Abstract: A method to control operation of electrical converter units in an electrical system of a vehicle comprising a first and a second electrical network, the first and the second electrical network being coupled respectively to a positive terminals of a first battery and a second battery, each converter of a plurality of converters having an active state in which the converter output supplies current to the second electrical network, and a rest state in which the converter output does not supply current to the second electrical network, each converter of the plurality of converters exhibiting a respective cumulative operation time in each of a plurality of different current ranges, wherein a single converter is active in a vehicle rest mode, and a balance of converters is carried out upon cumulative respective usage of each converter.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a fibre mat including a fibre web-forming device (card), a cross-lapper and a device for drafting the fibre web(s) disposed between the web forming device and cross-lapper to draft the fibre web(s), in particular in a time-varying, specifically periodic manner, to adjust a predetermined desired profile of the fibre mat leaving the cross-lapper, the web-forming device including at least one output belt for at least one web, and preferably two output belts for two webs, an upper and lower web respectively; wherein the cross-lapper has an input belt receiving the web(s) from the output belt(s) of the web forming device, characterised in that the path of the at least one web, and preferably of the two, upper and lower, webs, between the output belt(s) of the web-forming device, in particular the card, and the input belt of the cross-lapper includes at least one bending point.

Abstract: An electrical fuse maintenance system includes sensor adapted to measure the current flowing through a fuse element, the voltage on the fuse element, the temperature of the fuse element, and/or the temperature of an environment surrounding the fuse element, a controller configured to monitor the current, the voltage, the temperatures over a period of time while the fuse element is connected to an energized electrical power unit. Based on the monitored current, voltage and temperatures, the controller is adapted to estimate a service life remaining of the fuse element.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the connection of the terminals of a battery which is suitable to be connected and provide auxiliary electrical power to an onboard electrical distribution system of a motor vehicle includes an electronic control unit; a sensor to be connected to at least one of the terminals of the battery and to provide in input to the electronic control unit signals indicative of the electric power currently generated by the battery. The electronic control unit is configured, based on the signals received in input: to monitor and compare an electrical parameter of the electric power currently generated by the battery with a predefined reference condition which is indicative of a correct connection of the terminals; to output an alert signal indicative of an incorrect connection of at least one of the terminals of the battery to the onboard electrical distribution system when the electrical parameter monitored exceeds the predetermined reference condition.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrical system including an electrical power source configured to supply a first DC voltage at a first voltage level and a DC/DC converter coupled to the electrical power source and configured to supply a second DC voltage is provided. The method includes monitoring a level of current supplied by the DC/DC converter, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the current, that the DC/DC converter is saturated, and in response to determining that the DC/DC converter is saturated, regulating a level of voltage outputby the DC/DC converter. Related DC/DC converters and vehicle electrical systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of operating an electrical system including a first battery, a second battery coupled in series with the first battery, and a battery equalizer coupled to the first battery and the second battery and configured to supply an equalizing current to the first battery. The method includes monitoring a level of the equalizing current, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the equalizing current, that the equalizing current is saturated, and reducing a level of current supplied at a positive terminal of the first battery in response to determining that the equalizing current is saturated. The methods may take an action to reduce the demand for current that is supplied by the first battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic plant (100) comprising: at least one photovoltaic module (1), including at least one junction box (13) placed on a front face of the photovoltaic module (1), via which face the solar rays enter, in proximity to a peripheral edge (4) of said photovoltaic module (1), and at least one DC current cable (15, 17) that conveys the current generated by the at least one photovoltaic module (1), characterized in that it furthermore comprises a protective sheath (5) that is placed, on the front face of the photovoltaic module (1), encircling the junction box (13) and the DC current cable (15, 17), said protective sheath (5) having a cross-section the height of which corresponds at least to the height of the junction box (13) and including a window (57) that is located in the face of the protective sheath (5) that makes contact with the photovoltaic module (1), via which window the junction box (13) protrudes from the protective sheath (5), and a closable longitudinal aperture (51)

Abstract: A flexible laminate of photovoltaic cells is provided, including a layer of photovoltaic cells that are connected to one another; a front layer and a back layer configured to encapsulate the layer of photovoltaic cells; and an outer film of flexible material with anti-soiling properties disposed on the front layer, the outer film having an average roughness that is less than 1 ?m. There is also provided a method for decreasing or limiting soiling on a surface of a flexible laminate of photovoltaic cells, the method including applying an outer film of flexible material with anti-soiling properties to the front layer, the outer film having an average roughness that is less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical system of an electric vehicle. The electrical system comprises a vehicle network and an external network having one or more external loads and connectable to an on-board network. The vehicle network comprises a converter unit adapted for connecting a traction voltage network and an on-board network having a battery unit and one or more internal loads and connected to the converter unit; and a switching unit adapted for controlling power output to the external network by connecting and disconnecting the on-board network and external network. The method comprises the steps of determining at least one current information of the electrical system and at least one safety current value; and controlling the switching unit to control the power output from the on-board network to the external network depending on the at least one current information and the at least one safety current value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for protecting an on-board electrical network of a truck having a base-line equipment provided by a truck manufacturer, and having base-line loads having a current consumption, an auxiliary equipment fitted a posteriori by a truck body builder, and having auxiliary loads having a current consumption, and a battery. The method further comprises, when the engine of the truck is ON: determining that the engine is to be turned off, determining a total current consumption of the truck, determining the battery maximum capacity, if the total current consumption is lower than the battery maximum capacity, turning off the engine, and, if the total current consumption is higher than the battery maximum capacity, reducing the current consumption of at least one adjustable auxiliary load.

