Charge control device

Abstract

To quickly bring the charging power to a target power when charging a power storage device with three-phase AC power.SOLUTION: A charge control device is used in a charger that converts external AC power into DC power and supplies it to a power storage device, and when charging of the power storage device is started, it controls the charger such that charging power that increases from a value of 0 toward a target power by the step amount is supplied to the power storage device. When the AC power is three-phase AC power, it makes the target power higher than that in a case in which the AC power is single-phase AC power. When charging of the power storage device is started, if the AC power is the three-phase AC power, it makes the step amount larger than that in a case in which the AC power is the single-phase AC power.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charge control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of charging control device, one that controls a charger that converts external AC power into DC power and supplies it to a power storage device has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this device, when the SOC of the power storage device drops to a lower limit, the charger is controlled to charge the power storage device with a predetermined power, and when the SOC rises to an upper limit, the charger is controlled to reduce the charging power of the power storage device from the predetermined power to a value of 0. This suppresses the occurrence of voltage flicker in the external AC power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-192846 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, a charging control device has been proposed that controls a charger capable of charging an energy storage device with single-phase AC and three-phase AC power. In this device, when the AC power is three-phase AC power, the energy storage device is charged more quickly with a larger target power than when the AC power is single-phase AC power. In such a device, when starting to charge the energy storage device with external AC power, if the energy storage device is immediately charged with the target power, voltage flicker may occur in the external AC power. As a method for suppressing such voltage flicker, it is considered to control the charger so that the energy storage device is charged with a charging power that increases in steps from a value of 0 to the target power. However, in this method, when the energy storage device is charged with three-phase AC power, the target power becomes large, and it takes time for the charging power to reach the target power from a value of 0.

[0005] The charge control device disclosed herein has a primary objective to quickly bring the charging power to a target power when charging an electricity storage device with three-phase AC power. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The charging control device of the present disclosure employs the following means to achieve the above-mentioned main object. The charging control device of the present disclosure is used in a charger that converts external AC power into DC power and supplies the DC power to a power storage device, and when charging of the power storage device is started, the charging control device controls the charger so that charging power that increases in steps from a value of 0 toward a target power is supplied to the power storage device, and when the AC power is three-phase AC power, the target power is made higher than when the AC power is single-phase AC power, and the gist of the charging control device is that when charging of the power storage device is started, when the AC power is the three-phase AC power, the step amount is made larger than when the AC power is the single-phase AC power. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 20. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a charge control routine. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a change in control power Pc over time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 20 equipped with a charge control device of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes an engine 22, a planetary gear 30, motors MG1 and MG2, inverters 33 and 34, a battery 36 as a power storage device, a driving power line 38, a charging power line 40, a vehicle side connection unit 42, a charger 44, a charging power line 50, and a vehicle electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle ECU") 68.

[0009] The engine 22 is configured as an internal combustion engine that outputs power using fuel such as gasoline or diesel. The crankshaft of the engine 22 is connected to a carrier of the planetary gear 30. The planetary gear 30 is configured as a single-pinion type planetary gear mechanism. The sun gear of the planetary gear 30 is connected to a rotor of the motor MG1, the ring gear is connected to a drive shaft 26, and the carrier is connected to the crankshaft of the engine 22. The drive shaft 26 is connected to the drive wheels 23 via a differential gear 24. The motors MG1 and MG2 are configured as, for example, synchronous generator motors. The rotor of the motor MG1 is connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear 30, and the rotor of the motor MG2 is connected to the drive shaft 26. The inverters 33 and 34 are used to drive the motors MG1 and MG2 and are connected to a battery 36 via a drive power line 38. The motors MG1, MG2 are rotationally driven by a vehicle ECU 68 controlling the switching of a plurality of switching elements of the inverters 33, . The battery 36 is configured as, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, and is connected to a driving power line .

[0010] The charging power line 40 has one end connected to the driving power line 38 and the other end connected to the vehicle side connection unit 42. The charging power line 40 includes three AC lines 40a to 40b capable of supplying AC power, and an earth line that is grounded. The vehicle side connection unit 42 is configured to be connectable to a power source side connection unit 82a connected to an external power source 80a that supplies single-phase AC power, or a power source side connection unit 82b connected to an external power source 80b that supplies three-phase AC power. The external power source 80b is a power source having a higher rated voltage and supply power than the external power source 80a. When the power source side connection unit 82a is connected to the vehicle side connection unit 42, AC power is supplied to the AC line 40a of the charging power line 40. When the power source side connection unit 82b is connected to the vehicle side connection unit 42, AC power is supplied to the AC lines 40a to 40c of the charging power line 40. The charger 44 is provided on the charging power line 40, and is configured to convert AC power from the external power source 80 into DC power and adjust the voltage (power) to supply it to the battery 36 when the vehicle side connection portion 42 is connected to the power source side connection portion 82a or the power source side connection portion 82b.

