HIGH POWER WIRELESS RESONANT ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM
A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system transfers energy across an airgap.
This continuation application claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 11/978,000, filed Oct. 25, 2007, which claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/854,673 to Farkas filed on Oct. 25, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high power wireless resonant energy transfer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditional electrical energy sources used to power vehicles and buildings typically rely on centralized production and a long-distance redistribution network of transmission lines to provide electrical energy to consumers. The centralized production of energy itself can be both inefficient (with only ˜30-35% efficiency) and highly polluting. Additionally, most of the fossil fuels used for electric power generation produce waste heat at the power plants and in the transmission lines. This heat can lost to the environment.
Although electric vehicles may help offset some of this pollution, as well as pollution caused by their gasoline counterparts, such vehicles must typically recharge their onboard batteries on a regular basis by physically plugging into an electrical source. Mass transit vehicles, such as electrically powered busses, vans and other higher occupancy vehicles, run continuously for extended periods of time, and hence require multiple recharges over shorter periods of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention provides a high power wireless resonant energy transfer system, comprising an energy transmission system that is arranged to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap. An energy reception system is positioned to receive the transferred energy across the airgap through a resonant inductive coupling between the transmission and reception system. The energy transmission system is arranged to automatically and electronically vary the spatial direction of the resonant inductive coupling with the alignment between the transmission and reception system, such that energy transfer occurs at a desired location, frequency and power level.
Another aspect of the invention provides a combined heat and power generation, comprising a local energy generation system that is arranged to generate and provide electrical energy for a local site and for an electrically chargeable vehicle in proximity to the local site, used in conjunction with the previously described high power wireless resonant energy transfer system.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method to wireless energy transfer that includes positioning an electrically chargeable vehicle within electromagnetic proximity of a transmitter, modulating a phase angle of an input signal to a transmitter to locate an optimal electromagnetic field distribution for energy transfer and auto-adjusting an energy transfer frequency based on a position of the energy receiver. Auto-adjusting of an energy transfer power is accomplished by modulating a pulse width of an input signal to the transmitter. The transmitter transfers energy to the receiver.
Another aspect of the invention provides a detachable E-pod, comprising a wheel assembly that is removably attached to a vehicle. A wireless energy reception system is arranged on the wheel assembly to receive wirelessly transmitted energy from an energy transmission system. A propulsion system comprising an electric motor is arranged on the wheel assembly and fueled by the wirelessly transmitted energy to move the vehicle. An electronic controller interface system is arranged to electrically connect the wheel assembly with the vehicle to control the propulsion system from the vehicle.
The energy transmission system 105 is preferably disposed beneath a roadway surface, although transmission systems disposed on the surface are contemplated as well. The energy reception system 106 is preferably disposed on the undercarriage of a vehicle 101, which uses the transferred electrical power to either charge an onboard energy storage device unit 115 or for propulsion/use directly. The storage unit 115 typically includes a set of batteries and/or capacitors which store the energy until it is needed by the vehicle for propulsion. This storage and use is typically controlled by onboard power electronics 110. Although
For both the transmission system 105 and the reception system 106, the coil windings are preferably multi-turn Litz-wire, which can help reduce any skin effects that can occur at the typical 20-30 kHz operational frequency. The Litz-wire coils are preferably wound flat into a composite material case, and are typically secured on the case of the magnetic cores 305 and 306 as one single assembly, though other assemblies are contemplated as well.
The magnetic cores are preferably tile-shaped low loss power ferrites with material composition optimized for 10-50 kHz power transformer application. The magnetic ridge between the coils sets the coupling coefficient between the adjacent coils. The pole face in the center of the coils improves the coupling coefficient between the transmitter and receiver magnetic assemblies. The assembly is preferably a ‘flat magnetics’ construction with less than 1″ overall thickness for ease of roadway and vehicle installation.
