SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE CHARGING POWER OF AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY VEHICLE

Abstract

System for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle, comprising: a battery (100), an inverter (300) having a plurality of branches (310, 320, 330, 340) which have a plurality of power conversion devices (312, 314, 322, 324, 332, 334, 342, 344), wherein the branches (310, 320, 330, 340) are supplied with power by being connected to a power supply unit (200), and wherein both ends of each of the branches (310, 320, 330, 340) are connected to the battery (100), one or more switches (400) arranged between one or more of the branches (310, 320, 330, 340) and the power supply unit (200), and a control device (500) which is configured to change a power transmission path from the power supply unit (200) by determining the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit (200) and actuating the switch (400) based on the phase of the supplied power, where the inverter (300) has: a first branch (310), a second branch (320), a third branch (330) and a fourth branch (340), wherein the first branch (310) comprises a first power conversion unit (312) and a second power conversion unit (314), the second branch (320) has a third power conversion device (322) and a fourth power conversion device (324), the third branch (330) has a fifth power conversion device (332) and a sixth power conversion device (334), and the fourth branch (340) has a seventh power conversion device (342) and an eighth power conversion device (344).

Description

Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle and in particular to a system and a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle in order to increase the power available for single-phase charging in a charging system which performs both single-phase and three-phase charging. 2. Description of the technology used

[0002] A pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle are being actively developed to meet stricter vehicle emissions regulations. These environmentally friendly vehicles are equipped with an electric motor and a battery. The electric motor can supplement the torque of a combustion engine and generates electricity through regenerative braking by reversing the vehicle's motion when decelerating, thus charging the battery. The battery in these environmentally friendly vehicles can be charged slowly using a slow charger or quickly using a fast charger.

[0003] Slow charging (also called "slow charging") encompasses single-phase and three-phase charging, and one on-board charger (OBC) technology capable of handling both charging techniques is a three-branch inverter. However, with this three-branch inverter technology, the available power for single-phase and three-phase charging differs. Specifically, power is not transferred to any of the three branches during single-phase charging, resulting in lower power than with three-phase charging and thus increased charging time.

[0004] Furthermore, WO 2013 / 100 559 A1 discloses a system and a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle, comprising: a battery, an inverter having a plurality of branches which have a plurality of power conversion devices, wherein the branches are supplied with power by being connected to a power supply unit, and wherein both ends of each of the branches are connected to the battery, one or more switches arranged between one or more of the branches and the power supply unit, and a control device configured to change a power transmission path from the power supply unit by determining the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit and actuating the switch based on the phase of the supplied power.

[0005] Furthermore, JP 2013 - 85 395 A reveals another system and method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle. Explanation

[0006] The object of the present disclosure or invention (hereinafter referred to as: disclosure) is to provide a system and a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle, wherein the system and the method are able to increase the charging power in the case of single-phase charging and accordingly shorten the charging time by determining the phase of the power supplied by a power supply unit and changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit by controlling a switch based on the phase of the supplied power.

[0007] This disclosure provides a system for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to claim 1 and an associated method according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, a system for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle (e.g., an environmentally friendly motor vehicle) comprises: a battery, an inverter (e.g., DC-AC converter) having a plurality of branches (e.g., half-bridges) which have a plurality of power conversion devices, wherein the branches are supplied with power by being connected to a power supply unit, and wherein both ends of each of the branches are connected to the battery, one or more switches arranged between one or more of the branches and the power supply unit, and a control device configured to change a power transmission path from the power supply unit by changing the phase(s) of the power orThe power phase(s) supplied by the power supply unit are determined, and the switch is operated based on the phase of the supplied power.

[0009] According to the invention, the inverter comprises: a first branch, a second branch, a third branch, and a fourth branch. The first branch can include a first power conversion device and a second power conversion device, the second branch can include a third power conversion device and a fourth power conversion device, the third branch can include a fifth power conversion device and a sixth power conversion device, and the fourth branch can include a seventh power conversion device and an eighth power conversion device.

[0010] The one or more switches may include a first switch located between the power supply unit and the second branch, and a second switch located between the power supply unit and the third branch. The first and second switches may be 3-way relay switches. If a phase supplied by the power supply unit is single-phase (e.g., formed by a single phase), the control device may connect the first end of the first switch to the first branch and the second end of the first switch to the second branch, and the control device may connect the first end of the second switch to the fourth branch and the second end of the second switch to the third branch.

