Rapid charging device

Abstract

To provide a quick charger capable of prolonging its service life.SOLUTION: A quick charger comprises: a plurality of AC-DC converters each converting an AC power into a DC power and outputting a DC current to a vehicle; and a controller that operates the plurality of AC-DC converters up to a rating one by one until a sum of output currents of the plurality of AC-DC converters reaches a current command value, starts operations of the plurality of AC-DC converters in an ascending order of operation cumulative time, and stops the operating AC-DC converters among the plurality of AC-DC converters one by one in a descending order of temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick charger. [Background technology]

[0002] Quick chargers are used to charge the driving batteries mounted on electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) (see Non-Patent Document 1). Quick chargers receive AC power from a power grid and output DC power to the vehicles.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an operation control system that determines which power conditioners to stop in a rotational manner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-88938 A [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Electric Vehicle Power Supply System Council, “Introduction of standard chargers for EVs and PHVs”, [online], September 2019, [Retrieved December 15, 2020], Internet (URL: https: / / evpossa.or.jp / download / pdf / jyudenki_setsumei.pdf) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] A fast charging device has a larger output current than a normal charging device, and therefore includes multiple AC-DC converters connected in parallel. The effect of heat on the multiple AC-DC converters must be taken into consideration. One of the factors is the location where the multiple AC-DC converters are housed in the housing.

[0007] The housing of a quick charger is generally vertical. Inside the vertical housing, multiple AC-DC converters are housed in multiple stages. Each of the multiple AC-DC converters generates heat due to loss during operation. The heat is convected or conducted from the bottom to the top of the housing. Therefore, the AC-DC converter housed in the upper stage is exposed to a higher temperature than the AC-DC converter housed in the lower stage, and may have a shorter lifespan. In addition, it is necessary to select components with a higher temperature rating for the AC-DC converter housed in the upper stage, which leads to increased costs.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a quick charging device that can have a long life. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A rapid charging device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: A rapid charging device for rapid charging a driving battery mounted on a vehicle, a plurality of AC-DC converters each converting AC power into DC power and outputting the DC current to the vehicle; a control unit that operates the plurality of AC-DC converters one by one up to a rated current until a sum of output currents of the plurality of AC-DC converters reaches a current command value; Equipped with The control unit is starting the operation of the plurality of AC-DC converters in order of the shortest cumulative operation time; It is characterized by:

[0010] A rapid charging device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: A rapid charging device for rapid charging a driving battery mounted on a vehicle, a plurality of AC-DC converters each converting AC power into DC power and outputting the DC current to the vehicle; a control unit that operates the plurality of AC-DC converters one by one up to a rated current until a sum of DC currents of the plurality of AC-DC converters reaches a current command value; Equipped with It is characterized by:

[0011] In the quick charging device, The control unit is when the current command value decreases, stopping the operating AC-DC converters one by one among the plurality of AC-DC converters until a sum of the direct currents of the plurality of AC-DC converters reaches the current command value; It is characterized by:

[0012] In the quick charging device, a plurality of temperature detection units that output temperature detection signals representing temperatures of the plurality of AC-DC converters; The control unit is shutting down the operating AC-DC converters among the plurality of AC-DC converters one by one in the order of highest temperature based on the temperature detection signal. It is characterized by:

[0013] A rapid charging device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: A rapid charging device for rapid charging a driving battery mounted on a vehicle, a plurality of AC-DC converters each converting AC power into DC power and outputting the DC current to the vehicle; a control unit that starts operation of the plurality of AC-DC converters in order of the shortest cumulative operation time; Equipped with It is characterized by:

[0014] In the quick charging device, The control unit is determining the cumulative operation time based on a cumulative number of times the plurality of AC-DC converters have started operating; It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0015] Advantageous Effects of Invention The rapid charging device according to one aspect of the present invention has an effect of enabling an extension of the life span. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a rapid charging device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of AC-DC converters in the quick charging device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating stepwise control of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation pattern of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for increasing the output current value of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when reducing the output current value of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a quick charger according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0018] <Embodiment Mode> (Overall composition) Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a quick charging device according to an embodiment. The quick charging device 1 converts AC power supplied from an AC power source 2 into DC power, and quickly charges a driving battery 4 mounted on a vehicle 3 via a charging connector 17 connected to an end of a charging cable 16 and a charging port 3a of the vehicle 3. The AC power source 2 is, for example, a system power source.

