Power conversion system and method for constructing the power conversion system

Abstract

To facilitate construction of a system.SOLUTION: A power conversion system 100 includes a first power conversion device 11, a second power conversion device 12, and a cable supporter 2. The first power conversion device 11 converts AC power inputted from a power system 4 to DC power, and outputs the DC power to a DC bus DB1. The second power conversion device 12 converts the DC power inputted from the DC bus DB1 to storage power for a storage battery 31 included in a mobile object 3, and outputs the storage power. The cable supporter 2 supports a cable C1. The cable C1 is connected between the mobile object 3 and the second power conversion device 12 so as to form a power supply path between the storage battery 31 and the second power conversion device 12. The first power conversion device 11, the second power conversion device 12, and the cable supporter 2 are formed separately from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a power conversion system and a method for constructing a power conversion system, and more particularly to a power conversion system for charging a storage battery of a mobile object, and a method for constructing a power conversion system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power conversion system to which an electric vehicle equipped with a storage battery is connected. This power conversion system includes a power conversion device and a connector connected to the power conversion device via a cable. The power conversion device has a main circuit that performs power conversion when the storage battery is charged and discharged. The connector is attached to an inlet of the electric vehicle to form a power supply path between the power conversion device and the storage battery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-89220 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the power conversion system described in Patent Document 1, a power conversion device having a main circuit is provided with a cable and a connector. Therefore, in order to charge the storage battery of the electric vehicle, the power conversion device must be installed in the parking space of the electric vehicle, which makes it difficult to install the system.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a power conversion system that is easy to install, and a method for installing a power conversion system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A power conversion system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first power conversion device, a second power conversion device, a cable support, and an operation unit. The first power conversion device converts AC power input from a power system into DC power and outputs the DC power to a DC bus. The second power conversion device converts DC power input from the DC bus into charging power for a storage battery of a mobile body and outputs the charging power. The cable support supports a cable. The operation unit is provided in the cable support and instructs starting or stopping charging of the storage battery. The cable is connected between the mobile body and the second power conversion device to form a power supply path between the storage battery and the second power conversion device. The first power conversion device, the second power conversion device, and the cable support are configured separately from each other. The charging power converted by the second power conversion device is supplied to the storage battery via the cable supported by the cable support, and the storage battery is charged with the charging power. The power conversion system further includes a third power conversion device that adjusts DC power input from a distributed power source and outputs the adjusted DC power to the DC bus. The third power conversion device is configured in the same housing as the first power conversion device.

[0007] A power conversion system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a second power conversion device, a cable support, and an operation unit. The second power conversion device is configured separately from the first power conversion device, and converts DC power input from a DC bus into charging power for a storage battery of a mobile body and outputs the converted power. The first power conversion device converts AC power input from a power system into DC power and outputs the DC power to the DC bus. The cable support supports a cable. The operation unit is provided in the cable support, and instructs starting or stopping charging of the storage battery. The cable is connected between the mobile body and the second power conversion device to form a power supply path between the storage battery and the second power conversion device. The second power conversion device and the cable support are configured separately from each other. The charging power converted by the second power conversion device is supplied to the storage battery via the cable supported by the cable support, and the storage battery is charged with the charging power. The power conversion system further includes a third power conversion device that adjusts DC power input from a distributed power source and outputs the adjusted DC power to the DC bus. The third power conversion device is configured in the same housing as the first power conversion device.

[0008] A method for constructing a power conversion system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for constructing the power conversion system described above. This construction method has a first step and a second step. The first step is a step of connecting the cable to the second power conversion device. The second step is a step of connecting the first power conversion device and the second power conversion device with a DC cable that constitutes the DC bus. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present disclosure has the advantage that the system is easy to install. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration including a power conversion system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the power conversion system of the above embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of installation of the power conversion system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration including a power conversion system according to a modified example. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the cable support. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another modified example of the cable support. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the connection portion of the cable support. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another modified example of the connection portion of the cable support. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing still another modified example of the connection portion of the cable support. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] (1) Overview The power conversion system 100 of this embodiment is installed in, for example, residential facilities such as detached houses or apartment buildings, or non-residential facilities such as offices, stores, or nursing homes. The power conversion system 100 is a system for supplying (charging) power to a storage battery 31 of a mobile object 3 in these facilities (see FIG. 1). In this embodiment, as an example, a case will be described in which the power conversion system 100 is installed in a house H1 that is a detached house.

[0012] The moving object 3 includes a power unit such as an electric motor, and a storage battery 31 as a power source that supplies power to the power unit. The moving object 3 converts electric energy (power) input from the storage battery 31 into mechanical energy (driving force) in the power unit, and moves using this mechanical energy. The moving object 3 includes a power control circuit 32. The power control circuit 32 charges the storage battery 31 with charging power that does not exceed a predetermined maximum value.

[0013] The moving body 3 here is a vehicle 30. The vehicle 30 is, for example, an electric vehicle that runs using electric energy stored in a storage battery 31. In this disclosure, the "electric vehicle" is, for example, an electric car that runs using the output of an electric motor, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle that runs using a combination of the output of an engine and the output of an electric motor. The electric vehicle may be a senior car, a two-wheeled vehicle (electric motorcycle), a three-wheeled vehicle, an electric bicycle, or the like.

[0014] 1, the power conversion system 100 includes a first power conversion device 11, a second power conversion device 12, and a cable support 2. In the following description, the first power conversion device 11 and the second power conversion device 12 may be collectively referred to as the "power converter 1."

[0015] The first power conversion device 11 converts the AC power input from the power system 4 into DC power and outputs it to the DC bus DB1. In other words, the first power conversion device 11 has a function of an AC / DC converter that converts the input AC power into DC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputs it.

