Charge and discharge management system

Abstract

To raise the temperature of a power storage device while suppressing an increase in electric power consumption.SOLUTION: A charge / discharge management system manages charge and discharge of power storage devices in a plurality of vehicle each of which comprises a power storage device and can execute external charging for charging the power storage device using electric power outputted from an external power source and external power feeding for feeding electric power from the power storage device to the outside of the vehicles. The charge / discharge management system obtains scheduled departure times of a plurality of parked vehicles, and terminates external charging or the external power feeding to the vehicles under an environment in which an outside temperature is lower than a minimum temperature in a predetermined temperature range of the plurality of vehicles, at a time closer to the scheduled departure time than the vehicles under an environment in which the outside temperature is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charge / discharge management system and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of charge / discharge management system, one has been proposed that includes a power storage device and manages charging of the power storage device in a vehicle that is capable of external charging, in which the power storage device is charged using electric power from an external power source (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This system includes a heater that heats the power storage device, and the heater heats the power storage device to increase the temperature of the power storage device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-46737 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-described charge / discharge management system, the heater heats the power storage device, which reduces the power storage rate of the power storage device by the amount of power consumed by the heater. One method for suppressing the reduction in the power storage rate is to supplement the power consumed by the heater with external charging. However, this method increases power consumption when considered as a power system consisting of an external power source and a vehicle.

[0005] A main object of the charge / discharge management system and vehicle of the present invention is to increase the temperature of the power storage device while suppressing an increase in power consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The charge / discharge management system and vehicle of the present invention employ the following means to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

[0007] The charge / discharge management system of the present invention comprises: A charge / discharge management system that manages charging / discharging of a plurality of vehicles, each of which includes a power storage device, and is capable of performing external charging, in which the power storage device is charged using electric power from an external power source, and external power feeding, in which power is fed from the power storage device to an outside of the vehicle, comprising: Scheduled departure times of the plurality of parked vehicles are acquired, and for a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles in an environment where the outside air temperature is lower than the lowest temperature of a predetermined temperature range, the external charging or the external power feeding is terminated at a time closer to the scheduled departure time than for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the lowest temperature. The gist of this is as follows.

[0008] The charge / discharge management system of the present invention acquires the scheduled departure times of multiple parked vehicles, and terminates external charging or external power feeding for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is lower than the minimum temperature in a predetermined temperature range closer to the scheduled departure time than for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature. When external charging or external power feeding is performed while a vehicle is parked, the temperature of the power storage device increases due to charging and discharging. Therefore, for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is lower than the minimum temperature in a predetermined temperature range, external charging or external power feeding is terminated closer to the scheduled departure time than for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is higher than the minimum temperature, thereby enabling the power storage device to be heated at the scheduled departure time. Because the power storage device is charged and discharged using external charging or external power feeding, an increase in power consumption can be suppressed compared to using a heating device such as a heater to heat the power storage device. As a result, the power storage device can be heated while suppressing an increase in power consumption. Here, the "predetermined temperature range" can be, for example, a predetermined temperature range in which degradation of the power storage device progresses slowly.

[0009] In the charge / discharge management system of the present invention, for a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles in an environment where the outside air temperature is higher than the highest temperature in the predetermined temperature range, the external charging or the external power feeding may be terminated at a time further from the scheduled departure time than for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is within the predetermined temperature range. For a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles in an environment where the outside air temperature is higher than the highest temperature, the power storage device is likely to become hot due to external charging or external power feeding. Therefore, for such a vehicle, by terminating external charging or external power feeding at a time further from the scheduled departure time, it is possible to prevent the power storage device from becoming hot at the scheduled departure time.

[0010] The vehicle of the present invention comprises: A vehicle including a power storage device, capable of external charging in which the power storage device is charged using electric power from an external power source and external power feeding in which power is fed from the power storage device to an outside of the vehicle, A scheduled departure time is acquired, and when the outside air temperature is lower than the lowest temperature of a predetermined temperature range, the external charging or the external power feeding is terminated at a time closer to the scheduled departure time than when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the lowest temperature. The gist of this is as follows.

