MOBILE POWER SUPPLY UNIT FOR UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY OF AN EXTERNAL POWER GRID

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile power supply unit for the uninterruptible power supply of an external power grid.

[0002] Emergency power generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are known from the state of the art and are used to power electrical networks. These are usually high-performance diesel generators with a capacity of up to 800 kVA, for example. They are used by energy suppliers, among others, to stabilize the power grid during peak demand, such as that which can occur at large events. If a section of the power grid needs to be disconnected or interrupted at a predetermined point for maintenance or renovation work, such emergency power generators can also be used to temporarily power the disconnected section.

[0003] Another use is charging electric vehicles away from other charging options.

[0004] While diesel fuel is readily available and easy to transport for such emergency generators, and the generator's tank can be refilled during operation, diesel generators are very maintenance-intensive. Furthermore, the stringent requirements for diesel generators regarding exhaust and pollutant emissions mean that older diesel generators are no longer permitted to operate, and the production and purchase costs for new diesel generators are increasing.

[0005] Furthermore, it is problematic that emergency power generators or UPSs, which generate the electricity directly, are comparatively sluggish and cannot react dynamically to load changes.

[0006] If the power grid supplied by such emergency generators contains power generation facilities, such as photovoltaic systems, any potential energy surplus is lost.

[0007] A mobile energy system for receiving, temporarily storing and feeding energy back into the grid from a power grid is known, for example, from WO 2016 / 030151 A1.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the objective of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and providing a mobile energy supply unit for the uninterruptible power supply of an external power grid, which should, however, be flexible in its application and should be able to supply the external power grid with more energy than an internal storage of the energy supply unit provides.

[0009] This problem is solved by the combination of features according to claim 1.

[0010] According to the invention, a mobile power supply unit for the uninterruptible power supply of an external power grid is proposed according to claim 1. This unit comprises an energy storage device, a first interface electrically connected to the energy storage device for energy transmission, a second interface electrically connected to the energy storage device for energy transmission, and electronics. In general, according to the invention, "energy" is understood to mean electrical energy, so that the energy storage device, preferably connected to the external power grid via the first interface, serves as a voltage or current source for the external power grid.

[0011] According to the invention, the electronics comprise a charging logic by which the charging and discharging of the energy storage device is controlled and regulated via the first and second interfaces. In an advantageous embodiment, the charging logic can also include a voltage divider, which, for example, enables energy supplied via the second interface to power the external power grid via the first interface and simultaneously charge the energy storage device. Accordingly, one variant provides that the first interface is configured to supply energy to the external power grid by discharging the energy storage device, and that the second interface is configured to charge the energy storage device with energy supplied from an external source.According to the invention, and to increase the flexibility of the mobile energy supply unit, it is provided that both the first and the second interface are bidirectional, so that charging and discharging of the energy storage is possible via both the first and the second interface.

[0012] The energy supply unit can, for example, be located on a trailer or in or on a vehicle, making it portable and mobile, or able to be used flexibly at different locations.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively, in a further advantageous embodiment, the energy supply unit is provided for in a frame which enables easy loading and transport.

[0014] The invention further provides that the electronics are configured to monitor and control the charging and discharging of the energy storage device via the first interface as well as the charging and discharging via the second interface. If the interfaces are designated for charging and discharging respectively, the electronics are also configured to monitor and control simultaneous charging or discharging of the energy storage device via the first and second interfaces. Over time, the charging and discharging via the respective interface can also vary, so that the external power grid can initially supply energy via the first interface and the energy storage device can be discharged, and subsequently the energy storage device can be supplied with energy via the first interface and charged.

[0015] The energy storage device or accumulator is preferably composed of a large number of cells, which can be divided into two groups. The first group supplies power to the external power grid via the first interface, while the cells of the second group are charged via the second interface. If the energy content of the first group falls below a predetermined value, such that the power supply to the external power grid is no longer possible or will soon no longer be possible, individual cells or all cells of one group can be assigned to the other group. The electronics are designed accordingly to at least detect the state of charge of the individual cells and assign the cells to a specific group, thus charging or discharging them.

