Parallel Charging System for Electric Vehicles Using Aluminum-Air Fuel Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery electric vehicles using lithium ion batteries face limitations in traveling mileage due to capacity constraints, leading to increased weight, cost, and safety concerns, while aluminum-air fuel batteries offer a safer, more efficient alternative but require a system to enhance their utilization.

Innovation Solution

A parallel charging and power supply system integrating an aluminum-air fuel battery system, lithium ion battery pack, and energy storage system, managed by a battery management system, motor controller, and vehicle control unit, which dynamically adjusts power distribution between these components to optimize energy use and extend vehicle range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If lithium ion battery capacity is increased to extend traveling mileage, then traveling mileage is improved, but vehicle weight and cost increase notably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraveling mileageVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is segmented into two independent battery systems: a lithium ion battery pack for power supply and an aluminum-air fuel battery system for energy storage. Each system performs its function independently, allowing the lithium ion battery capacity to be reduced while maintaining traveling mileage through the aluminum-air fuel battery's supplementary energy storage capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If lithium ion battery capacity is increased to extend traveling mileage, then traveling mileage is improved, but vehicle cost increases notably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraveling mileageVSAvoidvehicle cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Duration of action of moving object

If large number of lithium ion batteries are installed to extend traveling mileage, then traveling mileage is improved, but vehicle safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraveling mileageVSAvoidvehicle safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aluminum-air fuel battery system serves as a disposable or replaceable energy storage component that can be refueled by replacing aluminum rods, providing a safe alternative to expanding lithium ion battery capacity for extending traveling mileage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Weight of moving object

If lithium ion battery capacity is reduced to decrease weight and cost, then vehicle weight and cost are improved, but traveling mileage becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidtraveling mileage

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The aluminum-air fuel battery system acts as an intermediary energy storage solution that supplements the reduced-capacity lithium ion battery pack, converting chemical energy from aluminum rods to extend traveling mileage without requiring large lithium ion battery capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Weight of moving object

If lithium ion battery capacity is reduced to decrease weight and cost, then vehicle weight and cost are improved, but traveling mileage becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidtraveling mileage

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

6Weight of moving object

If lithium ion battery capacity is reduced to decrease weight and cost, then vehicle weight and cost are improved, but traveling mileage becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidtraveling mileage

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges two different battery technologies (lithium ion and aluminum-air fuel) into a hybrid power supply system, combining the high power density of lithium ion batteries with the high energy density and low cost of aluminum-air fuel batteries to achieve both reduced weight and extended traveling mileage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

7Duration of action of moving object

If lithium ion battery capacity is increased to extend traveling mileage, then traveling mileage is improved, but charging time increases and charging positions become limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraveling mileageVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 significantly increases traveling mileage, ensures high safety, reduces weight and cost, and simplifies charging, while minimizing the lithium ion battery pack capacity, addressing the long charging times and limited charging positions associated with lithium ion batteries.

Implementation Method 1

aluminum-air fuel battery system... The conversion module is used for controlling the charging of the battery unit itself according to the commands of the battery management system... The power input end of the conversion module is connected with the corresponding power output end of the aluminum-air fuel battery system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFuel cell electrochemical conversion: Fuel Cell

Implementation Method 2

lithium ion battery pack... The power output ends of the battery unit are connected with the corresponding power input end of the motor controller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery electrochemical conversion: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 3

energy storage system... The aluminum-air fuel battery system, the lithium ion battery pack and the energy storage system are connected in parallel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitor energy storage: Capacitance

Implementation Method 4

The motor controller is used for controlling the motor to drive the vehicle to travel according to the specified torque and rotational speed, realizing the conversion of the power supply outputted by the battery unit into the power supply required by the motor and driving the motor to output mechanical energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3150421B1Parallel charging and power supply system for pure electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.05.20 ADVANCED HIGH POWER MULTIACT XE SOURCE ENERGY SCI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

A parallel charging and power supply system for a battery electric vehicle comprises a battery unit, a battery management system, a vehicle control unit, a motor controller and a motor, wherein a corresponding signal output end and a signal input end of the battery management system are respectively connected with a corresponding signal input end and a signal output end of the battery unit; the motor controller is respectively connected with a power output end of the battery unit, a power input end of the motor and a signal output end of the motor; a signal input end of the vehicle control unit is respectively connected with the corresponding signal output ends of the battery management system and the motor controller; the battery unit itself is provided with a conversion module for controlling the charging of the battery unit itself according to the commands of the battery management system, and a signal input end of the conversion module is connected with the corresponding signal output end of the battery management system; the power input end of the motor is connected with the power output end of the motor controller for obtaining electric energy and outputting the mechanical energy to drive the vehicle to travel; and the signal output end of the motor is connected with the corresponding signal input end of the motor controller. The parallel charging and power supply system for the battery electric vehicle of the present disclosure not only greatly increases the traveling mileage of the battery electric vehicle, but also possesses high safety, light weight, low price, and simple and quick charging.