Vehicle Charge Controller for Solar and Alternator Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle electrical energy management systems fail to efficiently utilize excess energy from sources like vehicle alternators and solar panels for larger vehicles, leading to inefficient fuel consumption and operational costs, as they operate separate power systems and do not leverage available passive energy sources for non-propulsion loads.
Innovation Solution
A charge manager and controller system that integrates multiple charge sources, such as vehicle-mounted solar photovoltaic panels and the engine alternator, with multiple load systems, using smart switching and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to manage and share electrical power between the propulsion and auxiliary power systems, accommodating differing electrical characteristics to avoid overcharging and optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate power systems are operated for vehicle and trailer, then system reliability is maintained through electrical separation, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to inability to share excess power
Solution Approach 1:
A DC-DC converter is introduced as an intermediary device between the vehicle power system and trailer power system. The converter enables controlled power transfer while maintaining electrical isolation through galvanic isolation, thus preserving system reliability while eliminating energy waste by utilizing excess power from either system to charge the other's battery.
2Loss of energy
If multiple charge sources with differing electrical characteristics are integrated, then energy utilization efficiency is improved by sharing excess power, but system complexity increases due to need for conversion and control
Solution Approach 1:
The DC-DC converter is designed with multi-functionality to handle various operating scenarios: charging the trailer battery from the vehicle alternator, charging the vehicle battery from solar panels, and bidirectional power transfer. This universal design consolidates multiple potential conversion paths into a single versatile device, reducing overall system complexity while enabling efficient energy utilization across different power sources.
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 system effectively conserves fuel by utilizing excess energy from the alternator and solar panels to recharge batteries and power non-essential loads, reducing fuel consumption and operational costs while maintaining battery longevity and preventing power shortfalls.
Implementation Method 1
vehicle mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
Implementation Method 2
the vehicle engine and alternator
Data Source
AI summary
A charge controller for a vehicle passive energy system employs an interface to a plurality of charge sources including intermittent sources, such as vehicle mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and the vehicle engine and alternator, and an interface to a plurality of charge loads, such as a comfort heating ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning (HVAC) system and auxiliary vehicle loads. Charge logic computes which of the plurality of sources will supply the charge current and which of the plurality of loads will receive the charge current, and a switch responsive to the charge logic will direct the charge current from at least one of the plurality of sources to at least one of the loads, the plurality of charge sources mutually exclusive from simultaneously powering a common load.