Battery charging station comprising at least two charging connections

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery charging station (100), comprising at least two charging connections (110_A, 110_B), a plurality of power stage modules (120_1 to 120_8), and a control unit (130), which is electrically connected to each charging connection and to each power stage module. Each power stage module provides only part of the maximum power of the battery charging station available for electrically charging a battery, and each power stage module has a power converter (120) for converting an input power into an output power, a number of output connections (121_A, 121_B), said number corresponding at least to the number of charging connections, and a number of switching elements (123_A,123_B), said number corresponding to the number of output connections. Each charging connection is electrically connected to a respective separate output connection of each power stage module, and a respective switching element for coupling and decoupling the output power to and from each output connection is electrically connected upstream of said output connection. In order to provide the power available at each individual charging connection for electrically charging a battery, the controller is configured to control the operation of each power stage module in response to current charging and / or vehicle state information from each of the charging connections.

Description

[0001] Battery charging station with at least two charging ports

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a battery charging station with at least two charging ports, wherein each charging port can be connected to an electric vehicle for the electrical charging of a battery contained in that electric vehicle.

[0004] It is well known from the prior art that, in the case of a battery charging station with several charging connections or charging points to which a total power can be supplied from several power levels, the total power that is generally to be supplied for a first charging point can, if necessary, be switched to a second charging point instead, and vice versa, whereby in this case at least one switching device arranged separately in the charging circuit between the charging points and the respective power levels is usually used.

[0005] Based on this, however, a charging system for electric vehicles with multiple charging ports is known, for example, from EP2572431 B1, each port having an interface for power exchange with at least one electric vehicle. The charging system described in EP2572431 B1 also includes several power converters to convert power from a power source, such as a power grid, into a suitable format for charging the vehicle, as well as a switchable connection matrix to connect at least one power converter to at least one charging port, and at least one control unit to control at least one of the power converters and / or to control the switching operations of the connection matrix and the power converter. Furthermore, the charging system includes communication means to exchange parameters with the at least one electric vehicle.Since this further development employs a switchable connection matrix to connect at least one power converter to at least one charging port, the use of such a matrix does, in principle, allow each charging port to be connected simultaneously to one or more power converters or to none. However, in this case, the power converters themselves are consequently not part of the charging port, but rather arranged separately from it.

[0006] This allows for flexible allocation of the power converters and charging ports, and thus variable adjustment of the charging power available at a charging port, regardless of how the further connection from the charging port to the interface it contains for the actual power exchange with at least one electric vehicle is made, as this is not discussed further in EP2572431 B1. However, the disclosure indicates that the connection matrix is ​​also provided as a separate unit to which the outputs of the power converters are connected, so that the power converters, the matrix, and the charging ports can be expanded independently of each other.

[0007] Additionally, EP2751902B1 discloses a battery charging station with at least two charging ports, wherein a first port of the at least two charging ports can be connected to a first vehicle and a second port of the at least two charging ports can be connected to a second vehicle. The battery charging station of EP2751902B1 can thus be equated with a charging port of EP2572431 B1, and each charging port of EP2751902B1 can be equated with an interface according to EP2572431 B1.

[0008] In the implementation according to EP2751902B1, it is now further provided that the battery charging station includes a plurality of power levels, each power level having an AC-DC converter and each power level contributing a portion of the battery charging station's maximum available charging power. In addition to the power levels, the battery charging station now also includes a switching system for coupling the outputs of the power levels with the charging terminals. This switching system can switch between no power and the maximum available charging power at any of the at least two charging terminals by switching between zero power levels and all of the plurality of power levels at any of the at least two charging terminals.Furthermore, the battery charging station includes a system monitor and a control unit connected to the switching system and the monitor, wherein the system monitor, similar to the communication means of EP2572431 B1, determines current charging station and vehicle states that change over time, and the control unit controls the operation of the switching system according to a predefined series of power distribution rules and in response to the current charging station and vehicle states.

