Device, method and computer program product for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery of a means of transport.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (10) for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery (12) of a means of transport, comprising - a first assembly (14) with a charging device-charging communication control unit (18), and - a second assembly (16) with a transport vehicle charging communication control unit (20), wherein - the first assembly (14) and the second assembly (16) can be electrically and electronically connected to each other by means of a plug-socket unit (17) using cables (40), and - a computing unit (22) arranged in or acting on the first assembly (14) and / or in the second assembly (16), on which simulation software (SSW) can be executed to simulate the exchange behavior of a battery (12) of the means of transport assigned to the second assembly (16), taking into account the signals output by the charging device-charging communication control unit (18) and the means of transport-charging communication control unit (20). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and a computer program for simulating a bidirectional exchange. of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery of a means of transport by means of a device according to the invention.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery of a means of transport. The invention also relates to a method and a computer program for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery of a means of transport. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The battery, also called accumulator or simply accumulator, to which the present invention relates, serves to provide electrical energy for powering an electric motor of a means of transport. The means of transport is specifically designed as an electric vehicle, but can also be an aircraft, ship, or train. When electric vehicles are mentioned below, the relevant statements apply analogously to other means of transport and, in particular, to the aforementioned means of transport.

[0003] As of the priority date of the present application, electric vehicles are predominantly charged unidirectionally, whereby the electrical energy is directed from a charging device, in particular a charging station or a wallbox, to the battery where it can be stored. The charging device is usually connected to the public electricity grid, but can also be powered by home energy systems such as solar panels.

[0004] Especially when electricity is generated from renewable sources, particularly solar panels or wind turbines, the available amount of electricity fluctuates considerably. While plenty of electricity is available on windy and sunny days, this is not the case on windless and overcast days ("dark doldrums").

[0005] As with vehicles powered by combustion engines, electric vehicles are stationary between 90 and 95% of the time. When electric vehicles are connected to the public and / or domestic power grid during this period, their batteries can be used as energy storage, for example, during times when there is a surplus of electricity but little demand. The storage capacity of batteries in stationary electric vehicles can therefore be used to compensate for such fluctuations. However, this requires not only feeding electrical energy into the batteries but also feeding electrical energy back from the batteries into the power grid. In this sense, energy must be able to flow in both directions, which is referred to below as bidirectional energy exchange. The charging device then acts as both the input and output of the power grid.

[0006] To ensure the efficient use of storage capacities, a multitude of boundary conditions must be considered during the bidirectional exchange of electrical energy. These boundary conditions are primarily determined by the power grid, the electric vehicle, and the electric vehicle user. Boundary conditions determined by the power grid mainly include the aforementioned balance between supply and demand for electrical energy. Boundary conditions determined by the electric vehicle include, for example, the currently available storage capacity and the charging and discharging rates. Boundary conditions determined by the electric vehicle user include, for example, the desired state of charge of the battery at a specific time. If the user intends to embark on a longer journey at a particular time, the boundary condition might be that the battery should be at least 90% charged at that time.

[0007] The exchange of electrical energy also has an economic component, as electrical energy is purchased by the electric vehicle user when charging the battery and sold when fed from the battery into the power grid. In this respect, upper and lower price limits for electrical energy can be a further constraint.

[0008] This already demonstrates that a large amount of information must be considered to effectively facilitate the bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between the charging device and the battery of the vehicle in question. This, however, makes the bidirectional exchange very complex. In this context, reference should be made to the ISO 15118 standard.

[0009] The bidirectional exchange is essentially software-controlled, with the software primarily running on a charging equipment communication controller (SECC) and an electric vehicle communication controller (EVCC). The software therefore has a decisive influence on how the bidirectional exchange is carried out. Only if the software is able to adequately consider the boundary conditions described above can the exchange of electrical energy be carried out effectively and to the satisfaction of the electric vehicle user.

[0010] The development and especially the testing of such software is very complex, so there is a need for a way to test the software and identify areas for improvement. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] One embodiment of the invention relates to a device for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery of a means of transport, comprising - a first assembly with a charging device / charging communication control unit, and - a second assembly with a transport vehicle charging communication control unit, wherein - the first assembly and the second assembly are electrically and electronically connectable to each other by means of a plug-socket unit using cables, and - a computing unit arranged in or acting on the first assembly and / or in the second assembly, on which simulation software can be executed to simulate the exchange behavior of a battery of the means of transport assigned to the second assembly, taking into account the signals output by the charging device-charging communication control unit and the means of transport-charging communication control unit.

