Charging system

Abstract

To control the battery temperature to be within the optimum range for charging when charging a battery.SOLUTION: A charging system 100 is connected to a battery 80A of a vehicle 70A and includes a charging unit 90 that charges the battery 80A. The charging system 100 also includes a temperature adjustment unit 92 that is connected to the battery 80A and that circulates a fluid for cooling the battery between the temperature adjustment unit and the battery when the temperature of the battery 80A is higher than a first temperature, thereby cooling the battery 80A, and that circulates a fluid for heating the battery 80A between the temperature adjustment unit and the battery 80A when the temperature of the battery 80A is lower than a second temperature, thereby heating the battery.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system for charging a battery. [Background technology]

[0002] The efficiency of rapid battery charging varies depending on the battery temperature. If the battery temperature is low or extremely high, charging efficiency decreases and charging may take a long time. Patent Document 1 describes an invention of a charging system that improves charging efficiency by charging an in-vehicle battery while cooling it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-140740 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, although the invention described in Patent Document 1 can cool the battery to be charged, it does not take into consideration controlling the temperature of the battery within an optimal range for charging. Therefore, the invention described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in terms of optimizing the charging efficiency of the battery.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charging system that can control the temperature of a battery within an optimum range for charging when charging the battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the charging system includes a charging unit connected to a vehicle battery and charging the battery, and a temperature adjustment unit connected to the battery and cooling the battery by circulating a fluid for cooling the battery between the battery and the charging unit when the temperature of the battery is higher than a first temperature, and heating the battery by circulating a fluid for heating the battery between the battery and the charging unit when the temperature of the battery is lower than a second temperature.

[0007] In the charging system of the first aspect, the charging unit is connected to a battery of a vehicle, thereby enabling charging of the battery. Here, when the temperature of the battery is higher than a first temperature, the temperature adjustment unit circulates a fluid for cooling the battery between the battery and the charging unit to cool the battery. In contrast, when the temperature of the battery is lower than a second temperature, the temperature adjustment unit circulates a fluid for heating the battery between the battery and the charging unit to warm the battery. That is, the temperature adjustment unit cools or heats the battery so that the temperature of the battery is between the first temperature and the second temperature. In this way, in the charging system of the first aspect, when charging the battery, the temperature of the battery can be controlled to an optimal range for charging.

[0008] The charging system of the second aspect is the charging system of the second aspect, which includes a plug that is connected to a connection part provided on a vehicle, and a supply part that supplies fluid to the battery, a recovery part that recovers fluid from the battery, and a charging terminal that is electrically connected to the battery are integrally provided on the plug.

[0009] In the charging system of the second aspect, a supply unit that supplies fluid to the battery, a recovery unit that recovers fluid from the battery, and a charging terminal that is electrically connected to the battery are integrally provided on the plug. In this configuration, by connecting the plug to a connecting part provided on the vehicle, the connection of the supply unit, the recovery unit, and the charging terminal can be completed simultaneously. Also, by removing the plug from the connecting part provided on the vehicle, the connection and disconnection of the supply unit, the recovery unit, and the charging terminal can be completed simultaneously.

[0010] A charging system of a third aspect is a vehicle charging system of the first or second aspect, in which the charging unit acquires the temperature and charging rate of the batteries of a plurality of vehicles, and the temperature adjustment unit performs heat exchange between the batteries of the plurality of vehicles based on the temperature and charging rate of the batteries of the plurality of vehicles acquired by the charging unit.

