Ultracapacitor Bus Bar Layout With Shared Discharge Resistor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultracapacitor systems require multiple discharge resistors to balance and discharge multiple ultracapacitors simultaneously, which increases complexity and reduces efficiency due to increased wiring and component count.
Innovation Solution
The ultracapacitor assembly incorporates a common discharge resistor coupled between two spaced-apart bus bars, with switching devices strategically placed to selectively couple ultracapacitors to the discharge resistor via either bus bar, allowing for simultaneous balancing and discharging of multiple ultracapacitors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple discharge resistors are used to balance and discharge multiple ultracapacitors simultaneously, then the ultracapacitors can be discharged in parallel, but the wiring complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discharge resistors into a single shared discharge resistor that serves all ultracapacitor strings. The switching devices selectively connect different strings to the same resistor, merging what would otherwise be separate discharge paths into one unified discharge mechanism, thereby reducing component count and wiring complexity while maintaining the ability to discharge multiple strings simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The single discharge resistor is designed to serve multiple functions by being selectively connected to different ultracapacitor strings through the switching devices. This universal discharge resistor can handle discharge current from any or all strings, replacing the need for dedicated resistors for each string and simplifying the overall system architecture
2Productivity
If multiple discharge resistors are used to balance and discharge multiple ultracapacitors simultaneously, then each ultracapacitor can be independently discharged, but the system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device enables continuous and selective connection of different ultracapacitor strings to the discharge resistor without interruption. This allows the system to maintain optimal discharge paths and avoid energy losses associated with switching between multiple dedicated resistors, thereby improving overall system efficiency while maintaining balancing capability
3Device complexity
If a single discharge resistor is used for multiple ultracapacitor strings, then wiring complexity is reduced, but the ability to simultaneously balance and discharge multiple ultracapacitors is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device introduces dynamic reconfigurability to the discharge circuit, allowing the single discharge resistor to be dynamically connected to different ultracapacitor strings based on their individual balancing needs. This dynamic switching capability enables the system to simultaneously balance multiple strings by selectively connecting them to the shared resistor, maintaining productivity while reducing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An ultracapacitor assembly is provided. The ultracapacitor assembly includes a plurality of ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor assembly further includes a first bus bar and a second bus bar. The second bus bar is spaced apart from the first bus bar. The ultracapacitor assembly includes a discharge resistor coupled between the first bus bar and the second bus bar. The ultracapacitor assembly further includes a first plurality of switching devices and a second plurality of switching devices. Each switching device in the first plurality of switching devices is coupled between the first bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor of the plurality of ultracapacitors to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor the discharge resistor via the first bus bar. Each switching device in the second plurality of switching devices is coupled between the second bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor the discharge resistor via the second bus bar.