A self-contained, stand-alone power generator system comprising: an electric motor for applying torque to a shaft of a rotating mass, wherein the electric motor is powered by a dedicated power source; a battery for supplying additional power to the electric motor upon start up; at least one of a torque converter and a starter motor, for overcoming resting inertia of the rotating mass; a generator head coupled to the rotating mass, wherein the power generator is constructed such that when the generator head reaches operational speed, the generator head provides the additional power to the electric motor and recharges the battery.

A mild-hybrid energy storage system architecture is provided, comprising: a battery; an ultracapacitor connected in parallel with the battery; a passive battery pre-charge circuit connected between a terminal of the battery and a DC bus; a battery main contactor connected in parallel with the battery pre-charge circuit between the terminal of the battery and the DC bus; a passive ultracapacitor pre-charge circuit connected between a terminal of the ultracapacitor and the DC bus; an ultracapacitor main contactor connected in parallel with the ultracapacitor pre-charge circuit between the terminal of the ultracapacitor and the DC bus; and a control module configured to independently control operation of the battery pre-charge circuit, the battery main contactor, the ultracapacitor pre-charge circuit and the ultracapacitor main contactor.

A control device for a vehicle includes a semiconductor switch, and opens and closes a connection between a capacitor connected to one end of the semiconductor switch and an on-board battery connected to another end of the semiconductor switch by turning ON/OFF the semiconductor switch. The control device includes: a wiring for applying a drive voltage for turning ON the semiconductor switch; a drive switch for short-circuiting the wiring to turn OFF the semiconductor switch; a Zener diode having an anode connected to the one end of the switching circuit, and a cathode connected to the wiring; a voltage detection unit detects a voltage at the one end of the switching circuit; and a control unit that controls the drive switch from OFF to ON, and determines whether or not the semiconductor switch is defective by comparing the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit with a threshold value.

A DC power plant generating DC power from a variety of engines including a Stirling cycle engine. The DC power plant includes a relatively small start-up power source that is discontinued after the engine is running. A method for producing DC power for a load including starting up an engine using power supplied by a relatively small power supply supplemented by a capacitor bank, providing output from the engine to a generator, producing alternating current (AC) power by the generator, converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power, disabling output of the DC power during a first set of pre-selected conditions, limiting a rate of change of current of the DC power during a second set of pre-selected conditions, reducing conducted and radiated emissions of the DC power, disconnecting the DC power from the load under a third set of pre-selected conditions, and providing the DC power to the load.

The disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing supplemental power to start one or more cranking motors. The supplemental starting system includes a starting-signal isolator configured to connect to one or more electrical starting-signal wires providing starting signal to one or more cranking motors, a resetting relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator, a programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay, a supplemental battery relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC, a supplemental battery electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay, and a positive output-terminal electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay. When an output of the starting-signal isolator is higher than a threshold voltage, the resetting relay and the supplemental battery relay are configured to be in a close state, so that the supplemental starting system is configured to provide electricity to one of the one or more cranking motors.

Engine systems which are easier starting and more resistant to degradation and discharge of their batteries are desirable in a wide range of equipment markets. The present engine systems utilize a selection module which selective switches from a first state when the battery is adequately charged to a second state which enables the use of auxiliary components such as special starting stators and regulators which can power the engine control module even when the battery is too discharged to power the engine control module directly.

An electrical energy recovery, storage, and distribution system that may be used in a vehicle. The system may include a supercapacitor configured to quickly store large amounts of energy. The system may also include multiple circuits operating at different voltage levels, such that an output voltage from the supercapacitor is useful over a larger voltage range and the system is more energy efficient.

The invention offers an ultracapacitor-based power system solution with four main functional blocks which are power conditioning block, monitoring block, charge-discharge block and protection block. The proposed system has the advantage of working well in the environment of vibration, high temperature, has a large capacity to provide a large amount and radiates less heat compared to systems using traditional batteries. In addition, the system has functions to protect and stabilize the output voltage, and the operating parameters of the system is monitored continuously.

A system for discharging or charging a capacitor of a hybrid vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a target state of charge (SOC) module and a capacitor charge/discharge module. The target SOC module determines a target state of charge of the capacitor based on a speed of the vehicle. The capacitor charge/discharge module determines whether a state of charge of a capacitor is greater than a target state of charge. The capacitor charge/discharge module dissipates power from the capacitor to at least one of a battery of the vehicle and an electrical load of the vehicle when the state of charge of the capacitor is greater than the target state of charge.

A portable multi-industry jump starting system including a housing, a rechargeable battery enclosed within the housing, the rechargeable battery having sufficient power to provide a desired output power when reduced by a high current drain during jump starting operations, a multi-pin connector electrically attached to the battery and mounted in the housing for electrical connection to external system components or directly to equipment to be jump started, and a volt meter and volt meter activation switch mounted in the housing so as to be viewable at the multi-pin connector.