[0011] In the charging system of the third aspect, the temperature adjustment unit exchanges heat between the batteries of the multiple vehicles based on the temperatures and charging rates of the batteries of the multiple vehicles acquired by the charging unit. In this way, when the batteries of the multiple vehicles are charged simultaneously, the temperature of the batteries of each vehicle can be controlled to an optimal range for charging. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The present invention has the effect of being able to control the temperature of a battery within an optimum range for charging when the battery is being charged. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a charging system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of an exhaust heat recovery type heat pump. [Diagram 3] 1 is a graph showing charging time versus battery temperature. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart for explaining control by a temperature adjusting unit. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart for explaining control by a temperature adjusting unit. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart for explaining control by a temperature adjusting unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of an integrated plug. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] An example of the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging system 100 in the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the charging system 100 includes a power cabinet 10, which is a charger that controls charging, and a heat recovery type heat pump 20 that generates hot water and cold water by utilizing the exhaust heat of the power cabinet 10 supplied through a conduit 30 and controls the temperature of batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C described later. The charging system 100 also includes a power supply line 12 that supplies the power generated by the power cabinet 10 to a first post 40A, a second post 40B, and a third post 40C described later, and a communication line 14 for communication between the power cabinet 10 and the first post 40A, the second post 40B, and the third post 40C. The charging system 100 also includes a hot water / cold water supply hose 16 that supplies the hot water and cold water generated by the heat recovery type heat pump 20 to the first post 40A, the second post 40B, and the third post 40C. The charging system 100 also includes a first post 40A, a second post 40B, and a third post 40C that supply electric power generated by the power cabinet 10 to the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C via the charging plugs 50A, 50B, and 50C, respectively, and supply hot water and cold water generated by the heat exhaust pump 20 to the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C via the temperature adjustment plugs 60A, 60B, and 60C, respectively. Here, the range from the power cabinet 10 to the charging plugs 50A, 50B, and 50C constitutes a charging section 90. The range from the heat exhaust pump 20 to the temperature adjustment plugs 60A, 60B, and 60C constitutes a temperature adjustment section 92.

[0015] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the exhaust heat recovery heat pump 20. The exhaust heat recovery heat pump 20 is a device that cools and heats water using the heat of vaporization and heat of condensation of a heat medium. The heat medium is a substance that can be easily liquefied by being cooled after adiabatic compression, and can also be easily restored to a gaseous state by being heated after adiabatic expansion from the liquefied state.

[0016] Specifically, in the exhaust heat recovery heat pump 20, the heat medium vaporized in the evaporator 22 is compressed by the compressor 24 to convert the heat medium into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state, which is then cooled by the condenser 26 and converted into a high-pressure liquid. Water that has been cooled as a result of being used to heat the battery of any of the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C can be used to cool the condenser 26. The water that has been heated by being used to cool the condenser 26 is supplied to the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C of the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C via the hot water / cold water supply hose 16 as necessary, and is used to heat the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C of these vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C.

[0017] The heat medium converted to a high-pressure liquid by the condenser 26 is adiabatically expanded by the expansion valve 28, and as a result, the pressure is reduced and the heat medium becomes a mixture of gas and liquid. Then, the mixture of gas and liquid is heated by the evaporator 22 and converted to a low-pressure gas. For heating, water that has been heated as a result of being used to cool the battery of any one of the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C can be used. The water that has been cooled by being used for heating by the evaporator 22 is supplied to the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C of the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C via the hot water / cold water supply hose 16 as necessary, and is used to cool the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C of these vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C.

[0018] FIG. 3 is an example of a graph showing the charging time versus the temperature of the battery. As shown in this figure, when the temperature of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C is higher than the first temperature T1, the charging time increases as the temperature of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C increases. When the temperature of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C is lower than the second temperature T2, the charging time increases as the temperature of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C decreases. From this, it can be seen that the charging efficiency of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C can be suppressed from decreasing by controlling the temperature of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C so that the temperature of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C is between the first temperature T1 and the second temperature T2. As an example, the first temperature T1 is 30° C. and the second temperature T2 is 20° C., but these temperatures vary depending on the configuration of the batteries.

[0019] The control by the temperature adjusting unit 92 will now be described.

