Hybrid Supercapacitor-Battery Switching for Safe Peak Power Draw
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The effective driving range of vehicles, such as electric and hybrid vehicles, is limited by the power capacity of their energy storage units, and existing systems lack efficient management to switch between supercapacitors and electrochemical batteries based on power draw to ensure safety and optimize energy use.
Innovation Solution
A system with an energy controller that tracks historical power draw, identifies a safety threshold, and switches configurations to draw power from either an electrochemical battery or a supercapacitor based on this threshold, using machine learning to anticipate power demands and manage energy distribution efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power is drawn from the electrochemical battery to extend driving range, then energy storage capacity is improved, but safety risk increases when power draw exceeds safe thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a supercapacitor as an intermediary energy storage device between the electrochemical battery and the power load. When power draw exceeds the safety threshold, the supercapacitor acts as a mediator to absorb excess power demands, allowing the battery to operate within safe limits while still meeting high power requirements. This resolves the contradiction by enabling extended driving range through battery usage without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between battery-only mode and hybrid mode (battery + supercapacitor) based on real-time power draw monitoring. The energy controller continuously adjusts the configuration: using only the battery when power draw is below the safety threshold, and engaging the supercapacitor when the threshold is exceeded. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize driving range while maintaining safety under varying load conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hybrid energy storage system with switching capability is implemented, then energy management flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy storage system into two distinct modules: an electrochemical battery for baseline energy storage and a supercapacitor for high-power transient support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables independent control of each module. The energy controller manages these segmented modules separately, switching between configurations based on power draw, thereby achieving flexibility without proportionally increasing overall 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
Enhances the vehicle's driving range by optimizing energy use between supercapacitors and electrochemical batteries, ensuring safety and efficiency in power management.
Implementation Method 1
A supercapacitor is a type of capacitor that can be used as an energy storage unit
Implementation Method 2
an electrochemical battery
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for energy management. A system, such as a vehicle, includes a plurality of energy storage units that include a supercapacitor and an electrochemical battery. The system includes an energy controller that identifies a safety threshold associated with at least a subset of the energy storage units. The energy controller tracks historical power draw from the plurality of energy storage units over time in power tracking data, and identifies a power draw based on the power tracking data. The energy controller switches between a first configuration and a second configuration based on the identified power draw crossing the safety threshold. The first configuration is configured for drawing power from the electrochemical battery and disconnecting from the supercapacitor, while wherein the second configuration is configured for drawing power from the supercapacitor and disconnecting from the electrochemical battery.