Charging device, system consisting of an electrified motor vehicle and a charging device, and method for controlling the system

Abstract

Charging device (30) for electrical energy storage devices (150) comprising: - at least one initial interface for the transmission of electrical energy (100), - at least one second interface for the transfer of thermal energy (60, 70), - at least one thermal storage device (50) which is in thermal and / or fluidic interaction with a temperature control system of the charging device (30), wherein the thermal storage unit (50) is in thermal and / or fluidic interaction with at least one further temperature control system or at least one further charging device (40), characterized by the fact that the thermal storage (50) comprises a latent heat storage with a phase change material.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a system comprising an electrified motor vehicle and a charging device according to claim 7. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling the system according to claim 8.

[0002] Electrified vehicles have a battery that provides electrical energy to power the vehicle. In most cases, this battery can be electrically charged via an external interface. Particularly during rapid charging, the battery heats up more than during driving. This results in a greater cooling requirement during the charging process than during driving. Current technology proposes to meet this increased cooling requirement by providing additional cooling power through the charging device during the charging process.

[0003] In this context, document DE 10 2012 213 855 A1 discloses a charging station and a battery arranged in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle can be connected to the charging station via a charging cable and a temperature control line. The charging station further comprises a temperature control body. A comparable disclosure can be found in DE 44 08 961 C1. The temperature control of the corresponding medium is achieved using a conventional cooling unit.

[0004] Furthermore, documents DE 11 2012 003 109 T5 and DE 11 2012 003 099 T5 disclose a method for charging an electric vehicle with an electric battery. Charging involves, particularly for charging powers between 100 and 300 kW, supplying a coolant to the electric vehicle to cool the electric battery during the charging process.

[0005] US 2017 / 0 096 073 A1 also describes that heat can be added to or removed from an electric vehicle during charging, optionally via a common connection in which electrical and thermal energy can be transferred. In a charging system with several individual charging stations, a central thermal storage unit can also be provided.

[0006] DE 10 2018 103 706 A1 describes a charging system with an integrated coolant reservoir to temper the power electronics and, if necessary, a charging cable and its plug.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to at least partially improve the known state of the art.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a charging device having the features according to claim 1, as well as by a system according to claim 7, and a method for controlling the system according to claim 8. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims. The features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in a technologically expedient manner and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description and / or details from the figures, whereby further embodiments of the invention are shown.

[0009] The charging device for electrical energy storage according to the invention has at least the following elements: - at least one first interface for the transmission of electrical energy, - at least one second interface for the transfer of thermal energy, - at least one thermal storage device which is in thermal and / or fluidic connection with a temperature control system of the charging device.

[0010] It is characterized by the fact that The thermal storage unit is in thermal and / or fluidic communication with at least one other temperature control system of at least one other charging device. In other words, multiple charging devices use a common thermal storage unit. This reduces the number of required components, which in turn can lead to cost reduction.

[0011] The charging device is preferably a charging station that can transfer electrical energy to an electrical energy storage device, particularly via a charging cable and a charging plug. This is currently compatible with most electrified vehicles. However, it can also be a charging station that can transfer energy to an induction plate electrically connected to an energy storage device using an induction plate. This has the advantage that the charging process can be carried out contactlessly, in particular without the need for a plug.

[0012] In some embodiments, the charging device draws the electrical energy for charging the electrical energy storage device from the energy distribution grid. This results in a high availability of electrical energy. In other embodiments, the charging device draws the electrical energy for charging the electrical energy storage device from another electrical energy storage device, for example, an electrical energy storage device arranged in the charging device. In some embodiments, it is also provided that the charging device draws the electrical energy from a generator unit, for example, a fuel cell and / or an electrical generator driven by an internal combustion engine. The latter embodiments have the advantage that they can be installed anywhere and independently of electrical supply infrastructure.