[0020] 1, in the charging system 100 of this embodiment, the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C can be charged by connecting the charging plugs 50A, 50B, and 50C and the temperature adjustment plugs 60A, 60B, and 60C to the vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C, respectively. When the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C can be charged, the temperatures and charging rates of the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C are monitored by the charging unit 90. Note that, hereinafter, the control when charging the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A at the first post 40A will be mainly described.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, first, when charging is started in step S101, the temperature adjustment unit 92 issues a charging start notification in step S102. Next, the temperature adjustment unit 92 judges whether or not the temperature of the battery 80A exceeds the second temperature T2 based on the signal from the charging unit 90 in step S103. If the judgment in step S103 is affirmative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 judges whether or not the temperature of the battery 80A is below the first temperature T1 based on the signal from the charging unit 90 in step S104. If the judgment in step S104 is affirmative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 issues a standby notification in step S105. Next, the temperature adjustment unit 92 judges whether or not charging of the battery 80A is completed based on the signal from the charging unit 90 in step S106. If the judgment in step S106 is affirmative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 outputs a charging completion notification in step S107 and ends the process. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S106, the temperature adjustment unit 92 repeats the processes from step S101 onwards.

[0022] Moreover, if a negative determination is made in step S103, the temperature adjustment unit 92 issues a heating request in step S108, and performs the processes in and after step S106.

[0023] If a negative determination is made in step S104, the temperature adjusting unit 92 issues a cooling request in step S109, and performs the processes in and after step S106.

[0024] When charging the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B at the second post 40B and when charging the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C at the third post 40C, the same processes as those in steps S101 to S109 are carried out.

[0025] 5, the temperature adjustment unit 92 determines in step S201 whether or not there is a heating request in step S108 described above. If a positive determination is made in step S201, the temperature adjustment unit 92 supplies hot water, which is a fluid for heating the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A, to the battery 80A in step S202. The hot water circulates between the temperature adjustment unit 92 and the battery 80A, thereby heating the battery 80A.

[0026] Next, in step S203, the temperature adjustment unit 92 determines whether charging of the battery 80A is complete based on a signal from the charging unit 90. If the determination in step S203 is YES, the temperature adjustment unit 92 ends the process. On the other hand, if the determination in step S203 is NO, the temperature adjustment unit 92 repeats the processes from step S201 onwards.

[0027] If a negative determination is made in step S201, the temperature adjustment unit 92 determines in step S204 whether or not there is a cooling request in the above-mentioned step S109. If a positive determination is made in step S204, the temperature adjustment unit 92 supplies cold water, which is a fluid for cooling the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A, to the battery 80A in step S205. The cold water circulates between the temperature adjustment unit 92 and the battery 80A, thereby cooling the battery 80A. Next, the temperature adjustment unit 92 repeats the processes from step S203 onwards.

[0028] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S204, the temperature adjustment unit 92 performs the processes in and after step S203.

[0029] When charging the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B at the second post 40B and when charging the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C at the third post 40C, the same processes as those in steps S201 to S505 are performed.

[0030] As described above, according to the charging system 100 of this embodiment, when charging the batteries 80A, 80B, 80C of the vehicles 70A, 70B, 70C, the temperatures of the batteries 80A, 80B, 80C can be controlled within an optimum range for charging.

[0031] Here, in the charging system of the present embodiment, batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C of the multiple vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C are connected to a temperature adjustment unit 92. Therefore, heat exchange can be performed between the batteries 80A, 80B, and 80C of the multiple vehicles 70A, 70B, and 70C.

[0032] For example, when the temperature of the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A is lower than the second temperature T2, the temperature of the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B is lower than the first temperature T1 and higher than the second temperature T2, and the temperature of the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C in the third post 40C is higher than the first temperature T3, the temperature adjustment unit 92 supplies hot water to the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A to increase the temperature of the battery 80A. Also, the temperature adjustment unit 92 supplies cold water to the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C in the third post 40C to decrease the temperature of the battery 80C. Here, from the viewpoint of charging efficiency, it is not necessary to adjust the temperature of the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B, but when raising the temperature of the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A is a priority, the temperature adjustment unit 92 supplies cold water to the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B to lower the temperature of the battery 80B and promote the rise in temperature of the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A. That is, the temperature adjustment unit 92 promotes the rise in temperature of the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A by exchanging heat between the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B and the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A.