[0011] If a phase supplied by the power supply unit is three-phase (e.g., formed by three phases), the control unit can connect the first end of the first switch to the power supply unit and the second end of the first switch to the second branch, and the control unit can connect the first end of the second switch to the power supply unit and the second end of the second switch to the third branch. If no connection to the power supply unit has been made, the control unit (e.g., in a standard state without a connected power supply unit) can connect the first end of the first switch to the power supply unit and the second end of the first switch to the second branch, and the control unit can connect the first end of the second switch to the power supply unit and the second end of the second switch to the third branch.

[0012] The control unit may include: a power connection detection device configured to determine whether a connection to the power supply unit has been established, a phase detection device configured to determine the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit, a power conversion control device configured to switch the power conversion devices, a switch control device configured to operate the switch, and a voltage sensor configured to detect a voltage supplied by the power supply unit.

[0013] The rated characteristics of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth power conversion units may be lower than the rated characteristics of the first, second, seventh, and eighth power conversion units. The system may further include: an electromagnetic interference (EMI) device located between the power supply unit and the inverter; a direct current (DC-DC) converter configured to convert an output voltage of the inverter between the inverter and the battery; and a capacitor located between the inverter and the DC-DC converter.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle (e.g., an environmentally friendly motor vehicle) using a system according to the invention comprises: determining whether a connection to a power supply unit has been established, determining the phase(s) of the power supplied by the power supply unit, and changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit based on whether the connection to a power supply unit has been established and based on the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit.

[0015] When changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit, if a connection to a power supply unit has been made and if the phase supplied by the power supply unit is 3-phase (e.g., formed by 3 phases), a first end of the first switch can be connected to the power supply unit, a second end of the first switch can be connected to the second branch, a first end of the second switch can be connected to the power supply unit, and a second end of the second switch can be connected to the third branch.

[0016] Furthermore, when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit, if the phase supplied by the power supply unit is single-phase (e.g., formed by 1 phase), a first end of the first switch can be connected to the first branch, a second end of the first switch can be connected to the second branch, a first end of the second switch can be connected to the fourth branch, and a second end of the second switch can be connected to the third branch.Furthermore, when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit, if a connection to a power supply unit has not been made, a first end of a first switch can be connected to the power supply unit, a second end of the first switch can be connected to a second branch, a first end of a second switch can be connected to the power supply unit, and a second end of the second switch can be connected to a third branch.

[0017] According to the system for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle of the present disclosure, it is possible to increase the power available for charging by changing the power transmission path from the power supply unit by actuating a switch based on the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit, if the power supplied by the power supply unit is single-phase, thus consequently reducing the time required to charge a battery. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The above and further aspects, properties and advantages of the present disclosure will become even more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 a diagram which schematically shows the overall configuration of a system for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a power transmission path, when the phase supplied by the power supply unit is single-phase, in the system for controlling a charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a power transmission path, when the phase supplied by the power supply unit is 3-phase, in the system for controlling a charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart which shows a method for controlling a charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed description

[0019] It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicle-..." or any similar term used herein includes motor vehicles in general, such as passenger cars, including so-called sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, numerous commercial vehicles, watercraft, including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other vehicles powered by alternative fuels (e.g., fuels produced from resources other than petroleum). A hybrid vehicle, as referred to herein, is a vehicle that has two or more energy sources, e.g., vehicles that run on both gasoline and electricity.

[0020] Although exemplary embodiments are described as utilizing multiple units to perform the exemplary operations, it should be understood that the exemplary operations can also be performed by a single module or by multiple modules. It should also be understood that the term control device / control unit refers to a hardware device comprising memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store the modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute the modules to perform one or more operations, which are described below.

[0021] The terminology used herein serves only to describe certain embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms "a," "an," "a" and "the" are used herein to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the terms "have" and / or "having" as used in this description specify the presence of the aforementioned features, integers, steps, processes, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more further features, integers, steps, processes, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes each and all combinations of one or more of the related items.

[0022] Unless otherwise stated or evident from the context, the term "approximately" (or "about") used herein is to be understood as being within a normal tolerance in engineering, e.g., within two standard deviations of the mean. "Approximately" (or "about") may be understood as being within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values ​​provided herein are modified by the term "approximately".