[0013] In the present case, an electrical energy storage device is understood to mean any device suitable for storing electrical energy. This is, for example, a capacitor and / or preferably a battery, particularly preferably a lithium-ion battery. Furthermore, it is preferably a traction battery, i.e. a battery that provides the electrical energy to drive an electrified vehicle. Particularly preferably, it is a battery with a nominal voltage of at least 100, 200, or 400 volts. Such batteries have the advantage that they store electrical energy particularly efficiently. The electrified motor vehicle is, in particular, a purely electric vehicle. However, it can also be a hybrid or hydrogen vehicle. Furthermore, it is preferably a land vehicle, particularly preferably a non-rail-bound land vehicle.

[0014] By means of the interface for the transmission of electrical energy, electrical energy can be transferred from the charging device to an electrical energy storage device. The interface for the transmission of electrical energy of the charging device can be connected to an interface for the transmission of electrical energy of an electrical energy storage device. The connection does not necessarily have to be direct; it can also be an indirect connection. For example, the connectable interface can be the interface of an electrified vehicle, which is electrically connected to the energy storage device to be charged. The only relevant factor is that the connectable interface is suitable for the transmission of electrical energy between the charging device and the electrical energy storage device. The transmission can take place conductively, for example by means of a cable and / or a busbar, and / or inductively.The interface is preferably a pluggable conductive connection, for example a socket into which a cable with a plug can be inserted. This cable in turn has an electrical connection to an energy storage device to be charged and / or can be brought into electrical connection with an energy storage device to be charged. Of course, a cable can also be permanently connected to the charging device. This cable then has a plug at the end not connected to the charging device, which can be brought into electrical connection with an energy storage device to be charged. If the energy storage device is an electrified vehicle, the vehicle usually has a socket that is electrically connected to the energy storage device.

[0015] Transferred electrical energy does not only mean charging the electrical energy storage device. In some embodiments, electrical energy is transferred from the battery to the charging device.

[0016] The interface for transferring thermal energy of the charging device can also be connected to an interface for transferring thermal energy of the energy storage device to be charged. The connection does not necessarily have to be direct. The interface must merely enable the transfer of thermal energy between the charging device and the energy storage device. In certain embodiments, the thermal energy is transferred using a thermally conductive solid. Preferably, however, the thermal energy is transferred using a fluid, particularly preferably a liquid, for example a water-based coolant. In some embodiments, a fluid is used which is also used outside of the charging process to control the temperature of the energy storage device.For example, if the battery is the traction battery of an electrified vehicle, and if this vehicle is equipped with a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of the battery using a specific coolant, the same coolant can be used to transfer thermal energy between the charging device and the battery. This advantageously reduces the number of components required for the transfer of thermal energy. However, there are also embodiments in which the transfer of thermal energy is also carried out by means of a heat exchanger. In this case, a temperature control medium that is temperature-controlled directly by the charging device, for example a cooling fluid, in particular coolant, and a temperature control medium that directly temperature-controls the electrical energy storage device are materially separated by a heat exchanger.This allows the selection of the temperature control medium for the charging device and the energy storage device to be made independently of each other.

[0017] Thermal storage can be any type of thermal storage device. These include, for example, simple thermal storage devices, which store heat almost exclusively through a change in the temperature of the storage medium, latent heat storage devices using a phase-change material, thermochemical heat storage devices, and hybrid forms of these storage types. In this context, heat storage obviously does not mean that the storage devices serve merely as a heat source after absorbing heat. Rather, they can also serve as a heat sink, for example, after prior cooling.

[0018] The charging device further comprises a temperature control system. It contains the components required for thermal management of the charging device. It serves for, in particular, controlled and / or regulated, heat transfer between the thermal interface of the charging device and the thermal storage unit and – if present – ​​other components. The other components are preferably heat exchangers to the outside air and / or to other coolant and / or refrigerant circuits. Heat transfer in the temperature control system preferably occurs by means of a temperature control medium, either in one temperature control medium circuit or in several temperature control medium circuits interacting via heat exchangers.

