JP2005198453A

JP2005198453A - Electric double layer capacitor charging set

Info

Publication number: JP2005198453A
Application number: JP2004003949A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Takenobu Totani; 武信戸谷; Kanji Suzuki; 幹治鈴木
Original assignee: S T ENERG KK; TOYASONIKKU KK
Current assignee: S T ENERG KK; TOYASONIKKU KK
Priority date: 2004-01-09
Filing date: 2004-01-09
Publication date: 2005-07-21

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device capable of efficiently charging an electric double layer capacitor connected in series with small power generation so as not to cause waist. <P>SOLUTION: This is the charging device in which a plurality of electric double layer capacitors C1-C5 are connected in series, and which supplies power source current to both the ends. Voltage detection circuits 2a-2e for detecting a voltage across each of the electric double layer capacitors, and boosting inverters 3a-3e of which the primary side is connected with each of the electric double layer capacitors in parallel are provided. When the voltage across the electric double layer capacitors becomes at least the preset voltage, the boosting inverters are operated by signals from the voltage detection circuits to feedback the boosted power on the secondary side to both the ends of each of the electric double layer capacitors which are connected in series. There is also provided a charging monitor circuit 5 which stops power supply when the all voltage across of each of the electric double layer capacitors becomes at least the preset voltage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

本発明は直列に接続された電気二重層コンデンサを効率よく充電する装置に関するものである。 The present invention relates to an apparatus for efficiently charging electric double layer capacitors connected in series.

周知のように活性炭を電極とする電気二重層コンデンサは化学反応を伴わないので寿命が極めて長く半永久的に使用できる電池として注目されている。このように電気二重層コンデンサは小型で大容量であるが耐電圧が低い。そのため図２に示したように複数個の電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５を直列接続することにより高耐圧として使用される。ところが直列接続された電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５の両端に充電用の電源電流を供給した際、一般にコンデンサの電気容量には製品によって相当なバラツキがあるため、容量の小さい電気二重層コンデンサは早く充電され所定の電圧に達するので、容量の大きい電気二重層コンデンサが充電途中であっても充電を停止せざるをえないので定格の８０％程度の電圧までしか使用できないという問題があった。 As is well known, an electric double layer capacitor using activated carbon as an electrode has been attracting attention as a battery that has a very long life and can be used semipermanently because it does not involve a chemical reaction. Thus, the electric double layer capacitor is small and has a large capacity, but has a low withstand voltage. Therefore, a plurality of electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5 are connected in series as shown in FIG. However, when charging power supply current is supplied to both ends of the electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5 connected in series, the electric capacitance of the capacitor generally varies considerably depending on the product. Since it is charged and reaches a predetermined voltage, the electric double layer capacitor having a large capacity must be stopped even during the charging, so that there is a problem that only a voltage of about 80% of the rated voltage can be used.

この問題を回避するために、図３に示したように各電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５の両端に抵抗器Ｒ１〜Ｒ５を接続して電流をバイパスする方法や、下記特許文献１に示されたように各電気二重層コンデンサに並列に電流制御手段を設け、各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧を監視していて設定値を超えた場合にのみ該電流制御手段を導通させてバイパス電流を流すという技術思想も知られている。
実用新案登録第２５７５３５８号公報 In order to avoid this problem, as shown in FIG. 3, a method of bypassing current by connecting resistors R1 to R5 to both ends of each of the electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5, or the following Patent Document 1 is shown. In this way, a current control means is provided in parallel with each electric double layer capacitor, and the voltage at both ends of each electric double layer capacitor is monitored, and only when the set value is exceeded, the current control means is turned on and a bypass current flows. The technical idea is also known.
Utility Model Registration No. 2575358

しかしながら上記バイパス電流は、図３に示した回路は勿論のこと、特許文献１に示された回路であっても、発熱を伴い電力を無駄に消費している時期があることに変わりはなかった。特に電気二重層コンデンサは高温に弱いため発熱はなおも問題となるものであった。また、太陽電池や風力発電等の自然エネルギーによって発電された電力を電気二重層コンデンサに充電するに際しては、このような電力の無駄な消費は効率を著しく低下させるという問題があった。 However, the bypass current is not limited to the circuit shown in FIG. 3 but also the circuit shown in Patent Document 1, there is still a time when power is wasted and heat is wasted. . In particular, since electric double layer capacitors are vulnerable to high temperatures, heat generation is still a problem. In addition, when the electric double layer capacitor is charged with electric power generated by natural energy such as a solar battery or wind power generation, there is a problem that such wasteful consumption of electric power significantly reduces the efficiency.

そこで本発明は、このような電気二重層コンデンサ充電の際の発熱と無駄な電力消費を一層小さくし、常に効率よく充電し得る装置を提供しようとするものである。 Accordingly, the present invention is intended to provide a device that can further efficiently charge the electric double layer capacitor by reducing the heat generation and wasteful power consumption at the time of charging.