[0016] The second power conversion device 12 converts the DC power input from the DC bus DB1 into charging power for the storage battery 31 of the mobile object 3 and outputs the converted power. In other words, the second power conversion device 12 has a function of a DC / DC converter that converts the input DC power into DC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputs the converted power.

[0017] The cable support 2 supports the cable C1. The cable C1 is connected between the moving object 3 and the second power conversion device 12 to form a power supply path between the storage battery 31 and the second power conversion device 12. A connector CN1 is attached to the tip of the cable C1. The connector CN1 is configured to be connectable to an inlet 34 of the moving object 3. In other words, when the connector CN1 is connected to the inlet 34, the DC power (charging power) output from the second power conversion device 12 is supplied to the storage battery 31 via the cable C1 supported by the cable support 2.

[0018] In this disclosure, the term "cable" refers to a linear member in which one or more electric wires are protected by a sheath (outer cover). In addition, in this disclosure, the term "electric wire" may include not only a bare electric wire that is an electric conductor, but also an insulated electric wire in which an electric conductor is covered with an insulator.

[0019] In the present disclosure, the support of the cable C1 by the cable support 2 does not only mean a mode in which the cable C1 is temporarily supported by the user U1 (see FIG. 3) hanging the cable C1 so as not to impede the passage of the user U1 when the connector CN1 is not in use. In other words, the support of the cable C1 by the cable support 2 in the present disclosure also means a permanent support of the cable C1 without, in principle, being attached or detached by the user U1.

[0020] In this embodiment, the first power converter 11, the second power converter 12, and the cable support 2 are configured separately from one another. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, a housing 11A that houses the functional parts of the first power converter 11, a housing 12A that houses the functional parts of the second power converter 12, and a housing 2A that houses the functional parts of the cable support 2 are configured separately from one another. In other words, the first power converter 11, the second power converter 12, and the cable support 2 are mechanically separated from one another.

[0021] For this reason, in this embodiment, the first power conversion device 11, the second power conversion device 12, and the cable support 2 can be handled individually. Therefore, this embodiment has an advantage that the system can be easily constructed compared to the case where an apparatus in which the first power conversion device 11, the second power conversion device 12, and the cable support 2 are integrally constructed is handled.

[0022] (2) Details Hereinafter, the power conversion system 100 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] (2.1) Overall Structure First, the overall configuration including the power conversion system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the power conversion system 100 realizes the function of the power conversion system 100 by cooperating with an appliance control device 5 installed inside a house H1.

[0024] The power converter 1 and the device control device 5 of the power conversion system 100 are configured to be able to communicate with each other. In the present disclosure, "able to communicate" means that information can be exchanged directly or indirectly via a network or a repeater, etc., by an appropriate communication method such as wired communication or wireless communication. That is, the power converter 1 and the device control device 5 can exchange information with each other. In this embodiment, the power converter 1 and the device control device 5 can communicate with each other bidirectionally, and both the transmission of information from the power converter 1 to the device control device 5 and the transmission of information from the device control device 5 to the power converter 1 are possible.

[0025] The equipment control device 5 is a device that controls at least the power converter 1. The equipment control device 5 controls the start and stop of charging of the storage battery 31 of the mobile object 3 by the power converter 1, by outputting a charge start signal for instructing the power converter 1 to start charging and a charge stop signal for instructing the power converter 1 to stop charging. Therefore, for example, a user U1 can instruct the power converter 1 to start charging the storage battery 31 or to stop charging the storage battery 31 by performing a predetermined operation on the equipment control device 5.

[0026] In this embodiment, the device control device 5 is connected to a network such as the Internet via a router. Therefore, the device control device 5 can communicate with an information terminal carried by the user U1 via the router or the router and the network. The information terminal is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. Therefore, the user U1 can instruct the start of charging the storage battery 31 or the stop of charging the storage battery 31 not only by directly operating the device control device 5 but also by operating the information terminal.

[0027] The power converter 1 is a charging facility for charging the storage battery 31 of the mobile object 3. In this embodiment, the power converter 1 is installed inside a house H1. A cable C1 is connected to the power converter 1. An end of the cable C1 has a connector CN1 that is detachably connected to an inlet 34 of the mobile object 3. With the connector CN1 connected to the inlet 34, the power converter 1 is connected to the mobile object 3 via the cable C1, and therefore, it becomes possible to supply power to the storage battery 31 of the mobile object 3 via the cable C1, and to charge the storage battery 31.

[0028] The moving object 3 includes a storage battery 31, a power control circuit 32, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 33. The power control circuit 32 is a circuit that receives power from the power converter 1 and executes charging of the storage battery 31. In this embodiment, the power control circuit 32 has a function of executing discharging of the storage battery 31 in addition to the function of executing charging of the storage battery 31. The ECU 33 controls the power control circuit 32 based on a signal (here, a signal based on the CHAdeMO (registered trademark) standard, as an example) transmitted via a communication line L2 (described later) of the cable C1.

[0029] (2.2) Power Conversion System Next, a power conversion system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The power conversion system 100 includes a first power conversion device 11 and a second power conversion device 12 as a power converter 1, and a cable support 2.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2, the first power conversion device 11 includes a main circuit 111, a control circuit 112, and a communication unit 113. In the first power conversion device 11, the main circuit 111, the control circuit 112, and the communication unit 113 are all housed in a rectangular parallelepiped housing 11A (see Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the housing 11A is installed in a house H1 as shown in Fig. 3.

[0031] The main circuit 111 is a bidirectional AC / DC converter, one end of which is connected to the power system 4 and the other end of which is connected to the main circuit 121 of the second power conversion device 12 via a DC cable C2 which is a DC bus DB1. The main circuit 111 has, for example, a plurality of full-bridge connected switching elements, and performs conversion from DC power to AC power or from AC power to DC power by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controlling the plurality of switching elements by a control circuit 112.

