Power supply system
A DC energy storage module has a plurality of DC energy storage devices electrically connected in series; an internal control unit in the DC energy storage module; and a power supply for the internal control unit. The power supply for the internal control unit includes one or more of the DC energy storage devices in the module, electrically connected to the internal control unit through a rectifying unit.
1. A DC energy storage module, comprising:
a plurality of electrochemical energy storage devices electrically connected in series; an internal control unit in the DC energy storage module; and
a power supply for the internal control unit;
wherein the power supply for the internal control unit only comprises one or more of the electrochemical energy storage devices in the DC energy storage module, electrically connected to the internal control unit through a rectifying unit; and
wherein a total voltage of the plurality of energy storage devices in series is greater than 40V DC.
2. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the rectifying unit comprises a switching component, a diode, a thyrister, a relay, or a bridge rectifier.
3. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power supply further comprises a semiconductor device, a transistor, or relay, in parallel with the rectifying unit.
4. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the total voltage of the one or more energy storage devices connected to supply the internal control unit does not exceed 30 V DC.
5. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the total voltage of the plurality of energy storage devices in series is in a range of 50V DC to 200 V DC.
6. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the total voltage of the plurality of energy storage devices in series is greater than or equal to 100 V DC.
7. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power supply further comprises a DC to DC step down converter electrically connected between the internal control unit and the plurality of energy storage devices in series.
8. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein each energy storage module further comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a voltage monitoring device, or current monitoring device.
9. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a low drop out or wireless switching regulator.
10. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein each energy storage module further comprises a wireless communication system.
11. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a housing of each energy storage module at least partially comprises a polymer material.
12. The DC energy storage module according to claim 11 ,
wherein the polymer material comprises one of polythene, polyamide, or thermoplastic.
13. The DC energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein the DC energy storage modules comprise a sealed fire-resistant casing.
14. A DC power supply system, comprising:
a plurality of the DC energy storage modules, each energy storage module comprising:
a plurality of electrochemical energy storage devices electrically connected in series; an internal control unit in the DC energy storage module; and
a power supply for the internal control unit;
wherein the power supply for the internal control unit comprises one or more of the electrochemical energy storage devices in the DC energy storage module, electrically connected to the internal control unit through a rectifying unit; and
wherein a total voltage of the plurality of energy storage devices in series is greater than 40V DC; and
a common system controller for controlling power availability on a vessel, or offshore platform.
15. The DC power supply system according to claim 14 , wherein the power supply system voltage is greater than or equal to 500V DC.
16. The DC power supply system according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a plurality of power supplies connected together to provide a required power supply system voltage.
17. The DC power supply system according to claim 14 ,
wherein the common system controller further comprises a wireless communication system for communicating with each of the DC energy storage modules.
18. A method of operating an energy storage module in a DC power supply system according to claim 14 , the method comprising:
detecting one or more parameters of energy storage devices in the energy storage module; and
controlling charging and discharging of the energy storage devices based on the detected parameters.
19. The method according to claim 18 ,
wherein the common central controller sets and imposes limits on amount and timing of charge and discharge current for the DC energy storage module or for energy storage devices within the DC energy storage module.
20. The method according to claim 18 ,
wherein the parameters comprise one of temperature, or current, or voltage of the, or each, energy storage device.
21. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
active balancing of capacity of the energy storage devices in response to the detected parameters.
22. The method according to claim 21 ,
wherein the internal control unit controls active balancing of the energy storage devices in each module, such that voltage, or state of charge, of each energy storage device in the module is maintained at a substantially equal level.
23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the active balancing uses a full voltage buck converter.
24. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
sending data, or detected parameters, from each energy storage module to the common system controller.