High power wireless resonant energy transfer system

Abstract

A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system transfers energy across an airgap.

1 . A method for wireless energy transfer, comprising:
 providing an electrified surface comprising one or more energy transmission systems adapted to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap;   positioning an electrically chargeable vehicle comprising a energy reception system within electromagnetic proximity of said electrified surface;   establishing a resonant inductive coupling between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system;   establishing input unity power factor, maximum real power transmission and low switching losses at an operating switching frequency range of 17 kHz to at least 35 kHz;   auto-adjusting an energy transfer frequency to compensate for misalignment between said electrified surface and said electrically chargeable vehicle;   regulating said wireless energy transfer to full power (10 kW-150 kW) based on the charge state or propulsion requirements of said electrically chargeable vehicle   transferring energy from said electrified surface to said electrically chargeable vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are arranged in a series array along a center-line of said electrified surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are on said electrified surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are within said electrified surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more energy transmission systems are above said electrified surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is adapted for wireless and/or wired energy transfer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, establishing a natural resonant frequency of the inductively coupled energy transmission system and energy reception system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein establishing said natural resonant frequency comprises detecting a resonant frequency change due to the coupling of said energy transmission system and said energy reception system 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more energy transmission systems comprise at least one pair of primary coils, with the coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils, with the coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is stationary. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is in motion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said airgap between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system is from 7 cm to at least 18 cm. 
     
     
         14 . A wireless resonant energy transfer system, comprising:
 an electrified surface comprising a energy transmission system adapted to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap; and   an E-Pod, comprising:
 a wheel assembly removably attached to a vehicle, said wheel assembly comprising at least one pair of tires; 
 a wireless energy reception system arranged on said wheel assembly and adapted to receive wirelessly transmitted energy from said energy transmission system; 
 a propulsion system comprising an electric motor arranged on said wheel assembly; and 
 an electronic controller interface system arranged to electrically connect said wheel assembly with said vehicle to control said propulsion system from said vehicle. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary resonant circuits, each one of said at least one pair arranged to inductively couple with another of said at least one pair. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said energy transmission system comprises at least one pair of primary coils, said coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one pair of primary coils comprises laminated, multistrand, or Litz-wire. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary resonant circuits, each one of said at least one pair arranged to inductively couple with another of said at least one pair. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils, said coils of each pair arranged in a ferromagnetic or diamagnetic core magnetic diverter and substantially coplanar with each other. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one pair of secondary coils comprises laminated, multistrand, or Litz-wire. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said wheel assembly is adapted to be lowered when said E-pod is in electromagnetic proximity of said an electrified surface, such that said at least one pair of tires contact a roadway surface. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said propulsion system is adapted to provide most of the propulsion energy for said vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said propulsion system is powered by said wirelessly transmitted energy to propel said vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is electric or plug-in electric. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is a hybrid-electric and plug-in electric extended range propulsion vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is an electric or electrically aided cargo vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said airgap between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system is from 7 cm to at least 18 cm. 
     
     
         28 . A method for wireless energy transfer, comprising:
 providing an electrified surface comprising one or more energy transmission systems adapted to wirelessly transfer energy across an airgap;   providing a vehicle comprising an E-Pod, wherein said E-Pod comprises an energy reception system adapted to receive wireless energy from said one or more energy transmission systems;   positioning said vehicle within electromagnetic proximity of said electrified surface;   establishing a resonant inductive coupling between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system;   auto-adjusting an energy transfer frequency to compensate for misalignment between said electrified surface and said E-Pod;   lowering a wheel assembly of said E-Pod such that at least one pair of tires of said wheel assembly contact a roadway surface;   providing power to a propulsion system of said E-Pod from said energy transmission system such that said propulsion system provides most of the propulsion energy for said vehicle.   
     
     
         29 . A method for combined heat and power generation and wireless resonant energy transfer, comprising:
 providing a local energy generation system arranged to generate, store and provide energy for a local site and for an electrically chargeable vehicle in electromagnetic proximity to said local site;   providing energy to said local energy generation system from one or more sources;   capturing any heat generated from said one or more sources providing energy to said local energy generation system;   storing energy produced by said local energy generation system in an energy storage unit;   distributing energy produced by said local energy generation system to one or more outputs;   determining which of said one or more outputs to distribute energy to based on the load of said one or more outputs to said local energy generation system.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said local energy generation system comprises an energy transmission system comprising at least one pair of primary coils arranged to form a common resonant circuit and adapted to provide wireless energy to said electrically chargeable vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle comprises an energy reception system adapted to receive wireless energy transmitted from said energy transmission system due to a resonant inductive coupling between said energy transmission system and said energy reception system. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said energy reception system comprises at least one pair of secondary coils. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said local energy generation system comprises a controller for transferring stored energy back from said power reception system to said power transmission system. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said one or more sources providing energy to said local energy generation system comprises said energy storage unit, an alternative energy source, a renewable energy source, or a bio-municipal waste-to-energy source. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is in electromagnetic proximity to said local energy generation system for an extended period of time, such that the load to said local energy generation system is low. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said local energy generation system comprises a multi-directional converter for controlling the energy distribution to said one or more outputs. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said one or more outputs comprises said local site, said energy storage unit, said energy transmission system, or a microgrid. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said energy storage unit comprises a battery, a capacitor bank or a flywheel. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said electrically chargeable vehicle is electric or plug-in electric.