[0032] In this embodiment, the main circuit 111 has a function of converting AC power output from the power system 4 into DC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputting it to the second power conversion device 12. Also, in this embodiment, the main circuit 111 has a function of converting DC power output from the second power conversion device 12 into AC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputting it to the power system 4. In other words, the first power conversion device 11 has a function of converting DC power input from the DC cable C2 (DC bus DB1) into AC power and outputting it to the power system 4.

[0033] At least a part of the control circuit 112 is configured with a microcontroller having one or more processors and a memory. In other words, at least a part of the control circuit 112 is realized with a computer system having one or more processors and a memory, and the computer system functions as a part of the control circuit 112 by the one or more processors executing a program stored in the memory. The program is pre-recorded in the memory of the control circuit 112 here, but may be provided through a telecommunication line such as the Internet or recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card. In addition, the control circuit 112 has a driver for driving a plurality of switching elements of the main circuit 111. The control circuit 112 may be configured with, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0034] The control circuit 112 has a function of controlling the main circuit 111 to start or stop charging of the storage battery 31 by receiving a command from the appliance control device 5 or an information terminal via the communication unit 113. In this embodiment, the control circuit 112 also has a function of controlling the main circuit 111, for example, during a power outage in the power system 4, to convert DC power from the second power conversion device 12 into AC power and output it to a load (including a distribution board) in the house H1.

[0035] The communication unit 113 has a function of communicating with the device control device 5. An appropriate communication method such as wireless communication or wired communication is adopted as the communication method between the communication unit 113 and the device control device 5. In the present embodiment, as an example, the communication method between the communication unit 113 and the device control device 5 is wired communication conforming to a communication standard such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network). The communication protocol in the communication between the communication unit 113 and the device control device 5 is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) or ECHONET Lite (registered trademark), etc.

[0036] The communication unit 113 also has a function of communicating with a communication unit 123 (described later) of the second power conversion device 12. As a communication method between the communication unit 113 and the communication unit 123 of the second power conversion device 12, an appropriate communication method such as wireless communication or wired communication is adopted. In the present embodiment, as an example, the communication unit 113 performs wired communication with the communication unit 123 of the second power conversion device 12 via a communication line L2 of the DC cable C2.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, the second power conversion device 12 includes a main circuit 121, a control circuit 122, and a communication unit 123. In the second power conversion device 12, the main circuit 121, the control circuit 122, and the communication unit 123 are all housed in a rectangular parallelepiped housing 12A (see Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the housing 12A is installed in a house H1 as shown in Fig. 3.

[0038] The main circuit 121 is a bidirectional DC / DC converter, one end of which is connected to the first cable C11 and the other end of which is connected to the main circuit 111 of the first power conversion device 11 via a DC cable C2. The main circuit 121 has, for example, one or more switching elements, and adjusts and outputs the input DC power by PWM-controlling the one or more switching elements by a control circuit 122.

[0039] In this embodiment, the main circuit 121 has a function of converting the DC power output by the first power conversion device 11 into DC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputting it to the storage battery 31 via the first cable C11 and the connector CN1. Also, in this embodiment, the main circuit 121 has a function of converting the DC power discharged from the storage battery 31 via the first cable C11 and the connector CN1 into DC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputting it to the first power conversion device 11. In other words, the second power conversion device 12 has a function of adjusting the discharge power (DC power) discharged from the storage battery 31 and outputting it to the DC bus DB1.

[0040] Thus, in this embodiment, the power conversion system 100 has a function of controlling the discharge of the storage battery 31. Therefore, in this embodiment, a V2H (Vehicle To Home) system can be constructed by outputting the discharged power of the storage battery 31 of the moving object 3 to a load (including a distribution board) of the house H1.

[0041] At least a part of the control circuit 122 is configured with a microcontroller having one or more processors and a memory. In other words, at least a part of the control circuit 122 is realized with a computer system having one or more processors and a memory, and the computer system functions as a part of the control circuit 122 by the one or more processors executing a program stored in the memory. The program is pre-recorded in the memory of the control circuit 122 here, but may be provided through a telecommunication line such as the Internet or recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card. In addition, the control circuit 122 has a driver for driving one or more switching elements of the main circuit 121. The control circuit 122 may be configured with, for example, an FPGA, an ASIC, or the like.

[0042] The control circuit 122 has a function of controlling the main circuit 121 to start or stop charging of the storage battery 31 by receiving commands from the equipment control device 5 or the information terminal via the communication unit 123 and the communication unit 113 of the first power conversion device 11. In this embodiment, the control circuit 122 also has a function of controlling the main circuit 121 to adjust the discharge power (DC power) from the storage battery 31 and output it to the first power conversion device 11, for example, during a power outage in the power system 4.

[0043] The communication unit 123 has a function of communicating with the communication unit 113 of the first power conversion device 11. An appropriate communication method such as wireless communication or wired communication is adopted as a communication method between the communication unit 123 and the communication unit 113 of the first power conversion device 11. In the present embodiment, as an example, the communication unit 123 performs wired communication with the communication unit 113 of the first power conversion device 11 via a communication line L2 of the DC cable C2.

[0044] The communication unit 123 also has a function of communicating with the mobile object 3. An appropriate communication method such as wireless communication or wired communication is adopted as the communication method between the communication unit 123 and the mobile object 3. As an example in this embodiment, the communication unit 123 performs wired communication with the mobile object 3 via a communication line L2 of the cable C1. In this embodiment, as an example, the communication unit 123 performs communication for confirming the connection between the power converter 1 and the mobile object 3 and confirming the state of the mobile object 3 by using at least a signal based on the CHAdeMO (registered trademark) standard.