[0009] In a modification of the implementation according to EP2572431 B1, the implementation according to EP 2751902 B1 now enables the flexible assignment of the power levels and the charging connections, referred to as interface in EP2572431 B1, and thereby also the variable adjustability of a charging power available at a charging connection, whereby both the power levels and the common switching system each form a part of the battery charging station.

[0010] While EP 2572431 B1 uses a switchable connection matrix to connect at least one power converter to at least one charging port, regardless of how the further connection from the charging port to the further interface contained therein for power exchange with at least one electric vehicle is made, and thus the power converters themselves are not part of the charging port but are rather arranged separately from it, according to the implementation according to EP 2751902B1 the power stages together with the converters are already part of the battery charging station and are switched at any connection of the charging ports contained in the battery charging station by means of a common switching system.The object of the invention is to demonstrate a further, alternative way in which a battery charging station with a flexible setting option of the charging power available at each charging port of a battery charging station can be implemented.

[0011] The invention is characterized by a battery charging station having the features of dependent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] The invention therefore proposes a battery charging station with at least two charging ports, each charging port being able to be connected to an electric vehicle for electrically charging a battery housed therein, wherein the battery charging station houses a plurality of power stage modules, each power stage module being designed to provide only a portion of the maximum power available for electrical charging from the battery charging station and having an input port via which the power stage module can be electrically connected to a power source, such as a power grid, or is already connected to it, in order to draw input power from it, as well as a power converter for converting the drawn input power into output power.and wherein each power stage module further has a number of output terminals at least corresponding to the number of charging terminals, and each charging terminal is connected to a separate output terminal of these output terminals of each power stage module, wherein each power stage module further has a number of switching elements corresponding to the number of output terminals, wherein a switching element is electrically connected upstream of each output terminal for connecting and disconnecting the output power to and from this output terminal.

[0013] Furthermore, the battery charging station houses a control unit electrically connected to each charging port and each power stage module, which is designed to provide the power available at each individual charging port for electrical charging, and to control the operation of each power stage module in response to current charging and / or vehicle status information from each of the charging ports, in particular with regard to the conversion of the input power drawn from the power converter and the switching states of the switching elements for the respective connection and disconnection of the converted output power.

[0014] A significant advantage can therefore be seen in the fact that, by integrating switching elements into a respective power stage module for the controllable connection and disconnection of the output power provided by the power stage module to any desired output terminal of the power stage module, these switching elements are already adapted to the maximum output power provided by this power stage module during the respective manufacture of a power stage module, and no further adaptation of the switching elements to the total maximum power available by the battery charging station is necessary when assembling a complete battery charging station.The switching elements can also be pre-integrated into a respective power stage module and cooled by the cooling system that is already necessary for the power converter to convert the input power into output power, so that in a suitable design no further, additional, i.e. separate cooling for the switching elements is required.

[0015] Furthermore, since the switching elements are already integrated into the respective power stage modules, no additional wiring is required within the battery charging station to connect the switching elements to the respective power stage modules and / or charging ports. This eliminates the need for numerous switching elements within a charging circuit between the charging points and the respective power stage modules, including the necessary adaptation of such switching elements, even when integrated within a connection matrix and / or an additional switching system, in the event of an expansion of the power converters and / or charging ports.

[0016] The switching elements can, for example, according to a preferred embodiment, be mounted or arranged directly on a printed circuit board located in the power stage module. In an alternative embodiment, however, it is also provided that the switching elements are mounted at a location other than on a printed circuit board located in the power stage module, in particular next to or near such a printed circuit board. In this alternative embodiment, the switching elements are, for example, mounted on at least one separate support located in the power stage module, in particular on a metal sheet, or also on or attached to at least one heat sink enclosed for cooling, or even directly on a housing wall of the power stage module.

[0017] If the control unit is connected to each power stage module via an internal bus, for example, a common communication interface can be used for controlling the operation of the power stage module, i.e., both with regard to the conversion of the input power drawn from the power converter and with regard to the switching states of the switching elements.