[0019] When heat transfer with the charging device is mentioned in the context of this invention, this specifically means heat transfer with the temperature control system of the charging device.

[0020] The temperature control system of the charging device is also in thermal and / or fluidic operative connection with the thermal storage device. A thermal operative connection is generally understood to mean the presence of devices and / or means that enable an exchange of thermal energy between the temperature control system and the thermal storage device. This means, in particular, that a temperature change of, for example, at least 1 K over a period of one hour in the thermal storage device causes a temperature change of, for example, at least 1 K over a period of one hour in the temperature control system, and vice versa. A fluidic operative connection is generally understood to mean the presence of devices and / or means that enable a fluid exchange between the temperature control system and the thermal storage device.

[0021] In addition, the thermal storage device is in thermal and / or fluidic operative connection with the temperature control system of at least one further charging device. The above statements regarding the thermal and / or fluidic operative connection apply accordingly. The further charging device is preferably a charging device of the same design as a charging device according to the invention. This reduces costs because the use of identical parts is possible. In some embodiments, it is further provided that a larger number of charging devices, for example more than 2, preferably more than 10, particularly preferably more than 50, are in thermal operative connection with the thermal storage device, for example in a charging park. This allows the thermal storage device to be used particularly effectively synergistically.

[0022] The thermal storage system can directly incorporate components for influencing the thermal energy stored within it. These are preferably heat exchangers with the outside air and / or with other coolant and / or refrigerant circuits.

[0023] The thermal storage device further comprises a phase-change material. The use of a phase-change material has the advantage that heat can be stored very efficiently and with little or no change in the temperature of the storage medium. In particular, the storage medium of the thermal storage device can be made of a phase-change material.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the invention can be characterized in that the thermal storage device comprises a cooling fluid that is essentially or entirely water-based. Water as a cooling fluid has the advantage of high availability and high environmental compatibility.

[0025] The charging device can also have a thermal storage unit with a heat capacity of at least 200 J / K. It is preferred if the heat storage unit contains at least 50 kg of a cooling medium. Furthermore, the heat capacity of the heat storage unit can be greater than the heat capacity of one, in particular greater than the heat capacity of two, and preferably greater than the heat capacity of all temperature control systems of other charging devices that are in thermal and / or fluidic communication with it. These embodiments ensure that a sufficient heat storage unit is available for several charging devices.

[0026] In some embodiments, it is further provided that the thermal storage unit is located underground. This increases the efficiency of the heat storage unit due to the more uniform temperature in the ground.

[0027] In further embodiments, the thermal storage device is arranged outside the charging device. This means that the charging device and thermal storage device are not tightly integrated, in particular, that they are not enclosed by a common housing. This advantageously allows for a spatially independent arrangement of the charging device and thermal storage device.

[0028] In some embodiments, it is further provided that the thermal storage device is arranged below the charging device. This has the advantage of keeping the space immediately around the charging device free, for example, for vehicles to be charged.

[0029] The invention further relates to a system comprising an electrified motor vehicle and a charging device according to the invention, wherein the motor vehicle comprises: - at least one first interface for the transmission of electrical energy, - at least one second interface for the transfer of thermal energy, - a traction battery, - a first temperature control system, which is in thermal connection with the traction battery, - a second temperature control system which is in fluidic connection with the second interface and in thermal connection with the first temperature control system, wherein the first interface of the motor vehicle is connectable to the first interface of the charging device and the second interface of the motor vehicle is connectable to the second interface of the charging device.

[0030] The electrified motor vehicle is, in particular, a purely electric vehicle. However, it can also be a hybrid or hydrogen vehicle. It is also preferably a land vehicle, particularly preferably a non-rail-based land vehicle.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method for controlling this system, which comprises at least the following steps: - Detecting that the first interface of the charging device is connected to the first interface of the motor vehicle, - Transferring electrical energy between the charging device and the motor vehicle by means of the first interfaces, - Detecting that the second interface of the charging device is connected to the second interface of the motor vehicle, - Filling the vehicle’s second temperature control system through the second interfaces, - Transferring thermal energy between the charging device and the motor vehicle by means of the second interfaces.