[0016] A fundamental concept of the invention is that the power supply unit enables the external power grid to be supplied with energy, and that simultaneously, the energy storage unit of the power supply unit can be "refueled" via the second interface. To enable the most flexible "refueling" possible via the second interface, an advantageous embodiment provides that the second interface is configured as a wide-range input and / or that the electronics include a wide-range converter, which is designed to convert electrical energy supplied via the second interface for charging the energy storage. This allows a wide variety of energy or voltage sources to be connected to the second interface and used to charge the energy storage.

[0017] Furthermore, an additional wide-range converter can be provided and designed to convert the electrical energy of the energy storage device or the electrical energy supplied via the second interface for the supply of the electrical network and to make it available at the first interface.

[0018] The energy storage device is preferably a battery, and in particular a lithium-ion battery.

[0019] The power supply unit proposed here is specifically designed to temporarily supply external power grids with high power demands. Therefore, in an advantageous variant, the first interface is a connector, and in particular a high-current connector. A high-current connector is defined here as a connector rated for at least 120 A.

[0020] In general, alternatively or additionally to a connector for the first interface, a corresponding clamping device can also be provided, through which electrical conductors or the external power grid can be connected to the power supply unit via the first interface without a plug.

[0021] To simplify charging the energy storage device via the second interface, it is further preferably provided that the second interface is also a connector, and in particular a high-current connector. The second interface can also be configured, in particular, as a Type 1 plug, a Type 1 socket, a Type 2 plug, a Type 2 socket, a combo plug, or a combo socket to enable or simplify the connection of an electric vehicle for charging the energy storage device. The aforementioned connectors are the interfaces available on the market at the time of application and specified in accordance with applicable standards, with the corresponding number of poles, mating face, pin assignment, and other specifications required for plug compatibility.Since these technical details are generally known, their explicit description is omitted, although the respective specifications are disclosed in the application. In addition to such generally known connectors, trademarked connectors, known at the time of filing as CHAdeMO connectors or Tesla Superchargers, may also be used. Alternatively, "Schuko" plugs or other CEE plugs or sockets may be used as connectors for the second interface.

[0022] As described, it is particularly advantageous if the power supply unit allows for easy charging of the energy storage device by connecting an external energy source, such as an electric vehicle, to the energy storage device via the second interface. For this purpose, an advantageous embodiment provides that the second interface is configured to be connected to the energy storage device of an electric vehicle, thereby enabling the energy storage device of the power supply unit to be connected to the energy storage device of the electric vehicle.

[0023] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system comprising an energy supply unit according to the invention and an external energy storage device. The energy supply unit can be connected to the external energy storage device via its second interface, and the energy storage device of the energy supply unit can be electrically charged by the external energy storage device. Accordingly, it is provided that the energy supply unit is at least temporarily connected to the external energy storage device and is "refueled" by it.

[0024] It is also advantageous if the system further includes an external power grid. In this case, the power supply unit is designed to be connectable to, or already connected to, the external power grid via its first interface and is configured to supply electrical energy to the external power grid via this first interface, thereby powering the grid. Alternatively or additionally, it is designed to receive electrical energy from the external power grid via the first interface to charge the power supply unit's energy storage, thus utilizing any energy surplus in the external power grid to charge the power supply unit's energy storage.

[0025] Furthermore, a variant of the system is advantageous in which the external energy storage is an energy storage device of an electric vehicle.

[0026] The features disclosed above can be combined in any way, provided that this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other.

[0027] Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or are described in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figure. It shows: Fig. 1 schematic overview of a system consisting of a power supply unit, an external power grid and an external energy storage unit.

[0028] The figure shows a schematic view of a system 1 which includes an external power grid 10, an electric vehicle 20 and a mobile power supply unit 30.