[0033] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, in step S301, the temperature adjustment unit 92 judges whether or not there is a standby notification in the above-mentioned step S105 in the charging of the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B. If the judgment in step S301 is affirmative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 judges in step S302 whether or not there is a cooling request in the above-mentioned step S109 in the charging of the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C in the third post 40C. If the judgment in step S302 is affirmative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 judges in step S303 whether or not the charging rate of the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A in the first post 40A is equal to or higher than the charging rate of the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C in the third post 40C. If the judgment in step S303 is negative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 lowers the temperature of the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B by supplying cold water to the battery 80B. This promotes an increase in temperature of the battery 80A of the vehicle 70A at the first post 40A.

[0034] If the determination in step S303 is affirmative, then in step S305, the temperature adjustment unit 92 supplies hot water to the battery 80B of the vehicle 70B in the second post 40B to raise the temperature of the battery 80B. This promotes a drop in the temperature of the battery 80C of the vehicle 70C in the third post 40C. If the determination in step S301 is negative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 repeats the processes in step S301 and thereafter. If the determination in step S302 is negative, the temperature adjustment unit 92 repeats the processes in step S301 and thereafter.

[0035] As described above, according to the charging system 100 of this embodiment, when the batteries 80A, 80B, 80C of multiple vehicles 70A, 70B, 70C are charged simultaneously, the temperatures of the batteries 80A, 80B, 80C of each vehicle 70A, 70B, 70C can be controlled to within an optimal range for charging.

[0036] (Integrated plug 94 configuration) FIG. 7 shows a plug 94 that can be applied to the charging system 100 described above. This plug 94 has the functions of both the charging plug 50A and the temperature adjustment plug 60A described above. In detail, this plug 94 has a supply unit 96A that supplies fluid to the battery 80A, a recovery unit 96B that recovers fluid from the battery 80A, and a charging terminal 98 that is electrically connected to the battery 80A, all of which are integrally provided on the plug 94. In this configuration, by connecting the plug 94 to a connected portion provided on the vehicle 70A, the connection of the supply unit 96A, the recovery unit 96B, and the charging terminal 98 can be completed simultaneously. Also, by removing the plug 94 from the connected portion provided on the vehicle 70A, the connection and disconnection of the supply unit 96A, the recovery unit 96B, and the charging terminal 98 can be completed simultaneously.

[0037] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it is of course possible to implement the present invention in various other modified forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 70A Vehicle 70B Vehicle 70C Vehicle 80A battery 80B battery 80C battery 90 Live parts 92 Temperature control section 94 Plug 96A Supply Section 96B Recovery Department 98 Charging terminal 100 Charging System

Claims

1. A charging unit that is connected to a battery of a vehicle and charges the battery; a temperature adjustment unit connected to the battery, for circulating a fluid for cooling the battery between the battery and the temperature adjustment unit when the temperature of the battery is higher than a first temperature, and for circulating a fluid for heating the battery between the battery and the temperature adjustment unit when the temperature of the battery is lower than a second temperature, to heat the battery; Equipped with a charging system.

2. A plug is provided to be connected to a connected portion provided in a vehicle, 2. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein a supply section that supplies fluid to the battery, a recovery section that recovers fluid from the battery, and a charging terminal that is electrically connected to the battery are integrally provided on the plug.

3. The charging unit acquires temperatures and charging rates of the batteries of a plurality of vehicles, 3. The vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment unit performs heat exchange between the batteries of the plurality of vehicles based on the temperatures and charging rates of the batteries of the plurality of vehicles acquired by the charging unit.

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