[0011] Although not shown, the vehicle ECU 68 includes a microprocessor having a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, input / output ports, and communication ports. Signals from various sensors are input to the vehicle ECU 68 via the input ports. Examples of the signals input to the vehicle ECU 68 include the rotational position θm of the rotor of the motor 32 from a rotational position sensor (e.g., a resolver) that detects the rotational position of the rotor of the motor 32. Examples of the signals input to the vehicle ECU 68 include the voltage Vb of the battery 36 from a voltage sensor 36a attached between the terminals of the battery 36, the current Ib of the battery 36 from a current sensor 36b attached to the output terminal of the battery 36, and the temperature Tb of the battery 36 from a temperature sensor 36c attached to the battery 36. Examples of the signals include the voltages Va to Vc of the AC lines 40a to 40c from a voltage detection unit 41 that detects the voltages of the AC lines 40a to 40c. Examples of the signals include a connection detection signal from a connection sensor provided in the vehicle-side connection unit 42. Other examples of these include a start signal from a start switch 70, a shift position SP from a shift position sensor 72 that detects the operating position of a shift lever 71, an accelerator opening Acc from an accelerator pedal position sensor 74 that detects the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal 73, a brake pedal position BP from a brake pedal position sensor 76 that detects the amount of depression of a brake pedal 75, and a vehicle speed V from a vehicle speed sensor 77.

[0012] Various control signals are output from the vehicle ECU 68 via the output port. Examples of signals output from the vehicle ECU 68 include control signals to a plurality of switching elements of the inverters 33 and 34 and control signals to the charger 44. The vehicle ECU 68 calculates the charge ratio SOC of the battery 36 based on an integrated value of the current Ib of the battery 36 from the current sensor 36b (a positive value when discharging from the battery 36), and calculates the charge / discharge power Pb of the battery 36 (a positive value when discharging from the battery 36) as the product of the voltage Vb of the battery 36 from the voltage sensor 36a and the current Ib of the battery 36 from the current sensor 36b.

[0013] In the hybrid vehicle 20 thus configured, when the charge storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 at the start of a trip is greater than a threshold value Shv1 (e.g., 50% to 60%) during each trip from when the start switch 70 is turned on to turn the system on until the start switch 70 is turned off to turn the system off, the vehicle ECU 68 controls the engine 22 and the motors MG1 and MG2 so that the vehicle runs in the CD mode until the charge storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 becomes equal to or less than a threshold value Shv2 which is smaller than the threshold value Shv1, and runs in the CS mode after the charge storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 becomes equal to or less than the threshold value Shv2. When the charge storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 at the start of a trip is equal to or less than the threshold value Shv1, the vehicle ECU 68 controls the engine 22 and the motors MG1 and MG2 so that the vehicle runs in the CS mode from the beginning. Here, the CD mode is a mode in which the charge storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 is reduced, and the CS mode is a mode in which the charge storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 is maintained within a management range including the control center Scn (e.g., the threshold value Shv2). Specifically, in the CD mode, the power storage ratio SOC of the battery 36 is lowered by prioritizing electric driving (EV driving) in which the engine 22 is stopped over hybrid driving (HV driving) in which the engine 22 is operated. In the CS mode, the power storage ratio SOC of the battery 36 is maintained within a management range by switching between EV driving and HV driving as necessary.

[0014] In addition, in the hybrid vehicle 20, when the vehicle is stopped with the system off, the vehicle side connection unit 42 is connected to the power supply side connection unit 82a connected to the external power source 80a or the power supply side connection unit 82b connected to the external power source 80b, and when an instruction is given to charge the battery 36 using AC power from the external power source 80a or the external power source 80b, the vehicle ECU 68 controls the charger 44 so that the target power P* is supplied to the battery 36 from the external power source 80a or the external power source 80b via the charging power line 40, the charger 44, and the driving power line 38. When the battery 36 is charged using AC power from the external power source 80a, the target power P* is set to a value P1, and when the battery 36 is charged using AC power from the external power source 80a, the target power P* is set to a value P2 larger than the value P1. In this manner, AC charging is performed. Then, when the power storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 reaches a threshold value Sch (for example, about 80% to 100%) or an instruction to end AC charging is issued, the vehicle ECU 68 stops driving the charger 44. This ends AC charging.

[0015] Next, the operation of the hybrid vehicle 20 of this embodiment, particularly the operation when starting AC charging, will be described. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a charging control routine executed by the vehicle ECU 68. This routine is executed when the vehicle side connection unit 42 is connected to the power supply side connection unit 82a connected to the external power supply 80a or the power supply side connection unit 82b connected to the external power supply 80b while the vehicle is stopped with the system off, and an AC charging command is issued.