[0045] The cable support 2 supports a portion of the cable C1 as shown in Fig. 2. The cable support 2 supports a portion of the cable C1 by housing it in a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2A (see Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the housing 2A is installed outside the house H1, in the parking space A1 of the mobile object 3, as shown in Fig. 3. In other words, the cable support 2 is installed independently on the ground (here, the parking space A1).

[0046] In this embodiment, the cable C1 has a first cable C11 and a second cable C12. The first cable C11 is connected between the moving body 3 and the cable support 2. The second cable C12 is a different type from the first cable C11, and is connected between the cable support 2 and the second power conversion device 12. That is, in the embodiment, the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 are different types from each other.

[0047] In this embodiment, except for the case where two cables obtained by cutting one cable C1 are the first cable C11 and the second cable C12, it can basically be said that the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 are different types from each other. Specifically, it can be said that the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 are different types from each other because they have different diameter dimensions from each other. Also, it can be said that the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 are different types from each other because they contain different numbers of electric wires from each other. In addition, it can also be said that the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 are different types from each other when the cable structures, materials, or manufacturers are different from each other.

[0048] In this embodiment, the first cable C11 is, for example, a cab-tire cable. Also, in this embodiment, the second cable C12 is, for example, a cross-linked polyethylene insulated vinyl sheath cable (CV cable). Also, in this embodiment, the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 each have one or more (here, two) power lines L1 and one or more (here, multiple) communication lines L2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the DC cable C2 is a CV cable like the second cable C12, and has one or more power lines L1 and one or more communication lines L2.

[0049] The cable support 2 (power conversion system 100) further includes a connection unit 20 that connects the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 to each other. In this embodiment, the connection unit 20 is accommodated inside the housing 2A of the cable support 2. In other words, the connection unit 20 is provided inside the cable support 2.

[0050] In other words, the cable support 2 includes a connection portion 20 to which the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 are connected. The first cable C11 can also be considered as a cable connected to the moving object 3 to supply DC power to the storage battery 31 of the moving object 3. The second cable C12 can also be considered as a cable connected to the power converter 1 that converts AC power from the power system 4 into DC power and outputs it to the storage battery 31.

[0051] In this embodiment, the connection portion 20 has a first terminal 21 to which the first cable C11 is connected, and a second terminal 22 to which the second cable C12 is connected. That is, in this embodiment, the first cable C11 is fixed (supported) to the cable support 2 by having one end connected to the first terminal 21. Moreover, the second cable C12 is fixed (supported) to the cable support 2 by having one end connected to the second terminal 22.

[0052] The first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22 are connected via an electric circuit 23. The electric circuit 23 is a conversion circuit that converts an electric connection so that, for example, one or more power lines L1 and one or more communication lines L2 of the first cable C11 can be connected to one or more power lines L1 and one or more communication lines L2 of the second cable C12. Of course, the electric circuit 23 may be a simple electric conductor that connects one or more power lines L1 and one or more communication lines L2 of the first cable C11 and one or more power lines L1 and one or more communication lines L2 of the second cable C12 to each other.

[0053] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, a part of the cable C1 is laid underground between the cable support 2 and the first power converter 11. Similarly, a part of the DC cable C2 is laid underground between the first power converter 11 and the second power converter 12. In the ground, the cable C1 is passed through a pipe C3 such as a metal conduit. The hardness of the pipe C3 is higher than the hardness of the sheath (outer skin) of the cable C1.

[0054] (3) Advantages The advantages of the power conversion system 100 of this embodiment will be described below with comparison with a power conversion system of a first comparative example and a power conversion system of a second comparative example.

[0055] The power conversion system of the first comparative example differs from the power conversion system 100 of the present embodiment in that the power converters (first power conversion device and second power conversion device) are built into the cable support, that is, the cable support, the first power conversion device, and the second power conversion device are integrally configured. In the power conversion system of the first comparative example, since the power converters are built into the cable support, it is unavoidable that the housing of the cable support becomes large. Furthermore, the housing of this cable support needs to be installed in a parking space for the purpose of charging a storage battery of a mobile object.

[0056] For this reason, in the power conversion system of the first comparative example, since the housing of the cable support is relatively large, a large number of installers are required to install the housing in the parking space, and the location where the housing can be installed is limited. Depending on the area of ​​the parking space, it may not be possible to install the cable support in the first place. In addition, in the power conversion system of the first comparative example, since the power converter is built into the cable support, a problem may occur that measures must be taken to suppress the temperature rise of the power converter due to sunlight. Furthermore, in the power conversion system of the first comparative example, the temperature rise of the power converter due to sunlight may cause the power conversion system to be unable to perform at its original performance.

[0057] The power conversion system of the second comparative example differs from the power conversion system 100 of the present embodiment in that the cable support and the power converter are configured separately, that is, the first power conversion device and the second power conversion device are configured integrally. In the power conversion system of the second comparative example, unlike the power conversion system of the first comparative example, the power converter is not built into the cable support, so that the problem associated with sunlight as described above can be solved by installing the power converter, for example, on the north-facing side of a house. However, in the power conversion system of the second comparative example, since the first power conversion device and the second power conversion device are configured integrally, the size of the housing of the power converter is unavoidable. For this reason, in the power conversion system of the second comparative example, the number of installers required to install the housing of the power converter tends to be large, and the place where the housing can be installed is limited, which may cause problems.

[0058] In contrast, in the power conversion system 100 of the present embodiment, the first power conversion device 11, the second power conversion device 12, and the cable support 2 are configured separately from one another. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of each of the housing 11A of the first power conversion device 11, the housing 12A of the second power conversion device 12, and the housing 2A of the cable support 2, compared to a case in which the housings 11A, 12A, and 2A are integrated. In addition, by reducing the size of each of the housings 11A, 12A, and 2A, it is also possible to reduce the weight.

