Charging system, voltage conversion unit, storage unit

Abstract

The charging system provides a complete disconnection of the battery and the voltage converter located within the voltage conversion unit from the supply terminals using three disconnectors. [Solution] The charging system for the battery of an electric vehicle comprises a voltage conversion unit 3 and a storage unit 4, the storage unit supplying electrical energy via two supply terminals 44 and 45. The battery 48 of the storage unit has two terminals 481 and 482 and is disconnectably connected to the supply terminals via second and third disconnectors 46 and 47. The voltage conversion unit is connected to the storage unit via three terminals 31, 32 and 33, two of the three terminals 32 and 33 within the storage unit are connected to two terminals of the battery. The third terminal 31 of the three terminals is connected to the first terminal 41 of the storage unit and is connected to the first disconnector 36 within the voltage conversion unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical energy storage, particularly mobile electrical energy storage, and particularly to charging systems for electric vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] Known charging devices, particularly those for electric vehicles, are usually connected between a charging station and an electrical energy storage device. The charging device serves to adapt the voltage present at the charging station to the voltage level of the storage device on demand. This depends on the voltage of the charging station. This voltage present at the input of the charging device can be switched to energy storage (bypass mode) without the need for voltage conversion, or it needs to be converted by a converter according to the voltage level of the energy storage. Regulations may apply to such charging devices, according to which the energy storage device must be completely disconnected from the charging station by a mechanical circuit breaker.

[0003] In known charging devices, there is a voltage conversion unit, which is connected between a charging station and an energy storage device (typically a rechargeable battery or accumulator). In bypass operation, rapid charging is carried out, during which a relatively high current is generated, so the conductor cross-sectional area of the voltage conversion unit needs to be designed accordingly large. Furthermore, for complete pole disconnection, a plurality of circuit breakers need to be provided within the voltage conversion unit. Furthermore, in the case of module design, duplication of unnecessary elements may occur regardless of the presence or absence of the voltage conversion unit. Examples of known charging devices are disclosed in DE 10 2017 220 287 A1 and DE 10 2018 207 185 A1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging system, voltage conversion unit, and storage unit of the type described first, which overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0006] At least one of these objectives is achieved by a charging system, a voltage conversion unit, and a storage unit having the features of each independent claim.

[0007] Therefore, the three disconnectors make it possible to completely disconnect the battery and the voltage converter located within the voltage conversion unit from the supply terminals.

[0008] Furthermore, since the storage unit also contains disconnectors, the voltage conversion unit can be equipped with only one disconnector, or none at all. Also, since the voltage conversion unit is not directly connected to the charging station but is connected via the storage unit, disconnection of the voltage conversion unit from the charging station can be done via the disconnector in the storage unit.

[0009] Furthermore, it is also possible to connect the storage unit directly to the charging station via two supply terminals, without passing the conductors used for this purpose through the voltage conversion unit. This eliminates the need to pass high currents, such as those generated when fast charging is performed in bypass mode, through the voltage conversion unit, allowing the conductors of the voltage conversion unit 3 to be designed to be smaller accordingly.

[0010] Furthermore, it is possible to design and operate a storage unit without using a voltage conversion unit at all. In this case, the two supply terminals of the storage unit can be used directly, as well as the supply lines for connecting to the charging station. This allows for configurations with and without a voltage conversion unit to be realized starting from the same storage unit. This is advantageous during manufacturing, as the storage unit can be directly applied to both configurations. Also, storage units and vehicles with this built-in can have a voltage conversion unit retrofitted after they start operation. The voltage conversion unit may or may not exist as a module. Such a module may consist of only one disconnector, or there may be no disconnectors at all. This minimizes the total number of disconnectors.

[0011] In this embodiment, the charging system is designed according to claim 2.

[0012] In this embodiment, the charging system is designed according to claim 3. This makes it possible to manufacture the charging system as separate modules, namely a voltage conversion unit and a storage unit, and to assemble them for use. In particular, such a modularized charging system can operate with or without the voltage conversion unit.

[0013] In this embodiment, the charging system is designed according to claim 4. This makes it possible to create and disconnect the connection between the voltage conversion unit and the storage unit in a simple manner.

[0014] In the embodiment, the storage system is designed according to claim 5. This makes it possible to operate the storage system with a locking system common in electric vehicle technology, such as an interlock or HV-interlock, or a pilot contact.