[0023] A system and a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 1. A system for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle (e.g., an environmentally friendly motor vehicle) can comprise a battery 100, a (mains) power supply unit (e.g., (mains) power supply unit, (mains) current supply unit) 200, an inverter 300, a switch 400, and a control unit 500, and can further comprise an electromagnetic wave interface 600, a DC-DC converter 700, and a capacitor C. The various components can be operated by the control unit 500.

[0025] In particular, battery 100 provides energy to operate an electric motor (not shown) installed in an environmentally friendly vehicle and can be a high-voltage battery. The power supply unit 200 can be configured to supply alternating current (AC) power to charge battery 100. The power supply unit can be an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) at a charging station, providing power to charge the vehicle battery 100.

[0026] The inverter 300 can have multiple branches (e.g., half-bridges), each of which has a multiple power conversion device 312, 314, 322, 324, 332, 334, 342, and 344. Branches 310, 320, 330, and 340 can be connected to the power supply unit 200, thereby supplying them with power. Both ends (e.g., terminals) of the inverter 300 can be connected to the battery 100, and the inverter 300 can thus be configured to charge the battery 100 by converting power supplied by the power supply unit 200.

[0027] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the inverter 300 can, in particular, have a first branch 310, a second branch 320, a third branch 330, and a fourth branch 340. The first branch 310 can have a first power conversion unit 312 and a power conversion unit 314, the second branch 320 can have a third power conversion unit 322 and a fourth power conversion unit 324, the third branch 330 can have a fifth power conversion unit 332 and a sixth power conversion unit 334, and the fourth branch 340 can have a seventh power conversion unit 342 and an eighth power conversion unit 344.

[0028] Depending on exemplary embodiments, the nominal characteristics of the third power conversion unit 322, the fourth power conversion unit 324, the fifth power conversion unit 332, and the sixth power conversion unit 334 may be lower than those of the first power conversion unit 312, the second power conversion unit 314, the seventh power conversion unit 342, and the eighth power conversion unit 344. The nominal characteristics may include information such as nominal power, nominal voltage, and nominal current.

[0029] For example, if the rated power of the first power conversion unit 312, the second power conversion unit 314, the seventh power conversion unit 342, and the eighth power conversion unit 344 is approximately 14 kW, then the rated power of the third power conversion unit 322, the fourth power conversion unit 324, the fifth power conversion unit 332, and the sixth power conversion unit 334 can be approximately 7 kW. Furthermore, if the rated current of the first power conversion unit 312, the second power conversion unit 314, the seventh power conversion unit 342, and the eighth power conversion unit 344 is approximately 40 A, then the rated current of the third power conversion unit 322, the fourth power conversion unit 324, the fifth power conversion unit 332, and the sixth power conversion unit 334 can be approximately 20 A.

[0030] The switch 400 can be arranged between one or more of the branches of the inverter 300 and the power supply unit 200. The switch 400 can, in particular, be arranged as shown in Fig. Figure 1 shows a first switch 410, which is arranged between the power supply unit 200 and the second branch 320, and a second switch 420, which is arranged between the power supply unit 200 and the third branch 330. The first switch 410 and the second switch 420 can be 3-way relay switches.

[0031] The control unit 500 can be configured to change a power transmission path emanating from the power supply unit 200 by determining the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit 200 and to actuate the switch 400 based on the phase of the supplied power. The control unit 500 can, in particular, comprise a power connection detection device 510, a phase detection device 520, a power conversion device control device 530, a switch control device 540, and a voltage sensor 550.

[0032] The power connection detection device 510 can be configured to detect a connection with the power supply unit 200, and the information determined by the power connection detection device 510 regarding the connection with the power supply unit 200 can later be used to actuate the switch control device 540, which operates the switch 400. The phase detection device 520 can be configured to detect the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit 200. In other words, the phase detection device 520 can be configured to determine whether the power supplied by the power supply unit 200 is single-phase or three-phase, and the phase information about the power determined by the phase detection device 520 can later be used to actuate the switch control device 540, which operates the switch 400.

[0033] The power conversion unit control unit 530 can be configured to perform the switching of a plurality of power conversion units. If the converter or inverter 300 has, in particular, the first power conversion unit 312 to the eighth power conversion unit 344 according to an exemplary embodiment, the power conversion unit control unit 530 can be configured to switch the power conversion units by applying a signal to gates (e.g., control terminals) of the power conversion units.