[0016] When this routine is executed, the CPU of vehicle ECU 68 executes a process of inputting voltages Va-Vc of AC lines 40a-40c from voltage detection unit 41 (step S100). Next, it is determined whether or not the power supplied to charging power line 40 is single-phase AC based on the voltages Va-Vc (step S110). The determination in step S110 is that when an AC voltage is supplied to one of the voltages Va-Vc, the power supplied to charging power line 40 is single-phase AC. When an AC voltage is supplied to all of the voltages Va-Vc, it is determined that the power supplied to charging power line 40 is not single-phase AC, that is, is three-phase AC.

[0017] When the power supplied to the charging power line 40 in step S110 is single-phase AC, the step amount D is set to a value D1 (step S120), and the smaller of the control power Pc obtained by adding the step amount D (=D1) to the previous Pc, which is the control power Pc set when this routine was executed last time, and the target power P* (=P1) is set as the control power Pc, and the charger 44 is controlled so that the control power Pc is supplied to the battery 36 via the charging power line 40, the charger 44, and the driving power line 38 (step S140). When the vehicle side connection unit 42 is connected to the power supply side connection unit 82a connected to the external power source 80a or the power supply side connection unit 82b connected to the external power source 80b while the vehicle is stopped with the system off in step S140, and AC charging (AC charging), which is charging of the battery 36 using AC power from the external power source 80a or the external power source 80b, is instructed, the previous Pc is set to a value 0 when this routine is executed for the first time.

[0018] Then, it is determined whether the control power Pc is equal to or greater than the target power P* (step S150). When the control power Pc is less than the target power P*, the process returns to step S100, and steps S100, S110, S120, and S140 are repeated until the control power Pc is equal to or greater than the target power P*. When the control power Pc is equal to or greater than the target power P*, this routine is terminated. Through this process, when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 in step S110 is single-phase AC, the control power Pc becomes a power that increases by the step amount D (=D1) toward the target power P* (=P1).

[0019] When the power supplied to the charging power line 40 in step S110 is not single-phase AC, i.e., when it is three-phase AC, the step amount D is set to a value D2 larger than the value D1 (step S120), and the smaller value of the previous Pc plus the step amount D (=D2) or the target power P* (=P2) is set as the control power Pc, and the charger 44 is controlled so that the control power Pc is supplied to the battery 36 via the charging power line 40, the charger 44, and the driving power line 38 (step S140). Then, it is determined whether the control power Pc is equal to or greater than the target power P* (step S150). When the control power Pc is less than the target power P*, the process returns to step S100, and steps S100, S110, S130, and S140 are repeated until the control power Pc becomes equal to or greater than the target power P*. When the control power Pc is equal to or greater than the target power P*, the process ends. Through this processing, when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 in step S110 is three-phase AC, the control power Pc becomes a power that increases toward the target power P* (=P2) in increments of the step amount D (=D2).

[0020] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the time change of the control power Pc. In the figure, the dashed line shows an example of the time change of the control power Pc when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is single-phase AC. The solid line shows an example of the time change of the control power Pc when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is three-phase AC. The target power P* when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is three-phase AC is higher than when it is single-phase AC. Therefore, when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is three-phase AC, if the control power Pc is set to a power that increases toward the target power P* (=P2) by the step amount D (=D1) when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is single-phase AC, it takes a relatively long time for the control power Pc to reach the target power P* (=P2). In this embodiment, when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is three-phase AC, the control power Pc is set to a power that increases toward the target power P* (=P2) by a step amount D (=D2) that is larger than the step amount D (=D1) when the power supplied to the charging power line 40 is single-phase AC, so that the control power Pc can be quickly set to the target power P* (=P2). This allows the charging power to be quickly set to the target power P* when charging the battery 36 with three-phase AC power.

[0021] According to the hybrid vehicle 20 equipped with the charging control device of the present embodiment described above, when starting to charge the battery 36, if the AC power is three-phase AC power, the step amount D is made larger than when the AC power is single-phase AC power, so that the charging power can be quickly brought to the target power P*.

[0022] In the above-described embodiment, the charge control device of the present disclosure is applied to the hybrid vehicle 20 that runs on power from the engine 22 and the motor MG2. However, the charge control device of the present disclosure may also be applied to an electric vehicle that does not have the engine 22 and runs on power from a motor.

[0023] Note that the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column, since the embodiment is an example for specifically explaining the form for implementing the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column should be made based on the description in that column, and the embodiment is merely a specific example of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column.

[0024] The above describes embodiments for implementing the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0025] The present disclosure is applicable to the manufacturing industry of charging control devices, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 20 hybrid vehicles, 44 chargers, 68 vehicle ECUs.

Claims

[Claim 1] A charge control device used in a charger that converts external AC power into DC power and supplies the DC power to a power storage device, the charger being controlled so that, when starting charging of the power storage device, a charging power that increases in steps from a value of 0 toward a target power is supplied to the power storage device, and when the AC power is three-phase AC power, the target power is increased compared to when the AC power is single-phase AC power, When starting charging of the power storage device, if the AC power is the three-phase AC power, the step amount is made larger than when the AC power is the single-phase AC power. Charging control device.

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