[0019] The charging connector 17 is also called a charging gun, and is detachably inserted into the charging port 3 a of the vehicle 3 .

[0020] The quick charging device 1 includes an input unit 11, a power conversion unit 12, an output unit 13, an operation unit 14, a control unit 15, and temperature sensors 22-1 to 22-m (m is an integer of 2 or more).

[0021] The input unit 11 is electrically connected to the AC power source 2 and receives AC power. Examples of the input unit 11 include an input capacitor and a filter.

[0022] The power conversion unit 12 is electrically connected to the input unit 11. The power conversion unit 12 includes AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-n (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2). Each of the AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-n converts AC power into DC power. The AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-n are connected in parallel with one another. The power conversion unit 12 receives a switching control signal S 1 Based on this, the AC power input from the input unit 11 is converted into DC power and a charging current is output.

[0023] Temperature sensors 22-1 to 22-m output temperature detection signals indicating the temperatures of AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-n to control unit 15. Temperature sensors 22-1 to 22-m are exemplified by temperature-sensitive elements such as thermistors whose resistance value changes depending on the temperature.

[0024] The output unit 13 is electrically connected to the power conversion unit 12, and outputs the DC power input from the power conversion unit 12 to the charging cable 16. Examples of the output unit 13 include an output capacitor and a filter.

[0025] The operation unit 14 is used to input information such as starting and stopping charging, and is exemplified by a touch panel display (display with a touch detection function) and physical keys.

[0026] The control unit 15 receives a charging current command signal S 2 Based on this, the switching control signal S1 is output to AC-DC converter 21-1 through AC-DC converter 21-n to control AC-DC converter 21-1 through AC-DC converter 21-n.

[0027] Control unit 15 includes staircase control unit 15a and rotation control unit 15b. Staircase control unit 15a controls AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-n in a staircase manner. The staircase control will be described later. Rotation control unit 15b controls AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-n in a rotation manner. The rotation control will be described later.

[0028] (AC-DC converter placement) FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of AC-DC converters in the quick charging device according to the embodiment.

[0029] Housing 31 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is placed on ground G with its longitudinal direction aligned vertically. AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-10 are housed in multiple stages inside housing 31. Here, n=10, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Similarly, temperature sensors 22-1 to 22-5 are housed in multiple stages inside housing 31. Here, m=5, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0030] AC-DC converters 21-1 and 21-2 are housed in the lowest stage. AC-DC converters 21-3 and 21-4 are housed in the second stage from the bottom. AC-DC converters 21-5 and 21-6 are housed in the third stage from the bottom. AC-DC converters 21-7 and 21-8 are housed in the fourth stage from the bottom. AC-DC converters 21-9 and 21-10 are housed in the fifth stage from the bottom.

[0031] Temperature sensor 22-1 is housed in the lowest stage and detects the temperatures of AC-DC converters 21-1 and 21-2. Temperature sensor 22-2 is housed in the second stage from the bottom and detects the temperatures of AC-DC converters 21-3 and 21-4. Temperature sensor 22-3 is housed in the third stage from the bottom and detects the temperatures of AC-DC converters 21-5 and 21-6. Temperature sensor 22-4 is housed in the fourth stage from the bottom and detects the temperatures of AC-DC converters 21-7 and 21-8. Temperature sensor 22-5 is housed in the fifth stage from the bottom and detects the temperatures of AC-DC converters 21-9 and 21-10.

[0032] 2, the five temperature sensors 22-1 to 22-5 detect the temperature of each stage of the AC-DC converter 21, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, ten temperature sensors may detect the temperature of each of the AC-DC converters 21.

[0033] Each of the AC-DC converters 21-1 to 21-10 generates heat during power conversion operation. The heat is convected or conducted from the bottom to the top of the housing 31. Therefore, the AC-DC converters 21-9 and 21-10 at the top are exposed to a higher temperature than the AC-DC converters 21-1 and 21-2 at the bottom. This may shorten the life of the AC-DC converters 21.