[0032] In one embodiment of the method, the thermal storage device is cooled while the second interface of the charging device is not connected to the second interface of a vehicle. This is particularly advantageous because a particularly large amount of cooling energy is already stored at the start of a cooling process of an energy storage device connected to the charging device.

[0033] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are presented in the following description with reference to the figures. In detail: Fig. 1 shows an exemplary structure of a system according to the invention with two charging devices in a charging park and two vehicles, Fig. 2 an exemplary sequence of the method according to the invention.

[0034] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated with reference to the figures.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary structure of a system according to the invention with two charging devices in a charging park 190 and two vehicles. The charging devices are configured as a first charging station 30 and a second charging station 40. They are each connected to a first vehicle 10 and a second vehicle 20 via an interface for transmitting electrical energy 100 and a thermal interface consisting of a coolant supply line 60 and a coolant return line 90.

[0036] The first charging station 30 is electrically connected to an energy distribution network 180. It transmits electrical energy to the charger 140 of the first vehicle 10 via an electrical energy transmission interface 100. This charger converts the alternating voltage of the energy distribution network 180 into direct voltage to charge the traction battery 150 of the first vehicle 30.

[0037] The first charging station 30 is also thermally connected to the first vehicle 10 via a coolant supply line 60 and a coolant return line 70. Thermal energy is transferred between the temperature control system of the first charging station 30 and the temperature control system of the first vehicle 10 by means of a coolant-to-coolant heat exchanger 110. Thus, no coolant exchange takes place between the temperature control systems. The coolant used in the thermal interface 60, 70 corresponds to the coolant used in the temperature control system of the first vehicle 10.

[0038] The temperature control system of the first charging station comprises the two coolant-to-coolant heat exchangers 110, a coolant-to-air heat exchanger 130, and the additional hoses, piping, actuators, and connecting elements required to connect them to each other and to the first vehicle 10 and the thermal storage unit 50. It is designed in such a way that an exchange of thermal energy between all heat exchangers 110, 130 is possible and can be specifically adjusted.

[0039] The first charging station is also thermally connected to the thermal storage unit 50. Thermal energy is transferred here by means of two coolant-to-coolant heat exchangers 110.

[0040] In addition to the coolant-to-coolant heat exchanger 110 for transferring thermal energy to the first charging station 30, the thermal storage unit 50 further comprises a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 120 for transferring thermal energy to a refrigeration system 160, as well as a coolant-to-air heat exchanger 130. Thermal energy is transferred between the thermal storage unit 50 and the second charging station 40 directly by means of the exchange of a coolant, i.e., fluidically, via a coolant flow line 80 and a coolant return line 90. The heat exchangers 110, 120, 130 and the fluidic interface 80, 90 to the second charging station 40 are in thermal and / or fluidic connection with the storage medium of the thermal storage 50 via hoses, piping, adjusting elements and / or connecting elements in such a way that the latter can be tempered simultaneously with one, two or all heat exchangers 110, 120, 130 and / or by means of the thermal interface 80, 90.

[0041] The second charging device 40 is in direct fluidic connection 80, 90 with the second vehicle 20. The coolant used in the charging station 40 is thus identical to that used to control the temperature of the traction battery 150 of the second vehicle 20.

[0042] Furthermore, the second charging device 40 is electrically connected to a motor-generator unit 170 consisting of a gasoline or diesel-powered internal combustion engine and a generator that generates electrical energy. The charging device 40 further includes a charger 140 that converts the alternating current generated by the motor-generator unit 170 into direct current for charging the traction battery 150 of the second vehicle 20.

