Miniature hydro-power generation system power management

A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:

• a hydro-power generator rotatable with a flow of liquid to produce electric power for supply to a load;
• a first switch electrically coupled between a first energy storage device and the hydro-power generator;
• a second switch electrically coupled between a second energy storage device and the hydro-power generator;
• and
• a third switch electrically coupling the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device, the third switch switchable between a first position in which the first energy storage device is electrically coupled in parallel with the second energy storage device, and a second position in which the first energy storage device is electrically coupled in series with the second energy storage device, wherein the first switch and the second switch are independently switchable to selectively charge the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device, respectively, based on a magnitude of voltage produced by the hydro-power generator and a respective threshold charge level of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device.

A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:

• a load switch configured to be electrically coupled with a load;
• a plurality of energy storage devices electrically coupled with the load switch so that the load switch is between the energy storage devices and the load;
• a hydro-power generator rotatable with a flow of liquid to produce and supply electric power for the load, the hydro-power generator electrically coupled with the load switch so that the load switch is between the hydro-power generator and the load;
• and
• a series/parallel switch electrically coupled between at least two of the energy storage devices, the series/parallel switch switchable to electrically couple the at least two of the energy storage devices in either of a parallel configuration or a series configuration to affect a magnitude of voltage supplied to the load through the load switch, wherein the load switch is switchable to disconnect the load from both the hydro-power generator and the energy storage devices in response to discharge of at least one of the energy storage devices below a determined threshold.

A method of controlling a miniature hydro-power generation system, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of energy storage devices;
• providing a hydro-power generator;
• rotating the hydro-power generator with a flow of liquid to produce electric power at a generator output;
• switching a first switch electrically coupled between a load and at least one of the energy storage devices and the generator output of the hydro-power generator to electrically connect at least one of the generator output and the energy storage devices to the load;
• and
• switching a second switch electrically coupled between at least two of the energy storage devices to transition an electrical configuration of the at least two of the energy storage devices between a parallel configuration and a series configuration, wherein switching the second switch further comprises monitoring a magnitude of voltage being supplied to the load with the at least two energy storage devices, and switching the at least two energy storage devices to be in the parallel configuration or in the series configuration with respect to the load in accordance with a predetermined threshold of the magnitude of voltage being supplied to the load.