Micro-Controller-Based Electrical Energy Monitoring and Control System for a Low-Power, Two-Wheeler Application

摘要

Automotive electrical system forms the backbone of the modern vehicles. The increase in electrical and electronics equipment fitted in the vehicle has resulted in increased power requirements. Today's two-wheeler vehicle electrical system has a magneto, which is the main source of energy and it is directly coupled with the engine shaft. The magneto output charges the battery as well as supplies power to the load. Because of the engine magneto coupling, as the engine speed increases, the output power of the magneto also increases. So even when power is not required and not necessary in certain situations, power is being generated but not utilized, at the cost of loading the engine and thereby increasing its fuel consumption. This surplus power generation causes power wastage and leads to inefficient power utilization. This unnecessary loading of the engine also reduces the engine torque for traction. The electrical loads on the battery and the magneto are at present controlled by the usage pattern of the driver because the loads are directly linked with the sources by means of the switches. Moreover, continuous feeding of power to electrical systems, will damage them on a long run and calls for costly design to keep the heat dissipation of the power devices under limits within space constraints. Because of the uncertain load conditions, it is essential and challenging to monitor the load status of various subsystems and effectively control the utilization of energy in order to improve fuel efficiency and energy efficiency. This awakens the need of a low-cost energy management system for a low-power, two-wheeler vehicle.