Urban Bus Power Supply Energy Recovery Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems for urban buses cause battery rundown due to continuous energy consumption from alternators when the engine is running, leading to increased fuel consumption and heat generation.
Innovation Solution
An electronic switch controlled by an electronic control unit is introduced between the batteries and the electrical power line, which opens when the engine is running to prevent energy flow to the batteries, and closes during braking to recover energy, with controlled rectifiers adapting voltage to optimize energy recovery and reduce fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the alternator supplies power to the batteries when the engine is running, then the batteries are charged, but the batteries consume electrical power and convert it into heat, increasing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers electrical energy during braking phases before the engine needs to restart, storing energy in the batteries in advance. This preliminary energy recovery eliminates the need for alternator charging during engine operation, preventing the harmful energy conversion to heat while ensuring batteries are charged when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the periodic braking phases of bus operation to recover energy intermittently rather than continuously charging during engine operation. This periodic energy recovery approach allows the alternator to remain disconnected during engine running phases, eliminating parasitic energy loss while maintaining battery charge through scheduled energy capture during deceleration events.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the alternator continuously supplies power to the electrical power line when the engine is running, then the electrical utilities are powered, but the fuel consumption of the engine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and stores electrical energy in the batteries during braking phases before the engine needs to provide power for utilities. This preliminary energy storage allows the engine to operate at lower power levels or shut down temporarily while maintaining electrical supply to utilities, thereby reducing fuel consumption without compromising power availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers electrical energy that would otherwise be wasted during braking phases (when the engine acts as a brake) and stores it in the batteries. This recovered energy is then used to power electrical utilities, reducing the need for the engine to generate electricity and thereby reducing fuel consumption while maintaining adequate power supply.
3Loss of energy
If the electronic switch remains closed to allow battery power during engine operation, then the batteries can be charged, but the electrical energy is wasted and fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic switch dynamically changes its state based on operational conditions - closed during braking phases to allow battery charging and power availability, and open during engine running phases to prevent energy waste. This dynamic switching strategy optimizes both energy efficiency and operational flexibility, allowing the system to adapt to different driving conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic switch operates periodically, closing during braking phases to enable battery charging and opening during engine operation to prevent energy waste. This periodic switching pattern ensures that batteries are charged at appropriate intervals while preventing parasitic energy loss during engine running phases, maintaining both energy efficiency and battery power availability when needed.
4Loss of energy
If the engine acts as a brake during deceleration, then the bus decelerates, but the electrical energy produced by the alternators is not recovered and fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of engine braking (energy waste) into a beneficial outcome by capturing the electrical energy generated by the alternators during deceleration phases. The electronic switch closes during these phases to route the generated electricity to charge the batteries, transforming what would be wasted energy into useful stored energy, thereby reducing overall fuel consumption without compromising deceleration performance.
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 solution prevents battery power consumption, reduces fuel consumption by saving and recovering electrical energy, and informs the driver when battery recharge is needed, ensuring efficient energy management and extended battery life.
Implementation Method 1
alternators 5a, ... 5n that are actuated by the combustion engine itself 7 to produce electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
an electronic switch 10 is provided, which is placed between the batteries 8 and the electronic power line 3
Implementation Method 3
Each alternator 5 is equipped with a controlled rectifier that allows the output voltage of the rectifier to be adapted to the measured voltage on the terminals of the batteries 8
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical power supply system for an urban bus comprising: an electrical power line of the vehicle (3) designed for supplying electrical power to various electrical utilities; alternators (5) that are actuated by the combustion engine (7) itself, to produce electrical energy that is supplied to the electrical power line of the vehicle (3) for supplying power to various electrical utilities when the engine (7) is running; - electric batteries (11) for supplying power to the starter (9) when starting the combustion engine (7), the electric batteries (11) are also provided for supplying power to the electrical utilities when the engine is not running (7). An electronic switch (10) is placed between the batteries (8) and the electronic supply line (3) and an electronic control unit (11) of the electronic switch (10) receives signals representing the operational state of the engine (7) and the decelerations of the bus. The electronic control unit (11) is provided to control the opening of the electronic switch (10) when the engine (7) is running and when the detected deceleration is lower than a certain threshold value to prevent the electrical energy in the power line (3) from being supplied to the batteries which become users of the electrical energy. The electronic control unit is provided to control the closing of the electronic switch (T) when the engine is not running, so as to allow the engine to start with energy supplied by the batteries. The electronic control unit is provided to control the closing of the electronic switch (10) when the detected deceleration is greater than a certain threshold value so as to recover the electrical energy produced by the alternators (5) that act as electrical energy generators during braking of the bus.