[0011] In the vehicle of the present invention, the scheduled departure time is acquired, and when the outside air temperature is lower than the lowest temperature in a predetermined temperature range, external charging or external power feeding is terminated at a time closer to the scheduled departure time than when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the lowest temperature. When external charging or external power feeding is performed while the vehicle is parked, the temperature of the power storage device increases due to charging and discharging. Therefore, when the outside air temperature is lower than the lowest temperature in the predetermined temperature range, external charging or external power feeding is terminated at a time closer to the scheduled departure time than when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the lowest temperature, thereby enabling the power storage device to be heated at the scheduled departure time. Because the power storage device is charged and discharged by external charging or external power feeding, an increase in power consumption can be suppressed compared to when a heating device such as a heater is used to heat the power storage device. As a result, the power storage device can be heated while suppressing an increase in power consumption. Here, the "predetermined temperature range" can be, for example, a predetermined temperature range within which degradation of the power storage device progresses slowly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a power system 10 incorporating a charge / discharge management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the configuration of an electric vehicle 20. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing routine executed by a CPU of a management device 92. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples. [Example]

[0014] 1 is a diagram showing the general configuration of a power system 10 incorporating a charge / discharge management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The power system 10 is configured as a virtual power plant that generates electricity to be transmitted to a power grid that supplies power to private homes, factories, etc., and includes a plurality of electric vehicles 20, a power facility 90, and a management device 92.

[0015] 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of electric vehicles 20. Each electric vehicle 20 is configured to function as an energy resource in a virtual power plant. As shown in the figure, each electric vehicle 20 includes a motor 32, an inverter 34, a battery 36 as a power storage device, a charger 50, a power supply device 54, and an electronic control unit 70.

[0016] The motor 32 has a rotor connected to a drive shaft 26, the rotor of which is coupled to the drive wheels 22a, 22b via a differential gear 24. An inverter 34 is used to drive the motor 32 and is connected to a battery 36 via a power line 38. The motor 32 is driven and rotated by an electronic control unit 70 controlling the switching of a plurality of switching elements (not shown) of the inverter 34. The battery 36 is configured as, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery.

[0017] The charger 50 is connected to the power line 38, and is configured to be able to perform external charging, in which the battery 36 is charged using power from the power transmission grid when a power transmission grid-side connector connected to the power transmission grid (external power source) is connected to the vehicle-side connector 51. The charger 50 is controlled by an electronic control unit 70.

[0018] The power supply device 54 is connected to the power line 38, and is configured to convert DC power from the power line 38 (battery 36) into AC power of a predetermined voltage (e.g., 100 V) compatible with the power transmission network and supply the AC power to the power transmission network when the power receiving connector 55 is connected to the power transmission network. The number of power supply connectors 55 is not limited to one, and may be two or more.

[0019] The electronic control unit 70 is configured as a microprocessor centered around a CPU (not shown). In addition to the CPU, the electronic control unit 70 also includes a ROM for storing processing programs, a RAM for temporarily storing data, input / output ports, and communication ports. Signals from various sensors are input to the electronic control unit 70 via the input ports. Examples of signals input to the electronic control unit 70 include the rotational position θm of the rotor of the motor 32 from a rotational position sensor (not shown) that detects the rotational position of the rotor of the motor 32, and the phase currents Iu, Iv, and Iw of the motor 32 from current sensors (not shown) that detect the phase currents of the motor 32. Other examples of signals input to the electronic control unit 70 include the voltage Vb of the battery 36 from a voltage sensor 36a attached between the terminals of the battery 36, the input / output current Ib of the battery 36 from a current sensor 36b attached to the output terminals of the battery 36, and the temperature Tb of the battery 36 from a temperature sensor 36c attached to the battery 36. Examples of the signals include an ignition signal from an ignition switch 80, an accelerator opening Acc from an accelerator pedal position sensor 84 that detects the depression amount of an accelerator pedal 83, a vehicle speed V from a vehicle speed sensor 88, and an outside air temperature Ta from a temperature sensor 89 that detects the outside air temperature. Various control signals are output from the electronic control unit 70 via an output port. Examples of signals output from the electronic control unit 70 include a control signal to the inverter 34, a control signal to the charger 50, and a control signal to the power supply device 54. The electronic control unit 70 calculates the amount of stored power Sb and the storage ratio SOC of the battery 36 based on an integrated value of the input / output current Ib of the battery 36 from the current sensor 36b. Here, the amount of stored power Sb is the amount of power that can be discharged from the battery 36, and the storage ratio SOC is the ratio of the amount of stored power Sb (remaining power) to the total capacity Scap of the battery 36. The electronic control unit 70 is configured to be able to communicate wirelessly with a management device 92.