[0018] In particular, a preferred embodiment provides that, for example, a CAN bus or another fieldbus is used as the internal bus for communication between the control unit and the individual power stage modules. This fieldbus does not necessarily have to be a serial bus, but can also be a parallel bus. The maximum number of power stage modules that can be operated via such an internal bus in practice can vary depending on the specific design. However, with common components, several dozen to over 100 power stage modules can generally be operated, i.e., conveniently in parallel.

[0019] In a further advantageous, supplementary, or alternative embodiment, the control unit can also be composed of a number of control subunits corresponding to the number of charging ports, with each subunit advantageously being electrically coupled to a respective charging port or forming part of it. In the case of such multiple control subunits, these are advantageously interconnected via an internal bus, with, for example, one of the control subunits being designed as a master unit, which then handles the further communication with the power stage modules and / or their control. Consequently, in this case, the control subunits and the power stage modules are advantageously interconnected via the same internal bus.

[0020] According to a further, supplementary or alternative, preferred embodiment, the power stages are preferably arranged in parallel with respect to each charging port. That is, each charging port is expediently electrically connected to each power stage module via a parallel circuit.

[0021] In a further, supplementary or alternative, preferred embodiment, it is further provided that each output terminal is electrically connected to a corresponding input terminal at the charging port, wherein each output terminal expediently comprises a positive and a negative terminal, and the corresponding input terminal similarly comprises a positive and a negative terminal, respectively, which are electrically connected to each other. A switching element of the power stage module, electrically connected upstream of the output terminal, for connecting and disconnecting a respective output power to the output terminal, is thus expediently provided for both the positive and negative terminals, or electrically connected upstream of them, in particular integrated into a positive and negative conductor leading to the output terminal.

[0022] In particular, this can also achieve complete galvanic decoupling between the charging port connected to this output port and the power stage module when decoupling the output power from an output terminal.

[0023] Each switching element thus has, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, two coordinated switching contacts, i.e., in particular for switching an electrical positive line contact and a negative line contact of a respective output terminal. The switching elements according to the invention can therefore, in a preferred embodiment, be designed as relays and / or have relay contacts to establish or break an electrical contact with the respective output terminal, in particular to establish or break an electrical positive and negative line contact with the respective output terminal.

[0024] In further supplementary or alternative further training, the power converter is designed, depending on the application-related design of the battery charging station, to convert an AC-based input power into a DC-based output power, or to convert a DC-based input power into a DC-based output power, or to convert a DC-based input power into an AC-based output power, or to convert an AC-based input power into an AC-based output power.

[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous that, depending on the design of the power stage modules, for example, an analog input power drawn from a power grid can be directly converted into the output power, which can then be coupled to or disconnected from the output connection, or, for example, the input power to be converted into this output power can be obtained from a previously converted intermediate power and / or from an energy storage device.

[0026] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the following are shown:

[0027] Fig. 1 is a highly simplified sketch of a circuit diagram of a first preferred embodiment for implementing a battery charging station within the scope of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a highly simplified sketch of a circuit diagram of a second embodiment for implementing a battery charging station within the scope of the invention, and

[0028] Fig. 3 is a highly simplified sketch of a multi-part design of power stage modules for implementing a battery charging station within the scope of the invention.

[0029] Reference is made below to Fig. 1, which shows a highly simplified sketch of a circuit diagram of a first preferred embodiment for implementing a battery charging station within the scope of the invention, i.e., a battery charging station with at least two charging ports, a plurality of power stage modules, and a control unit electrically connected to each charging port and each power stage module, wherein each power stage module provides only a portion of the maximum power available for electrical charging from the battery charging station, has a power converter for converting input power into output power, and has a number of output ports at least corresponding to the number of charging ports and a number of switching elements corresponding to the number of output ports. Each charging port is electrically connected to a separate output port of each power stage module.Each output port is electrically connected to a switching element for connecting and disconnecting the output power to and from that port. Furthermore, to provide the power available for electric charging at each individual charging port, the control unit is configured to control the operation of each power stage module in response to current charging and / or vehicle status information from each of the charging ports.

