Fast charging cables for electric vehicles

Abstract

To provide a quick-charging cable for electric cars having a large allowable current value.SOLUTION: A quick-charging cable 1 for electric cars has a cable body having a conductor and a sheath coating the conductor, and an adapter that is electrically connected to the conductor and connected to an electric car EV and a power supply PS. In the quick-charging cable 1 for electric cars, a superconductor is used as the conductor, and the sheath is provided with a space for circulation of a coolant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fast charging cable for electric vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] With the spread of electric vehicles (EVs), the development of charging technologies has been actively pursued. Charging is performed by connecting the vehicle to a charging device via a charging cable. An example of a charging cable for electric vehicles is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a composite cable including a power line, a signal line, and a ground line, and in this composite cable, the signal line and the ground line are particularly twisted together to reduce noise originating from the power line even if the noise is carried over the signal transmitted through the signal line. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-2508 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although 50kW (125A) fast charging technology has already been put to practical use, there is a strong demand for charging cables that can withstand large currents, i.e., fast charging cables with a high allowable current value, in order to further shorten charging times. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a quick charging cable for electric vehicles that has a large allowable current value. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the present invention, a cable body having a conductor and a sheath covering the conductor; an adapter portion that is electrically connected to the conductor and is connected to the electric vehicle and a power supply device; a superconductor is used as the conductor, The quick charging cable for electric vehicles is characterized in that the sheath has a space formed therein for allowing a coolant to flow. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, a superconductor is used as the conductor, so that a quick charging cable for an electric vehicle with a large allowable current value can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application example of a quick charging cable for an electric vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector portion for connecting to an electric vehicle or a charging device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, a quick charging cable 1 for an electric vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "charging cable 1") is placed between an electric vehicle EV and a power supply device PS, and connector portions at both ends are connected to the electric vehicle EV and the power supply device PS, respectively.

[0010] [First embodiment] 2, the cable main body 11 is basically composed of a superconductor 111 and a sheath 112 that covers and protects it. The connector portions of the charging cable 1 basically have the same configuration on both ends and are composed of a first adapter part 12, a joint 13, and a second adapter part 14.

[0011] The superconductor 111 has a configuration in which a plurality of superconducting wires are stacked, and the stack is covered with an insulating sheet such as nonwoven fabric. The superconducting wire is formed by forming a high-temperature superconducting thin film of REBayCu3Oz system (RE represents one or more elements selected from Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Ho, where y≦2 and z=6.2 to 7) on a substrate via an intermediate layer. The sheath 112 is made of a resin material such as polyethylene resin. A gap is formed between the sheath 112 and the superconductor 111, forming a space for circulating a coolant. A coolant such as liquid nitrogen flows inside the sheath 112 to cool the superconductor 111. As described above, the sheath 112 may have a single-tube structure made of a resin material, or a double-tube structure made of a metal material such as aluminum or SUS. When a single-tube structure is used, the cable body 11 has flexibility and bendability, improving handleability. When a double-tube structure is used, it is preferable to use a structure in which a refrigerant is circulated inside the inner tube and a vacuum is drawn between the inner and outer tubes to insulate them. When a double-tube structure is used, the insulation is improved, making it suitable for use in tropical and warm climates. A metal flange 113 is attached to the end of the sheath 112. The flange 113 has a plurality of insertion holes formed therein for inserting bolts therethrough.

[0012] The first adapter part 12 has an adapter 121 and a sleeve 122. The adapter 121 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, and has a contact such as a contact band on its surface for electrical connection to the second adapter part 14. A columnar insertion hole 123 is formed inside the adapter 121 (see FIG. 3), and the superconductor 111 is inserted and soldered into the insertion hole 123. The sleeve 122 is made of a metal material such as copper or aluminum, and the adapter 121 is soldered inside the sleeve 122.

[0013] The joint 13 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, etc. The joint 13 is formed with inlet and outlet holes 131 for allowing the refrigerant to flow in and out.

[0014] The second adapter unit 14 has an adapter 141 and a flange 142. The adapter 141 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, and has a contact such as a contact band on its surface for electrical connection to the electric vehicle EV or the power supply device PS. A columnar insertion hole 143 is formed inside the adapter 141, and the adapter 121 of the first adapter unit 12 is inserted into the hole, so that the adapter 141 of the second adapter unit 14 is electrically connected to the superconductor 111 via the first adapter unit 12. A metal flange 142 is attached to the end of the adapter 141. The flange 142 has a plurality of insertion holes formed therein for inserting bolts.