[0059] Therefore, the present embodiment has an advantage of facilitating the construction of the power conversion system 100. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the size and weight of each of the housings 11A, 12A, and 2A are relatively small, so that construction can be performed by a small number of workers.

[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, since the space occupied by each of the housings 11A, 12A, and 2A is relatively small, there is an advantage that the options for the location of installing each of the housings 11A, 12A, and 2A are increased. For example, since the cable support 2, the first power conversion device 11, and the second power conversion device 12 are separate, it is possible to install only the cable support 2 in the parking space A1 even if the area of ​​the parking space A1 is small. Then, it is possible to install the first power conversion device 11 and the second power conversion device 12 in a place other than the parking space A1 where there is ample installation space, such as in a house H1. In this case, since the housings 11A and 12A are separate, it is possible to install the first power conversion device 11 and the second power conversion device 12 in the house H1 according to the situation of the installation space.

[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, since the cable support 2, the first power conversion device 11, and the second power conversion device 12 are separate, it is possible to install the first power conversion device 11 and the second power conversion device 12 in a place that is not easily exposed to direct sunlight, such as inside the house H1 or under the eaves. Therefore, in this embodiment, unlike the power conversion system of the first comparative example, it is not necessary to take measures to suppress a temperature rise in the power converter 1, and therefore there is an advantage that the effort and cost required for the measures can be reduced.

[0062] In this embodiment, the cable support 2 (power conversion system 100) includes a connection part 20. The advantages of including the connection part 20 will be described below with a comparison with a cable support of a comparative example. The cable support of the comparative example differs from the cable support 2 of this embodiment in that it does not include the connection part 20, that is, it supports one cable instead of the first cable C11 and the second cable C12.

[0063] In the cable support of the comparative example, it is considered to use, for example, a cab-tire cable. A cab-tire cable is easy to handle when used outdoors, such as for charging a storage battery, and has excellent outdoor characteristics such as impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and weather resistance, but is not suitable for use in a fixed installation indoors. Therefore, for example, using a part of a cab-tire cable for fixed wiring indoors is not preferable in terms of workability and cost.

[0064] In addition, for example, a CV cable may be used in the cable support of the comparative example. Although a CV cable is suitable for applications in which the cable is installed in a fixed position, it is difficult to handle when used outdoors, such as for charging a storage battery, and it lacks outdoor characteristics such as impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and weather resistance. Therefore, it is not preferable to use, for example, a part of a CV cable outdoors. As described above, the cable support of the comparative example supports only one type of cable, and therefore there is a problem in that it is difficult to select a cable suitable for the installation environment of the cable support.

[0065] In contrast, the cable support 2 of the present embodiment includes the connection portion 20, so that it is possible to select a cable suitable for the installation environment of the cable support 2. As an example, it is possible to connect a cab-tire cable as the first cable C11 and a CV cable as the second cable C12 at the connection portion 20. That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible to select a cable suitable for a fixed installation application as the second cable C12 while selecting a cable suitable for easy handling and outdoor use such as charging a storage battery as the first cable C11. In addition, since the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 can be selected according to the installation environment of the cable support 2, it is possible to expect improvements in cost reduction, workability, appearance, and the like, compared to the case of wiring one type of cable.

[0066] (4) Variations The above-described embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Below, modifications of the above-described embodiment are listed. The modifications described below can be applied in appropriate combination.

[0067] In the above-described embodiment, the power conversion system 100 may further include a third power conversion device 13 that adjusts the DC power input from the distributed power source 6 and outputs the adjusted DC power to the DC bus DB1, as shown in Fig. 4. The third power conversion device 13 is a DC / DC converter and is connected to the DC bus DB1. The third power conversion device 13 has a function of converting the DC power output from the distributed power source 6 into DC power of a predetermined magnitude and outputting the converted DC power to the first power conversion device 11 via the DC bus DB1.

[0068] In this embodiment, it is possible to supply power from the distributed power source 6 to the storage battery 31 without going through the first power conversion device 11 (i.e., an AC / DC converter) as compared to the case where the distributed power source 6 is connected via a power conditioner. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce power conversion loss as compared to the case where the distributed power source 6 is connected via a power conditioner. Note that the third power conversion device 13 may be configured separately from the first power conversion device 11 as shown in FIG. 4, or may be configured in the same housing as the first power conversion device 11 without being limited thereto.

[0069] Here, the distributed power source 6 may include a solar cell. In this embodiment, surplus power generated by the solar cell that is not consumed by the load of the house H1 is charged to the storage battery 31, thereby supporting power supply from the power grid 4 to the storage battery 31, for example, by reducing the charging power of the storage battery 31 by purchasing power from the power grid 4.

[0070] The distributed power source 6 may also include a battery different from the storage battery 31. The third power conversion device 13 may have a function of converting DC power input from the DC bus DB1 into charging power for the battery and outputting the power to the battery. In this embodiment, it is possible to support power supply from the power system 4 to the storage battery 31 by using the power stored in the battery. For example, even if it is desired to charge the storage battery 31 during a relatively inexpensive time period (for example, late at night) when the mobile object 3 is not present, by charging the battery, it is possible to charge the storage battery 31 with the power stored in the battery when the mobile object 3 returns. In this embodiment, it is possible to charge the storage battery 31 with power exceeding the rated power of the first power conversion device 11 by adding up the power stored in the battery and the DC power supplied from the power system 4 via the first power conversion device 11. Furthermore, by utilizing the power stored in the battery when charging the storage battery 31, the DC power supplied from the power grid 4 via the first power conversion device 11 can be reduced, making it possible to make it less likely that the breaker into the house H1 will be tripped.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the cable support 2 is not limited to being installed independently on the ground, but may be installed by being attached to a part of the house H1 (building). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the cable support 2 may be attached to a wall H11 of the house H1. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the cable support 2 may be attached to the back side of the ceiling H12 of the house H1. In this case, the cable C1 (first cable C11) is suspended from the ceiling H12. Alternatively, the cable support 2 may be attached to a columnar member erected on the ground, not limited to a building. This aspect has the advantage that the cable support 2 can be easily installed in a good-looking manner without taking up installation space, for example, in a relatively narrow parking space A1 where it is difficult to install the cable support 2 independently.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, at least one of the cable C1 and the DC cable C2 may be configured to be adjustable in length relative to the length of the cable C1. The DC cable C2 connects between the first power conversion device 11 and the second power conversion device 12 to configure the DC bus DB1. This aspect has the advantage that the lengths of the cable C1 and the DC cable C2 can be optimized according to the environment in which the system is installed. Specifically, this aspect is expected to have the following two advantages.