[0015] In the embodiment, the charging system is designed according to claim 6 and / or claim 7. This makes the charging system suitable for use in electric vehicles. A suitable voltage for the charging system can be, for example, 400 volts or 800 volts.

[0016] The voltage conversion unit is designed according to claim 8, so that the input terminal can be disconnected from the voltage converter of the voltage conversion unit by the first disconnector.

[0017] The storage unit is designed according to claim 9. This allows the storage unit to operate with or without the voltage conversion unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] The subject matter of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The outlines of each case are as follows: [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a charging system equipped with a voltage conversion unit and a storage unit. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a charging system with a specific first embodiment of the voltage conversion unit. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows a charging system according to a second embodiment, which includes a voltage conversion unit and a storage unit. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a charging system according to a second embodiment, which includes a specific second embodiment of the voltage conversion unit.

[0019] Generally, identical or functionally equivalent parts are given the same reference numeral in the diagram.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a charging system 2 connected to a charging station 1. The charging system 2 includes a voltage conversion unit 3 and a storage unit 4.

[0021] The voltage conversion unit 3 includes an input terminal 31, an output terminal 32, a common terminal 33, and a voltage converter 37 that converts an input voltage existing between the input terminal 31 and the common terminal 33 into an output voltage existing between the output terminal 32 and the common terminal 33.

[0022] During the operation of the voltage converter 37, its input voltage is equal to the output voltage of the charging stand 1, and its output voltage is equal to the voltage of the storage battery 48.

[0023] The storage unit 4 includes the following: A first terminal 41 for connecting to the input terminal 31 of the voltage conversion unit 3, A second terminal 42 connected to the output terminal 32 of the voltage conversion unit 3 and used to supply power to the first terminal 481 of the storage battery 48, A third terminal 43 connected to the common terminal 33 of the voltage conversion unit 3 and supplied to the second terminal 482 of the storage battery 48, A first supply terminal 44 for connecting to the first charging terminal 11 of the charging stand 1, A second supply terminal 45 for connecting to the second charging terminal 12 of the charging stand 1, and is provided with the above.

[0024] The connection between the first and second supply terminals 44, 45 and the first charging terminal 11 and the second charging terminal 12 of the charging stand 1 is performed via the first supply line 13 and the second supply line 14, respectively.

[0025] In the embodiment, the two supply lines 13, 14 are designed as separate cables, and the two supply terminals 44, 45 are formed on separate plugs. Thereby, when it is necessary to design for a high charging current, it is possible to prevent the individual separate cables from becoming too heavy.

[0026] [[ID=3l]] In the embodiment, the two supply lines 13, 14 are designed as a common cable, and the two supply terminals 44, 45 are formed on a common plug.

[0027] Within the voltage conversion unit 3, - The input terminal 31 of the voltage conversion unit 3 can be disconnected from the voltage converter 37 via the first disconnector 36.

[0028] Within storage unit 4, - The first supply terminal 44 is connected to the first terminal 41 of the storage unit 4. - The second terminal 42 of the storage unit 4 and the first terminal 481 of the storage battery 48 are disconnectably connected to the first supply terminal 44 via the second disconnector 46. - The third terminal 43 of the storage unit 4 and the second terminal 482 of the storage battery 48 are disconnectably connected to the second supply terminal 45 via the third disconnector 47.

[0029] In this embodiment, the second supply terminal 45 is connected to the first terminal 41 of the storage unit 4 instead of the first supply terminal. If the polarity of the storage battery 48 and the charging stand 1 are the same, this corresponds to the operation method of the voltage converter 37 with the polarity reversed.

[0030] The storage unit 4, in particular the battery 48, may be equipped with a battery management system (not shown) and / or closed-loop control of a known type of charging. The latter may control the charging station 1 and / or the voltage conversion unit 3, for example, via a communication connection (not shown).

[0031] In the embodiment, the storage unit 4 is either part of or connected to the consumer circuit, also known as the traction circuit, in the case of a vehicle. Furthermore, the storage unit 4 may include additional disconnectors 483, 484 for disconnecting the first and second terminals 481, 482 of the battery 48 from the remaining elements, such as the voltage conversion unit 3 and the consumer circuit. The presence of such additional disconnectors 483, 484 for disconnecting the storage unit 4 may be specified by the standard.

[0032] The disconnectors 36, 46, 47 and the voltage converter 37 are controlled by the control unit 100 and communication connections (not shown). For example, the control unit 100 is depicted within the voltage converter unit 3, but it could also be located within the storage unit 4 or outside both units. Further common elements for ensuring functionality and safety, such as elements for monitoring supply terminals 44, 45, are not shown.