[0034] Therefore, in order to extend the life of AC-DC converter 21, step control section 15a performs step control, and rotation control section 15b performs rotation control.

[0035] (Staircase Control) 3 is a diagram illustrating stepwise control of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment. Waveforms 101 to 105 show the output currents of the first to fifth AC-DC converters 21. Waveform 106 shows the overall output current of power conversion unit 12.

[0036] Timing 0At timing t 1 At this time, the output current of the first AC-DC converter 21 reaches the rated value.

[0037] Timing 1 At timing t, the step control unit 15a starts the operation of the second AC-DC converter 21 when the total output current of the power conversion unit 12 is less than the charging current command value. As shown by a waveform 102, the step control unit 15a operates the second AC-DC converter 21 up to the rated capacity. 2 At this time, the output current of the second AC-DC converter 21 reaches the rated value.

[0038] Timing 2 At timing t, the step control unit 15a starts the operation of the third AC-DC converter 21 when the total output current of the power conversion unit 12 is less than the charging current command value. As shown by a waveform 103, the step control unit 15a operates the third AC-DC converter 21 up to the rated capacity. 3 At this point, the output current of the third AC-DC converter 21 reaches its rated value.

[0039] Timing 3 At timing t 4 At this point, the output current of the fourth AC-DC converter 21 reaches the rated value.

[0040] Timing 4At timing t 5 At this point, the output current of the fifth AC-DC converter 21 reaches the rated value.

[0041] In this way, step control unit 15a operates AC-DC converters 21 one by one up to their rated power until the sum of all output currents of power conversion unit 12, indicated by waveform 106, reaches the charging current command value. The output of the last AC-DC converter 21 increases, but it is not necessary for it to reach its rated power.

[0042] For example, when five AC-DC converters 21 are operated at their rated capacity (100%), the quick charging device 1 can halve the total operating time of all ten AC-DC converters 21 when compared with when ten AC-DC converters 21 are operated at 50% of their rated capacity.

[0043] Therefore, the rapid charging device 1 can extend the life of the AC-DC converter 21 through stepwise control.

[0044] Furthermore, the efficiency of the AC-DC converter 21 is highest at the rated power. Therefore, by operating the AC-DC converter 21 up to the rated power, the quick charger 1 can improve efficiency and suppress heat generation, thereby suppressing temperature peaks.

[0045] Therefore, the rapid charging device 1 can extend the life of the AC-DC converter 21 through stepwise control.

[0046] When the overall output current of the power conversion unit 12 is set to zero, the step control unit 15a stops the operation of the AC-DC converters 21 one by one.

[0047] Timing 6At time t 7 At this point, the output current of the fifth AC-DC converter 21 reaches zero.

[0048] Timing 7 At time t 8 At this point, the output current of the fourth AC-DC converter 21 reaches zero.

[0049] Timing 8 At time t 9 At this point, the output current of the third AC-DC converter 21 reaches zero.

[0050] Timing 9 At time t 10 At this point, the output current of the second AC-DC converter 21 reaches zero.

[0051] Timing 10 At time t 11 At this point, the output current of the first AC-DC converter 21 reaches zero.

[0052] 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation pattern of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment. A waveform 111 indicates a charging current command value. A waveform 112 indicates the total output current of the power conversion unit 12.

[0053] As shown in waveform 111, at timing t 20 From timing t 22 During the period up to the charging current command value A 1At timing t 22 From timing t 24 During the period up to the charging current command value A 2 At timing t 24 Thereafter, the charging current command value is constant at zero.

[0054] As shown in waveform 112, at timing t 20 From timing t 21 During the period up to the charging current command value A, the step control unit 15a performs the step control described above to control the overall output current value of the power conversion unit 12 to be equal to or higher than the charging current command value A. 1 The AC-DC converters 21 are started one by one until the current

[0055] Timing 21 From timing t 22 In the period up to , the step control unit 15a sets the output current value to the charging current command value A 1 The constant current control is performed to maintain the

[0056] Timing 22 From timing t 23 During the period up to the charging current command value A, the step control unit 15a performs the step control described above to control the overall output current value of the power conversion unit 12 to be equal to or higher than the charging current command value A. 2 The operation of the AC-DC converters 21 is stopped one by one until the output of the last AC-DC converter 21 is reduced, but the operation of the last AC-DC converter 21 does not have to be stopped.