[0073] First, by shortening the length of either the cable C1 or the DC cable C2 to which a high voltage is applied, the cable to which a high voltage is applied is less likely to be exposed to the outside. Also, by shortening the length of the cable to which a high voltage is applied, that is, the cable that requires high voltage resistance, the cost can be reduced.

[0074] Secondly, when the same amount of power is supplied to each of the cable C1 and the DC cable C2, the current in the cable to which the high voltage is applied is relatively small, so there is an advantage in that the loss due to wiring impedance can be reduced by shortening the length of the cable to which the high voltage is applied.

[0075] In the above-described embodiment, the connection portion 20 may be provided on the outside of the cable support 2. For example, the connection portion 20 may be provided on the outside of the cable support 2, on one surface of the housing 2A of the cable support 2.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 do not have to be of different types. For example, the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 may be of the same type of cable and connected to each other at the connection portion 20.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the power conversion system 100 (cable support 2) may not include the connection portion 20. In other words, the cable support 2 may be configured to support one cable C1 that connects the moving object 3 and the second power conversion device 12 in one joint.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, the power conversion system 100 may not include the first power conversion device 11. That is, the power conversion system 100 may include only the second power conversion device 12 and the cable support 2. The second power conversion device 12 is configured separately from the first power conversion device 11 that converts AC power input from the power system 4 into DC power and outputs the DC power to the DC bus DB1, and converts the DC power input from the DC bus DB1 into charging power for the storage battery 31 of the mobile object 3 and outputs the DC power. The cable support 2 supports a cable C1 that is connected between the mobile object 3 and the second power conversion device 12 and forms a power supply path between the storage battery 31 and the second power conversion device 12. The second power conversion device 12 and the cable support 2 are configured separately from each other.

[0079] In this power conversion system 100, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the second power conversion device 12 may have a function of adjusting DC power discharged from the storage battery 31 and outputting the adjusted DC power to the DC bus DB1. Furthermore, this power conversion system 100 may be connected not only to the first power conversion device 11 but also to the third power conversion device 13. In this case, the third power conversion device 13 may be configured separately from the first power conversion device 11, or may be configured in the same housing as the first power conversion device 11, without being limited thereto.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the power conversion system 100 may be constructed by the following construction method. That is, the construction method of the power conversion system 100 may have a first step and a second step. The first step is a step of connecting the cable C1 to the second power conversion device 12. The second step is a step of connecting the first power conversion device 11 and the second power conversion device 12 with the DC cable C2 that constitutes the DC bus DB1.

[0081] In the above-described embodiment, the power conversion system 100 can be configured as a V2H system, but this is not essential. That is, the power conversion system 100 may be configured only as a charging system that charges the storage battery 31. In this case, in the power conversion system 100, the power converter 1 only needs to have a unidirectional power conversion function from the power system 4 to the storage battery 31.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the cable support 2 may be provided with an operation unit for instructing the start and stop of charging the storage battery 31. In this case, the user U1 can instruct the start and stop of charging the storage battery 31 by operating the operation unit without directly operating the device control device 5. Also, the operation unit may be provided in the connector CN1 instead of the cable support 2.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment, the housing 11A of the first power converter 11, the housing 12A of the second power converter 12, and the housing 2A of the cable support 2 may be configured separately from one another, and these housings 11A, 12A, and 2A may be arranged in any manner. For example, the housing 12A of the second power converter 12 may be arranged stacked on the housing 11A of the first power converter 11.

[0084] In the above-mentioned embodiment, both the cable C1 and the DC cable C2 may be laid on the ground, not underground. In this case, at least one of the cable C1 and the DC cable C2, more specifically, the first cable C11 of the cable C1, is preferably provided with a simple contact protection measure by being passed through a pipe C3 having a predetermined hardness. As the pipe C3, for example, a flexible conduit made of synthetic resin may be adopted in addition to a metal conduit. That is, the first cable C11 may be passed through a pipe (conduit) C3 having a predetermined hardness. This aspect has an advantage that it is possible to make it difficult for the user U1 to touch the first cable C11 that may be placed outside the house H1 (building).

[0085] In the above-described embodiment, the second cable C12 may have a load resistance greater than that of the first cable C11. This aspect has the advantage that it is easier to ensure the impact resistance of the second cable C12, to which a higher voltage may be applied than that of the first cable C11.

[0086] In the above-described embodiment, the first cable C11 is preferably more flexible (in other words, has a smaller minimum bending radius) than the second cable C12. This embodiment has an advantage that the first cable C11, which may be routed when charging the storage battery 31, can be easily handled.

[0087] In the above-described embodiment, the connection portion 20 may have a temperature sensor 24 as shown in Fig. 7. The temperature sensor 24 is disposed, for example, near either the first terminal 21 or the second terminal 22. Here, the temperature sensor 24 is disposed near the second terminal 22 where a poor connection of the cable may occur during on-site construction of the power conversion system 100. Note that the first cable C11 is already connected to the first terminal 21 when the cable support 2 is shipped, and if the result of the inspection before shipping is good, it is considered that the possibility of a poor connection occurring is low.

