Abstract: A system for gravity-powered storage including a substantially vertical shaft, the substantially vertical shaft disposed underground, the substantially vertical shaft spanning a height, at least one module disposed within the shaft, the module comprising a weight, at least one module driver assembly affixed within the substantially vertical shaft, the module driver assembly comprises an electric motor/generator and a conveyor component disposed within the shaft, the conveyor component coupled to the module driver assembly, the conveyor component affixed to at least one module, the conveyor component configured to move the module within the shaft via the module driver assembly.

Abstract: Wireless power receivers include a first inductive element featuring a planar coil occupying a first plane and having first and second terminals, a first capacitive element connected to the first terminal, a second capacitive element connected to the first capacitive element at a third terminal and to the second terminal, a rectifier connected to the second terminal and third terminal such that an oscillating magnetic field will induce a current in the first inductive element, resulting in a voltage across the input of the rectifier, a communications modulation circuit, and a layer of magnetic material centered over the planar coil in a second plane parallel to the first plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optimizer, for a solar string power generation system, comprising an Injection Circuit (IC), connected to at least one string, from an array of strings of solar panels, wherein the output of said IC is connected to the DC bus of the solar inverter. The IC comprises: (i) an MPPT mechanism, for finding the MPP of the connected string; (ii) a DC/DC converter, for converting part of the power of said connected string; wherein the DC/DC converter, converts only a part of the power of the string, that is connected to the IC, when the string is impaired, for compensating for the relative voltage difference between the voltage MPP, of the impaired string, and the MPP voltage of the DC bus of the solar inverter and the array of strings.

Abstract: There are provided a plurality of drive circuits (103 U, 103 L) for driving respective plural switching devices constituting upper arms and lower arms, a power supply circuit for supplying a power supply to the plurality of drive circuits, and a discharge circuit for discharging a capacitor. The power supply circuit includes a first transformer (201U) for the upper arms, and a second transformer (201L) for the lower arms, which include a primary winding connected in parallel to a DC power supply. The first transformer and the second transformer include a secondary winding for supplying a power supply to the drive circuits and for supplying a power supply to a low-voltage circuit (110). Each of the first transformer and the second transformer includes a feedback winding for outputting the voltage output to the drive circuits, to a power supply control IC. The discharge circuit (120) is driven by a power supply supplied from the feedback winding.

Abstract: A method for checking the plausibility of a current measurement between an electrical energy storage system and an electrical consumer, wherein a capacitor and a switching element are arranged between these two elements. The method includes ascertaining a first current value by measuring an electrical current between the electrical energy storage system and the electrical consumer and actuating the switching element to isolate the electrical energy storage system from the electrical consumer so that the electrical consumer is supplied with electrical energy by the capacitor. The method further includes ascertaining a first electrical voltage at the capacitor, ascertaining a second current value depending on the ascertained voltage, and checking the plausibility of the current measurement by comparing the first current value with the second current value.

Abstract: A multi-power system for providing electrical energy includes a fuel cell unit, a lithium-ion cell unit, and a control unit. The control unit stores a power optimization data sheet that includes multiple power parameter sets, each including a first optimal power and a second optimal power. The control unit is configured to, when operating in a specific mode, select one of the power parameter sets as a selected set, control the fuel cell unit to operate at the first optimal power included in the selected set, control the lithium-ion cell unit to operate at the second optimal power included in the selected set, and control the fuel cell unit and the lithium-ion cell unit to cooperatively output electricity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying power (both active and reactive) at a medium voltage from a DCSTATCOM to an IT load without using a transformer are disclosed. The DCSTATCOM includes an energy storage device, a two-stage DC-DC converter, and a multi-level inverter, each of which are electrically coupled to a common negative bus. The DC-DC converter may include two stages in a bidirectional configuration. One stage of the DC-DC converter uses a flying capacitor topology. The voltages across the capacitors of the flying capacitor topology are balanced and switching losses are minimized by fixed duty cycle operation. The DC-DC converter generates a high DC voltage from a low or high voltage energy storage device such as batteries and/or ultra-capacitors. The multi-level, neutral point, diode-clamped inverter converts the high DC voltage into a medium AC voltage using a space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique.

Abstract: A DC to AC inverter for solar energy installations is configured to convert DC input power at a first voltage to a desired AC output power waveform. The inverter includes multilevel circuitry configured to define a plurality of different levels, wherein each level is defined by lower and upper voltage values; a jittering controller configured to jitter between the lower and upper voltage values in each level in order to generate a preliminary AC waveform by producing waveform values between the lower and upper voltage values within each level; and a low pass filter configured to filter the preliminary AC waveform to remove the jittering in order to provide a smooth output AC waveform.

Abstract: A power supply system that includes a traction battery, and a secondary battery that includes one or more hybrid modules having one or more low temperature chemistries. The power supply system also has one or more temperature sensors, and a switching device that connects or disconnects the secondary battery or the traction battery from a high-voltage DC (Direct Current) bus of an electric vehicle based on measurements of the one or more temperature sensors.

