Vehicle Power Supply Regulator for Alternator Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrical power supply systems in motor vehicles face inefficiencies and increased CO2 emissions due to direct connections between alternators and batteries, leading to overconsumption of electrical energy and unnecessary recharging, which affects fuel consumption and mechanical part longevity.
Innovation Solution
An electrical power system with a controller that manages a power supply regulator to operate in load shedding and ballast modes, adjusting power transfers based on thresholds to optimize energy usage, reducing the alternator's load and increasing its demand as needed, thereby improving efficiency and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the alternator supplies high output voltage to improve battery charging, then battery charging efficiency is improved, but electrical energy overconsumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power regulator as an intermediary device between the alternator and the battery. This regulator manages power flow dynamically, allowing the alternator to operate at optimal voltage levels while preventing overcharging. The regulator acts as a mediator that decouples the direct voltage relationship, enabling efficient energy transfer without the need for the alternator to continuously supply high voltage, thus resolving the contradiction between charging efficiency and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operating parameters by using the power regulator to adjust voltage and current levels based on battery state of charge. When the battery is fully charged, the regulator modifies the electrical parameters to prevent overvoltage conditions, allowing the alternator to reduce its output. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the charging voltage to actual battery needs rather than maintaining constant high voltage.
2Reliability
If the alternator supplies high voltage to ensure proper operation of electrical consumers, then consumer operation reliability is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power regulator serves as an intermediary that decouples the alternator's voltage output from the consumers' voltage requirements. It maintains stable voltage for consumers while allowing the alternator to operate at lower, more fuel-efficient voltage levels. This mediator function ensures consumer reliability without requiring the alternator to continuously supply high voltage, thus reducing fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the power regulator autonomously manages voltage regulation and power distribution. It monitors consumer power needs and adjusts the alternator's output accordingly, allowing the system to maintain consumer reliability while optimizing fuel efficiency without continuous high-voltage operation of the alternator.
3Reliability
If the alternator continuously recharges the battery, then battery charge level is maintained, but mechanical part longevity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power regulator incorporates feedback control that monitors the battery's state of charge and dynamically adjusts the charging current. When the battery reaches full charge, the regulator reduces or stops charging current, preventing continuous high-stress charging operations. This feedback mechanism ensures battery charge level is maintained while significantly reducing the mechanical and thermal stress on the alternator and battery components, thereby extending their operational lifespan.
4Productivity
If the power supply regulator operates as a pure current generator in load shedding mode, then electrical power management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power regulator is designed with dynamic operating modes that can switch between different functional states including pure current generator mode, voltage regulation mode, and power transfer mode. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize power management efficiency by selecting the appropriate mode based on real-time conditions, while the modular control architecture manages the complexity through standardized switching logic rather than requiring entirely separate control systems for each function.
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 reduces fuel consumption, lowers CO2 emissions, and extends the lifespan of mechanical parts by optimizing energy transfer, while also providing a torque reserve for the combustion engine and aiding in the regeneration of particulate filters.
Implementation Method 1
electrical energy is transferred between the alternator, the electrical power consumers, and the battery
Implementation Method 2
an electrical power generator, typically in the form of an alternator that draws torque from an internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 3
an electrical energy storage device, usually a battery
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The system (100) has an electrical energy generator (101) that is ready to provide electric power to an electrical energy consumer (105) or load. An electrical supply regulator (103) is placed between the electrical energy generator and an electrical energy storage device (102) i.e. 12 Volt lead battery. A controller (104) operates in an unballasting mode, and in a ballasting mode in which the electrical supply regulator draws electric power from the electrical energy generator to provide part of the electric power to the electrical energy storage device.