Vehicle-Based UPS with Dynamic SOC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UPS systems have limited energy storage capacity, which is insufficient to power critical medical devices and equipment during extended utility grid failures, necessitating a solution for extended and reliable power supply.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-based UPS system with an on-board energy storage system, DC-AC inverter, and a control system that maintains the state-of-charge (SOC) and voltage within predetermined ranges by selectively operating a charging device to provide recharging power, ensuring uninterrupted power to external loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional UPS battery storage is used, then the system provides immediate power protection, but the power supply duration is insufficient for extended grid failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vehicle battery energy storage system with the UPS system to create a hybrid power supply. The vehicle battery serves as an extended energy reservoir that can recharge the UPS battery during vehicle operation, effectively merging two energy storage systems to achieve both immediate protection and extended duration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle battery system serves multiple functions: it acts as the primary energy source for vehicle operation, serves as an extended energy reservoir for the UPS system during grid failures, and provides recharging capability for the UPS battery. This multi-functionality allows a single system to address both the immediate power protection and extended duration requirements.
2Reliability
If the UPS battery is continuously recharged to maintain high SOC, then the power supply reliability improves, but the battery degradation accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the charging strategy based on real-time conditions including SOC levels, battery temperature, and vehicle operation status. The control system modulates the charging rate and voltage to optimize between maintaining reliability and minimizing degradation, rather than using a fixed continuous charging approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor battery SOC, temperature, and charge/discharge cycles. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts charging parameters to maintain SOC within optimal ranges that balance reliability requirements with degradation prevention, activating charging only when necessary rather than continuously.
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
The system effectively extends the duration of power supply to critical medical devices and equipment by maintaining the SOC and voltage within acceptable ranges, preventing battery degradation and ensuring continuous operation during grid outages.
Implementation Method 1
an DC-AC inverter connected to the on-board energy storage system to receive the DC power therefrom and invert the DC power to an AC power useable by the external load
Implementation Method 2
an on-board energy storage system, charging device and control system are provided to form a vehicle-based uninterruptable power supply (UPS)
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling a vehicle-based source of uninterruptable power is disclosed. The vehicle-based UPS includes an energy storage system located on-board a vehicle and configured to generate DC power transferable to an external load, and an DC-AC inverter connected to the on-board energy storage system to receive the DC power therefrom and invert the DC power to an AC power useable by the external load. The vehicle-based UPS also includes a charging device located on-board the vehicle and connected to the on-board energy storage system to provide recharging power thereto and a control system. The control system is configured to determine one of a state-of-charge (SOC) and a voltage of the energy storage system and selectively operate the charging device to provide the recharging power to the energy storage system to maintain the SOC or voltage of the energy storage system within a pre-determined range.