Hybrid Battery-Supercapacitor Power Buffer for Pulsed Vehicle Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems in transport vehicles face challenges such as battery degradation due to pulsed power demands, regenerative braking, and ambient temperature variations, leading to reduced energy capacity, lifetime, and operational range.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid power management system that combines a battery with a super capacitor bank and a bidirectional DC/DC converter, regulated by a hybrid controller, to absorb and supply peak power, minimize battery stress, and optimize charging/discharging processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery is used to power the refrigeration system, then the system can operate without fossil fuel engines, but the battery degrades due to pulsed power demands and large power pulses
Solution Approach 1:
A supercapacitor bank is introduced as an intermediary energy storage device between the battery and the pulsed power loads. The supercapacitor absorbs and delivers large power pulses rapidly, while the battery provides steady-state power, protecting the battery from degradation caused by pulsed power demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The power delivery function is segmented between two energy storage devices: the supercapacitor handles high-power transient demands, while the battery provides sustained energy supply. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal performance range.
2Duration of action of moving object
If larger batteries are used to compensate for degradation, then operational range can be maintained, but cost, size, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor acts as a buffer that protects the battery from degradation, allowing the use of a smaller, lighter battery while maintaining the same operational range. The supercapacitor absorbs the stress of pulsed power demands, preserving battery health and extending its effective lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the battery by limiting it to steady-state power delivery rather than allowing it to supply pulsed power. This parameter change extends battery life and reduces the required battery capacity for a given operational range.
3Loss of energy
If regenerative braking captures energy, then fuel efficiency improves, but large power pulses stress the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor serves as an intermediary that receives large power pulses from regenerative braking and gradually transfers energy to the battery. This mediation protects the battery from the harmful effects of high-rate charging pulses while capturing the recovered energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful large power pulses from regenerative braking into a benefit by using the supercapacitor to buffer and condition the energy before charging the battery, thus protecting the battery while maximizing energy recovery.
4Temperature
If the refrigeration compressor cycles on and off, then temperature control is achieved, but large power pulses are drawn from the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor bank acts as an intermediary that supplies the large inrush currents required by the refrigeration compressor during startup and cycling events. This protects the battery from the harmful effects of repeated high-power pulses while maintaining effective temperature control.
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
The system extends battery life and capacity, reduces sensitivity to ambient temperature, and enables efficient pulsed power management, allowing the transport vehicle to serve as a mobile bidirectional power station for drones without degrading the battery.
Implementation Method 1
a bidirectional DC/DC converter: (i) the bidirectional DC/DC converter, in order to regulate a pulsed power applied to the battery, configured to either: (1) transfer power to the super capacitor bank in order to absorb power from the load; or (2) transfer power from the super capacitor bank in order to supply power to the load
Implementation Method 2
a super capacitor bank comprising a plurality of capacitors
Implementation Method 3
the bidirectional DC/DC converter configured to transfer power between the super capacitor bank and the battery and/or the load in order to charge the super capacitor bank from the battery or the load, or charge the battery/load from the super capacitor bank in a controlled manner using a hybrid controller in order to minimize battery stress and battery degradation
Data Source
AI summary
A system to deliver power to a load in a transport vehicle has: (a) a battery; (b) a super capacitor bank; (c) a bidirectional DC/DC converter configured to transfer power to/from the super capacitors in order to absorb/supply power from/to the load, and configured to transfer power between the super capacitors and the battery and/or the load in order to charge the super capacitor from the battery or load or charge the battery/load from the super capacitors in a controlled way (d) a hybrid controller configured to identify when pulsed power is required to/from the load, and based on a charging pulse profile, supplying a plurality positive and/or negative current pulses to the battery.