Charger and method for operating a charger

Abstract

Charger (100) for a vehicle, wherein at least a first charging circuit (140) and a second charging circuit (150) are connected between an input connection unit (110) and an output connection unit (120), wherein the second charging circuit (150) is connected on the input side to a switching element (160) which is configured to connect the second phase (L2) to the second charging circuit (150) via the input connection unit (110) in a first switch position and to connect a further phase (LW) of a V2L socket (170) to the second charging circuit (150) in a second switch position.

Description

The invention relates to a charging device for a vehicle and to a method for operating a charging device. The invention further relates to a drive train having a charging device, a vehicle having a drive train, and a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium.Prior ArtVehicles with an electric powertrain may be charged with alternating voltage (AC) or direct voltage (DC). Some vehicles are configured to provide electrical loads with power with the electrical energy stored in the vehicle. This functionality is referred to as vehicle to load (V2L). It is thus possible to supply electrical loads, such as a coffee machine or a lawnmower, with electrical energy by a vehicle. For this purpose, a charger, for example an on-board charger (OBC), is configured to be operated bidirectionally. In a forward mode, the charger serves to supply electrical energy to the vehicle from an external energy source. In reverse operation, the charger serves to draw electrical energy from a DC voltage energy store of the vehicle and to provide an AC voltage required for operation of a consumer at a socket, for example a V2L socket. Often, this V2L function is not available during the charging operation, or the forward operation, of the charger. In particular in regions in which a type 1 charging plug is used for charging (Asia, USA), the AC supply voltage from the charging plug cannot be used alternatively directly, since no neutral conductor is available in 240V charging and 120V are not available for normal 120V loads. Thus, additional power electronics are preferably used in order to generate alternating voltage from a battery storage system in the vehicle for external connectable loads. There is therefore a need for a simple charger which is designed to simultaneously supply an AC voltage to a load during charging operation.Disclosure of the InventionA charger for a vehicle is provided. The charging device comprises on the input side an input connection unit for connecting at least one first phase, with a first alternating voltage, preferably an alternating voltage source, and a second phase, with a second alternating voltage, preferably an alternating voltage source, and on the output side a two-pole output connection unit for connecting an energy store to be charged. At least one first charging circuit for converting the input-side first alternating voltage into an output-side first direct voltage and one second charging circuit for converting the input-side second alternating voltage into an output-side second direct voltage are connected between the input connection unit and the output connection unit. The charging circuits are connected in parallel on the output side. At least the second charging circuit can be operated bidirectionally. The second charging circuit is connected on the input side to a switching element which is configured to connect the second phase on the input side to the second charging circuit via the input connection unit in a first switch position and to connect a further phase of a V2L socket on the input side to the second charging circuit in a second switch position.A charger is provided, which comprises an input connection unit, an output connection unit, a first and a second charging circuit. The input connection unit serves for the connection of a preferably external, at least single-phase alternating voltage source, preferably three-phase alternating voltage source. Individual phase connections are preferably provided for at least two or three phases for one phase each of an AC voltage source. The output connection unit is configured for connecting an energy store, preferably a battery, a traction battery or a high-voltage store. The charging circuits, which are connected between the input connection unit and the output connection unit, serve for converting at least one phase of an input-side AC voltage into an output-side DC voltage. Preferably, a charging circuit comprises an AC voltage input on the input side and a DC voltage output on the output side. In a charging mode of the charging circuit, electrical energy which is supplied to the AC voltage input as AC voltage is preferably transmitted from the input side to the output side of the charging circuit, wherein the electrical energy is provided on the output side as DC voltage. The charging circuit preferably comprises a PFC stage or power factor correction stage on the input side, which, while minimizing the grid feedback, aligns the AC voltage. Preferably, the charging circuit, preferably subsequent to the PFC stage, comprises a DC-to-DC converter, preferably a galvanically isolated DC-to-DC converter, for converting the rectified AC voltage into a DC voltage or charging voltage to be provided on the output side. In a supply mode of the charging circuit, electrical energy which is supplied on the output side at the DC voltage output as DC voltage is preferably transmitted from the output side to the input side of the charging circuit, wherein the electrical energy is provided on the input side as AC voltage. For this purpose, the DC voltage is preferably first provided via the DC voltage converter of the PFC stage and provided via the latter as an AC voltage on the input side of the AC voltage input of the charging circuit. The first and the second charging circuit, and preferably a third charging circuit, are connected in parallel on the output side. The output-side DC voltage outputs of the charging circuits are thus connected in parallel. At least the second charging circuit can be operated bidirectionally, that is to say that the second charging circuit is configured either in a charging mode or forward mode to convert an applied alternating voltage into a direct voltage for charging the energy store or in a supply mode or reverse mode to convert the direct voltage of the energy store into an alternating voltage and provide it on the input side, preferably for supplying an alternating voltage consumer which can be connected. In addition to the second charging circuit, the first and or the third charging circuit are preferably also configured for bidirectional operation. At least the second charging circuit is connected on the input side to a switching element which is configured to connect the second phase on the input side to the second charging circuit via the input connection unit in a first switch position and to connect a further phase of a V2L socket on the input side to the second charging circuit in a second switch position. Preferably, further charging circuits of the charging device can also be configured in a correspondingly bidirectional manner and be connected to a corresponding input-side switching element. Then, by alternately operating the charging circuits and varying the operation modes of the individual charging circuits, uniform loading of the respective charging circuits is possible.Advantageously, a charging device is provided, which is configured to selectively charge an energy store by means of at least two charging circuits, or to charge the energy store by means of at least one charging circuit and simultaneously to provide an AC voltage at a V2L socket.In one configuration, the input connection unit is configured to connect a neutral conductor.Advantageously, an external neutral conductor or protective conductor can be connected to the vehicle.In one configuration, the V2L socket is configured for connecting a neutral conductor.Advantageously, a neutral conductor or protective conductor of a consumer can be connected to the vehicle.In one configuration, the neutral conductor connection of the input connection unit is connected to the neutral conductor connection of the V2L