Patent ID: 7999518

Claim:
A method for managing a power supply system ( 1 ) with a variable voltage (U), especially of a motor vehicle, said system ( 1 ) including, connected in parallel: at least one regulator ( 4 ) associated with a rotating electrical machine ( 3 ) operating in generator mode at an instantaneous rotational speed (N) slower or faster than a predetermined nominal rotational speed, said regulator ( 4 ) producing an output voltage (U) comprised between a first regulating voltage and a second regulating voltage greater than said first regulating voltage; at least one electrical energy storage element ( 5 ) with a load voltage being one of a first service voltage, a second service voltage greater than said first service voltage and at least one voltage greater than said first service voltage and smaller than said second service voltage; at least one load ( 6 ) consuming electrical energy; said method comprising, depending on the desired mode of functioning of said system ( 1 ), one of the steps of: setting, depending on said instantaneous rotational speed (N) of said machine ( 3 ), said output voltage (U) to an optimal output voltage (Uo, Uo′) greater than said first service voltage and less than said second service voltage and charging said storage element ( 5 ) from said optimal output voltage (Uo, Uo′), so as to maximize the electrical power (P) delivered by said machine to said storage element ( 5 ); setting, when said instantaneous rotational speed (N) is slower than said nominal rotational speed, said output voltage (U) to a first value substantially equal to said first service voltage and charging said storage element ( 5 ) from said output voltage (U), so as to maximize the efficiency of the transfer of energy from said machine ( 3 ) to said load ( 6 ); setting, when said instantaneous rotational speed (N) is faster than said nominal rotational speed, said output voltage (U) to a second value substantially equal to said second service voltage and charging said storage element ( 5 ) from said output voltage (U), so as to maximize the efficiency of the transfer of energy from said machine ( 3 ) to said load ( 6 ).