[0088] The temperature sensor 24 transmits the detection result to the control circuit 122 of the second power conversion device 12 via, for example, the communication line L2 of the second cable C12. The control circuit 122 monitors the detection result of the temperature sensor 24, and when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 24 exceeds a threshold temperature, the control circuit 122 controls a relay connected to the power line L1 to stop the power supply from the second power conversion device 12 to the storage battery 31. In other words, when the detected temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, the temperature sensor 24 generates a trigger to stop the supply of DC power from the power converter 1 (here, the second power conversion device 12).

[0089] In this embodiment, even if a poor connection occurs in the cable, the temperature sensor 24 detects the temperature rise caused by the increased contact resistance due to the poor connection, so that the poor connection in the cable can be detected early and the power supply can be stopped.

[0090] Here, the control circuit 122 may stop the operation of the second power conversion device 12 by controlling the main circuit 121 instead of controlling the relay, thereby stopping the power supply from the second power conversion device 12 to the storage battery 31. That is, the temperature sensor 24 may generate a trigger for stopping the operation of at least a part of the power converter 1 (here, the second power conversion device 12) when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. Furthermore, the temperature sensor 24 may generate a trigger for opening the connection of an enabling signal line included in the communication line L2 of the second cable C12 when the detected temperature exceeds the threshold temperature. The enabling signal line here is, for example, a signal line through which an operation enabling / prohibiting signal generated by the moving object 3 in the CHAdeMO standard flows. In this case, it is possible to prompt the storage battery 31 to stop the charging operation or discharging operation by using a constant signal monitoring function that is provided in advance in the second power conversion device 12. These aspects have the advantage that it is easy to avoid the occurrence of a portion to which a high voltage is continuously applied to the cable C1 (the first cable C11 and the second cable C12).

[0091] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the connection portion 20 may have a fuse 25 disposed between the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22. Here, the fuse 25 is connected in series to the electric circuit 23 between the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22. This aspect has the advantage that even if a short circuit occurs due to a poor connection of the cable or the intrusion of a foreign object, the fuse 25 is cut off, thereby making it possible to prevent the power supply from continuing in a short-circuit state.

[0092] 9, the connection portion 20 may not have the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22. That is, in the connection portion 20, the first cable C11 and the second cable C12 may be directly connected to each other without passing through the electric circuit 23.

[0093] (summary) As described above, the power conversion system (100) according to the first embodiment includes the first power conversion device (11), the second power conversion device (12), and the cable support (2). The first power conversion device (11) converts AC power input from the power system (4) into DC power and outputs the DC power to the DC bus (DB1). The second power conversion device (12) converts DC power input from the DC bus (DB1) into charging power for the storage battery (31) of the mobile object (3) and outputs the charging power. The cable support (2) supports the cable (C1). The cable (C1) is connected between the mobile object (3) and the second power conversion device (12) to form a power supply path between the storage battery (31) and the second power conversion device (12). The first power conversion device (11), the second power conversion device (12), and the cable support (2) are configured separately from each other.

[0094] This aspect has the advantage that the system is easier to install compared to handling an apparatus in which the first power conversion device (11), the second power conversion device (12), and the cable support (2) are integrated.

[0095] In the power conversion system (100) according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the second power conversion device (12) has a function of adjusting DC power discharged from the storage battery (31) and outputting the adjusted DC power to the DC bus (DB1). The first power conversion device (11) has a function of converting DC power input from the DC bus (DB1) into AC power and outputting the AC power to the power grid (4).

[0096] According to this embodiment, there is an advantage that by utilizing the power stored in the storage battery (31), it is possible to support the supply of power to the load by purchasing power from the power grid (4) or to supply power to the load in an emergency such as a power outage.

[0097] The power conversion system (100) according to the third aspect is the power conversion system according to the first or second aspect, further including a third power conversion device (13) that adjusts DC power input from the distributed power source (6) and outputs the adjusted DC power to the DC bus (DB1).

[0098] According to this aspect, there is an advantage that the power conversion loss can be reduced compared to the case where the distributed power source (6) is connected via a power conditioner.

[0099] In a power conversion system (100) according to a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the distributed power source (6) includes a solar cell.

[0100] According to this embodiment, there is an advantage that it is possible to support the power supply from the power grid (4) to the storage battery (31) by using the power generated by the solar cell.

[0101] In the power conversion system (100) according to the fifth aspect, in the third aspect, the distributed power source (6) includes a battery different from the storage battery (31). The third power conversion device (13) has a function of converting DC power input from the DC bus (DB1) into charging power for the battery and outputting the power to the battery.

[0102] According to this embodiment, it is possible to support the power supply from the power grid (4) to the storage battery (31) by using the power stored in the battery.

[0103] In the power conversion system (100) according to the sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the cable support (2) is installed by being attached to a part of a building (a house (H1)).

[0104] According to this embodiment, there is an advantage that the cable support (2) can be easily installed in a visually appealing manner without taking up installation space, even in a relatively narrow parking space (A1) where it is difficult to install the cable support (2) independently.

[0105] In the power conversion system (100) according to the seventh aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the cable support (2) is installed independently on the ground (parking space (A1)).

[0106] According to this embodiment, there is an advantage that the cable support (2) can be installed even if, for example, there is no building (house (H1)) or the like to which the cable support (2) can be attached in the vicinity of the parking space (A1).

[0107] In a power conversion system (100) according to an eighth aspect, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, at least one of the cable (C1) and the DC cable (C2) is configured so that the length of the DC cable (C2) relative to the length of the cable (C1) is adjustable. The DC cable (C2) connects between the first power conversion device (11) and the second power conversion device (12) to form a DC bus (DB1).