socket.Connected or connected or arranged is used interchangeably in this description to be electrically connected. Advantageously, the connection of the neutral conductor connections ensures a safe charging operation of the energy store and a safe supply operation of a connectable, preferably external, load.In one configuration, the input connection unit and the V2L socket are configured as two individual components. The input connection unit and the V2L socket are preferably designed as a common component. Advantageously, two individual components can be placed at different locations on the vehicle, for example the input connection unit as a charging socket at the front of the vehicle and a V2L socket inside the vehicle in the passenger compartment or at the rear of the vehicle in the region of the trunk, inside or outside the vehicle. Advantageously as an alternative, a common embodiment of the input connection unit and the V2L socket is to be provided on the outside of the vehicle body in a space-saving manner.The invention further relates to a drive train of a vehicle, wherein the drive train comprises at least one charger. The charger further comprises an energy store, an inverter and or an electric machine. Advantageously, a drive train of an electric vehicle with a charger with a simplified circuit topology is provided.The invention further relates to a vehicle having a drive train as described above. Advantageously, a vehicle with a charger with a simplified circuit topology is provided. The invention further relates to a method for operating a charging device as presented above, comprising the step of: operating the charging device, wherein the first charging circuit converts a first alternating voltage into a first direct voltage and at the same time the second charging circuit converts a direct voltage of a connectable energy store into a second alternating voltage, which is provided via the switching element at a further phase of a V2L socket.Consequently, the first charging circuit is operated in the charging operation. The first charging circuit therefore preferably converts an alternating voltage present on the input side into a direct voltage present on the output side for charging the energy store. At the same time, the second charging circuit is operated in the supply mode. The second charging circuit therefore preferably converts a direct voltage present on the output side into an alternating voltage present on the input side and provides this voltage, preferably via the switching element, preferably in the second switch position, at a further phase on the V2L socket, preferably for supplying a, preferably external, load which can be connected to the V2L socket.Advantageously, a V2L functionality is made possible during the charging process by means of the simultaneous charging operation of the first charging circuit and the supply operation by means of the second charging circuit.The invention further relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control device for the charging device, cause the charging device to execute the steps of the method. The charging device preferably comprises a control device which is configured to actuate the charging circuits and the switching element in such a way that the method is carried out.The invention further relates to a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a control device for the charging device, cause the charging device to carry out the steps of the method.It is understood that the features, properties and advantages of the charger correspondingly apply or are applicable to the method or the drive train and the vehicle and vice versa.Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the attached drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThe invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to some figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a charging device, FIG. 2 shows a schematically illustrated vehicle having a drive train with a charging device, FIG. 3 shows a schematically illustrated method for operating a charging device.Embodiments of the InventionFIG. 1 shows a charger 100 for a vehicle. The charging device 100 comprises on the input side an input connection unit 110 for connecting at least one first phase L 1 for providing a first alternating voltage UW 1 and a second phase L 2 for providing a second alternating voltage UW 2. Preferably, the first phase L 1 and the second phase L 2, and preferably a third phase L 3, are provided by at least one AC voltage source, an external mains connection or from the infrastructure. The charging device 100 comprises on the output side a two-pole output connection unit 120 for connecting an energy store 130 to be charged. At least one first charging circuit 140 for converting the first alternating voltage UW 1 into a first direct voltage UG 1 and one second charging circuit 150 for converting the second alternating voltage UW 2 into a second direct voltage UG 2 are connected between the input connection unit and the output connection unit, and preferably a third charging circuit 142 for converting a third alternating voltage UW 3 into a third direct voltage UG 3. The charging circuits 140, 150, 142 are connected in parallel on the output side. At least the second charging circuit 150 can be operated bidirectionally. The second charging circuit 150 is connected on the input side to a switching element 160, preferably electrically connected. The switching element 160 is configured to connect the second phase L 2 to the second charging circuit 150 on the input side via the input connection unit 110 in a first switch position (not illustrated in FIG. 1 ). In a second switch position (illustrated in FIG. 1 ), the switching element 160 is configured to connect a further phase LW of a V2L socket 170 on the input side to the second charging circuit 150. Preferably, a control device (not shown) is provided, which is configured to actuate the charging circuits 140, 150, 142 and the switching element 160 and in particular to actuate the second charging circuit 150 for a charging operation and to switch the switching element 160 into the first switch position, preferably to provide an output-side, preferably regulable or predeterminable, charging voltage for charging the connectable energy store, or to actuate the second charging circuit 150 for a supply operation and to switch the switching element 160 into the second switch position, preferably to provide an input-side, preferably regulable or predeterminable, AC voltage at the V2L socket for supplying a connectable load. Preferably, the level of the alternating voltage to be provided can be regulated or preset by means of the charging circuit 150 via the control by means of the control unit.FIG. 2 shows a schematically illustrated vehicle 300 having a drive train 200 having a charging device 100. The vehicle 300 is shown here only by way of example with four wheels, wherein the invention can likewise be used in any vehicles with any number of wheels on a country basis, on water basis and in the air. The drive train 200 illustrated by way of example comprises at least one charger 100. Furthermore, the drive train preferably comprises an energy store 130, an inverter 180 and an electric machine 190.FIG. 3 shows a schematically illustrated flow diagram for a method 400 for operating a charging device 100. Method 400 starts with step 405. In step 410, the charging device 100 is operated, wherein the first charging circuit 140 converts a first AC voltage UW 1 into a first DC voltage UG 1 and at the same time the second charging circuit 150 converts a DC voltage of a connectable energy store 130 into a second AC voltage UW 2, which is provided via the switching element 160 at a further phase LW of a V2L socket 170. The method ends with step 415.In summary, a charging device is provided in which one or two phases of the charging device are preferably used for the charging function and a further phase is operated in the opposite direction and used for the V2L function. Advantageously, the V2L function can also be provided during the AC charging. A power-electronic additional component otherwise necessary for this function is not required. A phase of a bidirectional charging device which is already present is equalized for this function.

