Device for checking charging columns and system comprising same

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for checking charging columns (L1), having · a connection for receiving electrical energy (E) from a charging column (L1) to be checked, · a connection for outputting electrical energy (A), · a simulating apparatus (BS) for simulating a plurality of load points, · wherein, during operation, the simulating apparatus (BS) makes available at least a subset of the plurality of load points with respect to the connection for receiving electrical energy (E) depending on a checking protocol, · wherein the device furthermore has a communication module (I / O1) for communication with a charging column (L1) to be checked, in order to designate the device as the load to be charged. The invention furthermore relates to a system having such a device and to an apparatus for measuring energy (EM) and to a control unit (PC).

Description

[0001] Device for testing charging stations and systems

[0002] background

[0003] Charging stations and their components are tested for functionality in the field. This applies, among other things, to the electricity meter. The electricity meter, in particular, must be checked at a specific, predefined interval. Such checks are also required after a charging station has been put back into operation in the field. Functionality must be verified at specific operating points / charging power levels. This poses a corresponding problem in the field, as charging power levels of, for example, more than 50 kW must be demonstrated.

[0004] In addition, the dissipation of energy represents a technical challenge.

[0005] Regardless of this, energy consumption as a whole is also problematic.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] A concrete solution has not yet been described. However, there are several unrealized proposals.

[0008] For example, it would be possible to charge a specific electric vehicle and thus enable the vehicle to follow a charging curve through specific charging. However, this is not possible without further ado, as the vehicle must have reached a certain discharge level for this to happen. Furthermore, such an arrangement can only measure a relatively limited charging profile. This is not permitted by the calibration authorities, particularly for DC charging stations, as measurements are required at different charging voltages. A further problem that arises is that such an approach is unsuitable for larger charging parks, because once the vehicle is charged, it can only be used again after a corresponding discharge. Furthermore, no reproducible tests are possible (e.g. due to aging of the vehicle battery and, for example,There are no accelerated tests (real electrochemical processes of the battery and thus corresponding charging times). Furthermore, maintaining a chargeable electric vehicle is expensive to purchase.

[0009] It would also be possible to use an (adjustable) resistive load. However, this would result in a lot of unused energy being converted into heat.

[0010] There is also discussion about using virtual power for meter testing. However, in this case, an exact statement about the functionality of the meter and the fast-charging function is not possible, since the power flow is not occurring.

[0011] Based on this, it is an object of the invention to provide a device or a system that is, on the one hand, cost-effective to purchase, flexible in the measurement of different charging stations and, on the other hand, more energy-efficient than previous solutions.

[0012] Brief description of the invention

[0013] The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 or a system according to claim 8. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the description, the figures and the dependent claims.

[0014] Brief Description of the Figures: The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing and exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic representation and not to scale. The drawing does not limit the invention in any way.

[0015] They show:

[0016] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary schematic design of a device according to the invention according to aspects of an embodiment of the invention,

[0017] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary schematic design of a device according to the invention according to further aspects of an embodiment, and

[0018] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary logical design of a device according to the invention according to aspects of an embodiment.

[0019] Detailed description of the invention

[0020] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that various aspects are described, each of which can be used individually or in combination. This means that any aspect can be used with different embodiments of the invention, unless explicitly presented as a mere alternative.

[0021] Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, reference will generally only be made to one entity in the following. Unless explicitly stated, the invention may also comprise several of the entities in question. In this respect, the use of the words "a", "an" and "another" is to be understood only as an indication that at least one entity is used in a simple embodiment. Where methods are described below, the individual steps of a method can be arranged and / or combined in any desired order, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the methods can be combined with one another unless expressly indicated otherwise.

[0022] Numerical values ​​are generally not to be understood as exact values, but also include a tolerance of + / - 1% to + / - 10%.

[0023] To the extent that standards, specifications, or the like are mentioned in this application, reference is always made to at least the standards, specifications, or the like applicable on the filing date. This means that if a standard / specification, etc., is updated or replaced by a successor, the invention is also applicable to it.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, a device 1 for testing (DC) charging stations LI is provided. The device 1 has a connection for receiving electrical energy E from a (DC) charging station LI to be tested. The charging station LI can be either a DC charging station or an AC charging station.

[0025] Furthermore, the device 1 has a connection for the output of electrical energy A.