[0033] If the voltage supplied from the charging station 1 is not equal to the voltage required to charge the battery 48, the charging system 2 can be switched to conversion mode. In this case, the second disconnector 46 is opened, and the first disconnector 36 and the third disconnector 47 are closed. The voltage converter 37 is pulsed.

[0034] Here, the voltage converter 37 converts the voltage at the first charging terminal 11, which is present at the input terminal 31 of the voltage conversion unit 3 via the first terminal 41 and first supply terminal 44 of the storage unit 4 and the first supply line 13, into a voltage present at the output terminal 32 of the voltage conversion unit 3. This voltage is present at the first terminal 481 of the storage battery 48 via the second terminal 42 of the storage unit 4. The aforementioned voltage is for the common terminal 33.

[0035] The voltage at the second charging terminal 12 is present at the third terminal 43 of the storage unit 4 via the second supply line 14 and the second supply terminal 45, and therefore also at the common terminal 33 of the voltage conversion unit 3 and the second terminal 482 of the storage battery 48.

[0036] If the voltage supplied from the charging station 1 is equal to the voltage required to charge the battery 48, the charging system 2 is switched to bypass mode. In this case, the first disconnector 36 is opened, and the second disconnector 46 and the third disconnector 47 are closed. The voltage converter 37 is not clocked. The voltage from the charging station 1 is present in the battery 48.

[0037] When the charging system 2 is electrically isolated from the charging station, all three disconnectors 36, 46, and 47 are opened.

[0038] The storage battery 48 is typically a rechargeable battery or accumulator.

[0039] The voltage converter 37 is, in principle, a DC-DC converter. For example, it can have different topologies such as a charge pump, a boost converter, a buck converter, or a combination of a boost-buck converter, or a bridge circuit that implements a DC-DC converter. The charge pump can be designed to double the voltage or to multiply the voltage.

[0040] In principle, during operation, the voltage converter 37 transmits electrical energy from the charging station 1, which supplies power to the voltage converter 37 via the input terminal 31 and common terminal 33, to the storage battery 48, which is powered by the voltage converter 38 via the output terminal 32 and common terminal 33. In some embodiments, a resupply mode in which energy is transmitted in the reverse direction can also be additionally implemented. For this purpose, the passive valve (diode) can be replaced with an active semiconductor switch in the voltage converter 37.

[0041] Figure 2 shows a charging system 2 in which a voltage converter 37 is designed as a charge pump. In this embodiment of the charge pump, an inductance LRES is connected in series with a storage capacitance CRES, thereby forming a resonant oscillator circuit. The way in which this voltage converter 37 functions is described in WO 2018 / 046370 A1, the contents of which are explicitly incorporated in their entirety by reference. Figure 2 also shows further disconnectors 483, 484 for isolating the battery 48. These can also be presented in the general depiction shown in Figure 1.

[0042] Figures 3 and 4 show charging systems similar to those in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, in which the first disconnector 36 is not located in the voltage conversion unit 3 but is located in the storage unit 4. Here, the first supply terminal 44 or the second supply terminal 45 of the storage unit 4 is disconnectably connected to the first terminal 41 of the storage unit 4 via the first disconnector 36b of the storage unit 4. Therefore, in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4, the voltage conversion unit 3 does not have a disconnector for disconnecting the three terminals 31 of the voltage conversion unit 3.

Claims

1. A voltage conversion unit (3) and a storage unit (4), Equipped with, The storage unit (4) is designed to supply electrical energy through two supply terminals (44, 45), The storage unit (4) has a battery (48) with two terminals (481, 482), which are disconnectably connected to the supply terminals (44, 45) via second and third disconnectors (46, 47), and the voltage conversion unit (3) is designed as a separate component from the storage unit (4), and is connected to the storage unit (4) via three terminals (31, 32, 33) of the voltage conversion unit (3), and in the connected state, Within the storage unit (4) - Two of the three terminals (32, 33) of the voltage conversion unit (3) are connected to the two terminals (481, 482) of the storage battery (48), and According to a modification of the second embodiment, Within the storage unit (4), - The third terminal (31) of the three terminals of the voltage conversion unit (3) is connected to one of the supply terminals (44, 45) via the first disconnector (36b), Alternatively, according to a variation of the first embodiment, Within the storage unit (4), - The third terminal (31) of the three terminals of the voltage conversion unit (3) is connected to one of the supply terminals (44, 45), Within the voltage conversion unit (3), the third terminal (31) of the three terminals of the voltage conversion unit (3) is connected via the first disconnector (36). A charging system (2) for mobile batteries (48), and especially for batteries (48) in electric vehicles.

