Warehouse Inductive Charger Layout for Dynamic Truck Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In warehouse environments, dynamically charging industrial trucks with inductive chargers poses challenges due to the lack of defined travel paths and lanes, making it difficult to implement effective charging systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for distributing inductive chargers in a warehouse is developed, where the arrangement is based on determining a target value for the average charging time of industrial trucks. This involves configuring the warehouse to ensure inductive chargers are strategically placed to allow for charging during typical use, optimizing the spatial arrangement and number of chargers to achieve the target charging time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inductive chargers are distributed throughout the warehouse to enable dynamic charging, then charging availability during operation is improved, but the complexity of determining optimal charger locations and quantities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the optimal arrangement of inductive chargers by analyzing actual travel paths and charging requirements of industrial trucks, without requiring manual planning or external intervention. The method self-adjusts to the specific warehouse operations and truck routes
Solution Approach 2:
The method uses feedback from monitoring the actual usage patterns, travel paths, and charging status of industrial trucks to continuously optimize the charger arrangement. The system learns from operational data to improve charging availability while managing complexity
2Reliability
If multiple inductive chargers are distributed across the warehouse, then charging coverage is improved, but the cost and space requirements for installing chargers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The method determines the minimum necessary number of inductive chargers required to achieve adequate charging coverage based on actual truck usage patterns. Rather than installing chargers uniformly throughout the warehouse, it places them strategically only where needed according to the analyzed travel paths and charging requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The arrangement method applies different charger densities to different regions of the warehouse based on local charging needs. Areas with high truck traffic and frequent stopping receive more chargers, while areas with lower activity receive fewer or no chargers, optimizing both coverage and resource utilization
3Use of energy by moving object
If all industrial trucks are charged simultaneously at the end of shifts, then complete recharging is achieved, but power spikes occur in the electrical supply network
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simultaneous charging, the system implements periodic charging during regular operational intervals. Industrial trucks are charged in distributed time periods throughout their operation cycles, transforming the concentrated end-of-shift charging into multiple smaller charging events spread across different times
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs preliminary charging during operational periods rather than waiting until the end of shifts. By charging trucks in advance during their normal operation, the system avoids the need for bulk recharging later, thereby preventing power supply spikes
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 method ensures that industrial trucks are reliably charged to at least the target value for the average charging time, reducing power spikes in the electrical supply network by distributing the charging load more evenly throughout the shift.
Implementation Method 1
inductive charging of the stationary industrial truck may also be provided. In inductive charging, the industrial truck is parked at or next to the inductive charging device in order to take up the electrical energy inductively, for example by means of a defined coil arrangement having a primary and secondary coil
Data Source
AI summary
A method for inductively charging one or more inductively chargeable industrial trucks used in a warehouse, wherein a target value is determined for an average charging time of each of the industrial trucks used in the warehouse and distributing a plurality of inductive charger in the warehouse such that at least one of the industrial trucks can be inductively charged in accordance with at least with the target value.