[0012] The term "battery" can be understood as a storage device for electrical energy that can be charged and discharged. The term "electrically conductive" can refer to a connection through which electrical energy can be exchanged between the first and second components. The term "electronic" can be understood to mean that, in particular, control and regulation signals and corresponding commands can be exchanged between the first and second components. The first and second components can be spatially separated but arranged adjacent to each other.

[0013] A key aspect of the present invention is that the number of physically present hardware components in the device according to the invention is kept as low as possible and reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the hardware components typically found in an electric vehicle and involved in charging and discharging the battery are to be simulated as closely as possible. The first assembly of the device according to the invention is simulated so that its charging behavior corresponds as closely as possible to that of a commonly used charging station, while the second assembly is simulated so that its charging behavior corresponds as closely as possible to that of the hardware components of the electric vehicle involved in the charging process.Nevertheless, the exchange of electrical energy is not fully simulated; instead, at least the charging equipment-charging communication control unit (SECC), the vehicle-charging communication control unit (EVCC), and the plug-in socket unit are used as hardware components. This allows, in particular, the testing of various software programs, which, as described above, run on the SECC and the EVCC, and the identification of potential improvements. In practice, the plug-in socket unit forms the physical layer through which communication between the vehicle and the charging equipment takes place. Typically, the plug-in socket unit is standardized. Furthermore, the number of practically relevant plug-in socket units is very limited. Technical modifications would be virtually impossible to implement. Consequently, a simulation would offer no significant added value, which is why it is omitted.

[0014] Due to the small number of hardware components, the device can be operated flexibly and bidirectional communication can be tested under various conditions. The quality of the software running on the SECC and the EVCC can be evaluated quickly.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the simulation software can be designed in such a way that the signals transmitted from one of the charging device control units assigned to the first assembly to the charging communication control unit can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior.

[0016] The charging equipment control unit, also known as an EVSE controller (electric vehicle supply equipment controller), is a component of many charging systems. Including the EVSE controller in the simulation improves the simulation of the entire bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between the charging system and the battery. The way the software installed on the EVSE controller manages this bidirectional exchange influences battery aging and lifespan. This software can be examined for potential improvements in this regard.

[0017] In a further developed embodiment, the simulation software can be designed such that the signals transmitted from one of the bidirectional power electronic components assigned to the charging device's charging communication control unit can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. Power electronic components are switching components used to convert electrical energy. Typical applications include frequency converters, inverters, switching regulators, and switched-mode power supplies. Including power electronic components, which are typically part of a charging device, in the simulation improves the simulation of the entire exchange of electrical energy between the charging device and the battery. Furthermore, the power electronic components can be tested for potential improvements.

[0018] In a further developed embodiment, the simulation software can be designed such that the signals transmitted from one of the vehicle control units (VCUs) assigned to the second assembly to the vehicle charging communication control unit can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. The vehicle control unit is also referred to as a "Vehicle Control Unit" (VCU). The VCU coordinates the components of the electric vehicle's powertrain or partially assumes their functions. These include, for example, the control of the battery management system, as well as the transmission and motor control. Including the VCU in the simulation improves the simulation of the entire exchange of electrical energy between the charging device and the battery. Furthermore, the VCU can be tested for potential improvements.

[0019] In another embodiment, the simulation software can be designed such that the signals transmitted from one of the battery management systems assigned to the second assembly to the vehicle charging communication control unit can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. The battery management system serves, in particular, to monitor, control, and protect the battery. The battery management system can provide information on the battery's condition, for example, regarding the state of charge, aging, internal resistance, authentication and identification, and battery temperature. Considering the information provided by the battery management system improves the simulation of the entire exchange of electrical energy between the charging device and the battery. Furthermore, improvements in battery management can be identified.

[0020] A further developed embodiment may be characterized by the fact that - the first assembly to connect the first assembly to an external power grid and - the second assembly shall have a second connection for connecting the second assembly to a battery of a means of transport.

[0021] In this embodiment, the device can be connected to a real, existing external power grid, such as the public power grid or a building's internal power grid. Additionally, a vehicle battery can be connected to the device. While this embodiment increases the number of hardware components, it allows for the simulation, performed without a connected power grid or battery, to be tested to determine how accurately it represents the real-world power grid and battery. Specifically, the battery simulation uses data sets that include, for example, current limits and battery curves. This embodiment allows for verification of whether these data sets are sufficient to realistically simulate the battery's behavior during the exchange of electrical energy.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the device can include a conversion unit for providing high voltage, which can be connected to the first terminal. Batteries in modern vehicles typically operate at high voltage. Voltages typically used are 400 or 800 volts. With a conversion unit, in particular a transformer or an inverter, the voltage supplied by the public power grid can be adapted to the voltage used by the battery connected to the device.

