Vehicle Power Bus Control for Cross-Battery Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric supply systems for vehicles deplete energy storage in battery cells powering auxiliary systems even when sufficient energy is available, leading to unnecessary power down of auxiliary loads during idling, as they are not designed to efficiently manage energy distribution across multiple battery assemblies.
Innovation Solution
An electric supply system with separate power supply assemblies and a controller that allows energy transfer between assemblies, using converters to recharge or power auxiliary loads from energy storage devices connected to traction motors, ensuring continuous power to auxiliary systems even when one assembly is depleted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If battery cells power auxiliary systems during vehicle idling, then auxiliary systems remain operational, but energy storage in battery cells is depleted unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple battery assemblies into a single electric supply system with a common controller and energy management mechanism. This merging allows the system to treat multiple battery units as a unified energy pool, enabling efficient energy distribution and preventing unnecessary depletion of individual battery cells by drawing power from the aggregate system capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: monitoring energy levels across all battery assemblies, determining optimal power distribution strategies, transferring energy between assemblies, and managing auxiliary system power supply. This universal control mechanism optimizes energy usage system-wide rather than allowing individual battery assemblies to deplete independently.
2Power
If multiple battery assemblies are used to supply propulsion power, then system power capacity increases, but energy distribution management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the energy level of each battery assembly and uses this feedback information to make real-time decisions about power distribution. The system adjusts energy flow dynamically based on current state conditions, optimizing the use of multiple battery assemblies without requiring complex manual management or intricate distribution algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric supply system automatically manages its own energy distribution without external intervention. The controller independently determines when to transfer energy between battery assemblies, when to supply power to auxiliary systems, and how to balance the load across multiple assemblies, making the complex management transparent and self-regulating.
3Device complexity
If energy is not transferred between battery assemblies, then system simplicity is maintained, but auxiliary loads must be powered down when one assembly is depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary energy transfer between battery assemblies before individual assemblies become depleted. The controller proactively redistributes energy from charged assemblies to those with lower charge levels, ensuring that auxiliary loads always have available power without waiting for complete depletion of any single assembly. This preventive approach maintains reliability while keeping the system structure relatively simple.
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 ensures that auxiliary loads in vehicles remain powered during idling by transferring energy from fully charged battery assemblies to those that are depleted, preventing unnecessary power down and optimizing energy usage across the vehicle system.
Implementation Method 1
the controller controls the first battery assembly to provide current to the second battery assembly through the converter
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric supply system for a vehicle system includes two or more electric energy storage devices. Two or more buses each conductively couple an energy storage device with a corresponding load of plural loads. A controller controls conduction of current from one or more of the energy storage devices to one or more other buses to transfer energy to other energy storage devices or other loads. A method includes directing a first energy storage device of a first power supply assembly to supply electric current to a first bus conductively coupling the first energy storage device to one or more first loads onboard the vehicle system. The method further includes conducting the electric current from the first energy storage device to one or more second buses of one or more second power supply assemblies to recharge one or more second energy storage devices or power one or more second loads.