[0020] In the electric vehicle 20 configured in this manner, the electronic control unit 70 sets the required torque Td* as the torque command Tm*, and controls the switching of the multiple switching elements of the inverter 34 so that the motor 32 is driven by the torque command Tm*.

[0021] In addition, when the vehicle-side connector 51 and the power grid-side connector are connected while the electric vehicle 20 is parked, the electronic control unit 70 performs external charging by controlling the charger 50 so that the battery 36 is charged using power from the power grid. When the power storage ratio SOC of the battery 36 reaches a predetermined ratio Smax, the control of the charger 50 is terminated, thereby terminating the execution of external charging. The predetermined ratio Smax may be, for example, 90%, 95%, or 100%.

[0022] Furthermore, in the electric vehicle 20, when the power supply connector 55 is connected to the power receiving connector connected to the power transmission grid while the electric vehicle 20 is parked, the electronic control unit 70 performs external power supply by controlling the power supply device 54 so that power from the battery 36 is supplied to the power transmission grid via the power line 38.

[0023] In the electric vehicle 20, a scheduled departure time td is set by input from the user when parking. Instead of input from the user, the scheduled departure time td may be set by having the electronic control unit 70 learn in advance the parking location and the departure time from that parking location and store the learned value of the departure time, and the learned value of the departure time from that parking location may be set as the scheduled departure time td.

[0024] The power facility 90 is configured to function as an energy resource in the virtual power plant. The power facility 90 is a facility capable of generating and storing electricity, and examples thereof include solar power generation facilities, biomass power generation facilities, and large-scale power storage facilities equipped with multiple storage batteries. The power facility 90 is managed by a management device 92.

[0025] The management device 92 is configured to function as a resource aggregator and aggregation coordinator in the virtual power plant. The management device 92 is configured as a general-purpose microcomputer centered around a CPU. The management device 92 is configured to be able to communicate wirelessly with multiple electric vehicles 20 and power facilities 90.

[0026] In the power system 10 incorporating the charge / discharge management system of the embodiment configured as described above, the management device 92 performs DR (Demand Response) by allocating the amount of charge by external charging and the amount of power supply by external power feeding to each electric vehicle 20 and allocating the amount of power generated and stored to the power facility 90 based on power supply and demand information from a supply and demand adjustment device installed by an electric power transmission and distribution company (not shown) that is responsible for adjusting supply and demand for the power grid. This allocates the amount of power generated and stored to the power facility 90, and controls each electric vehicle 20 and the power facility 90 to achieve the allocation. For example, when demand for power on the power grid suddenly increases, a downward DR is performed, in which parked electric vehicles 20 among the multiple electric vehicles 20 perform external power feeding and the amount of power generated at the power facility 90 is increased to prevent a power shortage. Furthermore, when surplus power is generated by the power facility 90 for the power grid, an upward DR is performed to prevent an excess of power by causing parked electric vehicles 20 among the multiple electric vehicles 20 to perform external charging or storing power in a power storage device of the power facility 90.