[0030] In the embodiment of the battery charging station 100, e.g., a charging column, sketched in Fig. 1 and containing at least two charging ports, two charging ports are shown. The first charging port A is designated with the reference numeral 110_A, and the second charging port B with the reference numeral 110_A. Each of these charging ports 110_A, 110_B can be connected to an electric vehicle (not shown for illustrative purposes) for electrically charging a battery housed within the vehicle. Depending on the application, the charging port conventionally implements a predetermined, usually standardized, plug system, designated 111_A and 111_B in Fig. 1. The most well-known plug system follows the specifications of the "Combined Charging System" (CCS), an international standard of the "Charlin Consortium" for connecting electric cars to fast charging stations.In the USA, a first type, "CCS1," predominates, while in Europe, a second type, "CCS2," is more common. The term "Combined" indicates that both types allow charging with alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). However, the specific plug system implemented with the charging ports 110_A and 110_B of the battery charging station 100 is not relevant to the invention.

[0031] The battery charging station 100 also houses a plurality of power stage modules, with five charging stage modules 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, and 120_5 being shown in Fig. 1. Each power stage module is designed to provide only a portion of the maximum power available for electrical charging from the battery charging station and has an input connection, which in Fig. 1 is designated by reference numeral 122. The power stage module can be electrically connected, or is already connected, to a power source (not shown for illustrative purposes), such as a mains power supply, in order to draw input power from it. Furthermore, each charging stage module 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, and 120_5 has a power converter for converting the drawn input power into output power, as indicated by reference numeral 120 located within each power stage module.

[0032] As indicated by the reference symbols, the charging stage modules 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, and 120_5 are expediently constructed with identical technical specifications. Furthermore, as will be shown below, the charging stage modules are expediently connected electrically in parallel. In this example, each power converter 120 is designed to convert alternating current input power into direct current output power and, after conversion, can provide, for example, a maximum output power of 40 kW at a maximum of 1000 V and 100 A. Each charging port 110_A and 110_B, on the other hand, is designed, for example, to charge a battery with a maximum charging power of 200 kW at a maximum of 1000 V and 500 A. Consequently, each power stage module can only provide a portion of the maximum power available for electrical charging at the battery charging station.As a result of the power stage modules connected in parallel to each charging port, the output powers provided by each of these can therefore be easily combined electrically, provided that they are each based on the same output voltage, in order to then generate a total charging power available from the battery charging station at charging port A and / or B.

[0033] Similar to the above statements regarding the implementation of a specific plug system by the charging port 110_a or 110_B, depending on the application area, in a variation to the power converters designed according to the figures for converting an AC-based input power into a DC-based output power, hereinafter also referred to as "AC / DC-based power converter", each of the power converters sketched there can, for example, also be designed to convert a DC-based input power into a DC-based output power (DC / DC-based power converter) or to convert a DC-based input power into an AC-based output power (DC / AC-based power converter) or to convert an AC-based input power into an AC-based output power (AC / AC-based power converter).

[0034] Each of these power level modules 120_1 to 120_5 also has one of the

[0035] Number of charging points at least a corresponding number of

[0036] Output connections, with each of these output connections of each power stage module having a charging connection. Each charging connection 110_A, 110_B is thus electrically connected to a separate output connection of each of the power stage modules. In the example shown in Fig. 1, at least two output connections are therefore provided on each power stage module, which in the case of power stage module 120_1 are designated with the reference numbers 121_A and 121_B.

[0037] As can be further seen from the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 1, for the electrical connection of the charging terminals 110_A and 110_B with the output terminals 121_A and 121_B respectively, it is preferably provided that each output terminal is electrically connected to a corresponding input terminal at the charging terminal. Typically, each output terminal also comprises a positive and a negative terminal, and the corresponding input terminal comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal, respectively.

[0038] The negative terminal connection is such that, via the electrical wiring, the positive terminals of each output terminal are connected to the positive terminals of the input terminals (indicated by the plus signs in Fig. 1), and the negative terminals of each output terminal are connected to the negative terminals of the input terminals (indicated by the minus signs in Fig. 1). For clarity, however, Fig. 1 only shows the connection between the positive terminals of the output terminals and the positive terminals of the input terminals.