During operation, the transmission system 105 and reception system 106 are preferably arranged such that the coils 201 and 202 of transmission system 105 face the coils 203 and 204 of the reception system 106 as shown in
The two primaries are connected to H-Bridge converters 440 and 441 of Multi-Phase Converter (“MPC”) 130 through capacitors CR-1 and CR-2, as shown in
When the secondary coils are brought within proximity of an energized set of primary coils, several coupling effects influence the overall flux coupling and hence the peak power of the energy transferred across the airgap. One coupling effect involves the secondary coils inductively coupling to the primary coils, thereby introducing an additional complex load to the otherwise undamped (high Q) series-resonant circuits formed by Lp1 and Lp2 and their corresponding capacitors. This additional complex load is typically caused by various elements connected to energy reception system 106, typically including the energy storage battery 451 and/or capacitor 450 of the vehicle, as well as other elements. Due to coupling between the secondary and primary coils, the resonant circuit of the energy transmission system experiences this complex impedance, and thus the circuit resonant frequency and quality factor (Q) change. The frequency change is detected by an auto-frequency tracking regulator which is part of the PWM electronics 442 that are part of Multi-Phase Converter 130. The auto-frequency tracking regulator is configured to synchronize the input H-Bridge 440 and 441 to switch relative to the zero-crossing time instances of the measured resonant current signal. Thus, the switching frequency is locked to the natural resonant frequency of the entire primary, secondary and load circuit. As the natural resonant frequency measured by the resonant current signal changes due to the load and airgap size variations, the input switching frequency is preferably locked to the natural frequency. The coupling distance is defined by the airgap between the energy transmission system 105 and the energy reception system 106. The natural resonant frequency typically varies by a few kHz due to the load and airgap. Thus, the peak power transferred over the airgap is affected. The power variation is regulated by the same PWM electronics which change the pulse width of the switching devices in H-bridge 440 and 441. In this manner, the peak power transferred is automatically adjusted to compensate for the size of the airgap and the secondary circuit's load.
Another coupling effect that influences the peak power transfer is that which occurs between each of the primary coils and between each of the secondary coils. These couplings assure a common system resonant frequency for the pair of resonant circuits. The couplings also keep the relative current change in the primaries identical during directional phase-control. For example, as shown in
Additionally, each of the primary coils cross-couples with each secondary coil, thereby contributing to the total inductance and to the coupling coefficient between the roadside and pickup arrays.
The described coupling effects combine to influence coupling coefficients between the different inductive elements and hence define the system's common resonance frequency and overall energy transfer capability. For large airgaps (7″-9″), the net coupling coefficient can be smaller (in the range of Kc=0.6-0.7), than in equivalent power transformers. Transferring energy over large airgaps in resonant mode may also require significant reactive/real power ratio in the resonant circuit, which can lower power transmission efficiency. Transmission of 100 kW power can be achieved over 7″ airgap at 85% efficiency. Operating resonant frequency for this performance can be typically between 20-30 kHz. However, other airgap sizes, amount of power and frequency ranges are also contemplated.
The desired location of the energy transfer itself is preferably along the central plane between energy transmission system 105 and energy reception system 106 shown in
As shown in
In another embodiment of the wireless transfer system, multiple roadside arrays can be arranged to provide an energy transfer system that can be used for larger vehicles.
In this embodiment, a Power Mixing Converter (PMC) 135 can receive energy from one or more sources, and can coordinate the distribution of that energy to one or more outputs. One source of energy includes one or more microturbine generator(s) 150, which can convert fuel from one or more fuel sources into energy. These fuel sources can include, but are not limited to, a methane source 153, natural gas source 152, and/or hydrogen source 156. The fuel sources are preferably stored on-site for convenience, but can also be transported in through pipe or by other means. Heat generated by the microturbine 150 can be captured in a heat exchanger 160, and can be used for heating and cooling needs at the site, such as warming water, or driving a turbine to provide additional electrical power to the site.
Other energy sources for the PMC 135 can include energy from renewable sources 134, such as solar and wind power. PMC 135 can also receive energy from other sites connected through microgrid 136 and from the standard utility grid 139, as well as one or more on-site energy storage units, such as flywheel(s) 137, and/or one or more battery banks 138. The PMC 135 can select its energy source(s) based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to source availability, storage capacity and real-time costs of each of the energy sources.
In addition to receiving energy from one or more sources, the PMC 135 can also distribute energy to one or more outputs. These outputs include, but are not limited to, the site facility power distribution system 132 for powering the site itself, one or more flywheel storage banks 137 and battery banks 138 for load leveling and backup power, the microgrid 136 for powering other sites, the standard utility grid 139, and the MPC 130 for wirelessly transferring the energy to an electrically chargeable vehicle through arrays 105 and 107. The PMC 135 can also calculate which output to send the energy to. For example, during low load periods, the PMC 135 may choose to output energy to the fly-wheel storage 137 or battery bank 138 for storage. During peak load periods, the PMC 135 can draw power from the fly-wheel storage 137 and/or battery banks 138 to provide load-leveling. PMC 135 can determine its energy source and outputs either in real-time or by using past data. Thus, the PMC 135 can optionally calculate energy trends over a period of time, and even optionally anticipate and adjust for energy supply and demand. Typical PMC 135 energy transfers can involve between 250 kW to 2 MW of power.
