Device for testing charging stations and systems

Abstract

Device for testing charging stations (L1), comprising • a connection for receiving electrical energy (E) from a charging station to be tested (L1), • a connection for the supply of electrical energy (A), • a device for simulating (BS) a plurality of load points (P1, P2, ... PN), • wherein the device for replication (BS) opposite the connection for receiving electrical energy (E) depending on a test report during operation at least a subset (P U ...P O ) from the majority of load points (P1,P2, ... P N ) provides, • wherein the device further comprises a communication module (I / O1) for communication with a charging station (L1) to be tested in order to identify the device as a load to be charged, characterized in that the device further comprises an inverter (WR) to make absorbed energy available at the connection for outputting electrical energy (A) during operation, or the device further comprises a power converter (SR) to make absorbed energy available at the connection for outputting electrical energy (A) during operation

Description

background

[0001] Charging stations and their components are tested for functionality in the field. This applies, among other things, to the electricity meter. The electricity meter, in particular, must be checked at a specific, predefined interval. Such checks are also required after a charging station has been put back into operation in the field. Functionality must be verified at specific operating points / charging power levels. This poses a corresponding problem in the field, as charging power levels of, for example, more than 50 kW must be demonstrated.

[0002] In addition, the dissipation of energy represents a technical challenge.

[0003] Regardless of this, energy consumption as a whole is also problematic. State of the art

[0004] A concrete solution has not yet been described. However, there are several unrealized proposals.

[0005] For example, it would be possible to charge a specific electric vehicle and thus enable the vehicle to follow a charging curve through specific charging. However, this is not possible without further ado, as the vehicle must have reached a certain state of discharge for this to happen. Furthermore, such an arrangement can only measure a relatively limited charging profile. This is not permitted by the calibration authorities, particularly for DC charging stations, as measurements are required at different charging voltages. A further problem that arises is that such an approach is unsuitable for larger charging parks, because once the vehicle is charged, it can only be used again after a corresponding discharge. Furthermore, no reproducible tests are possible (e.g. due to aging of the vehicle battery and, for example,There are no accelerated tests (real electrochemical processes of the battery and thus corresponding charging times). Furthermore, maintaining a chargeable electric vehicle is expensive to purchase.

[0006] It would also be possible to use an (adjustable) resistive load. However, this would result in a lot of unused energy being converted into heat.

[0007] There is also discussion about using virtual power for meter testing. However, in this case, an exact statement about the functionality of the meter and the fast-charging function is not possible, since the power flow is not occurring.

[0008] US patent application US 2015 / 346288 A1 discloses a device and method for determining the precision of an energy measurement at an electric vehicle charging station. Furthermore, German patent application DE 10 2014 013 870 A1 discloses a mobile testing system for an automotive charging station. However, these devices / systems require a discharged load to be used as intended.

[0009] Based on this, it is an object of the invention to provide a device or a system that is, on the one hand, cost-effective to purchase, flexible in the measurement of different charging stations and, on the other hand, more energy-efficient than previous solutions. Brief description of the invention

[0010] The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 or a system according to claim 6. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the description, the figures and the dependent claims. Brief description of the characters

[0011] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing and exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic representation and not to scale. The drawing does not limit the invention in any way.

[0012] They show: Fig. 1 an exemplary schematic design of a device according to the invention according to aspects of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 an exemplary schematic design of a device according to the invention according to further aspects of an embodiment, and Fig. 3 an exemplary logical design of a device according to the invention according to aspects of an embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0013] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that various aspects are described, each of which can be used individually or in combination. This means that any aspect can be used with different embodiments of the invention, unless explicitly presented as a mere alternative.

[0014] Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, reference will generally be made to only one entity in the following. Unless explicitly stated, the invention may also comprise several of the entities in question. Therefore, the use of the words "a," "an," and "another" is to be understood merely as an indication that at least one entity is used in a simple embodiment.

[0015] Where procedures are described below, the individual steps of a procedure can be arranged and / or combined in any order, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the procedures can be combined with one another, unless expressly indicated otherwise.

[0016] Numerical values ​​are generally not to be understood as exact values, but also include a tolerance of + / - 1% to + / - 10%.

[0017] To the extent that standards, specifications, or the like are mentioned in this application, reference is always made to the standards, specifications, or the like applicable on the filing date. This means that if a standard / specification, etc., is updated or replaced by a successor, the invention is also applicable to it.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, a device 1 for testing (DC) charging stations L1 is provided. The device 1 has a connection for receiving electrical energy E from a (DC) charging station L1 to be tested. The charging station L1 can be either a DC charging station or an AC charging station.

[0019] Furthermore, the device 1 has a connection for the output of electrical energy A.

[0020] In addition, the device 1 comprises a device for simulating BS a plurality of load points P1, P2, ... P N wherein the device for replication BS has at least a subset P in relation to the connection for receiving electrical energy E depending on a test protocol during operation U ...P O from the majority of load points P1,P2, ... P NIt is assumed that P1 <P2<...P N-1 <P N and P1≤P U , P U <P O and P O ≤P N applies.

[0021] The device 1 further comprises a communication module I / O1 for communicating with a (DC voltage) charging station L1 to be tested in order to identify the device 1 as a load to be charged relative to the (DC voltage) charging station L1 to be tested.