[0039] In order to connect the charging terminals 110_A and 110_B to the output terminals 121_A and 121_B respectively, and to connect the output power provided by a power stage module to any of the output terminals 121_A and 121_B as required, or to disconnect the output power from any of the output terminals 121_A and 121_B, each power stage module also contains a number of switching elements corresponding to the number of output terminals 121_A and 121_B, which in the case of power stage module 120_1 are designated with the reference symbols 123_A and 123_B, whereby consequently each output terminal has a switching element electrically connected upstream.

[0040] Since, as explained above, each output terminal typically integrates a positive and a negative terminal, each switching element 123_A and 123_B is thus, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, each integrated into a positive and a negative conductor leading to the output terminal 121_A or 121_B, and / or each switching element has two coordinated switching contacts, i.e., in particular for switching an electrical positive contact and a negative contact of the respective output terminal 121_A or 121_B. The switching elements 123_A and 123_B are thus, in a preferred embodiment, designed as relays and / or have suitable relay contacts to establish or break an electrical contact with the respective output terminal, in particular to establish or break an electrical positive and negative contact with the respective output terminal 121_A or 121_B.Consequently, when the output power is disconnected from an output terminal, complete galvanic decoupling can be achieved between the charging terminal connected to that output terminal and the power stage module.

[0041] The switching elements 123_A and 123_B are therefore already integrated into the respective power stage modules during their manufacture and thus matched to them or to the power converters they house. This means they are electrically connected to the respective power stage modules 120_1 to 120_5, independent of the battery charging station that is subsequently built or has already been built. For example, they are mounted on a circuit board inside each power stage module and wired accordingly. However, it should be noted that instead of directly mounting the switching elements 123_A and 123_B on such a circuit board within the power stage module, they can also be mounted elsewhere in an alternative configuration. In particular, it is intended that they are mounted next to or near such a circuit board, e.g.,In a suitably further developed version, the switching elements 123_A and 123_B are mounted on at least one separate support located in the power stage module, in particular on a sheet metal plate, or also on or attached to at least one heat sink encompassed by the power stage module, or even directly on a housing wall of the power stage module. In all the aforementioned examples, the switching elements 123_A and 123_B are therefore preferably fixedly mounted inside each power stage module.

[0042] In particular, to increase modularity in the battery charging station, according to a preferred embodiment, each power stage module 120_1 to 120_5 has its own housing, wherein the switching elements 123_A and 123_B are each arranged in the housing of the power stage modules, and thus in particular are permanently mounted in the housing, so that furthermore, easy handling by customers / users is ensured, since the dimensioning is already carried out by the manufacturer and the respective power stage modules can be easily replaced in case of defect, in particular individually.

[0043] To control the operation of each power stage module 120_1 to 120_5 with respect to the conversion of the input power supplied by the power converter 120 and the switching states of the switching elements 123_A and 123_B for the respective connection and disconnection of the converted output power, a control unit 130, electrically connected to each charging port 110_A and 110_B and each power stage module 120_1 to 120_5, is integrated into the battery charging station 100. To provide the power available for electrical charging at each individual charging port, the control unit 130 is configured to control the operation of each power stage module 120_1 to 120_B in response to current charging and / or vehicle status information from each of the charging ports 110_A and 110_B.

[0044] The control unit 130 therefore typically has a microprocessor for executing this control action. However, it should be noted that a processor included in the control unit 130 does not necessarily have to be a microprocessor and / or that a different type of switching or arithmetic unit, in particular an integrated circuit, such as a controller, can be used instead of a microprocessor. The connection between the control unit 130 and each power stage module 120_1 to 120_5 is expediently established via an internal bus 135, wherein, according to a preferred embodiment, a fieldbus, e.g., a CAN bus, is used as the internal bus.

[0045] Furthermore, in order to obtain current charging and / or vehicle status information from each of the charging ports 110_A and 110_B for control purposes, the control unit 130 is connected to each of the charging ports 110_A and 110_B for information exchange, preferably via an internal bus, in particular via the same internal bus to which it is connected to the power stage modules 120_1 to 120_5. Additionally or alternatively, however, individual status monitors exchanging information with the charging ports can also be provided, from which the control unit 130 can obtain the current status information, preferably also via one or the same internal bus.

