Multipurpose portable storage and supply system
View Patent ↗A portable power storage and supply system having means for AC charging, DC charging, AC discharging and DC discharging wherein any one or any combination of the AC and DC charging and discharging can be carried at one time. The system includes an inverter, one or more battery modules and control means for controlling the AC and DC charging and discharging functions for safe and efficient operation. DC charging can include energy from a renewable energy source. The battery modules are separable from the system for providing DC energy for energizing automotive battery jumper cables or for energizing DC powered devices.
1. A portable power storage and supply system, comprising
AC charging means, DC charging means, AC discharging means and DC discharging means, wherein said DC charging means includes means for inputting electrical energy from a renewable energy source, and
control means for operating:
two or more of the charging means and at least one of the discharging means simultaneously, or
two or more of the discharging means and at least one of the charging means simultaneously.
2. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 1 having an inverter with at least one battery module electrically connected to the inverter.
3. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein the portable power storage and supply system has a plurality of battery modules connected in parallel and all of the battery modules have substantially similar electrical characteristics.
4. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein the inverter is controlled to:
be bypassed when AC power is available from an AC power grid connected to the inverter,
provide DC power to the battery modules at an upper voltage (V H ) for charging the battery modules,
stop providing DC power to recharge the battery modules when (V)≧(V H ′) where V H ′ is the voltage protecting the inverter from being charged while it is recharging the battery modules, and
stop providing AC power to devices when (V)≧(V H ″) where V H ″ is the voltage protecting the inverter from being damaged by high DC voltage input, and
allow discharging of the battery modules until a battery modules voltage (V)<(V L ) where V L is the lower voltage limit of the inverter, and
allow further discharging of the battery modules when voltage goes back to (V)>(V L ′) where V L ′ is within normal working voltage range of the inverter once the condition of (V)<(V L ) was met in earlier discharging, and
wherein each battery module comprises:
a plurality of battery cells connected in series,
a controller that monitors each battery cell connected in series,
a current or thermal fuse for disconnecting the battery module from the inverter if over-current or overheating occurs,
means for disconnecting the battery module from the inverter if a battery cell voltage (V)>a high battery voltage (V BH ) and reconnecting the battery module to the inverter if (V)<(V BH ′) where V BH ′ is within normal working voltage range of the battery, and
means for disconnecting the battery module from the inverter if a battery cell voltage (V)<a low battery voltage (V BL ).
5. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 4 , further comprising means for providing a visual or audible signal if (V)<(V BL ).
6. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein
the inverter and one or more battery modules are connected together using tabs for holding the inverter and battery module(s) together.
7. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein each battery module comprises Lithium Iron Phosphorous Oxide battery cells.
8. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein each battery module includes at least one controller for controlling a relay for the electrical connection to the inverter.
9. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein each battery module includes a sensor for providing a signal to a controller for breaking the electrical connection to the inverter when a high temperature or high current condition is present.
10. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein the portable power storage and supply system has a plurality of battery modules connected in parallel and all of the battery modules have substantially similar physical characteristics.
11. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 2 , wherein each battery module is separable from the system for providing DC energy.
12. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 11 , wherein each battery module includes terminals for accommodating automotive battery jumper cables and an outlet for accommodating a DC electrical plug.
13. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 1 , wherein means for DC discharging includes terminals for accommodating automotive battery jumper cables and an outlet for accommodating a DC electrical plug.
14. The portable power storage and supply system of claim 1 , wherein the system is used as a non-stop UPS.