Hybrid power supplies
A hybrid power supply includes an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft, a generator including a rotor and a stator, the rotor coupled to and configured to rotate with the crankshaft to generate alternating-current power, a generator controller including a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power, and a battery pack electrically connected to the generator controller. The generator controller and the battery pack are configured to be electrically connected to a power bus of an equipment to allow direct current power to travel between the equipment and the hybrid power supply.
1 . A hybrid power supply comprising:
an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft;
an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control operation of the engine;
a generator comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor coupled to and configured to rotate with the crankshaft to generate alternating current power;
a generator controller comprising a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power; and
a battery pack electrically connected to the generator controller,
wherein the generator controller and the battery pack are configured to be electrically connected to a power bus of an equipment to allow direct current power to travel between the equipment and the hybrid power supply,
wherein the ECU is configured to maintain the engine in a deactivated state or to maintain the generator is in a zero power-production state when a voltage of the battery pack exceeds a predetermined maximum voltage, wherein the predetermined maximum voltage is less than a maximum rated voltage of the battery pack.
2 . The hybrid power supply of claim 1 wherein the ECU is configured to receive information from an equipment ECU of the equipment, wherein the information comprises only an ON/OFF status of the equipment.
3 . The hybrid power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a battery management system configured to measure the voltage or state of charge associated with the battery pack, wherein the ECU is configured to;
receive the measured voltage or state of charge from the battery management system; and
control one or more of a speed of the engine or a generation percentage of the generator based on the measured voltage or state of charge.
4 . The hybrid power supply of claim 1 , wherein the generator does not output alternating current power to an external load.
5 . The hybrid power supply of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller comprises a buck-boost converter configured to adjust an output voltage of the direct current power.
6 . The hybrid power supply of claim 1 , wherein:
the ECU is configured to receive an indication of an engine malfunction; and
in response to receiving the indication, the ECU is configured to operate in a Limp Home Mode in which power output from the battery pack is limited to an amount below a maximum power output of the battery pack.
7 . Outdoor power equipment comprising:
a power bus configured to electrically connect to a battery via one or more battery terminals;
a first motor electrically connected to the power bus and configured to be driven by direct current power from the battery; and
a hybrid power supply comprising:
an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft;
an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control activation of the engine;
a generator configured to convert the rotation of the crankshaft to alternating current power, the generator comprising a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power;
a user interface;
an equipment ECU configured to receive an indication of a selection of an operating mode from the user interface, wherein the ECU is configured to receive the indication of the selection of the operating mode from the equipment ECU, wherein the operating mode includes one of a quiet mode, a power mode, or a fuel efficiency mode; and
a battery pack electrically connected to the converter;
wherein the converter and the battery pack are electrically connected to the power bus to allow direct current power to travel between the hybrid power supply and the power bus.
8 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 7 , wherein the hybrid power supply is electrically connected to the power bus via the one or more battery terminals.
9 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 7 , wherein the ECU is configured to receive information from the equipment ECU, wherein the information comprises only an ON/OFF status of the equipment.
10 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 7 , wherein the hybrid power supply further comprises a battery management system configured to measure a voltage or state of charge associated with the battery pack, wherein the ECU is configured to:
receive the measured voltage or state of charge from the battery management system;
activate the engine and/or increase a generation percentage of the generator when the voltage measurement is below a first voltage, the first voltage being higher than a voltage required to operate the first motor; and
deactivate the engine and/or set the generation percentage of the generator to zero when the voltage measurement exceeds a second voltage, the second voltage being below a maximum voltage associated with the battery pack.
11 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 10 , wherein the first motor is configured to apply a regenerative braking force, wherein the battery pack is configured to receive power generated by the first motor due to the regenerative braking force.
12 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 11 , wherein the ECU is configured to reduce a speed of the engine and/or the generation percentage of the generator in response to detecting power from the regenerative braking force being received by the battery pack.
13 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 7 , wherein the hybrid power supply further comprises:
one or more temperature sensors associated with the engine, the battery, and/or the generator and communicatively coupled to the ECU; and
a fan communicatively coupled to the ECU;
wherein the ECU is configured to control a speed of the fan based on temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors.
14 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 7 , wherein the hybrid power supply further comprises a battery management system configured to measure a voltage or state of charge associated with the battery pack, wherein the ECU is configured to:
periodically or continuously receive the measured voltage or state of charge from the battery management system; and
control one or more of a speed of the engine or a generation percentage of the generator based on a rate of change of the voltage or a rate of change of the state of charge.
15 . The outdoor power equipment of claim 14 , wherein the ECU is configured to set the generation percentage to zero in response to detecting a change in voltage indicating that a maximum rate of charge of the battery pack has been exceeded.
16 . A hybrid power supply comprising:
an engine configured to rotate a crankshaft;
an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to control operation of the engine;
a generator comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor coupled to and configured to rotate with the crankshaft to generate alternating current power;
a generator controller comprising a converter configured to convert the alternating current power to direct current power;
a battery pack electrically connected to the generator controller, wherein the generator controller and the battery pack are configured to be electrically connected to a power bus of an equipment to allow direct current power to travel between the equipment and the hybrid power supply; and
a battery management system configured to measure a voltage or state of charge associated with the battery pack, wherein the ECU is configured to:
receive the measured voltage or state of charge from the battery management system; and
control one or more of a speed of the engine or a generation percentage of the generator based on a rate of change of the measured voltage or a rate of change of the measured state of charge.