[0015] In the connector portion of the charging cable 1, with the first adapter part 12 (adapter 121) inserted into the second adapter part 14 (insertion hole 143) and electrically connected, the flanges 113, 142 of the cable main body 11 and the second adapter part 14 are bolted to the joint 13, and the first adapter part 12, joint 13, and second adapter part 14 are integrated.

[0016] When charging the electric vehicle EV, one connector of the charging cable 1 is connected to the electric vehicle EV, and the other connector is connected to the power supply device PS. The refrigerant then flows in through an inlet hole in the connector on the electric vehicle EV side, circulates inside the sheath 112, and flows out (discharges) through an outlet hole in the connector on the power supply device PS side. If the refrigerant is liquid nitrogen, it can be released into the outside air as gaseous nitrogen from the outlet hole. After the refrigerant has been circulated for a certain period of time to cool the superconductor 111, the power supply device PS can supply power to the electric vehicle EV to charge it.

[0017] [Second embodiment] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the following points, and is otherwise similar to the first embodiment.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3, the connector portion of the charging cable 1 is formed with a first joint portion 23 and a second joint portion 33, through which the cable main body 11 is connected to the first adapter portion 12 and the second adapter portion 14.

[0019] The first joint part 23 has a joint body 231. The joint body 231 is made of a metal material such as aluminum. Inlet and outlet holes 232 for the inflow and outflow of a refrigerant are formed in the side of the joint body 231. An introduction hole 233 for introducing the superconductor 111 is formed in one end of the joint body 231, and is welded to the sheath 112. A flange 234 is formed in the other end of the joint body 231. The second joint portion 33 has two flanges 331a, 331b and an insulating portion 332 (edge ​​cutting portion). Each of the flanges 331a, 331b is made of a metal material such as stainless steel (SUS), and the insulating portion 332 is made of a plastic material such as glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP). One flange 331a is bolted to the flange 234 of the first joint portion 23, and the other flange 331b is bolted to the flange 142 of the second adapter portion 14. The insulating portion 332 is in the form of a sheet, wrapped between the flanges 331a, 331b, and bonded to the flanges 331a, 331b with an adhesive such as epoxy resin. An operator can directly touch the insulating portion 332 with their hands, improving the ease of handling and safety of the charging cable 1.

[0020] According to the above embodiment, because superconductor 111 is used as the conductor, charging cable 1 can be a rapid charging cable that can withstand large currents and has a large allowable current value. As a result, charging cable 1 can rapidly charge an electric vehicle EV. For example, assuming that charging cable 1 will be used with a 600 A specification, simply stacking three superconducting wires each about 4 mm wide and 0.1 mm thick will enable the supply of 600 kW of power at a DC voltage of 1000 V. [Explanation of symbols]

[0021] EV Electric Vehicle PS power supply 1. Charging cable (fast charging cable for electric vehicles) 11 Cable body 12 First adapter part 13 Joints 14 Second adapter part 23 First joint 33 Second joint 111 Superconductor 112 Sheath 121 Adapter 122 Sleeve 131 Inflow / outflow hole 141 Adapter 142 flange 143 Insertion hole 231 Joint body 232 Inflow / outflow hole 233 Inlet 234 flange 331a, 331b flanges 332 Insulation section

Claims

1. a cable body having a conductor and a sheath covering the conductor; an adapter portion that is electrically connected to the conductor and is connected to the electric vehicle and a power supply device; a superconductor is used as the conductor, The sheath has a space formed therein for allowing a refrigerant to flow therethrough, the adapter unit has a first adapter unit connected to the conductor, and a second adapter unit electrically connected to the first adapter unit and connected to an electric vehicle or a power supply device; a joint that connects the cable main body to the first adapter portion and the second adapter portion; The quick charging cable for electric vehicles is characterized in that the joint is formed with inlet and outlet holes for the inflow and outflow of refrigerant.

2. A cable body having a conductor and a sheath covering the conductor; an adapter portion that is electrically connected to the conductor and is connected to the electric vehicle and a power supply device; a superconductor is used as the conductor, The sheath has a space formed therein for allowing a refrigerant to flow therethrough, the adapter unit has a first adapter unit connected to the conductor, and a second adapter unit electrically connected to the first adapter unit and connected to an electric vehicle or a power supply device; two joint portions that connect the cable main body to the first adapter portion and the second adapter portion; The first joint portion is formed with an inlet / outlet hole for allowing the refrigerant to flow in or out, A quick charging cable for an electric vehicle, characterized in that an insulating portion is formed on the outer periphery of the first adapter portion of the second joint portion.

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