Battery Exchange Machine Using Sacrificial Charge for Rapid Recharging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The adoption of zero tailpipe emission technology, such as all-electric vehicles, is hindered by high costs, limited driving range, and long recharging times, particularly in densely populated cities with limited financial resources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of collection, charging, and distribution machines that utilize a control subsystem to identify and charge portable electrical energy storage devices at an accelerated rate using a combination of electrical service power and power sacrificed from other devices, allowing for quick recharging without the need for upgraded electrical services, even during grid limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If all-electric vehicles are adopted to achieve zero tailpipe emissions, then environmental pollution is reduced, but the cost increases and driving range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables batteries to serve themselves through automated collection, charging, and redistribution. Batteries are automatically collected from vehicles, recharged at centralized facilities, and redistributed when ready, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Batteries are pre-charged at centralized facilities before being distributed to vehicles. This preliminary charging action ensures that vehicles always have access to fully charged batteries, eliminating range anxiety without requiring expensive large-capacity batteries in each vehicle.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If secondary batteries are used in all-electric vehicles, then zero tailpipe emissions are achieved, but recharging time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is segmented from the vehicle operation. Instead of charging batteries while they remain in vehicles (causing long downtime), batteries are collected, charged at centralized facilities, and redistributed. This separates the charging function from the transportation function, eliminating recharging time from the vehicle's operational cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
A centralized battery management system acts as an intermediary between vehicles and the power grid. This intermediary coordinates battery collection, charging, and redistribution, optimizing the entire process and ensuring that vehicles always have access to charged batteries without experiencing long recharging waits.
3Loss of time
If batteries are collected and redistributed through automated machines, then recharging time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized battery management system performs multiple functions: collecting batteries from vehicles, monitoring their charge status, redistributing charged batteries, and coordinating with the power grid. This multi-functional system consolidates what would otherwise be separate complex subsystems in each vehicle into a single centralized facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standardized battery interfaces and communication protocols that can be replicated across multiple vehicles and facilities. This standardization allows the system to scale without proportionally increasing complexity, as each new vehicle or facility simply copies the established interface design.
4Length of moving object
If batteries are frequently exchanged to maintain driving range, then limited driving range is overcome, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery exchange process is automated through collection and redistribution machines that automatically handle battery removal, identification, and replacement. This self-service system eliminates the need for drivers to manually exchange batteries, maintaining ease of operation while enabling extended driving range through frequent battery rotation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the cost and time associated with recharging, making zero tailpipe emission vehicles more viable by maintaining a stock of fully charged batteries and ensuring quick availability, even under limited electrical service conditions.
Implementation Method 1
charging by a charging subsystem a first number of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at a first distribution, collection and charging machine
Data Source
AI summary
A collection, charging and distribution machine collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, super- or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machine employs electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The machine determines a first number of devices to be rapidly charged, employing charge from a second number of devices identified to sacrifice charge. Thus, some devices may be concurrently charged via current from the electrical service and current from other devices, to achieve rapid charging of some subset of devices. The devices that sacrifice charge may later be charged. Such may ensure availability of devices for end users. Collection, charging and distribution machines may be deployed individually or as networked collection, charging and distribution modules with one collection, charging and distribution module controlling at least one other collection, charging and distribution module.