[0023] In another embodiment, it may be advantageous for the plug-socket unit to be designed as a combined charging system. The combined charging system is also referred to as a "Combined Charging System" (CCS). CCS 1 and CCS 2 are widely used charging systems, so the simulation that can be performed with the device according to the invention is of great practical importance. In particular, the simulation can be carried out in accordance with ISO 15118.

[0024] One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery of a means of transport by means of a device according to one of the previously discussed embodiments, wherein the device - a first assembly with a charging device / charging communication control unit, and - includes a second assembly with a transport vehicle charging communication control unit and the procedure comprises the following steps: - electrically conductive and electronic connection of the first assembly and the second assembly by means of a plug-socket unit using cables, and - The execution of simulation software to simulate the exchange behavior of a battery of the means of transport assigned to the second assembly, taking into account the signals output by the charging device-charging communication control unit and the means of transport-charging communication control unit, can be carried out on a computing unit arranged in the first assembly and / or in the second assembly.

[0025] One embodiment of the invention relates to a computer program product with a program code that is stored on a medium readable by the computing unit, for carrying out the method according to the previously described embodiment.

[0026] The technical effects and advantages achievable with the proposed method and the computer program product according to the invention are essentially the same as those discussed for the present device, the drive device. In summary, it should be noted that, due to the small number of hardware components of the device, the bidirectional exchange can be flexibly tested under various conditions. The quality of the software running on the SECC and the EVCC can be evaluated quickly. IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

[0027] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows Fig. 1 An embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in a schematic representation.

[0028] Fig. Figure 1 shows the basic structure of an embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery 12 of a means of transport. Since the behavior of the charging device and the means of transport is to be simulated as far as possible during the bidirectional exchange of electrical energy, these are in Fig. 1 is not shown and is not needed as a physical unit.

[0029] The device 10 comprises a first assembly 14 and a second assembly 16, which can be connected to each other by means of a plug-socket unit 17 and which are spaced apart from each other.

[0030] The first assembly 14 comprises a charging equipment charging communication controller 18, also known as SECC (Supply Equipment Communication Controller), while the second assembly 16 comprises a transport vehicle charging communication controller 20, also known as EVCC (Electric Vehicle Communication Controller).

[0031] Furthermore, the device 10 comprises a computing unit 22, which can be arranged in the first assembly 14 and / or the second assembly 16. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the computing unit 22 is arranged outside the first assembly 14 and outside the second assembly 16. The computing unit 22 is nevertheless connected to the first assembly 14 and the second assembly 16 in such a way that it can interact with the first assembly 14 and the second assembly 16. Simulation software SSW is installed on the computing unit 22, which can execute the exchange behavior of a battery 12 of the transport vehicle assigned to the second assembly 16, taking into account the signals output by the charging device-charging communication control unit 18 and the transport vehicle-charging communication control unit 20.

[0032] The SSW simulation software is designed such that the first assembly 14 is assigned a charging device control unit 24 and a bidirectional power electronics component 26. Furthermore, the SSW simulation software is designed such that the second assembly is assigned a vehicle control unit 28, also known as a VCU (Vehicle Control Unit), and a battery management system 29. The charging device control unit 24, the power electronics component 26, the vehicle control unit 28, and the battery management system 29 are therefore not hardware components, but virtual units that exist only within the SSW simulation software.

[0033] Furthermore, the first module 14 has a first connection 30 for connecting the first module 14 to an external power supply 32, and the second module 16 has a second connection 34 for connecting the second module 16 to a battery 12 of a means of transport. A converter unit 36 ​​is provided between the external power supply 32 and the first module 14, which converts the voltage supplied by the external power supply 32 to the voltage used by the battery 12 connected to the second module 16.

[0034] The plug-in socket unit 17 is designed as a combined charging system 38, also known as a Combined Charging System (CCS). When the plug-in socket unit 17 is coupled, the charging device charging communication control unit 18 and the transport vehicle charging communication control unit 20 are at least electronically connected to each other using cables 40, which means that they can exchange control and regulation signals and corresponding commands with each other.

