Apparatus and method for power extraction from high impedance sources

摘要

A system and method for extracting power from a power source having a high internal resistance are presented. A capacitor is connected to the power source. A switch is configured to selectively connect and disconnect the capacitor from a load. A processor is configured to monitor an energy flow from the power source into the capacitor and an amount of energy in the capacitor. When the energy flow from the power source into the capacitor falls below a first threshold, the processor is configured to close the switch to dissipate energy from the capacitor to the load. When the energy in the capacitor falls below a second threshold, the processor is configured to open the switch to disconnect the capacitor from the load.

主权项

1. A system for extracting power from a power source having a high internal resistance, comprising:
a small capacitor with small capacitance value connected to the power source; wherein the capacitance value of the small capacitor is such that a voltage across the small capacitor is between 20% and 75% of the open circuit voltage of the source; a switch configured to selectively connect and disconnect the small capacitor from a load; a processor configured to: monitor an energy transfer rate from the power source into the small capacitor and the voltage across the small capacitor, when the energy transfer rate from the power source into the small capacitor reaches a maximum value and then decreases to fall below an energy transfer rate threshold, close the switch to dissipate energy from the small capacitor to the load, and when the voltage across the small capacitor falls to a voltage threshold, open the switch to disconnect the small capacitor from the load; wherein when said switch is open, no energy is transferred to the load.