[0057] Timing 23 From timing t 24 In the period up to , the step control unit 15a sets the output current value to the charging current command value A 2 The constant current control is performed to maintain the

[0058] Timing 24 From timing t 25 During this period, step control section 15a stops the operation of AC-DC converters 21 one by one by the step control described above until the total output current value of power conversion section 12 reaches zero.

[0059] (Rotation Control) When decreasing the output current value, rotation control unit 15b stops the operation of AC-DC converters 21 in ascending order of temperature. Furthermore, at the next vehicle charge or when increasing the output current value, rotation control unit 15b starts the operation of AC-DC converters 21 in ascending order of accumulated operating time.

[0060] For example, in the example of the accommodation situation described in FIG. 2 and the operation pattern described in FIG. 4, 22 From timing t 23 During this period, rotation control unit 15b stops the operation of AC-DC converters 21 in ascending order of temperature. That is, rotation control unit 15b stops the operation of AC-DC converters 21-10 to 21-8 one by one, vertically from top to bottom.

[0061] This enables rotation control unit 15b to shorten the time during which AC-DC converters 21-10 to 21-8 are exposed to high temperatures.

[0062] Therefore, the rapid charging device 1 can extend the life of the AC-DC converter 21 through rotation control.

[0063] Furthermore, rotation control unit 15b records the cumulative operation time of each of AC-DC converters 21. Then, at the next time the vehicle is charged or when the output current value is increased, rotation control unit 15b starts operation of AC-DC converters 21-10 to 21-8 in ascending order of cumulative operation time.

[0064] This enables rotation control unit 15b to equalize the accumulated operation time of AC-DC converters 21.

[0065] Therefore, the rapid charging device 1 can extend the life of the AC-DC converter 21 through rotation control.

[0066] Note that the rotation control unit 15b may record the cumulative number of times that an operation has started (the cumulative number of times that an operation has started) and determine the cumulative operation time based on the cumulative number of times that an operation has started, instead of recording the cumulative operation time of each of the AC-DC converters 21. This is because the cumulative number of times that an operation has started is correlated with the cumulative operation time.

[0067] (Operation procedure) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for increasing the output current value of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment.

[0068] In step S100, the control unit 15 outputs a charging current command value signal S 2 is received from vehicle 3.

[0069] In step S102, the rotation control unit 15b determines which AC-DC converter 21 is to start operating. The rotation control unit 15b determines the AC-DC converter 21 that has the shortest cumulative operation time among the AC-DC converters 21 that are not currently operating, as the AC-DC converter 21 to start operating.

[0070] Step S102 corresponds to the rotation control.

[0071] In step S104, the stage control section 15a starts the operation of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S102.

[0072] In step S106, the step control section 15a determines whether or not the total output current value of the power conversion section 12 has reached the charging current command value.

[0073] If the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has reached the charging current command value (Yes in step S106), it terminates the processing and performs constant current output control to maintain the total output current of the power conversion unit 12 as it is now.

[0074] When the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has not reached the charging current command value (No in step S106), the step control unit 15a advances the process to step S108.

[0075] In step S108, the step control unit 15a increases the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S102.

[0076] In step S110, the step control section 15a determines whether or not the total output current value of the power conversion section 12 has reached the charging current command value.

[0077] If the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has reached the charging current command value (Yes in step S110), it terminates the processing and performs constant current output control to maintain the total output current of the power conversion unit 12 as it is now.

[0078] If the step control unit 15a determines that the overall output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has not reached the charging current command value (No in step S110), it determines in step S112 whether the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S102 has reached the rated value.

[0079] When the step control section 15a determines that the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S102 has not reached the rated output (No in step S112), the step control section 15a advances the process to step S108.

[0080] When the step control section 15a determines that the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S102 has reached the rated output (Yes in step S112), the step control section 15a advances the process to step S102.

[0081] Steps S104 to S112 correspond to the staircase control.