[0046] Additionally or alternatively, the control unit can also be composed of a number of control subunits corresponding to the number of charging ports, with each subunit being conveniently coupled to a specific charging port for information exchange or even forming part of it. Even in the case of multiple control subunits, these are conveniently connected to each other via one or the same internal bus, with one of the control subunits, for example, being designed as the master unit, which then handles further communication with the power stage modules and / or their operational control.

[0047] Based on the aforementioned exemplary operating values ​​of the power levels 120_1 to 120_5, i.e., that each of these can provide a maximum output power of 40kW at a maximum of 1000V and 100A after conversion, and the charging ports 110_A and 110_B, i.e., that these are designed to charge a battery with a maximum charging power of 200kW at a maximum of 1000V and 500A, the following, but not exhaustive, control options result for providing charging power available at each individual charging port for electric charging.

[0048] 1. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 200KW at 800V and 250A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_1 to 120_5 connected.

[0049] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is zero.

[0050] 2. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 120KW at 800V and 150A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_1 to 120_3 connected.

[0051] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is 80KW at 800V and 100A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_4 and 120_5 or also e.g. 120_1 and 120-2 connected.

[0052] 3. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 120KW at 800V and 100A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_1 to 120_3 connected.

[0053] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is 80KW at 400V and 200A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_4 and 120_5 connected.

[0054] 4. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 120KW at 400V and 300A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_1 to 120_3 connected.

[0055] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is 80 kW at 400 V and 200 A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_4 and 120_5 or, for example, 120_1 and 120_2 connected. The charging power available at each individual charging port for electric charging is therefore essentially scalable without limit.

[0056] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, a battery charging station 100 is shown, which integrates eight charging stage modules 120_1 to 120_8, which are again expediently technically identical in construction. The input terminals of these modules are connected to a power grid 200 as a power source in order to draw the input power from it. Furthermore, each charging stage module 120_1 to 120_8 has a control terminal SA via which a switching element, marked SS, can be controlled by the control unit to electrically connect or disconnect the power grid as required.

[0057] In this example, each charging stage module 120_1 to 8 can provide a maximum output power of 40 kW at a maximum of 1000 V and 100 A. Each charging port 110_A and 110_B, on the other hand, is designed, for example, to charge a battery with a maximum charging power of 320 kW at a maximum of 1000 V and 500 A.

[0058] In this embodiment as well, positive leads from each output terminal 121_A and 121_B are connected to positive leads of each charging terminal, also marked by the plus signs in Fig. 2, and negative leads from each output terminal 121_A and 121_B are connected to negative leads of each charging terminal, also marked by the minus signs in Fig. 2, by means of electrical wiring. However, Fig. 2 now additionally shows the wiring between the negative leads of each output terminal and the negative leads of each charging terminal. As can further be seen, in the embodiment according to Fig.Two different power stage modules, each with two positive leads, are connected to a common positive lead of a respective charging port, and their two corresponding negative leads are also connected to a common negative lead of this charging port. Furthermore, both charging ports have one free positive lead and one free negative lead, allowing for an increase in the maximum available charging power to 400 kW at a maximum of 1000 V and 500 A. This can be achieved, for example, by integrating two additional power stage modules with a maximum output power of 40 kW at a maximum of 1000 V and 100 A into the battery charging station and thus into the circuit.As explained above with reference to Fig. 1, no adjustment is required to the switching elements 123_A and 123_B that are integrated in the power stage modules 120_1 to 8 and electrically connected upstream of the output terminals 121_A and 121_B of the power stage modules 120_1 to 8.

[0059] Based on the aforementioned exemplary operating values ​​of the power levels 120_1 to 120_8, i.e., that each of these can provide a maximum output power of 40kW at a maximum of 1000V and 100A after conversion, and the charging ports 110_A and 110_B, i.e., that these are designed to charge a battery with a maximum charging power of 320kW at a maximum of 1000V and 500A, the following, but not exhaustive, control options result for providing charging power available at each individual charging port for electric charging.