[0043] Fig.2 shows an exemplary sequence of the method according to the invention. In a first step S10, it is detected that a first interface of the charging device is connected to the first interface of a vehicle. If this is the case, then in a next step S20, charging of the vehicle's energy storage device begins by transmitting electrical energy through the first interfaces. In a parallel method step S30, it is detected that a second interface of the charging device is connected to the second interface of a vehicle. If this is the case, then in a subsequent step S50, the temperature control system of the vehicle is first filled with coolant, so that in a subsequent step S60, cooling of the vehicle's energy storage device can begin by transmitting thermal energy through the second interfaces.If this is not detected in method step S30, the thermal storage (50) can still be cooled in a step S40.

[0044] The release of steps S50 and S60 can further depend on step S10, i.e., the detection that a first interface of the charging device is connected to the first interface of a vehicle. In particular, it can be dependent on the fact that filling (S50) and subsequent cooling (S60) only take place if it has actually been detected that a first interface of the charging device is connected to the first interface of a vehicle. Preferably, it can depend on the fact that the first and second interfaces are interfaces of the same vehicle. List of reference symbols 10 First vehicle 20 Second vehicle 30 First charging station 40 Second charging station 50 Thermal storage 60 Coolant supply 70 Coolant return 80 Refrigerant flow 90 Refrigerant return 100 Electrical interface 110 Coolant-to-coolant heat exchanger 120 coolant-refrigerant heat exchangers 130 coolant-air heat exchangers 140 charger 150 traction battery 160 refrigeration system 170 Motor-Generator 180 Energy distribution network 190 charging park S10 Process step 1 S20 Process step 2 S30 Process step 3 S40 Process step 4 S50 Process step 5 S60 Process step 6

Claims

[1] Charging device (30) for electrical energy storage (150) comprising: - at least one first interface for transmitting electrical energy (100), - at least one second interface for transferring thermal energy (60, 70), - at least one thermal storage device (50) which is in thermal and / or fluidic connection with a temperature control system of the charging device (30), wherein the thermal storage device (50) is in thermal and / or fluidic connection with at least one further temperature control system of at least one further charging device (40), characterized by , that the thermal storage device (50) comprises a latent heat storage device with a phase change material. [2] Loading device (30) according to claim 1, characterized by that the thermal storage (50) comprises a substantially or entirely water-based cooling fluid. [3] Charging device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the thermal storage (50) has a heat capacity of at least 200 J / K. [4] Charging device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the thermal storage (50) is arranged in the ground. [5] Charging device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the thermal storage (50) is arranged outside the charging device (30). [6] Loading device (30) according to claim 5, characterized by that the thermal storage (50) is arranged below the charging device (30). [7] System comprising an electrified motor vehicle (10) and a charging device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, the motor vehicle (10) comprising: - at least one first interface for transmitting electrical energy (100), - at least one second interface for transferring thermal energy (60, 70), - a traction battery (150), - a first temperature control system which is in thermal connection with the traction battery (150), - a second temperature control system which is in fluidic connection with the second interface (60, 70) and in thermal connection with the first temperature control system, wherein the first interface of the motor vehicle is connectable to the first interface of the charging device (30) and the second interface of the motor vehicle (10) is connectable to the second interface of the charging device (30). [8] A method for controlling the system according to claim 7, comprising at least the steps: - detecting that the first interface (100) of the charging device (30) is connected to the first interface of the motor vehicle (S10), - transferring electrical energy between the charging device (30) and the motor vehicle by means of the first interfaces (S20), - detecting that the second interface (60, 70) of the charging device (30) is connected to the second interface of the motor vehicle (S30), - filling the second temperature control system of the vehicle through the second interfaces (60, 70) (S50), - Transferring thermal energy between the charging device (30) and the motor vehicle by means of the second interfaces (60, 70) (S60). [9] Method according to claim 8, characterized by that the thermal storage (50) is cooled (S40) while the second interface (100) of the charging device (30) is not connected to the second interface (100) of the vehicle (10).

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