Claims

Charging device (100) for a vehicle, wherein the charging device (100) comprises on the input side an input connection unit (110) for connecting at least one first phase (L1), with a first alternating voltage (UW1), and a second phase (L2), with a second alternating voltage (UW2), and comprises on the output side a two-pole output connection unit (120) for connecting an energy store (130) to be charged, wherein at least one first charging circuit (140) for converting the input-side first alternating voltage (UW1) into an output-side first direct voltage (UG1) and one second charging circuit (150) for converting the input-side second alternating voltage (UW2) into an output-side second direct voltage (UG2) are connected between the input connection unit (110) and the output connection unit (120), wherein the charging circuits (140, 150) are connected in parallel on the output side, wherein at least the second charging circuit (150) can be operated bidirectionally, characterized in that the second charging circuit (150) is connected on the input side to a switching element (160) which is configured to connect the second phase (L2) on the input side to the second charging circuit (150) via the input connection unit (110) in a first switch position and to connect a further phase (LW) of a V2L socket (170) on the input side to the second charging circuit (150) in a second switch position.The charger of claim 1, wherein the input connection unit (110) is configured to connect a neutral conductor (NE).The charger of any preceding claim, wherein the V2L socket (170) is configured to connect a neutral conductor (NV).The charger of claim 2 or 3, wherein the neutral conductor terminal of the input terminal unit (110) is connected to the neutral conductor terminal of the V2L socket (170).Drive train (200) for a vehicle (300), wherein the drive train comprises at least one charger (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and comprises an energy store (130), an inverter (180) and or an electric machine (190).Vehicle (300) comprising a drive train (200) according to claim 5.Method (400) for operating a charger (100) according to one of Claims 1 - 4, having the step of: operating (410) the charger (100), wherein the first charging circuit (140) converts a first alternating voltage (UW1) into a first direct voltage (UG1) and at the same time the second charging circuit (150) converts a direct voltage of a connectable energy store (130) into a second alternating voltage (UW2), which is provided via the switching element (160) at a further phase (LW) of a V2L socket (170).A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a controller for the charger, cause the charger to carry out the steps of the method (400) of claim 7.A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller for the charger, cause the charger to perform the steps of the method (400) of claim 7.

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