Abstract: A system and a method for a power system that includes a first string portion and a second string portion connected in series. The first string portion may have a first group of power sources connected in series. The second string portion may include a plurality of serially connected devices and a second group of power sources connected to the devices. Each device may be connected to a respective power source of the second group of power sources. By controlling switches that are includes the devices, one or more of the second group of power sources may be disconnected from the first group of power sources in a first mode of operation and/or connected to the first group of power sources in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: The vehicle-tracking wiring harness comprises a wiring harness, and a control circuit. The vehicle-tracking wiring harness may be configured to work around a VECU of a vehicle or to work directly with a vehicle regardless of the presence of a VECU. The control circuit mounts in the wiring harness. The wiring harness electrically connects directly or indirectly to the VECU or to the vehicle's electronic control signal wiring. The control circuit mounts in the wiring harness. The control circuit monitors the GPS location of the vehicle. In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the vehicle-tracking wiring harness remotely controls: a) the fuel pump of the vehicle; and/or b) the ignition of the vehicle; and/or, c) the audible and visual signaling devices of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system of luminaires, which are connected to one another within a mesh network, and which interoperate in accordance with the disclosed method. A receiving luminaire receives a notification message from a second luminaire. The second luminaire can be the luminaire that originates a notification message as a result of sensing occupancy in its vicinity, or the luminaire can be an intermediary node that is relaying the notification message from another luminaire. The notification message comprises a first source address and a first light level. The receiving luminaire modifies a first light output of its lamp, wherein the first light output is based on: (i) the first light level, (ii) a distance between (a) the receiving luminaire and (b) a node corresponding to the first source address, and (iii) whether or not the first source address is a member of a first set of neighbor addresses.

Abstract: A system and method for a subterranean energy storage and retrieval system, having constructed a subterranean battery from a repurposed wellbore with ganged cells with an electrical connection attached to the battery at the surface of the wellbore. A cooling system cools the battery cells downhole. A pressure activated switch is normally open until the battery cells are resting on the bottom hole retainer.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a propulsion system having multiple electric motors. A battery system is connected to the electric motors via a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter and an inverter. The battery system includes a battery assembly having a plurality of battery modules. Each of the battery modules has multiple individual battery cells arranged in battery packs, a set of sensors configured to monitor a set of parameters of each battery pack, and a plurality of battery pack mounts. Each battery pack mount includes a base plate and a top plate and an actuator configured to alter a distance between plates. A monitoring unit is configured to monitor a value representative of a battery pack pressure, determine whether the value falls within a pressure threshold window, and maintain the value within the pressure threshold window by actively altering the battery pack pressure.

Abstract: Provided is a service hole cover covering a service hole formed in an inner panel in a vehicle door panel, the service hole cover including: a cover body part covering the service hole; and at least one catching part provided to protrude from the cover body part to a side of the inner panel, wherein the catching part is caught on the inner panel while at least a part of the service hole is opened.

Abstract: An illustrative dual power inverter module includes a detection circuit configured to detect loss of low voltage DC electrical power supplied to a controller for a first power inverter and a second power inverter of a drive unit for an electric vehicle. A first backup power circuit is associated with the first power inverter and a second backup power circuit is associated with the second power inverter. Each backup power circuit is configured to convert high voltage DC electrical power to low voltage DC electrical power responsive to detection of loss of low voltage DC electrical power supplied to the controller. Three-phase short circuitry is configured to apply a same fault action to the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to detection of loss of low voltage DC electrical power supplied to the controller, wherein the same fault action includes applying equalized torque to each axle operatively coupled to the drive unit.

Abstract: A system for turning on thyristors is presented, the system comprising: an input configured to be coupled to a power source; an output configured to be coupled to a load; a first branch coupled between the input and the output and including a first thyristor having a first threshold voltage; a second branch coupled between the input and the output and coupled in parallel with the first branch, the second branch including a second thyristor having a second threshold voltage higher than the first threshold voltage; and at least one controller configured to control the system to selectively generate a biasing voltage across the second thyristor to induce a change in a voltage across the second thyristor from a first voltage to a second voltage, the first voltage being less than the second threshold voltage and the second voltage being greater than the second threshold voltage.

Abstract: An inverter includes an input terminal that receives output power of a first power type from a solar panel array and an output terminal that transmits output power of a second power type. The inverter further includes a processor that receives a control algorithm via a network connection and controls the inverter based upon the received control algorithm. The control algorithm is determined by applying a transformation to a state vector representative of the inverter and the solar panel array to relocate eigenvalues of the state vector from an initial control region to a stable control region, and determining the control algorithm based upon the relocated eigenvalues.

Abstract: Electric vehicle supply equipment includes at least first and second connectors, and a controller. The controller, responsive to detecting the first and second connectors are engaged with first and second vehicles respectively, synchronizes electric power from the first and second vehicles and supplies the electric power to an entity other than the first and second vehicles.

Abstract: A rapid shutdown system and a method for controlling the rapid shutdown system are provided. A disturbance is applied to a direct-current side of an inverter in the rapid shutdown system only when the inverter does not meet a starting condition, i.e., before the inverter starts. Once meeting the starting condition, the inverter normally operates. A shutdown device in the rapid shutdown system determines its state by determining whether the electrical signal at its output end meets the preset condition, and switches itself on or off in response to its determination.