Dual Power Storage for Peak Shift and Failure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a large electric load transiently consumes power, the current through power receiving equipment increases, leading to potential rate issues, and existing systems struggle to efficiently manage peak power shifts and power failures.
Innovation Solution
A power supply apparatus with a control circuit, converter, inverter, and dual power storage units (capacitor and secondary battery) that converts AC power to DC and back to AC, allowing the control circuit to manage power distribution by charging/discharging the storage units based on load thresholds and power availability, ensuring peak shift operations and power stability during failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single power storage unit is used to manage peak power shifts, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to handle both rapid transient demands and long-term energy storage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The power storage unit is divided into two distinct components: a first power storage unit (capacitor) for rapid charge/discharge operations to handle transient peaks, and a second power storage unit (battery) for sustained energy storage and supply. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in different temporal and functional requirements, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity by assigning specific roles to each subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two different types of power storage units (capacitor and battery) with complementary characteristics into a unified power supply apparatus. The capacitor provides rapid response for transient peaks while the battery handles sustained energy needs, creating a hybrid system that achieves superior adaptability without requiring an overly complex single-unit solution.
2Speed
If only a capacitor is used for peak shift operation, then the rapid response speed is achieved, but the long-term energy storage capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the energy storage function into two parts: the capacitor handles rapid charge/discharge for immediate peak demands, while the battery provides sustained energy storage for longer durations. This functional segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning speed-critical operations to the capacitor and capacity-critical operations to the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary that manages power flow between the capacitor, battery, and load. It coordinates the charge/discharge operations of both storage units based on real-time power demands, ensuring that the capacitor and battery work together efficiently to meet both speed and capacity requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If only a battery is used for peak shift operation, then the long-term energy storage is achieved, but the rapid response to transient peaks is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power delivery function based on temporal characteristics: the battery handles sustained, lower-speed energy supply for base load and extended operation, while the capacitor provides high-speed bursts for transient peaks. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by matching each storage type's strengths to appropriate operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor is pre-charged during normal operation to prepare for imminent peak demands. This preliminary action allows the system to respond instantly to transient loads without waiting for the slower battery to discharge, thereby achieving rapid response while maintaining overall energy capacity through the battery.
4Speed
If the capacitor discharges during power failure, then the immediate power gap is filled, but the sustained power supply capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
During power failure, the system segments the power supply function temporally: the capacitor provides immediate high-speed discharge to fill the power gap and maintain critical operations, while the battery simultaneously or subsequently supplies sustained power for extended duration. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between speed and duration by using both storage types in coordinated succession or parallel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit ensures continuous power supply during failures by coordinating the discharge of both capacitor and battery. The capacitor's rapid discharge is immediately followed or supplemented by the battery's sustained discharge, maintaining uninterrupted power delivery to the load throughout the failure period, thereby achieving both speed and duration requirements.
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
Efficiently manages peak power shifts and power failures by using the capacitor for rapid charging/discharging and the secondary battery for long-term energy storage, optimizing energy use and reducing peak demand on commercial power supplies.
Implementation Method 1
a converter (3) that converts first AC electric power into DC electric power
Implementation Method 2
an inverter (5) that converts the DC electric power into second AC electric power
Implementation Method 3
a first power storage unit (8, 9) that supplies and receives DC electric power to and from the DC link circuit (23)
Implementation Method 4
a second power storage unit (10, 11) that supplies and receives DC electric power to and from the DC link circuit (23)
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply apparatus includes a control circuit, and first and second power storage connected to a DC link circuit between an inverter and a converter. The control circuit, while the AC power supply is in a normal condition, controls the first power storage to discharge when the control circuit detects that electric power consumption exceeds a threshold, and controls at least one of the first and second power storage to charge when the control circuit detects that the electric power consumption does not exceed the threshold, and while the AC power supply is in an abnormal condition, controls the second power storage to discharge, and controls the first power to discharge when it is detected that the electric power consumption exceeds the threshold.