[0027] Next, the operation of the power system 10 incorporating the charge / discharge management system of the embodiment configured as described above will be described, in particular the operation when warming up the batteries 36 mounted on the plurality of electric vehicles 20. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing routine executed by the CPU of the management device 92. This routine is executed when external charging is performed on the plurality of parked electric vehicles 20.

[0028] When this routine is executed, the CPU of the management device 92 executes a process of inputting the scheduled departure time td and the outside air temperature Ta (step S100). The scheduled departure time td is set in the electric vehicle 20 and input via communication. The outside air temperature Ta is detected by the temperature sensor 89 of the electric vehicle 20 and input via communication.

[0029] Next, the input outside air temperature Ta is checked (step S110). When the input outside air temperature Ta is lower than the minimum temperature Tamin, the external charging end time tend is set so that external charging ends a predetermined time tref1 before the scheduled departure time td (step S120). When the input outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin and equal to or lower than the maximum temperature Tamax (predetermined temperature range), the external charging end time tend is set so that external charging ends a predetermined time tref2 before the scheduled departure time td (step S130). When the input outside air temperature Ta is higher than the maximum temperature Tamax, the external charging end time tend is set so that external charging ends a predetermined time tref3 before the scheduled departure time td (step S130), and this routine ends. Here, the minimum temperature Tamin and the maximum temperature Tamax are the minimum and maximum temperatures within a temperature range (predetermined range) in which deterioration of the battery 36 is gradual, and are set in advance through experiments, analysis, machine learning, or the like. The predetermined times tref1, tref2, and tref3 are set so that they become shorter in this order. Therefore, the end time tend is set to be earlier in the following order: when the outside air temperature Ta is lower than the minimum temperature Tamin; when the outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin and equal to or lower than the maximum temperature Tamax; and when the outside air temperature Ta is higher than the maximum temperature Tamax. The predetermined time tref1 is set to a relatively short time (for example, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes, etc.). Upon receiving the end time tend, the electronic control unit 70 of the electric vehicle 20 sets the start time tst of external charging based on the power storage percentage SOC of the battery 36 so that external charging will end at the end time tend, and starts external charging at the set start time tst.

[0030] By this process, for electric vehicles 20 among the multiple electric vehicles 20 whose outside air temperature Ta is lower than the lowest temperature Tamin, external charging is terminated closer to the scheduled departure time td than for electric vehicles 20 whose outside air temperature Ta exceeds the lowest temperature Tamin. When external charging is performed while an electric vehicle 20 is parked, the battery 36 rises in temperature due to charging and discharging. Therefore, for electric vehicles 20 among the multiple electric vehicles 20 in an environment where the outside air temperature Ta is lower than the lowest temperature Tamin, external charging is terminated closer to the scheduled departure time td than for vehicles in an environment where the outside air temperature Ta is higher than the lowest temperature Tamin, thereby making it possible to raise the temperature of the battery 36 by the scheduled departure time td. Because the battery 36 is charged and discharged by external charging, an increase in power consumption can be suppressed compared to using a heating device such as a heater to raise the temperature of a power storage device. This makes it possible to raise the temperature of the battery 36 while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

[0031] Furthermore, among the multiple electric vehicles 20, electric vehicles 20 in an environment where the outside air temperature Ta is higher than the maximum temperature Tamax are more likely to have their batteries 36 reach a high temperature due to external charging. Therefore, for electric vehicles 20 whose outside air temperature Ta exceeds the maximum temperature Tamax, external charging can be terminated at a time further away from the scheduled departure time td than for electric vehicles 20 whose outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin and equal to or lower than the maximum temperature Tamax, thereby preventing the battery 36 from reaching a high temperature at the scheduled departure time td.

[0032] In the embodiment, the operation when external charging is performed on multiple electric vehicles 20 parked with an upward DR is described, but the same can be applied to the case where external power supply is performed on multiple electric vehicles 20 parked with a downward DR.