2. The voltage conversion unit (3) Input terminal (31), Output terminal (32), Common terminal (33), A voltage converter (37) converts the input voltage present between the input terminal (31) and the common terminal (33) into an output voltage present between the output terminal (32) and the common terminal (33), Equipped with, The storage unit (4) A first terminal (41) for connecting to the input terminal (31) of the voltage conversion unit (3), A second terminal (42) is connected to the output terminal (32) of the voltage conversion unit (3) and supplies power to the first terminal (481) of the storage battery (48), The third terminal (43) is connected to the common terminal (33) of the voltage conversion unit (3) and supplies power to the two terminals (482) of the storage battery (48), A first supply terminal (44) for connecting to the first charging terminal (11) of the charging stand (1), A second supply terminal (45) for connecting to the second charging terminal (12) of the charging stand (1), Equipped with, According to a modification of the second embodiment, Within the storage unit (4), - The first supply terminal (44) is disconnectably connected to the first terminal (41) of the storage unit (4) via the first disconnector (36b), - The second terminal (42) of the storage unit (4) and the first terminal (481) of the storage battery (48) are disconnectably connected to the first supply terminal (44) via the second disconnector (46), - The third terminal (43) of the storage unit (4) and the second terminal (482) of the storage battery (48) are disconnectably connected to the second supply terminal (45) via the third disconnector (47), Alternatively, according to a variation of the first embodiment, Within the voltage conversion unit (3), - The input terminal (31) of the voltage conversion unit (3) can be disconnected from the voltage converter (37) via the first disconnector (36), Within the storage unit (4), - The first supply terminal (44) is connected to the first terminal (41) of the storage unit (4), - The second terminal (42) of the storage unit (4) and the first terminal (481) of the storage battery (48) are disconnectably connected to the first supply terminal (44) via the second disconnector (46), and - The charging system (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the third terminal (43) of the storage unit (4) and the second terminal (482) of the storage battery (48) are disconnectably connected to the second supply terminal (45) via the third disconnector (47).

3. The charging system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the voltage conversion unit (3) is designed to be manufactured, handled, and transported independently of the storage unit (4).

4. The charging system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the voltage conversion unit (3) comprises three terminals (31, 32, 33) connected to the storage unit (4), and the three terminals are detachable and reconnectable terminals, in particular plug-in terminals, screw terminals, or clamp terminals.

5. The charging system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the supply terminals (44, 45) are formed as a single plug or two separate plugs, and in particular, the single plug or the two plugs each have safety contacts for a pilot circuit or a safety circuit.

6. The charging system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the supply terminals (44, 45) are designed for a maximum fast charging current that is at least twice the maximum charging current that can be supplied by the voltage conversion unit (3).

7. The charging system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the supply terminals (44, 45) are designed for a maximum fast charging current of 300 amperes or more, particularly 400 amperes or more, and / or the voltage conversion unit (3) is designed for a maximum charging current of 50 amperes or more, particularly 100 amperes or more.

8. The input terminal (31) for connecting to the first pole of the input voltage source, The output terminal (32) for connecting to the first pole of the consumer to be powered, The common terminal (33) for connecting to the second pole of the input voltage source and the second pole of the consumer, Equipped with, The input terminal (31) is characterized by being connected via the first disconnector (36), In particular, a voltage conversion unit (3) for use in the charging system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The system comprises the two supply terminals (44, 45) and the storage battery (48), The storage battery (48) is equipped with two disconnectable terminals (481, 482) that are connected to the supply terminals (44, 45) via the second and third disconnectors (46, 47), The storage unit (4) is provided with three terminals (41, 42, 43) for connecting to the corresponding terminals of the voltage conversion unit (3), Within the storage unit (4), - Two of the three terminals (42, 43) are connected to the two terminals (481, 482) of the storage battery (48). According to a modified example of the second embodiment, - The third terminal (41) of the three terminals is disconnectably connected to one of the supply terminals (44, 45) via the first disconnector (36b), Alternatively, according to a modification of the first embodiment, - The third terminal (41) of the three terminals is connected to one of the supply terminals (44, 45), In particular, a storage unit (4) for use in the charging system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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