Imaging Tomography Energy Storage for Peak Power Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Imaging tomography apparatuses face significant challenges in efficiently managing the large power consumption differences between normal and high-power operating modes, particularly due to the high energy demands of components like the x-ray tube, which complicates the design and operation of the electrical power supply systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an energy storage system, such as lithium ion or polymer cells, to provide additional electrical power during high-power operations, allowing the power supply modules to be designed for average normal operation conditions, reducing the need for complex and costly high-power infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the power supply modules are designed for maximum required electrical power (100 kW) to cover high-power operation, then the apparatus can provide sufficient power during image acquisition, but the structural volume, cost, and complexity of the power supply system increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaximum required electrical powerVSAvoidcomplexity of power supply system

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device pre-stores electrical energy during periods when the x-ray tube is not operating at maximum power. This preliminary accumulation of energy allows the system to deliver high power during image acquisition without requiring the entire power supply infrastructure to be sized for maximum demand, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the power delivery parameters by switching between normal operation mode (using mains power) and high-power operation mode (using stored energy from the energy storage device). This parameter change allows the power supply modules to be designed for lower average power while still meeting peak power requirements through temporal energy redistribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If the power supply modules are designed for maximum required electrical power (100 kW) to cover high-power operation, then the apparatus can provide sufficient power during image acquisition, but the cost of the apparatus increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaximum required electrical powerVSAvoidcost of apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device pre-stores electrical energy during periods when the x-ray tube is not operating at maximum power. This preliminary accumulation of energy allows the system to deliver high power during image acquisition without requiring the entire power supply infrastructure to be sized for maximum demand, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the power delivery parameters by switching between normal operation mode (using mains power) and high-power operation mode (using stored energy from the energy storage device). This parameter change allows the power supply modules to be designed for lower average power while still meeting peak power requirements through temporal energy redistribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If the power supply modules are designed for maximum required electrical power (100 kW) to cover high-power operation, then the apparatus can provide sufficient power during image acquisition, but the structural volume of the apparatus increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaximum required electrical powerVSAvoidvolume of power supply system

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device pre-stores electrical energy during periods when the x-ray tube is not operating at maximum power. This preliminary accumulation of energy allows the system to deliver high power during image acquisition without requiring the entire power supply infrastructure to be sized for maximum demand, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the power delivery parameters by switching between normal operation mode (using mains power) and high-power operation mode (using stored energy from the energy storage device). This parameter change allows the power supply modules to be designed for lower average power while still meeting peak power requirements through temporal energy redistribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If the x-ray tube operates at high power (100 kW) for image acquisition, then image quality and acquisition speed improve, but the difference in power consumption between normal and high-power operation creates design challenges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage acquisition speedVSAvoidcomplexity of electrical power supply

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage device pre-stores electrical energy during periods when the x-ray tube is not operating at maximum power. This preliminary accumulation of energy allows the system to deliver high power during image acquisition without requiring the entire power supply infrastructure to be sized for maximum demand, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the power delivery parameters by switching between normal operation mode (using mains power) and high-power operation mode (using stored energy from the energy storage device). This parameter change allows the power supply modules to be designed for lower average power while still meeting peak power requirements through temporal energy redistribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 simplifies the design and reduces costs by enabling the use of commercially available, cost-effective power supply modules, minimizing structural volume, and reducing maintenance needs, while allowing for efficient energy transfer and balanced operation without requiring extensive adaptations to the electrical grid.

Implementation Method 1

an energy storage with which the at least one electronic component is supplied with additional electrical power during high-power operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentUS8218726B2Imaging tomography apparatus with built-in energy storage to cover high power operation

Publication Date: 2012.07.10 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

An imaging tomography apparatus has electronic components provided to operate the tomography apparatus, with at least one of the electronic components exhibiting a power consumption in high power operation that is significantly increased relative to power consumption in normal operation. The imaging tomography apparatus has an energy storage that, in high power operation, supplies the at least one electronic component with additional electrical energy to cover an energy demand due to the difference in power consumption between normal operation and high power operation. The provision of the additional electrical power in high power operation by means of the energy storage allows the modules that participate in the power supply of the at least one electronic component to be realized with lower cost. Such participating modules can be, for example: the mains connection, junction boxes with power switches (safeguards); a transformer, a rectifier, cables, slip ring brushes, slip ring tracks, etc.