[0034] The switch control unit 540 can be configured to actuate the switch 400 based on the information about the connection determined by the power connection detection unit 510 and the phase information of the power supply unit 200 determined by the phase detection unit 520. The voltage sensor 550 can be configured to detect AC power supplied by the power supply unit 200.

[0035] The following description illustrates that the control unit 500 can be configured to determine both whether a connection has been made to the power supply unit 200 and to determine the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit 200 and to change a power transmission path from the power supply unit 200 by actuating the switch 400 based on the phase (e.g., the phase type and / or number of phases) of the supplied power.

[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment, if the phase supplied by the power supply unit 200 is single-phase, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the control device 500 can connect a first end of the first switch 410 to the first branch 310 and a second end of the first switch 410 to the second branch 320. Furthermore, the control device 500 can connect a first end of the second switch 420 to the fourth branch 340 and a second end of the second switch 420 to the third branch 330.

[0037] According to another exemplary embodiment, if the phase supplied by the power supply unit 200 is 3-phase, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the control unit 500 can connect the first end of the first switch 410 to the power supply unit 200 and the second end of the first switch 410 to the second branch 320. Furthermore, the control unit 500 can connect the first end of the second switch 420 to the power supply unit 200 and the second end of the second switch 420 to the third branch 330.

[0038] According to another exemplary embodiment, if no connection has been made to the power supply unit 200, the control device 500 can connect a first end of the first switch 410 to the power supply unit 200 and a second end of the first switch 410 to the second branch 320. Furthermore, the control device 500 can connect a first end of the second switch 420 to the power supply unit 200 and a second end of the second switch 420 to the third branch 330.

[0039] As described above, according to the system for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle of the present disclosure, it is possible to increase the power available for charging by changing the power transmission path from the power supply unit 200 by actuating a switch 400 based on the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit 200, if the power supplied by the power supply unit 200 is 3-phase and / or 1-phase, thus consequently reducing the time for charging a battery.

[0040] Furthermore, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) device can be arranged between the power supply unit 200 and the inverter 300 and configured to block electromagnetic waves (e.g., conducted or radio interference) from the power supply unit 200. The DC-DC converter 700 can be arranged between the inverter 300 and the battery 100 and can be configured to convert an output voltage from the inverter 300 and supply it to the battery 100. The capacitor C can be arranged between the inverter 300 and the DC-DC converter 700, and an inductor L can be arranged between each of the branches of the inverter 300 and the power supply unit 200.

[0041] Fig. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method described herein can be executed by the control device. Referring to Fig.4. The method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle (e.g., an environmentally friendly motor vehicle) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: determining whether a connection to a power supply unit has been established, determining the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit, and changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit based on whether a connection to a power supply unit has been established and based on the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit. The method may further include detecting an AC voltage supplied by the power supply unit prior to determining whether a connection to a power supply unit has been established.

[0042] In particular, when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit, if a connection to a power supply unit has been made and if the phase supplied by the power supply unit is 3-phase, it may be possible to connect a first end of a first switch to the power supply unit, a second end of the first switch to a second branch, a first end of a second switch to the power supply unit, and a second end of the second switch to a third branch.

[0043] Furthermore, when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit, if the phase supplied by the power supply unit is single-phase, it may be possible to connect a first end of the first switch to the first branch, a second end of the first switch to the second branch, a first end of the second switch to the fourth branch, and a second end of the second switch to the third branch.Additionally, when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit, if no connection to a power supply unit has been made, it may be possible to connect a first end of a first switch to the power supply unit, a second end of the first switch to a second branch, a first end of a second switch to the power supply unit, and a second end of the second switch to a third branch.