[0035] As mentioned, the device 10 serves to simulate a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery 12 of a means of transport. The first assembly 14 is designed in the simulation software SSW to correspond to the charging device, while the second assembly 16 is modeled in the simulation software SSW to correspond to a battery 12 of the means of transport and, at least optionally, to the components typically involved in the charging process of the battery 12, such as the means of transport control unit 28 and the battery management system 29. With the exception of the charging device charging communication control unit 18, the means of transport charging communication control unit 20, and the plug-socket unit 17, the other components mentioned can be simulated and therefore do not need to be present as hardware components.Furthermore, it is not necessary to connect the first assembly 14 to the power grid and the battery 12 to the second assembly 16 to perform the simulation, although this may be useful for certain purposes. If this is the case, the battery 12 is electrically connected to the power grid when the plug-socket unit 17 is closed. For identification purposes, these cables 40 are marked with switches 42. Electrical energy can then be actually exchanged between the battery 12 and the power grid 32 using the device 10.

[0036] Particularly due to the need for flexibility, efforts are made to keep the number of real existing hardware components as low as possible in order to simulate the bidirectional exchange of electrical energy under different conditions and, in particular, to evaluate the quality of the software running on the charging equipment charging communication control unit 18 and the transport vehicle charging communication control unit 20. Reference symbol list 10 Device 12 batteries 14 first assembly 16 second assembly 17 plug-in socket unit 18 Charging equipment-charging communication control unit 20 Transport vehicle charging communication control unit 22 computing units 24 Charging device control unit 26 Power electronics component 28 Transport equipment control unit 29 Battery management system 30 first connection 32 external power grid 34 second connection 36 conversion unit 38 combined charging system 40 cables 42 switches SSW simulation software

Claims

[1] Device (10) for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery (12) of a means of transport, comprising - a first assembly (14) with a charging device-charging communication control unit (18), and - a second assembly (16) with a transport vehicle charging communication control unit (20), wherein - the first assembly (14) and the second assembly (16) can be electrically and electronically connected to each other by means of a plug-socket unit (17) using cables (40), and - a computing unit (22) arranged in or acting on the first assembly (14) and / or in the second assembly (16), on which simulation software (SSW) can be executed to simulate the exchange behavior of a battery (12) of the means of transport assigned to the second assembly (16), taking into account the signals output by the charging device-charging communication control unit (18) and the means of transport-charging communication control unit (20). [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the simulation software (SSW) is designed in such a way that the signals which are transmitted from one of the first assembly (14) to the charging equipment control unit (28) to the charging equipment charging communication control unit (18) can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. [3] Device (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by, that the simulation software (SSW) is designed in such a way that the signals which are transmitted from one of the first assembly (14) to the charging device-charging communication control unit (18) can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. [4] Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the simulation software (SSW) is designed in such a way that the signals which are transmitted from one of the second assembly (16) to the transport vehicle control unit (28) to the transport vehicle charging communication control unit (20) can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. [5] Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the simulation software (SSW) is designed in such a way that the signals which are transmitted from one of the second assembly (16) to the transport vehicle charging communication control unit (20) can be taken into account when simulating the exchange behavior. [6] Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the first assembly (14) a first connection (30) to connect the first assembly (14) to an external power supply (32) and - the second assembly (16) shall have a second connection (34) for connecting the second assembly (16) to a battery (12) of a means of transport. [7] Device (10) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the device (10) includes a conversion unit (36) for providing high voltage, which can be connected to the first terminal (30). [8] Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the plug-socket unit (17) is designed as a combined charging system (38). [9] Method for simulating a bidirectional exchange of electrical energy between a charging device and a battery (12) of a means of transport by means of a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (10) - a first assembly (14) with a charging device-charging communication control unit (18), and - a second assembly (16) with a transport vehicle charging communication control unit (20) and the method comprises the following steps: - electrically conductive and electronic connection of the first assembly (14) and the second assembly (16) by means of a plug-socket unit (17) using cables (40), and - The execution of simulation software (SSW) to simulate the exchange behavior of a battery (12) of the means of transport assigned to the second assembly (16), taking into account the signals output by the charging device-charging communication control unit (18) and the means of transport-charging communication control unit (20), can be carried out on a computing unit (22) arranged in the first assembly (14) and / or in the second assembly (16). [10] Computer program product comprising program code stored on a medium readable by the computing unit (22) for carrying out the method according to claim 9.

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