control module of this invention can optimize the energy distribution strategy in real time, prioritizing the use of photovoltaic direct power to the motor, and supplementing it with the power battery when insufficient. This dynamic energy management strategy not only reduces the frequency of power battery use and extends its lifespan, but also improves the overall energy efficiency of the system. In addition, the braking feedback mechanism allows the motor to prioritize charging the supercapacitor during braking, further optimizing energy utilization. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the integrated structure and circuit layout of a photovoltaic-supercapacitor system.

[0031] In the diagram: 1. Photovoltaic module; 2. Insulating and heat-insulating layer; 3. Supercapacitor module; 4. Insulating and protective layer. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, this utility model provides a solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system, comprising: a photovoltaic module 1 covering the surface of the vehicle shell; an insulating and heat-insulating layer 2 disposed between the photovoltaic module 1 and the supercapacitor module 3 for isolating electrical and heat transmission; the supercapacitor module 3 is composed of multiple flat single supercapacitors connected in series and parallel, with its metal plates replacing some of the vehicle body structural components to achieve structural support; an insulating protective layer 4 covering the supercapacitor module 3 to isolate it from contact with the vehicle passengers; the photovoltaic module 1, MPPT boost control module, supercapacitor module 3, DC / DC boost module, and main control module are sequentially electrically connected; the MPPT boost control module is used to boost the low-voltage DC power output from the photovoltaic module 1 to the supercapacitor module 3; the DC / DC boost module is used to boost the power output from the supercapacitor module 3 to the vehicle's high-voltage DC power in a second stage; the main control module is equipped with a bypass control circuit for bypassing the power battery to directly power the motor or transmitting the photovoltaic current to the power battery for charging, depending on the system status.

[0034] The photovoltaic module 1, insulating and heat-insulating layer 2, supercapacitor module 3, and insulating protective layer 4 are integrated into a single design. Specifically, the photovoltaic module 1 covers the surface of the vehicle body, including areas such as the hood, roof, trunk lid, and side doors. Depending on the installation location or application scenario, the photovoltaic module 1 is divided into two categories: flexible photovoltaic module 1 and lightweight rigid photovoltaic module 1. Flexible photovoltaic modules 1 can use perovskite cells, multi-junction cells, or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells, with a thickness not exceeding 1 mm, allowing them to conform to the curved surfaces of the vehicle body and adapt to complex shapes. For example, when installing the photovoltaic module 1 on the roof, perovskite cells can be used, offering excellent low-light performance and maintaining stable output even in cloudy or rainy weather. Lightweight rigid photovoltaic modules 1 can use monocrystalline silicon or polycrystalline silicon cells, reducing weight through lightweight packaging processes, such as thinning the aluminum frame, and securing them to the vehicle frame using high-strength adhesives. For example, using monocrystalline silicon cells on the hood can balance power generation efficiency and impact resistance.

[0035] Furthermore, the supercapacitor module 3 is composed of multiple flat, single-cell supercapacitors connected in series and parallel, with a single-cell process voltage of 2.7V and a capacity of 3000F. Its aluminum metal plates can directly replace traditional vehicle body structural components, such as roof beams and door anti-collision beams. Specifically, it is connected to the vehicle body frame via bolts, allowing the supercapacitor module 3 to provide mechanical strength comparable to the original structural components while fulfilling its energy storage function.

[0036] In addition, an insulating and heat-insulating layer 2 is installed between the photovoltaic module 1 and the supercapacitor module 3. The material used is aerogel or glass fiber. The aerogel layer is 5mm thick and has a thermal conductivity of 0.02W / (m·K), which can effectively isolate the heat conduction of the photovoltaic module 1 in high-temperature environments and prevent the supercapacitor module 3 from overheating. The supercapacitor module 3 is covered with an insulating protective layer 4, which can be made of insulating rubber or insulating varnish with a withstand voltage rating of 3000V to ensure electrical isolation between the crew compartment and high-voltage components.

[0037] The low-voltage DC power (18-36V) output from photovoltaic module 1 after photoelectric conversion is transmitted to the MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Controller) boost control module. The MPPT boost control module uses a perturbation-observation method to track the maximum power point in real time, boosting the voltage to 60-80V. A Schottky diode can be connected in series at the output of the MPPT boost control module to prevent the supercapacitor module 3 from reverse discharging to photovoltaic module 1 when there is no sunlight.