そのために請求項１に記載の発明は、複数個の電気二重層コンデンサを直列接続しその両端に電源電流を供給する充電装置であって、各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧を検出する電圧検出回路と、一次側を各電気二重層コンデンサと並列に接続した昇圧インバータを具備し、電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧が所定の設定電圧以上になると電圧検出回路からの信号により昇圧インバータを作動させその二次側の昇圧した電力を直列接続された前記電気二重層コンデンサの両端にフィードバックすることを特徴とする。 For this purpose, the invention described in claim 1 is a charging device for connecting a plurality of electric double layer capacitors in series and supplying a power supply current to both ends thereof, and a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage across each electric double layer capacitor. And a step-up inverter whose primary side is connected in parallel with each electric double layer capacitor, and when the voltage across the electric double layer capacitor exceeds a predetermined set voltage, the step-up inverter is operated by a signal from the voltage detection circuit. The boosted power on the next side is fed back to both ends of the electric double layer capacitors connected in series.

また請求項２に記載の発明は、上記電気二重層コンデンサ充電装置において、各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧が総て所定の設定電圧以上になったときに電源供給を停止させる充電監視回路を設けたことを特徴とする。 According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above electric double layer capacitor charging device, a charge monitoring circuit is provided for stopping the power supply when all the voltages across the electric double layer capacitors exceed a predetermined set voltage. It is characterized by that.

請求項１に記載の発明では、充電が完了した電気二重層コンデンサに印加される電力を無駄にすることなく、昇圧インバータによって未充電の電気二重層コンデンサに電力を供給する。このため、無駄な電力消費や発熱のより少ない充電が可能となる。 In the first aspect of the present invention, power is supplied to the uncharged electric double layer capacitor by the step-up inverter without wasting power applied to the electric double layer capacitor that has been charged. For this reason, it is possible to perform charging with less wasteful power consumption and less heat generation.

請求項２に記載の発明では、直列接続された総ての電気二重層コンデンサに効率よく充電をすることができ、無駄な電力消費および過充電が防止される。 According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently charge all the electric double layer capacitors connected in series, and wasteful power consumption and overcharging are prevented.

次に本発明の実施例を図１のブロック回路図に従い説明する。図において、１は直列接続された５つの電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５の両端に所定の充電用電源電流を供給する充電制御スイッチ、２ａ〜２ｅは該各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧を検出する電圧検出回路、３ａ〜３ｅはスイッチング回路とトランジスタＱと昇圧トランスＴとからなる昇圧インバータで、該昇圧トランスの一次側を該各電気二重層コンデンサと並列に接続するとともに、該昇圧トランスの二次側を直列接続された前記電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５の両端に夫々逆流防止用ダイオード４ａ〜４ｅを介して接続している。また、このトランジスタＱは昇圧トランスＴの一次側電流を制御し得るように直列に接続され、このトランジスタにスイッチング回路からオン・オフ信号が入力することによりこの昇圧トランスの一次側電流を断続させる。そして前記各電圧検出回路２ａ〜２ｅは、該各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧を所定の設定電圧（２．５Ｖ）と比較し、設定電圧以上になると充電完了信号を発信し該スイッチング回路を作動させることにより、トランジスタを高速度でオン・オフさせ昇圧トランスの一次側に断続電流を流し、その二次側の電圧を昇圧させる。 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block circuit diagram of FIG. In the figure, 1 is a charge control switch for supplying a predetermined charging power source current to both ends of five electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5 connected in series, and 2a to 2e detect the voltage across each electric double layer capacitor. The voltage detection circuits 3a to 3e are step-up inverters composed of a switching circuit, a transistor Q and a step-up transformer T. The primary side of the step-up transformer is connected in parallel with the electric double layer capacitors, and the secondary of the step-up transformer The electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5, which are connected in series, are connected to both ends of the electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5 via backflow prevention diodes 4a to 4e, respectively. The transistor Q is connected in series so that the primary current of the step-up transformer T can be controlled, and the primary current of the step-up transformer is interrupted by inputting an ON / OFF signal from the switching circuit to the transistor. Each voltage detection circuit 2a to 2e compares the voltage across each electric double layer capacitor with a predetermined set voltage (2.5V), and when it exceeds the set voltage, sends a charge completion signal to activate the switching circuit. As a result, the transistor is turned on / off at a high speed, an intermittent current is supplied to the primary side of the step-up transformer, and the voltage on the secondary side is boosted.

また、５はアンド機能を有する充電監視回路で、該充電監視回路は電圧検出回路２ａ〜２ｅからの信号を受け充電制御スイッチ１を開閉し得るように接続される。 Reference numeral 5 denotes a charge monitoring circuit having an AND function. The charge monitoring circuit is connected so as to open and close the charge control switch 1 in response to signals from the voltage detection circuits 2a to 2e.

