Power Harvesting Device Single Conductor Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Providing electrical power to remote or infrequently accessed devices, such as sensors and transceivers in PV solar installations, is challenging due to the high voltage of DC current from PV modules, which requires impractical connections across positive and negative conductors and additional infrastructure, making it costly to install.
Innovation Solution
A power harvesting device that couples a switch and energy storing element to a single conductor, using a power condition and management device to switch the switch based on voltage thresholds, allowing energy storage and conversion without needing connections across positive and negative conductors, thus facilitating power supply to devices like sensors and transceivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If connections are made across positive and negative conductors to harvest power, then power can be supplied to devices, but the installation becomes complex and costly due to infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts power harvesting capability from a single conductor by using the conductor itself as one terminal and ground as the other terminal, eliminating the need for complex two-conductor connections. This allows power to be harvested while maintaining the simplicity of single-conductor infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single conductor serves multiple functions: it carries the original electrical signal and simultaneously serves as a power source for the harvesting device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate power infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transceivers are added to extend wireless signal range, then monitoring coverage is improved, but infrastructure costs increase due to additional power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver is powered by harvesting energy from the existing DC conductor rather than requiring external power infrastructure. This self-service approach allows the transceiver to extend monitoring coverage without adding to infrastructure costs or complexity.
3Power
If high voltage DC current is used from PV modules, then power availability is improved, but the system becomes difficult to implement due to voltage conversion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting device acts as an intermediary between the high voltage DC conductor and the low voltage powered device. It includes voltage conversion circuitry that automatically transforms the high voltage DC input into suitable low voltage output, making high voltage power sources easy to implement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the voltage parameter from high voltage DC to low voltage through the harvesting device. This parameter transformation enables the use of high voltage power sources while maintaining ease of operation with low voltage devices.
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
Enables efficient power harvesting from a single conductor, eliminating the need for high voltage to low voltage conversion and impractical connections, allowing selective placement of powered devices along DC conductors, reducing infrastructure costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
An energy storing element coupled to the first path and configured to store energy based upon the direct current flowing through the first path
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are described to harvest power from a single current carrying conductor to furnish power to a powered device. The techniques employ a power harvesting device that is coupled to the conductor. In implementations, the conductor has a first path and a second path. The power harvesting device includes a first switch coupled to the second path. An energy storing element is coupled to the first path and configured to store energy based upon the direct current flowing through the first path. The power harvesting device also includes a power condition and management device coupled to the energy storing element configured to switch the first switch to a closed configuration when the energy storing element is measured to have a predefined high voltage threshold, and to switch the first switch to an open configuration when the energy storing element is measured to have a predefined low voltage threshold.