Power Storage System Control for Electric Rolling Stock Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current power storage systems for electric rolling stock lack specific methods for stable and safe operation, activation, stopping, and abnormality detection and handling, despite recent developments, with existing literature not providing comprehensive solutions for these critical aspects.

Innovation Solution

A power storage system incorporating a breaking unit, current and voltage detecting units, switch units, filter units, a DC-DC converter, and a system control unit that manages these components to ensure stable operation, detect abnormalities, and execute appropriate responses, including discharging capacitors in case of anomalies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a power storage system is implemented in electric rolling stock, then energy efficiency is improved through regenerative braking, but operational safety and stability are compromised due to lack of specific operation methods and abnormality detection mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing comprehensive operation methods before actual power storage system deployment. Specific activation, operation, and stopping procedures are defined in advance, along with abnormality detection mechanisms, ensuring the system operates safely from the outset rather than reacting to problems after they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through abnormality detection mechanisms that continuously monitor the power storage system. When abnormalities are detected, the system provides feedback signals to adjust operation or trigger protective measures, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains safety while maximizing energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If comprehensive abnormality detection and operation control mechanisms are added, then operational safety is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing control and detection units that perform multiple functions. The system control unit integrates activation control, operation management, stopping control, and abnormality detection into a single multi-functional device, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges separate functions into integrated units. The breaking unit, detection units, switch units, and control unit are combined into a coordinated system where the system control unit consolidates multiple control functions, simplifying the overall architecture while ensuring comprehensive safety coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If specific operation methods for activation and stopping are established, then operational stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control units and procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the power storage system into distinct functional units: breaking unit, detection units (current and voltage), switch units (primary and secondary side), filter units, and control unit. This modular segmentation allows each unit to perform its specific function reliably while simplifying the overall control architecture through clear functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables reliable activation, operation, and stopping of the power storage system while effectively detecting and addressing various abnormalities, ensuring safe and efficient use of the power storage system in traction systems.

Implementation Method 1

a DC-DC converter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical energy transformation:

Implementation Method 2

capacitor provided in a succeeding stage of the noise filter, a discharge element provided in a succeeding stage of the capacitor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2006972B1Power storage system
Publication Date: 2014.07.23 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2006972B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2006972B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2006972B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A power storage system capable of surely carrying out activation, operation, and stopping that are crucial and necessary in the use of the power storage system and appropriately addressing various kinds of abnormalities is provided. The power storage system regulates DC power from a DC power supply into prescribed voltage and current using a DC-DC converter unit for storage in a power storage unit. The power storage system includes a primary side current detecting unit, a primary side voltage detecting unit, a primary side switch unit, and a primary side filter unit on the DC power supply side (primary side) of the DC-DC converter, and a secondary side filter unit, a secondary side switch unit, a secondary side voltage detecting unit, and a secondary side current detecting unit on the power storage unit side (secondary side) of the DC-DC converter, and the on/off states of at least the primary side switch unit, the DC-DC converter unit, and the secondary side switch unit are controlled by a system control unit provided with an externally applied operation command and signals obtained from elements such as the primary side current detecting unit and the primary side voltage detecting unit.