Another embodiment of the high power wireless resonant energy transfer system includes providing an electric vehicle with the transmission reception system 106 of the previous embodiment, onboard power electronics (OPE) 110, and onboard energy storage device (OSD) 115, as shown in
Another embodiment of the high power wireless resonant energy transfer system shown in
Another embodiment of the wireless transfer system provides for activating the energy transfer system shown in
Another embodiment of the high power wireless resonant energy transfer system provides an E-pod and an electric highway for continuous electrical propulsion power for heavy highway vehicles, such as cargo trucks and 40′-60′ rapid transit buses. In this embodiment, an energy reception system can be mounted to the undercarriage of a vehicle to collect power from a series of road-surface energy transmission systems that have transmission arrays. The activated transmission arrays directly under the vehicle can provide most of the vehicle's propulsion energy. Thus, the vehicle needs only a small energy storage onboard. The roadway transmission arrays are preferably active for the short period of time required for the vehicle to pass over the array. Thus, the output power transmitted can be high but the duty cycle is small. The pickup coils of the moving vehicle, however, see a practically continuous power-rail.
The equivalent circuit schematic diagram in
The roadway pad is shown in
The roadway pads can be lined up in the middle of a highway lane such that the vehicles activate the pads as they pass over them. Otherwise the pads are deactivated.
The E-Pod shown in
In this cargo truck embodiment, the E-Pod 701 can be rolled under and installed to the bottom frame of the cargo container section 610 (shown in
Preferably, the electrified lanes of the highway align the Wireless Energy Transfer roadway assemblies such that the dual coil pickup assemblies hover over the activated segments of the roadway. Thus, full power transfer can be spread over a longer distance—such as 16′ to 24′—under the E-Pod. Through sequential activation, the power availability wave remains just under the E-Pod at all times, while the other segments under the Rig and on the highway idle preferably without power.
The power system feeding an Electrified Highway Lane can include a set of stationary Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC units) fed by alternative fuel sources, and a network of interconnecting microgrids described in a previous embodiment. Thus, the Electrified Highway Lane can have its own distributed energy generation system with combined heat capture and optional roadside Hydrogen generation. Where utility power is available, inexpensive, and environmentally acceptable, the microgrid can tap into the utility grid system.
The E-Pod shown in this embodiment uses cargo trucks for illustrative purposes only. Other types of vehicles, such as buses and utility vehicles can also be fitted with an E-pod, and can similarly use the Electrified Highway lanes for electric propulsion.
In another embodiment of the high power wireless resonant energy transfer system, electric or hybrid vehicles that are regularly parked on the same location for extended period, such as school buses and passenger cars, can use Bumper Chargers with Wireless Energy Transfer (“WET”) for replenishing their onboard energy storage.
Hybrid and electric automobiles can use the WET installed in parking lots and home driveways. An average automobile can require about 0.3 kWh/ml for regular city cycles. Therefore, the recharge power requirements can be modest in comparison the buses and trucks (preferably 2.5 kWh/ml and 4 kWh/ml respectively). A medium power alternative of the series resonant inductive coupling array can be used to recharge power typically in the range of 5 to 15 kW. The principle block diagram in
Corresponding to
While various implementations and embodiments of the high power wireless resonant energy transfer system have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more are possible.
Claims
1. A method for wireless energy transfer, comprising:
- providing an electrified surface comprising one or more energy transmission systems adapted to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap;
- positioning an electrically chargeable vehicle comprising a energy reception system within electromagnetic proximity of said electrified surface;
- establishing a resonant inductive coupling between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system;
- establishing input unity power factor, maximum real power transmission and low switching losses at an operating switching frequency range of 17 kHz to at least 35 kHz;
- auto-adjusting an energy transfer frequency to compensate for misalignment between said electrified surface and said electrically chargeable vehicle;
- regulating said wireless energy transfer to full power (10 kW-150 kW) based on the charge state or propulsion requirements of said electrically chargeable vehicle
- transferring energy from said electrified surface to said electrically chargeable vehicle.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are arranged in a series array along a center-line of said electrified surface.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are on said electrified surface.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are within said electrified surface.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are above said electrified surface.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is adapted for wireless and/or wired energy transfer.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, establishing a natural resonant frequency of the inductively coupled energy transmission system and energy reception system.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein establishing said natural resonant frequency comprises detecting a resonant frequency change due to the coupling of said energy transmission system and said energy reception system
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more energy transmission systems comprise at least one pair of primary coils, with the coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils, with the coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is stationary.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is in motion.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said airgap between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system is from 7 cm to at least 18 cm.
