EXTENDED ENERGY STORAGE UNIT
An integrated energy storage unit includes a container and a battery housed within the container. The battery includes a positive battery terminal, a negative battery terminal, and a battery electrolyte. A capacitor is housed within the container, separate from the battery. The capacitor includes a positive capacitor terminal, a negative capacitor terminal, and a capacitor electrolyte. A plurality of connectors electrically couple the battery and the capacitor in parallel A positive lead is electrically coupled to the positive battery terminal and the positive capacitor terminal. The positive lead extends from the container. A negative lead is electrically coupled to the negative battery terminal mi{acute over (α)} the negative capacitor terminal. The negative lead extends from the container.
1 . A method of assembling an integrated energy storage unit comprising the steps of:
a) manufacturing a battery having a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal;
b) manufacturing a capacitor separate from the battery, the capacitor having a positive capacitor terminal and a negative capacitor terminal;
c) electrically coupling the positive battery terminal and the positive capacitor terminal to each other;
d) electrically coupling the negative battery terminal and the negative capacitor terminal to each other; and
e) simultaneously charging the battery and the capacitor from a charge source.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after step a), inserting the battery into a battery pouch.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising, after step b), inserting the capacitor into a capacitor pouch.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after step b), inserting the battery and the capacitor into a container.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before step e), adding an electrolyte to the battery.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before step e), adding an electrolyte to the capacitor.
7 . A method of assembling an integrated energy storage unit comprising the steps of:
a) inserting positive battery plates and negative battery plates into a battery pouch;
b) inserting positive capacitor plates and negative capacitor plates into a capacitor pouch;
c) electrically coupling the positive battery plates and the positive capacitor plates to each other;
d) electrically coupling the negative battery plates and the negative capacitor plates to each other;
e) adding a battery electrolyte to the battery pouch;
f) adding a capacitor electrolyte to the capacitor pouch; and
g) simultaneously charging the battery and the capacitor from a charge source.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein steps a) and b) comprise inserting the positive battery plates, the negative battery plates, and the positive capacitor plates and negative capacitor plates into the same pouch.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the e) and f) comprise adding the same electrolyte.
10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein steps a) and e) form a battery having a battery voltage capacity and wherein steps b) and f) from a capacitor having a capacitor voltage capacity at least as great as the battery voltage capacity.
11 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein steps a) and e) form an integrated energy storage unit having a battery internal resistance and wherein steps b) and f) from a capacitor having a capacitor internal resistance nor more than one half that of the battery internal resistance.
12 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein steps c) and d) are performed after steps e) and f).
13 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein step g) is the last step performed in the method.
14 . An integrated energy storage unit manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:
a) inserting positive battery plates and negative battery plates into a battery pouch;
b) inserting positive capacitor plates and negative capacitor plates into a capacitor pouch;
c) electrically coupling the positive battery plates and the positive capacitor plates to each other;
d) electrically coupling the negative battery plates and the negative capacitor plates to each other;
e) adding a battery electrolyte to the battery pouch;
f) adding a capacitor electrolyte to the capacitor pouch; and
g) simultaneously charging the battery and the capacitor from a charge source.
15 . The integrated energy storage unit according to claim 14 , wherein step g) is the last step performed in the method.
16 . The integrated energy storage unit according to claim 14 , steps a) and e) form a battery and steps b) and f) form a capacitor having a capacitor voltage capability at least as great as the battery voltage capability.
17 . The integrated energy storage unit according to claim 14 , wherein steps a) and e) form a integrated energy storage unit having a battery internal resistance and wherein steps b) and f) from a capacitor having a capacitor internal resistance not more than one half that of battery internal resistance.
18 . An integrated power unit comprised of a plurality of the integrated energy storage units according to claim 14 electrically coupled to each other in series.
19 . An integrated power unit comprised of a plurality of the integrated energy storage units according to claim 14 electrically coupled to each other in parallel.