[0108] According to this embodiment, there is an advantage that the lengths of the cable (C1) and the DC cable (C2) can be optimized according to the environment in which the system is installed.

[0109] In a power conversion system (100) according to a ninth aspect, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the cable (C1) has a first cable (C11) and a second cable (C12). The first cable (C11) is connected between a moving body (3) and a cable support (2). The second cable (C12) is a different type from the first cable (C11) and is connected between the cable support (2) and a second power conversion device (12). The power conversion system (100) further includes a connection part (20) that connects the first cable (C11) and the second cable (C12) to each other.

[0110] This embodiment has the advantage that it is possible to select a cable suitable for the installation environment of the cable support (2).

[0111] In a power conversion system (100) according to a tenth aspect, in the ninth aspect, the connection portion (20) is provided inside the cable support (2).

[0112] According to this embodiment, since the connection portion (20) is not exposed to the outside of the cable support (2), there is an advantage that the appearance is improved.

[0113] A power conversion system (100) according to an eleventh aspect includes a second power conversion device (12) and a cable support (2). The second power conversion device (12) is configured separately from the first power conversion device (11) and converts DC power input from a DC bus (DB1) into charging power for a storage battery (31) of a mobile object (3) and outputs the converted power. The first power conversion device (11) converts AC power input from a power system (4) into DC power and outputs the DC power to the DC bus (DB1). The cable support (2) supports a cable (C1). The cable (C1) is connected between the mobile object (3) and the second power conversion device (12) to form a power supply path between the storage battery (31) and the second power conversion device (12). The second power conversion device (12) and the cable support (2) are configured separately from each other.

[0114] This aspect has the advantage that the system is easier to install compared to handling an apparatus in which the first power conversion device (11), the second power conversion device (12), and the cable support (2) are integrated.

[0115] A method for constructing a power conversion system (100) according to a twelfth aspect is a method for constructing a power conversion system (100) according to any one of the first to tenth aspects. This construction method has a first step and a second step. The first step is a step of connecting a cable (C1) to the second power conversion device (12). The second step is a step of connecting the first power conversion device (11) and the second power conversion device (12) with a DC cable (C2) constituting a DC bus (DB1).

[0116] This aspect has the advantage that the system is easier to install compared to handling an apparatus in which the first power conversion device (11), the second power conversion device (12), and the cable support (2) are integrated.

[0117] The configurations according to the second to tenth aspects are not essential for the power conversion system (100) and can be omitted as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 100 Power Conversion System 11 First power conversion device 12 Second power conversion device 13 Third power converter 2 Cable Support 20 Connection 3. Mobile 31 Storage battery 4 Power system 6 Distributed power supply A1 Parking space (ground) C1 Cable C11 1st cable C12 2nd cable C2 DC Cable DB1 DC Bus H1 Residential (Building)

Claims

1. a first power conversion device that converts AC power input from a power grid into DC power and outputs the DC power to a DC bus; a second power conversion device that converts the DC power input from the DC bus into charging power for a storage battery of the mobile object and outputs the charging power; a cable support connected between the moving body and the second power conversion device and supporting a cable forming a power supply path between the storage battery and the second power conversion device; an operation unit provided on the cable support for instructing the start or stop of charging of the storage battery; the first power conversion device, the second power conversion device, and the cable support are configured separately from one another, The charging power converted by the second power conversion device is supplied to the storage battery via the cable supported by the cable support, The storage battery is charged with the charging power, a third power conversion device that adjusts DC power input from a distributed power source and outputs the adjusted DC power to the DC bus, The third power conversion device is configured in the same housing as the first power conversion device. Power conversion systems.

2. the second power conversion device has a function of adjusting DC power discharged from the storage battery and outputting the adjusted DC power to the DC bus; The first power conversion device has a function of converting DC power input from the DC bus into AC power and outputting the AC power to the power grid. The power conversion system of claim 1 .

3. The distributed power source includes a solar cell. The power conversion system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The distributed power source includes a battery different from the storage battery, The third power conversion device converts the DC power input from the DC bus into a charge for the battery. The power converter has a function of converting the power into electric power and outputting the power to the battery. The power conversion system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The cable support is installed by being attached to a part of a building. The power conversion system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The cable support is installed independently on the ground. The power conversion system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. At least one of the cables and a DC cable connecting the first power conversion device and the second power conversion device to form the DC bus is configured to be adjustable in length relative to the length of the cables. The power conversion system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The cable, A first cable connected between the moving body and the cable support; a second cable of a different type from the first cable and connected between the cable support and the second power converter; Further comprising a connection portion that connects the first cable and the second cable to each other. The power conversion system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The connection portion is provided inside the cable support, The power conversion system of claim 8.

10. A second power conversion device configured separately from a first power conversion device that converts AC power input from a power system into DC power and outputs the DC power to a DC bus, and that converts the DC power input from the DC bus into charging power for a storage battery of a mobile object and outputs the power; a cable support connected between the moving body and the second power conversion device and supporting a cable forming a power supply path between the storage battery and the second power conversion device; an operation unit provided on the cable support for instructing the start or stop of charging of the storage battery; The second power conversion device and the cable support are configured separately from each other, The charging power converted by the second power conversion device is supplied to the storage battery via the cable supported by the cable support, The storage battery is charged with the charging power, a third power conversion device that adjusts DC power input from a distributed power source and outputs the adjusted DC power to the DC bus, The third power conversion device is configured in the same housing as the first power conversion device. Power conversion systems.

11. A method for constructing a power conversion system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: a first step of connecting the cable to the second power converter; a second step of connecting the first power conversion device and the second power conversion device with a DC cable constituting the DC bus, How to install a power conversion system.

Images