Solar Charge Sharing Across Multiple Battery Banks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle power management systems fail to efficiently share excess charge capacity among multiple electrical loads with differing voltage characteristics, leading to unnecessary degradation of lower priority systems when higher priority systems are fully charged.
Innovation Solution
A selector system that monitors and directs excess charge capacity from a primary power source, such as solar panels, to auxiliary loads like liftgate batteries, ensuring higher priority loads like refrigeration units are maintained while allowing the excess energy to be diverted to lower priority loads, thereby preventing the draining of higher capacity systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single solar charging system is used for multiple battery banks with different voltage characteristics, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but charging efficiency deteriorates and battery degradation increases due to incompatible voltage levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voltage converter as an intermediary device between the solar charging system and multiple battery banks with different voltage characteristics. This mediator transforms the voltage to match the specific requirements of each battery bank, enabling a single solar system to charge multiple batteries efficiently without direct complex wiring or multiple charging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes voltage parameters to match the charging requirements of different battery banks. The voltage converter adjusts output voltage levels based on the specific voltage characteristics of each battery bank being charged, allowing efficient charging across multiple batteries with different voltage ratings from a single solar source.
2Use of energy by moving object
If excess charge capacity is continuously directed to auxiliary loads, then energy utilization is improved, but reliability of primary power systems deteriorates due to potential over-discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control through monitoring devices that continuously track the charge capacity and voltage levels of primary power systems. When the primary battery approaches a critical discharge level, the system automatically reduces or stops directing excess charge capacity to auxiliary loads, preventing over-discharge and maintaining system reliability while still maximizing energy utilization during safe operating conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate charging systems are used for each battery bank, then charging precision is improved and battery health is maintained, but device complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal solar charging system that can serve multiple battery banks with different voltage characteristics through the use of a voltage converter. This multi-functional system maintains charging precision for each battery bank while avoiding the complexity and cost of installing separate dedicated charging systems for each battery.
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 approach allows for efficient distribution of solar energy across multiple battery systems, minimizing the need for separate charging systems and preventing the degradation of lower priority loads, thus optimizing energy use and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
A vehicle energy management system for a trailer vehicle having a plurality of electrical loads powered by rechargeable power repositories implements a method for charging the power repositories, such as batteries, by determining when a primary power source has excess capacity for charging an auxiliary load
Data Source
AI summary
A power management and selection system for a class 8 tractor trailer, directs excess solar and vehicular charge capacity to an auxiliary load by measuring available charge capacity from a reefer power system including a reefer battery, solar panel and charge controller for moderating solar power to the reefer batter, and measuring available charge capacity from a cab vehicle power system including a propulsion system battery and alternator. Charge logic, in a selector configured for switching charge capacity to the auxiliary load, determines which of the reefer power system and cab vehicle power system has the most potential excess charge capacity, and directs the determined excess charge capacity to the auxiliary load, while the measured available charge capacity remains sufficient for powering the respective reefer power system or cab vehicle power system.