14. A wireless resonant energy transfer system, comprising:
- an electrified surface comprising a energy transmission system adapted to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap; and
- an E-Pod, comprising: a wheel assembly removably attached to a vehicle, said wheel assembly comprising at least one pair of tires; a wireless energy reception system arranged on said wheel assembly and adapted to receive wirelessly transmitted energy from said energy transmission system; a propulsion system comprising an electric motor arranged on said wheel assembly; and an electronic controller interface system arranged to electrically connect said wheel assembly with said vehicle to control said propulsion system from said vehicle.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary resonant circuits, each one of said at least one pair arranged to inductively couple with another of said at least one pair.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary coils, said coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one pair of primary coils comprises laminated, multistrand, or Litz-wire.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary resonant circuits, each one of said at least one pair arranged to inductively couple with another of said at least one pair.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils, said coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said at least one pair of secondary coils comprises laminated, multistrand, or Litz-wire.
21. The system of claim 14, wherein said wheel assembly is adapted to be lowered when said E-pod is in electromagnetic proximity of said an electrified surface, such that said at least one pair of tires contact a roadway surface.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein said propulsion system is adapted to provide most of the propulsion energy for said vehicle.
23. The system of claim 14, wherein said propulsion system is powered by said wirelessly transmitted energy to propel said vehicle.
24. The system of claim 14, wherein said vehicle is electric or plug-in electric.
25. The system of claim 14, wherein said vehicle is a hybrid-electric and plug-in electric extended range propulsion vehicle.
26. The system of claim 14, wherein said vehicle is an electric or electrically aided cargo vehicle.
27. The system of claim 14, wherein said airgap between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system is from 7 cm to at least 18 cm.
28. A method for wireless energy transfer, comprising:
- providing an electrified surface comprising one or more energy transmission systems adapted to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap;
- providing a vehicle comprising an E-Pod, wherein said E-Pod comprises an energy reception system adapted to receive wireless energy from said one or more energy transmission systems;
- positioning said vehicle within electromagnetic proximity of said electrified surface;
- establishing a resonant inductive coupling between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system;
- auto-adjusting an energy transfer frequency to compensate for misalignment between said electrified surface and said E-Pod;
- lowering a wheel assembly of said E-Pod such that at least one pair of tires of said wheel assembly contact a roadway surface;
- providing power to a propulsion system of said E-Pod from said energy transmission system such that said propulsion system provides most of the propulsion energy for said vehicle.
29. A method for combined heat and power generation and wireless resonant energy transfer, comprising:
- providing a local energy generation system arranged to generate, store and provide energy for a local site and for an electrically chargeable vehicle in electromagnetic proximity to said local site;
- providing energy to said local energy generation system from one or more sources;
- capturing any heat generated from said one or more sources providing energy to said local energy generation system;
- storing energy produced by said local energy generation system in an energy storage unit;
- distributing energy produced by said local energy generation system to one or more outputs;
- determining which of said one or more outputs to distribute energy to based on the load of said one or more outputs to said local energy generation system.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein said local energy generation system comprises an energy transmission system comprising at least one pair of primary coils arranged to form a common resonant circuit and adapted to provide wireless energy to said electrically chargeable vehicle.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle comprises an energy reception system adapted to receive wireless energy transmitted from said energy transmission system due to a resonant inductive coupling between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein said local energy generation system comprises a controller for transferring stored energy back from said power reception system to said power transmission system.
34. The method of claim 29, wherein said one or more sources providing energy to said local energy generation system comprises said energy storage unit, an alternative energy source, a renewable energy source, or a bio-municipal waste-to-energy source.
35. The method of claim 29, wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is in electromagnetic proximity to said local energy generation system for an extended period of time, such that the load to said local energy generation system is low.
36. The method of claim 29, wherein said local energy generation system comprises a multi-directional converter for controlling the energy distribution to said one or more outputs.
37. The method of claim 29, wherein said one or more outputs comprises said local site, said energy storage unit, said energy transmission system, or a microgrid.
38. The method of claim 29, wherein said energy storage unit comprises a battery, a capacitor bank or a flywheel.
39. The method of claim 29, wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is electric or plug-in electric.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 11, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 7, 2011
Inventor: Laszlo Farkas (Ojai, CA)
Application Number: 13/004,793
International Classification: F01K 17/02 (20060101); H02J 7/00 (20060101); H01F 38/14 (20060101); B60L 9/00 (20060101);