Claims

[1] System for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle, comprising: a battery (100), an inverter (300) having a plurality of branches (310, 320, 330, 340) which have a plurality of power conversion devices (312, 314, 322, 324, 332, 334, 342, 344), wherein the branches (310, 320, 330, 340) are supplied with power by being connected to a power supply unit (200), and wherein both ends of each of the branches (310, 320, 330, 340) are connected to the battery (100), one or more switches (400) arranged between one or more of the branches (310, 320, 330, 340) and the power supply unit (200), and a control device (500) which is configured to change a power transmission path from the power supply unit (200) by determining the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit (200) and actuating the switch (400) based on the phase of the supplied power, where the inverter (300) has: a first branch (310), a second branch (320), a third branch (330) and a fourth branch (340), wherein the first branch (310) comprises a first power conversion unit (312) and a second power conversion unit (314), the second branch (320) has a third power conversion device (322) and a fourth power conversion device (324), the third branch (330) has a fifth power conversion device (332) and a sixth power conversion device (334), and the fourth branch (340) has a seventh power conversion device (342) and an eighth power conversion device (344). [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the switch (400) comprises a first switch (410) which is arranged between the power supply unit (200) and the second branch (320), and a second switch (420) which is arranged between the power supply unit (200) and the third branch (330). [3] System according to claim 2, wherein the first switch (410) and the second switch (420) are 3-way relay switches. [4] System according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, if one phase supplied by the power supply unit (200) is single-phase, the control device (500) connects a first end of the first switch (410) to the first branch (310) and a second end of the first switch (410) to the second branch (320) and connects a first end of the second switch (420) to the fourth branch (340) and a second end of the second switch (420) to the third branch (330). [5] System according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, if one phase supplied by the power supply unit (200) is 3-phase, the control device (500) connects a first end of the first switch (410) to the power supply unit (200) and a second end of the first switch (410) to the second branch (320) and connects a first end of the second switch (420) to the power supply unit (200) and a second end of the second switch (420) to the third branch (330). [6] System according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, if no connection has been made to the power supply unit (200), the control device (500) connects the first end of the first switch (410) to the power supply unit (200) and the second end of the first switch (410) to the second branch (320) and connects a first end of the second switch (420) to the power supply unit (200) and the second end of the second switch (420) to the third branch (330). [7] System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control device (500) comprises: a power connection detection device (510) which is configured to determine whether a connection has been established with the power supply unit (200), a phase determination device (520) which is configured to determine the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit (200), a power conversion unit control unit (530) which is configured to perform the switching of the power conversion units (312, 314, 322, 324, 332, 334, 342, 344), a switch control device (540) which is configured to actuate the switch (400), and a voltage sensor (550) which is configured to detect a voltage supplied by the power supply unit (200). [8] System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the nominal characteristics of the third power conversion device (322), the fourth power conversion device (324), the fifth power conversion device (332) and the sixth power conversion device (334) are smaller than the nominal characteristics of the first power conversion device (312), the second power conversion device (314), the seventh power conversion device (342) and the eighth power conversion device (344). [9] System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: an electromagnetic interference (EMI) device (600) which is arranged between the power supply unit (200) and the inverter (300), a direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter (700), which is configured to convert an output voltage of the inverter (300) between the inverter (300) and the battery (100), and a capacitor (C) which is located between the inverter (300) and the DC-DC converter (700). [10] Method for controlling the charging power of an environmentally friendly vehicle using a system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the method: Determine, using a control device (500), whether a connection to a power supply unit (200) has been established, Determine, using the control device (500), the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit (200), and Change, by means of the control device (500), a power transmission path from the power supply unit (200) based on whether the connection to a power supply unit (200) has been made, and based on the phase of the power supplied by the power supply unit (200). [11] Method according to claim 10, wherein when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit (200), in response to the detection of a connection with a power supply unit (200) and when the phase supplied by the power supply unit (200) is 3-phase, a first end of a first switch (410) is connected to the power supply unit (200), a second end of the first switch (410) is connected to the second branch (320), a first end of a second switch (420) is connected to the power supply unit (200), and a second end of the second switch (420) is connected to the third branch (330). [12] Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit (200), if the phase supplied by the power supply unit (200) is single-phase, a first end of the first switch (410) is connected to the first branch (310), a second end of the first switch (410) is connected to the second branch (320), a first end of the second switch (420) is connected to the fourth branch (340), and a second end of the second switch (420) is connected to the third branch (330). [13] Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein when changing a power transmission path from the power supply unit (200) when no connection to the power supply unit (200) is detected, a first end of a first switch (410) is connected to the power supply unit (200), a second end of the first switch (410) is connected to the second branch (320), a first end of a second switch (420) is connected to the power supply unit (200), and a second end of the second switch (420) is connected to the third branch (330).

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