Energy management system

A method for controlling an energy management system that couples a system load to a first energy source and a second energy source, the system load being connected in parallel with the first energy source, the first energy source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the second energy source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

• the energy management system comprising an inductor extending from a first end to a second end, a first switch coupling the positive terminal of the first source to the first end of the inductor, a second switch coupling the negative terminal of the first source to the first end of the inductor, a third switch coupling the positive terminal of the second source to the second end of the inductor, and a fourth switch coupling the negative terminal of the second source to the second end of the inductor;
• the method comprising:
• evaluating states of the system load, the first energy source and the second energy source;
• determining the direction and proportion of energy flow between the first energy source, the second energy source and the system load;
• selecting whether to use a two-switch state or a one switch state to move energy between the first energy source and the second energy source;
• the two switch state closing either the first and fourth switches, the second and third switches or none of the switches at any one time;
• the one switch state closing only one of the switches or none of the switches at any one time;
• and
• controlling the switching of the first, second, third and fourth switches to transfer energy between the first energy source and the second energy source through the inductor using the selected one of the two-switch state or the one switch state.

An energy management system for coupling a load to multiple energy sources, the energy management system comprising:

• a load connection for connecting the load to the energy management system;
• a first source connection for connecting a first energy source having a first voltage to the energy management system, the first source connection having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the first source connection being in parallel with the load connection;
• a second source connection for connecting a second energy source having a second voltage to the energy management system, the second source connection having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the second voltage being equal to or different from the first voltage;
• a control unit;
• and
• a plurality of energy management modules;
• each of the plurality of energy management modules comprising:
• an inductor extending from a first end to a second end;
• a first switch coupling the positive terminal of the first source connection to the first end of the inductor;
• a second switch coupling the negative terminal of the first source connection to the first end of the inductor;
• a third switch coupling the positive terminal of the second source connection to the second end of the inductor;
• a fourth switch coupling the negative terminal of the second source connection to the second end of the inductor;
• wherein the control unit controls the switching of the first, second, third and fourth switches of each of the plurality of energy management modules to transfer energy between the first energy source and the second energy source through the inductor of the respective energy management module.

A method for controlling an energy management system that couples a system load to a first energy source and a second energy source, the system load being connected in parallel with the first energy source, the first energy source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the second energy source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

• the energy management system comprising a plurality of energy management modules;
• each of the plurality of energy management modules comprising an inductor extending from a first end to a second end;
• a first switch coupling the positive terminal of the first source connection to the first end of the inductor;
• a second switch coupling the negative terminal of the first source connection to the first end of the inductor;
• a third switch coupling the positive terminal of the second source connection to the second end of the inductor;
• and a fourth switch coupling the negative terminal of the second source connection to the second end of the inductor, the method comprising:
• evaluating the conditions of the system load, the first energy source and the second energy source;
• determining whether to control the energy management system using manual mode or automatic mode;
• and
• controlling the switching of the first, second, third and fourth switches of each of the plurality of energy management modules to transfer energy between the first energy source and the second energy source through the respective inductor.