Vehicle Solar Charging Control for Auxiliary Load Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar charging systems for vehicles often abruptly stop charging the drive battery after activation due to high initial power consumption by auxiliary systems, leading to insufficient charging, as most of the generated power is consumed by these systems, resulting in incomplete battery charging.
Innovation Solution
A solar charging system with a control unit that dynamically adjusts power distribution by stopping power supply to the auxiliary system and charging the drive battery when the charged power is less than a threshold value and the supplied power is below the average power consumption during previous charging, ensuring continued charging by prioritizing drive battery charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is supplied to the auxiliary system and drive battery charging is started simultaneously, then both systems can operate, but the charging is abruptly stopped due to high initial power consumption by the auxiliary system
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit calculates the average power consumption of the auxiliary system from previous charging cycles before starting the current charging. This preliminary calculation allows the system to predict and prepare for high initial power consumption periods, preventing abrupt charging stops by comparing real-time power consumption against the predetermined average threshold
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the real-time power consumption of the auxiliary system and compares it with the predetermined average power consumption. When the real-time consumption exceeds the average, the system maintains charging operation; otherwise, it stops charging. This feedback mechanism ensures stable charging by dynamically adjusting based on actual power consumption patterns
2Device complexity
If the solar charging system uses a simple threshold-based charging control, then the control logic is simple, but the charging stops abruptly when power consumption is temporarily high
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary calculations to determine the average power consumption of the auxiliary system based on historical data from previous charging cycles. This predetermined average value serves as a reference threshold that accounts for normal variations in power consumption, allowing the system to distinguish between temporary high consumption and actual power shortages
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements a feedback mechanism that continuously compares real-time auxiliary system power consumption against the predetermined average power consumption. This comparison-based control logic maintains charging continuity by only stopping charging when power consumption is genuinely low, rather than stopping during temporary high consumption periods, thus improving charging reliability without significantly increasing system complexity
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 prevents abrupt battery charging cessation and ensures continued charging, even during high initial power consumption by auxiliary systems, maintaining a stable state of charge and reducing power wastage, thereby enhancing battery charging efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a solar panel configured to generate power in response to receipt of sunlight
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is equipped with a drive system and an auxiliary system including one or more auxiliary devices. A solar charging system includes a solar panel and a control unit. The control unit is configured to stop supplying power to the auxiliary system and charging a drive battery in a case in which a charged power to the drive battery is less than a first threshold value and a supplied power to the auxiliary system is less than an average value of the supplied power during a previous charging of the drive battery.