[0082] Control unit 15 repeats steps S102 to S112 to operate AC-DC converters 21 one by one up to the rated current until the output current value reaches the charging current command value.

[0083] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when reducing the output current value of the rapid charging device according to the embodiment.

[0084] In step S200, the control unit 15 outputs the charging current command value signal S 2 is received from vehicle 3.

[0085] In step S202, rotation control unit 15b determines which AC-DC converter 21 is to have its output reduced. Rotation control unit 15b determines the AC-DC converter 21 with the highest temperature among the currently operating AC-DC converters 21 as the AC-DC converter 21 whose output is to be reduced.

[0086] Step S202 corresponds to the rotation control.

[0087] In step S204, the step control unit 15a starts reducing the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S202.

[0088] In step S206, the step control section 15a determines whether or not the total output current value of the power conversion section 12 has reached the charging current command value.

[0089] If the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has reached the charging current command value (Yes in step S206), it terminates the processing and performs constant current output control to maintain the total output current of the power conversion unit 12 as it is now.

[0090] When the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has not reached the charging current command value (No in step S206), the step control unit 15a advances the process to step S208.

[0091] In step S208, the step control unit 15a reduces the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S202.

[0092] In step S210, the step control section 15a determines whether or not the total output current value of the power conversion section 12 has reached the charging current command value.

[0093] If the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has reached the charging current command value (Yes in step S210), it terminates the processing and performs constant current output control to maintain the total output current of the power conversion unit 12 as it is now.

[0094] If the step control unit 15a determines that the total output current value of the power conversion unit 12 has not reached the charging current command value (No in step S210), it determines in step S212 whether the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S202 has reached zero.

[0095] When the step control section 15a determines that the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S202 has not reached zero (No in step S212), the step control section 15a advances the process to step S208.

[0096] When the step control section 15a determines that the output of the AC-DC converter 21 determined in step S202 has reached zero (Yes in step S212), the step control section 15a advances the process to step S202.

[0097] Steps S204 to S212 correspond to the staircase control.

[0098] Control unit 15 repeats steps S202 to S212 to reduce the output of AC-DC converters 21 one by one to zero until the output current value reaches the charging current command value.

[0099] (effect) The quick charging device 1 can reduce the total operating time of the entire AC-DC converter 21 by using stepwise control. Also, the quick charging device 1 can improve efficiency and reduce heat generation by operating the AC-DC converter 21 up to its rated capacity, thereby suppressing temperature peaks.

[0100] Therefore, the rapid charging device 1 can extend the life of the AC-DC converter 21 through stepwise control.

[0101] Furthermore, when the quick charging device 1 reduces the output current value through rotation control, it stops the operation of the AC-DC converters 21 in ascending order of temperature, thereby enabling the quick charging device 1 to shorten the time that the AC-DC converters 21 are exposed to high temperatures.

[0102] Furthermore, the quick charger 1 uses rotation control to start the AC-DC converters 21 in order of the shortest cumulative operating time when charging the vehicle next time or when increasing the output current value. This allows the quick charger 1 to equalize the cumulative operating time of the AC-DC converters 21.

[0103] Therefore, the rapid charging device 1 can extend the life of the AC-DC converter 21 through rotation control.

[0104] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1 Quick charging device 2 AC power supply 3. Vehicle 4. Running battery 11 Input section 12 Power conversion section 13 Output section 14 Control section 15 Control section 15a Staircase control section 15b Rotation control section 16 Charging cable 17 Charging connector 21-1,...,21-n AC-DC Converters 22-1,...,22-m Temperature Sensor 31 Case

Claims

[Claim 1] A rapid charging device for rapid charging a driving battery mounted on a vehicle, A plurality of AC-DC converters each converting AC power into DC power and outputting the DC current to the vehicle; a control unit that operates the multiple AC-DC converters one by one up to a rated value until a sum of output currents of the multiple AC-DC converters reaches a current command value, determines a cumulative operation time of the multiple AC-DC converters based on a cumulative number of times the multiple AC-DC converters have started operation, and starts operation of the multiple AC-DC converters in order of the shortest cumulative operation time, thereby performing control that enables a longer life of the multiple AC-DC converters; Equipped with A rapid charging device characterized by the above.

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