[0038] The boosted electrical energy is stored in supercapacitor module 3. The rapid charge and discharge characteristics of supercapacitor module 3 enable it to instantly absorb fluctuations in photovoltaic output. For example, when the light intensity increases from 1000 W / m²... 2 The power dropped sharply to 200W / m 2 At this time, the supercapacitor can release the stored energy within 1 second to maintain the system output voltage fluctuation not exceeding ±2%.

[0039] The 60-80V DC output from the supercapacitor is boosted a second time by a DC / DC boost module to convert it into 380-500V high-voltage DC for automotive use. The DC / DC boost module uses an LLC resonant circuit with a boost efficiency of 96%, a 5% improvement over traditional Boost circuits. The main control module selects the energy transfer path based on real-time operating conditions.

[0040] When photovoltaic power supply is sufficient: the bypass control circuit directly drives the AC / DC conversion module to supply power directly to the AC motor, reducing the number of times the power battery is charged and discharged;

[0041] When photovoltaic power is insufficient: switch to power battery and dynamically adjust the output power through BMS (Battery Management System);

[0042] During braking energy recovery: the electrical energy generated by the motor in reverse is preferentially stored in the supercapacitor module 3.

[0043] The specific working process is as follows: Sunlight shines on the photovoltaic module 1 on the exterior surface of the car. The photovoltaic module 1 converts solar energy into electrical energy through the photoelectric effect, and then the electrical energy is boosted by the MPPT boost module before being transmitted to the supercapacitor. The main control module judges the status of the car and the circuit system to decide whether to accept the electrical energy output by the photovoltaic module 1. If not accepted, the photovoltaic power generation is temporarily stored in the supercapacitor; if accepted, the supercapacitor transmits the electrical energy to the main control module after a second boost through the DC / DC boost module. Then the main control module determines the purpose of the photovoltaic power generation. If it is used to directly power the motor, the electrical energy is transmitted to the AC / DC conversion module through the bypass control circuit, while reducing the corresponding power battery output; if it is used to power the power battery, the power battery is charged through the BMS system.

[0044] In summary, this invention significantly improves the energy utilization efficiency, lightweight design, and safety of solar-powered vehicles through its integrated photovoltaic-supercapacitor structure, dual-stage boost energy transfer, and dynamic distribution strategy. This technology can be widely applied to passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and mobile energy storage devices, driving the further development of new energy vehicles towards higher efficiency and sustainability.

[0045] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system, characterized in that, include: Photovoltaic modules (1) are covered on the surface of the car body; An insulating and heat-insulating layer (2) is disposed between the photovoltaic module (1) and the supercapacitor module (3) to isolate electrical and heat transmission. The supercapacitor module (3) is composed of multiple flat single supercapacitors connected in series and parallel, and its metal plates replace some of the vehicle body structural parts to achieve the structural support function. An insulating protective layer (4) covers the supercapacitor module (3) to isolate it from contact with the onboard passengers; The photovoltaic module (1), MPPT boost control module, supercapacitor module (3), DC / DC boost module and main control module are electrically connected in sequence; The MPPT boost control module is used to boost the low-voltage DC power output by the photovoltaic module (1) to the supercapacitor module (3) in one stage. The DC / DC boost module is used to boost the electrical energy output from the supercapacitor module (3) to automotive high-voltage DC power in two stages. The main control module is equipped with a bypass control circuit, which is used to bypass the power battery and directly supply the power generator or transmit the photovoltaic current to the power battery for charging according to the system status.

2. The solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The photovoltaic module (1) includes a flexible photovoltaic module (1) or a lightweight rigid photovoltaic module (1). The flexible photovoltaic module (1) is selected from perovskite, copper indium gallium selenide or multi-junction cells; The lightweight rigid photovoltaic module (1) is selected from monocrystalline silicon or polycrystalline silicon cells.

3. The solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A diode is provided between the MPPT boost control module and the supercapacitor module (3) to prevent the supercapacitor module (3) from reverse charging the photovoltaic module (1).

4. The solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The DC / DC boost module adopts an LLC resonant circuit to boost the 60-80V voltage output by the supercapacitor module (3) to 380-500V automotive high voltage DC power.

5. The solar-powered automotive photovoltaic-supercapacitor integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating and heat-insulating layer (2) is made of aerogel or glass fiber material, and the insulating protective layer (4) is made of insulating rubber or insulating paint.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Supercapacitor vehicle body

    CN202806330U