このため、充電制御スイッチ１を閉じることにより各電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５に充電が開始される。そのとき昇圧インバータ３ａ〜３ｅは非作動状態にある。そして容量の小さい電気二重層コンデンサから順に充電が完了し、該電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧が所定の設定電圧（２．５Ｖ）以上になるとその電圧検出回路からの昇圧インバータを作動させる充電完了信号が発信せられ、該昇圧インバータはその二次側の電圧を基準電圧（１２．５Ｖ）以上に昇圧し、逆流防止用ダイオード４ａ〜４ｅを通過することによりその昇圧した電力を直列接続された電気二重層コンデンサＣ１〜Ｃ５の両端にフィードバックするようになる。このため充電が完了した電気二重層コンデンサに印加される電力が無駄になることがなく、また、昇圧インバータ３ａ〜３ｅは一次側の直流電流を断続することにより二次側にその昇圧電流を出力するものであるので、抵抗器で消費させる場合のように発熱する割合も少ない。 For this reason, when the charge control switch 1 is closed, the electric double layer capacitors C1 to C5 are charged. At that time, step-up inverters 3a to 3e are in a non-operating state. Then, charging is completed in order from an electric double layer capacitor having a smaller capacity, and when the voltage across the electric double layer capacitor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined set voltage (2.5 V), a charge completion signal for operating the boost inverter from the voltage detection circuit The boost inverter boosts the secondary side voltage to a reference voltage (12.5 V) or higher and passes through the backflow prevention diodes 4a to 4e so that the boosted power is connected in series. Feedback is provided to both ends of the double layer capacitors C1 to C5. Therefore, the electric power applied to the electric double layer capacitor that has been charged is not wasted, and the booster inverters 3a to 3e output the boosted current to the secondary side by intermittently connecting the DC current on the primary side. Therefore, the rate of heat generation is small as in the case of consumption with a resistor.

また、電圧検出回路２ａ〜２ｅは各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧が所定の設定電圧（２．５Ｖ）以上になると充電監視回路５にも充電完了信号を出力し、該充電監視回路５は総ての電圧検出回路２ａ〜２ｅから充電完了信号を受けると充電制御スイッチ１を開き電源電流の供給を停止させる。このためたとえ電気容量に大きなバラツキがあっても総ての電気二重層コンデンサに効率よく充電をすることができる。 The voltage detection circuits 2a to 2e also output a charge completion signal to the charge monitoring circuit 5 when the voltage across each electric double layer capacitor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined set voltage (2.5V). When the charging completion signal is received from all the voltage detection circuits 2a to 2e, the charging control switch 1 is opened and the supply of the power supply current is stopped. For this reason, even if there is a large variation in electric capacity, all electric double layer capacitors can be charged efficiently.

このように本発明に係る充電装置は、直列接続された電気二重層コンデンサを効率よく充電させるものであり、熱損失も少ないので、一般の電力だけでなく、特に太陽電池や風力発電等による発電電力を貯蔵するのに有効に利用できる。 As described above, the charging device according to the present invention efficiently charges the electric double layer capacitors connected in series and has little heat loss, so that not only general power but also power generation by solar cells, wind power generation, etc. It can be used effectively to store power.

本発明の実施例である電気二重層コンデンサ充電装置のブロック回路図。The block circuit diagram of the electric double layer capacitor | condenser charging device which is an Example of this invention. 電気二重層コンデンサの直列接続を説明する回路図。The circuit diagram explaining the serial connection of an electric double layer capacitor. 電気二重層コンデンサの従来の充電を説明する回路図。The circuit diagram explaining the conventional charge of an electric double layer capacitor.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

Ｃ１〜Ｃ５電気二重層コンデンサ
１充電制御スイッチ
２ａ〜２ｅ電圧検出回路
３ａ〜３ｅ昇圧インバータ
４ａ〜４ｅ逆流防止用ダイオード
５充電監視回路 C1 to C5 Electric double layer capacitor 1 Charge control switch 2a to 2e Voltage detection circuit 3a to 3e Step-up inverter 4a to 4e Backflow prevention diode 5 Charge monitoring circuit

Claims

複数個の電気二重層コンデンサを直列接続しその両端に電源電流を供給する充電装置であって、各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧を検出する電圧検出回路と、一次側を各電気二重層コンデンサと並列に接続した昇圧インバータを具備し、電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧が所定の設定電圧以上になると電圧検出回路からの信号により昇圧インバータを作動させその二次側の昇圧した電力を直列接続された前記電気二重層コンデンサの両端にフィードバックすることを特徴とした電気二重層コンデンサ充電装置。 A charging device for connecting a plurality of electric double layer capacitors in series and supplying a power supply current to both ends thereof, a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage across each electric double layer capacitor, and a primary side of each electric double layer capacitor A boost inverter connected in parallel is provided, and when the voltage across the electric double layer capacitor exceeds a predetermined set voltage, the boost inverter is operated by a signal from the voltage detection circuit, and the boosted power on the secondary side is connected in series. An electric double layer capacitor charging apparatus, wherein feedback is provided to both ends of the electric double layer capacitor.

各電気二重層コンデンサの両端電圧が総て所定の設定電圧以上になったときに電源供給を停止させる充電監視回路を設けた請求項１に記載の電気二重層コンデンサ充電装置。 2. The electric double layer capacitor charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a charge monitoring circuit for stopping power supply when the voltage across each electric double layer capacitor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined set voltage.