[0033] According to the power system 10 incorporating the charge / discharge management system of the embodiment described above, for electric vehicles 20 among a plurality of electric vehicles 20 whose outside air temperature Ta is lower than the lowest temperature Tamin, external charging is terminated closer to the scheduled departure time td than for electric vehicles 20 whose outside air temperature Ta exceeds the lowest temperature Tamin, thereby making it possible to raise the temperature of the battery 36 while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

[0034] Furthermore, among the multiple electric vehicles 20, an electric vehicle 20 in an environment where the outside air temperature Ta is higher than the maximum temperature Tamax can heat up the battery 36 while suppressing an increase in power consumption by ending external charging at a time further from the scheduled departure time td than an electric vehicle 20 in an environment where the outside air temperature Ta is higher than the minimum temperature Tamin and lower than the maximum temperature Tamax.

[0035] In the power system 10 incorporating the charge / discharge management system of the embodiment, in steps S110 to S140, the end time tend is changed when the outside air temperature Ta is lower than the minimum temperature Tamin, when the outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin and equal to or lower than the maximum temperature Tamax, and when the outside air temperature Ta is equal to the maximum temperature Tamax. However, the end time tend may also be changed when the outside air temperature Ta is lower than the minimum temperature Tamin and when the outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin. In this case, the end time tend for an electric vehicle 20 whose outside air temperature Ta is lower than the minimum temperature Tamin may be set closer to the scheduled departure time td than for an electric vehicle 20 whose outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin.

[0036] In the power system 10 incorporating the charge / discharge management system of the embodiment, the management device 92 executes the processing routine illustrated in Fig. 3. However, the electronic control unit 70 of the electric vehicle 20 may execute the processing routine illustrated in Fig. 3. In this case, step S100 is processing for inputting the scheduled departure time td and the outside air temperature Ta of the electric vehicle 20, and when the outside air temperature Ta of the electric vehicle 20 is lower than the minimum temperature Tamin, each electric vehicle 20 may set the end time tend so that external charging ends closer to the scheduled departure time td than when the outside air temperature Ta is equal to or higher than the minimum temperature Tamin.

[0037] The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section will be explained. In the embodiment, the management device 92 corresponds to the "charge / discharge management system." The electric vehicle 20 corresponds to the "vehicle."

[0038] The correspondence between the main elements of the Examples and the main elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section does not limit the elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section, since the Examples are examples for specifically explaining the mode for implementing the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section should be based on the description in that section, and the Examples are merely specific examples of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section.

[0039] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be carried out in various forms within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] The present invention can be used in charge / discharge management systems, the vehicle manufacturing industry, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Power system, 20 Electric vehicle, 22a, 22b Drive wheels, 24 Differential gear, 26 Drive shaft, 32 Motor, 34 Inverter, 36 Battery, 36a Voltage sensor, 36b Current sensor, 36c Temperature sensor, 38 Power line, 50 Charger, 51 Vehicle side connector, 54 Power supply device, 55 Power supply connector, 70 Electronic control unit, 80 Ignition switch, 83 Accelerator pedal, 84 Accelerator pedal position sensor, 88 Vehicle speed sensor, 89 Temperature sensor, 90 Power facility, 92 Management device.

Claims

[Claim 1] A charge / discharge management system that manages charging / discharging of a plurality of vehicles, each of which includes a power storage device, and is capable of performing external charging, in which the power storage device is charged using electric power from an external power source, and external power feeding, in which power is fed from the power storage device to an outside of the vehicle, comprising: Scheduled departure times are acquired for the plurality of parked vehicles, and for a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles in an environment where the outside air temperature is lower than the lowest temperature in a predetermined temperature range, the external charging or the external power feeding is terminated at a time closer to the scheduled departure time than for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the lowest temperature, and for a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles in an environment where the outside air temperature is higher than the highest temperature in the predetermined temperature range, the external charging or the external power feeding is terminated at a time further from the scheduled departure time than for a vehicle in an environment where the outside air temperature is within the predetermined temperature range. Charge and discharge management system.

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