Abstract: An electrical fuse maintenance system comprises sensor means adapted to measure the current flowing through a fuse element, the voltage on the fuse element, the temperature of the fuse element, and/or the temperature of an environment surrounding the fuse element, a controller configured to monitor said current, said voltage, said temperatures over a period of time while the fuse element is connected to an energized electrical power unit, Based on the monitored current, voltage and temperatures, the controller is adapted to estimate a service life remaining of the fuse element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible laminate (1) of photovoltaic cells, comprising at least: —a layer of interconnected photovoltaic cells (3); and —a front layer (5) and a back layer (7) for encapsulating the layer of photovoltaic cells (3), said front encapsulation layer (5) and said back encapsulation layer (7) sandwiching the layer of photovoltaic cells (3), the front encapsulation layer (5) comprises at least one glass fiber fabric (51) and at least a first encapsulation resin (53) that comprises at least one polyolefin, and the back encapsulation layer (7) comprises at least one glass fiber fabric (71) and a second encapsulation resin (73). The present invention also relates to a method for producing such a flexible laminate (1).

Abstract: A photovoltaic panel is provided, including a plastic support sheet having a cellular core; a laminate of photovoltaic cells fixed to the support sheet; and a plastic and/or composite frame including longitudinal profile sections for laterally protecting the laminate of photovoltaic cells and the support sheet, and corner-shaped portions connecting the longitudinal profile sections together in order therewith to form a closed frame.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrical system including an electrical power source configured to supply a first DC voltage at a first voltage level and a DC/DC converter coupled to the electrical power source and configured to supply a second DC voltage is provided. The method includes monitoring a level of current supplied by the DC/DC converter, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the current, that the DC/DC converter is saturated, and in response to determining that the DC/DC converter is saturated, regulating a level of voltage output by the DC/DC converter. Related DC/DC converters and vehicle electrical systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a photovoltaic facility (1) characterized in that it comprises a sealing tarpaulin (3) for at least partially covering a waste heap, and at least two flexible photovoltaic modules (4) comprising photovoltaic cells (5) made of monocrystalline or multicrystalline silicon, the at least two flexible photovoltaic modules (4) being connected together and secured on the sealing tarpaulin (3) by bonding. The invention also concerns a method for installing such a photovoltaic facility (100) in which the at least two flexible photovoltaic modules (4) are bonded after having arranged the sealing tarpaulin (3) on the waste heap (2).

Abstract: An electrical system for a vehicle having a chassis ground (G0) and an engine having an engine ground (G1), the system comprising a first electrical energy storage device (1), denoted EESD1, a second electrical energy storage device (2), denoted EESD2, a starter device (3) having a starter motor (30), a generator (4), a first cable (61) coupling a positive terminal (1+) of EESD1 to the positive terminal (3+) of the starter device, a second cable (62) coupling the positive terminal (4+) of the generator to a positive terminal (2+) of EESD2, a third cable (63) coupling a negative terminal (1?) of EESD1 to the negative terminal (3?) of the starter device, a control unit (5) for controlling the charge of EESD1, a fusible link (66,7) coupling a negative terminal (1?) of EESD1 to the chassis ground (G0).

Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic plant (100) comprising: at least one photovoltaic module (1), including at least one junction box (13) placed on a front face of the photovoltaic module (1), via which face the solar rays enter, in proximity to a peripheral edge (4) of said photovoltaic module (1), and at least one DC current cable (15, 17) that conveys the current generated by the at least one photovoltaic module (1), characterized in that it furthermore comprises a protective sheath (5) that is placed, on the front face of the photovoltaic module (1), encircling the junction box (13) and the DC current cable (15, 17), said protective sheath (5) having a cross-section the height of which corresponds at least to the height of the junction box (13) and including a window (57) that is located in the face of the protective sheath (5) that makes contact with the photovoltaic module (1), via which window the junction box (13) protrudes from the protective sheath (5), and a closable longitudinal aperture (51)

Abstract: Provided is a method of operating an electrical system including a first battery, a second battery coupled in series with the first battery, and a battery equalizer coupled to the first battery and the second battery and configured to supply an equalizing current to the first battery. The method includes monitoring a level of the equalizing current, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the equalizing current, that the equalizing current is saturated, and reducing a level of current supplied at a positive terminal of the first battery in response to determining that the equalizing current is saturated. The methods may take an action to reduce the demand for current that is supplied by the first battery.

Abstract: An electrical system for a vehicle having a chassis ground (G0) and an engine having an engine ground (G1), the system comprising a first electrical energy storage device (1), denoted EESD1, a second electrical energy storage device (2), denoted EESD2, a starter device (3) having a starter motor (30), a generator (4), a first cable (61) coupling a positive terminal (1+) of EESD1 to the positive terminal (3+) of the starter device, a second cable (62) coupling the positive terminal (4+) of the generator to a positive terminal (2+) of EESD2, a third cable (63) coupling a negative terminal (1?) of EESD1 to the negative terminal (3?) of the starter device, a control unit (5) for controlling the charge of EESD1, a fusible link (66,7) coupling a negative terminal (1?) of EESD1 to the chassis ground (G0).

Abstract: A flexible laminate of photovoltaic cells is provided, including a layer of photovoltaic cells that are connected to one another; a front layer and a back layer configured to encapsulate the layer of photovoltaic cells; and an outer film of flexible material with anti-soiling properties disposed on the front layer, the outer film having an average roughness that is less than 1 ?m. There is also provided a method for decreasing or limiting soiling on a surface of a flexible laminate of photovoltaic cells, the method including applying an outer film of flexible material with anti-soiling properties to the front layer, the outer film having an average roughness that is less than 1 ?m.