[0029] If the external power grid 10 needs to be disconnected from its original power supply, so that the individual consumers 13 of the external power grid would be without power or cut off from the supply, the external power grid 10 can be connected via its interface 11, which is provided, for example, on a distribution board 12 of the external power grid 10, to the first interface 31 of the power supply unit 30, so that the energy storage 34 of the power supply unit 30 supplies the external power grid 10 with energy via the first interface 31 and is monitored and controlled by electronics 33 of the power supply unit 30.

[0030] Powered by electricity.

[0031] If the charge level of the energy storage device 34, which is designed as a battery, falls below a predetermined value, the energy storage device 34 can be recharged via its second interface 32 in parallel with the discharge via the first interface 31.

[0032] For this purpose, an electric vehicle 20 with an external energy storage device 22 and an interface 21 is shown as an example, which charges the energy storage device 34 of the energy supply unit 30 via the second interface 32 and is monitored and controlled by the electronics 33.

[0033] As an alternative to an electric vehicle 20, however, another external energy storage device, as well as a second mobile energy supply unit, can be provided, through which the "first" energy supply unit 30 or its energy storage device 34 can be charged.

[0034] Both the power supply unit 30 and any second power supply unit that may be present can each be mounted on a trailer or have a stable frame, so that the power supply unit is suitable for transport, portable and can be used flexibly at different locations.

[0035] If the energy supply unit 30 is not connected via its first interface 31 and therefore its mobility is not restricted, it can, for example, be transported to a charging station for electric vehicles and charged there.

[0036] In the event that the energy supply unit 30 is connected to the external power grid 10 via its first interface 31 and its mobility is therefore restricted, the energy supply unit 30 or its energy storage device 34 can be charged repeatedly and multiple times via the second interface 32. For this purpose, for example, an electric vehicle 20 or another external energy storage device can "shuttle" between a charging station and the energy supply unit 30 several times.

Claims

1. A mobile energy supply unit (30) configured with means for uninterruptible power supply of an external power grid (10), wherein the energy supply unit (30) has an energy store (34), a first interface (31) that is electrically connected to the energy store (34) for transmitting energy, and a second interface (32) that is electrically connected to the energy store (34) for transmitting energy, as well as electronics (33), wherein the first interface (31) and the second interface (32) are each configured bidirectionally and the electronics (33) are configured to monitor and control charging of the energy store (34) via the first interface (31) and the second interface (32) and discharging of the energy store (34) via the first interface (31) and the second interface (32).

2. The energy supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the second interface (32) is configured as a wide-range input and / or the electronics (33) comprise a wide-range converter that is configured to convert at least a voltage level of electrical energy supplied via the second interface (32) for charging the energy store (34).

3. The energy supply unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy store (34) is an accumulator and especially a lithium-ion accumulator.

4. The energy supply unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first interface (31) is a plug connector and especially a high-power plug connector.

5. The energy supply unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second interface (32) is a plug connector and especially a high-power plug connector and wherein the second interface is especially configured as a type 1 plug, a type 1 socket, a type 2 plug, a type 2 socket, a combined plug or a combined socket.

6. The energy supply unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second interface (32) is configured to be connected to an energy store (22) of an electric vehicle (20) and the energy store (34) of the energy supply unit (30) being thereby connectable to the energy store (22) of the electric vehicle (20).

7. A system (1) consisting of an energy supply unit (30) according to any one of the preceding claims and an external energy store (22), wherein the energy supply unit (30) is connectable to the external energy store (22) via its second interface (32) and the energy store (34) of the energy supply unit (30) is electrically chargeable via the external energy store (22).

8. The system according to the preceding claim, further comprising an external power grid (10), wherein the energy supply unit (30) is connectable to the external power grid (10) via its first interface (31) and is configured to release electrical energy to the external power grid (10) via the first interface (31) and / or to receive electrical energy from the external power grid (10) via the first interface (31) for charging the power store (34) of the energy supply device (30).

9. The system according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the external energy store (22) is an energy store (22) of an electric vehicle (20).