[0022] With such a device, it is now possible to test a large number of even different (DC voltage) charging stations directly one after the other.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 1 can further comprise an inverter WR to make absorbed energy available at the connection for the output of electrical energy A during operation. This means that, unlike previous approaches, flexible energy can be output. The inverter WR can be retrofitted in a modular manner or be permanently installed. For example, energy can be output as alternating voltage to the grid of an energy supplier, or alternatively or additionally, energy can be made available for other devices of the device 1 according to the invention or the system comprising such a device.

[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, the device 1 can further comprise a power converter SR to make absorbed energy available at the connection for the output of electrical energy (A) during operation. The power converter SR can be retrofitted in a modular manner or be permanently installed. For example, energy can be output as direct current to the grid of an energy supplier, or alternatively or additionally, energy can be made available for other devices of the device 1 according to the invention or the system comprising such a device.

[0025] In particular, the invention makes it possible not only to supply local facilities with energy, but also to feed energy back into a supply network, in particular into a DC or AC power network or into a DC or AC charging station L2.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 1 can further comprise a defined load R configured to convert electrical energy to be delivered into thermal energy. This may be necessary, for example, if there is no other option for delivering energy to a consumer or feeding it back into a power grid.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the invention, the device 1 further comprises a charging module LM in order to supply energy to a consumer, such as a chargeable electric vehicle E-FZ.

[0028] In a further embodiment of the invention, the device 1 further comprises a further communication module I / O2 for communication with a charging module LM and / or an electrical energy consumer L2, E-FZ. Alternatively or additionally, the communication module I / O1 for communication with a (DC voltage) charging station L1 to be tested can also be configured for communication with a charging module LM and / or an electrical energy consumer L2, E-FZ.

[0029] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the control parameters for a plurality of load points P1, P2, ... P Nbe stored in a (local or remote) database (DB). Examples of local storage include a look-up table in a (rewritable) memory, a memory card, or an online database from which the control parameters can be retrieved. In particular, however, it can also be provided that, for example, data from a (DC) charging station L1 under test, data on the control parameters used, and the measured current / power can also be stored as a measurement report in a database (local or remote).

[0030] In a further embodiment of the invention, a system comprising a device 1 according to the invention as well as a device for energy measurement EM and a control unit PC is also provided.

[0031] This means that the invention can be integrated into existing measuring technology without great effort, allowing existing purchases to continue to be used.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a consumer for electrical energy L2,E-FZ, wherein the device further comprises a charging module LM to supply energy to a consumer.

[0033] According to another embodiment of the invention, the electrical energy consumer is another charging station L2 capable of generating energy back into the grid, in particular a DC charging station (L2). Likewise, the electrical energy consumer can be a battery-powered electric vehicle (E-FZ). The electrical energy consumer can also be an AC consumer. Examples of AC consumers could be the PC control unit—for example, a laptop—or a power feed-back device into the power grid.

[0034] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the electrical energy consumer can also be a direct current consumer.

[0035] The invention thus enables simple and cost-effective functional verification of a charging station in the field, as well as the electricity meter. Both AC and DC charging stations (L1) can be measured. Likewise, both AC and DC charging stations (L2) or other devices can consume energy without having to convert it into thermal energy, as has often been the case previously.

[0036] In this case, a second charging station L2 can be substituted as a vehicle by means of the device 1 of the first charging station L1 to be tested, whereby all test cases and operating points can be run through.

Claims

[1] Device for testing charging stations (L1), comprising • a connection for receiving electrical energy (E) from a charging station to be tested (L1), • a connection for the supply of electrical energy (A), • a device for simulating (BS) a plurality of load points (P1, P2, ... PN), • wherein the device for replication (BS) opposite the connection for receiving electrical energy (E) depending on a test report during operation at least a subset (P U ...P O ) from the majority of load points (P1,P2, ... P N ) provides, • wherein the device further comprises a communication module (I / O1) for communicating with a charging station (L1) to be tested in order to identify the device as a load to be charged, characterized bythat the device further comprises an inverter (WR) to make absorbed energy available at the terminal for outputting electrical energy (A) during operation, or the device further comprises a power converter (SR) to make absorbed energy available at the terminal for outputting electrical energy (A) during operation [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the device further comprises a defined load (R) which is designed to convert electrical energy to be delivered into thermal energy. [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device further comprises a charging module (LM) to supply energy to a consumer. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , • that the device further comprises a further communication module (I / O2) for communication with a charging module (LM) and / or a consumer for electrical energy (L2, E-FZ) and / or • that the communication module (I / O1) for communication with a charging station to be tested (L1) is also designed for communication with a charging module (LM) and / or a consumer for electrical energy (L2,E-FZ). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control parameters for a plurality of load points (P1,P2, ... P N ) are stored in a database (DB). [6] System comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and a device for energy measurement (EM) and a control unit (PC). [7] System according to claim 6, characterized bythat the system further comprises a consumer for electrical energy (L2, E-FZ), wherein the device further comprises a charging module (LM) for supplying energy to a consumer. [8] System according to claim 7, characterized by that the consumer of electrical energy is another charging station (L2) capable of feeding back energy, in particular a charging station (L2). [9] System according to claim 7, characterized by that the consumer of electrical energy is a battery-powered vehicle. [10] System according to claim 7, characterized by that the consumer of electrical energy is an alternating current consumer. [11] System according to claim 7, characterized by that the consumer of electrical energy is a direct current consumer.

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