[0060] 1. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 320KW at 800V and 400A; with the output line of the power stage modules 120_1 to 120_8 connected.

[0061] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is zero.

[0062] 2. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 240KW at 800V and 350A; with six power stage modules connected to the output line.

[0063] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is 80KW at 800V and 100A; with a connected output line from two power stage modules.

[0064] 3. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 240KW at 800V and 300A; with three power stage modules connected to the output line.

[0065] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is 80KW at 400V and 200A; with a connected output line from two, in any case different, power stage modules.

[0066] 4. The charging power available at charging port 110_A is 200KW at 400V and 500A; with five power stage modules connected to the output line.

[0067] The charging power available at charging port 110_B is 120KW at 400V and 300A; with three power stage modules connected via an output line.

[0068] The charging power available at each individual charging port for electric charging is therefore essentially scalable without limit.

[0069] Fig. 3 shows a highly simplified sketch of a multi-stage embodiment of power stage modules for implementing a battery charging station within the scope of the invention, in which an analog input power drawn from a power grid is not directly converted into the output power for coupling, which is then coupled to or can be disconnected from the output terminals 121_A, 121_B of a respective power stage module. Instead, the power stage modules are designed to derive the input power to be converted into this output power from a previously converted intermediate power ZL and / or from an energy storage device ES.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Battery charging station (100) with at least two charging ports (110_A, 110_B), wherein each charging port (110_A, 110_B) can be connected to an electric vehicle for electrically charging a battery housed by the vehicle; wherein the battery charging station further houses: a plurality of power stage modules (120_1 to 120_8), wherein each power stage module is designed to provide only a portion of the maximum power available for electrical charging from the battery charging station and has an input port (122) by which the power stage module can be electrically connected to, or is already connected to, a power source, such as a power grid, in order to draw input power from it, and a power converter (120) for converting the drawn input power into output power, and wherein each power stage module further comprises a number of output ports (121_A, 121_A) at least corresponding to the number of charging ports.121_B) has, wherein each charging port is electrically connected to a separate output port of each power stage module, wherein each power stage module further has a number of switching elements (123_A, 123_B) corresponding to the number of output ports, wherein each output port has a switching element for connecting and disconnecting the output power to and from this output port, respectively, electrically connected upstream of each output port, and a control unit (130) electrically connected to each charging port and each power stage module, which is configured to provide the power available at each individual charging port for electrical charging, to control the operation of each power stage module in response to current charging and / or vehicle status information from each of the charging ports, in particular with regard to the conversion of the input power drawn from the power converter and the, Switching states of the switching elements for the respective coupling and uncoupling of the converted output power.

2. Battery charging station according to claim 1, wherein each power stage module houses a circuit board on which, for example, the switching elements are also mounted.

3. Battery charging station according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit is connected to each power stage module via an internal bus (135).

4. Battery charging station according to claim 3, wherein the internal bus is a fieldbus z.

5. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each charging port is electrically connected to each power stage module via a parallel circuit.

6. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each output terminal is electrically connected to a corresponding input terminal at the charging terminal, in particular each output terminal comprises a positive line and a negative line terminal and the corresponding input terminal comprises a positive line terminal and a negative line terminal respectively.

7. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each switching element has two coordinated switching contacts, in particular for switching an electrical positive line contact and a negative line contact of a respective output terminal.

8. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the switching elements are designed as relays and / or have relay contacts.

9. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the power converter is configured to convert an AC-based input power into a DC-based output power or to convert a DC-based input power into a DC-based output power or to convert an AC-based input power into an AC-based output power or to convert an AC-based input power into an AC-based output power.

10. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit is further composed of a number of control subunits corresponding to the number of charging ports, wherein each control subunit is coupled to a charging port or forms a part thereof.

11. Battery charging station according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the power stage modules each have their own housing and the switching elements are arranged in the housing of the power stage modules.

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