[0026] In addition, the device 1 comprises a device for simulating BS a plurality of load points Pi, Pz, PN, wherein the device for simulating BS provides at least a subset Pu...Po from the plurality of load points Pi, Pz, PN to the connection for receiving electrical energy E depending on a test protocol during operation. It is assumed that PI <P2<...PN-I<PN und Pi<Pu, Pu<Po und PO<PN gilt. Die Vorrichtung 1 weist weiterhin ein Kommunikationsmodul I / Oi zur Kommunikation mit einer zu prüfenden (Gleichspannungs-) Ladesäule LI auf, um die Vorrichtung 1 als zu ladende Last gegenüber der zu prüfenden (Gleichspannungs-) Ladesäule LI auszuweisen.

[0027] With such a device, it is now possible to test a large number of even different (DC voltage) charging stations directly one after the other.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 1 can further comprise an inverter WR to make absorbed energy available at the connection for the output of electrical energy A during operation. This means that, unlike previous approaches, flexible energy can be output. The inverter WR can be retrofitted in a modular manner or be permanently installed. For example, energy can be output as alternating voltage to the grid of an energy supplier, or alternatively or additionally, energy can be made available for other devices of the device 1 according to the invention or the system comprising such a device.

[0029] In another embodiment of the invention, the device 1 can further comprise a power converter SR to make absorbed energy available at the connection for the output of electrical energy (A) during operation. The power converter SR can be retrofitted in a modular manner or be permanently installed. For example, energy can be output as direct current to the grid of an energy supplier, or alternatively or additionally, energy can be made available for other devices of the device 1 according to the invention or the system comprising such a device.

[0030] In particular, the invention makes it possible not only to supply local facilities with energy, but also to feed energy back into a supply network, in particular into a DC or AC power grid or into a DC or AC charging station L2. According to one embodiment of the invention, the device 1 can further comprise a defined load R configured to convert electrical energy to be delivered into thermal energy. This may be necessary, for example, if there is no other option for delivering energy to a consumer or feeding it back into a supply network.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention, the device 1 further comprises a charging module LM in order to supply energy to a consumer, such as a chargeable electric vehicle E-FZ.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the invention, the device 1 further comprises a further communication module I / O2 for communication with a charging module LM and / or an electrical energy consumer L2, E-FZ. Alternatively or additionally, the communication module I / Oi for communication with a (DC voltage) charging station LI to be tested can also be configured for communication with a charging module LM and / or an electrical energy consumer L2, E-FZ.

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the control parameters for a plurality of load points Pi, Pz, PN can be stored in a (local or remote) database DB. Examples of local storage include a look-up table in a (rewritable) memory, a memory card, or an online database from which the control parameters can be retrieved. In particular, however, it can also be provided that, for example, data from a (DC) charging station LI to be tested, data on the control parameters used, and the measured current / power can also be stored as a measurement protocol in a database (local or remote).

[0034] In a further embodiment of the invention, a system comprising a device 1 according to the invention as well as a device for energy measurement EM and a control unit PC is also provided.

[0035] Thus, the invention can be integrated into existing measurement technology without great effort, allowing existing acquisitions to continue to be used. In one embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a consumer for electrical energy L2,E-FZ, wherein the device further comprises a charging module LM for supplying energy to a consumer.

[0036] According to another embodiment of the invention, the electrical energy consumer is another charging station L2 capable of generating energy back into the grid, in particular a DC charging station (L2). Likewise, the electrical energy consumer can be a battery-powered electric vehicle (E-FZ). The electrical energy consumer can also be an AC consumer. Examples of AC consumers could be the PC control unit—for example, a laptop—or a power feed-back device into the power grid.

[0037] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the electrical energy consumer can also be a direct current consumer.

[0038] The invention thus enables simple and cost-effective functional verification of a charging station in the field, as well as the electricity meter. Both AC and DC charging stations (LI) can be measured. Likewise, both AC and DC charging stations (L2) or other devices can consume energy without having to convert it into thermal energy, as has often been the case previously.

[0039] In this case, a second charging station L2 can be substituted as a vehicle by means of the device 1 of the first charging station LI to be tested, whereby all test cases and operating points can be run through.

Claims

Claims 1. Device for testing charging stations (LI), comprising • a connection for receiving electrical energy (E) from a charging station to be tested (LI), • a connection for the supply of electrical energy (A), • a device for simulating (BS) a plurality of load points (Pi, P2, ... PN), • wherein the device for simulation (BS) opposite the connection for receiving electrical energy (E) depending on a test protocol during operation at least a subset (Pu-..Po) from the plurality of load points (Pi, P2, ... P N ) provides, • wherein the device further comprises a communication module (I / Oi) for communicating with a charging station (LI) to be tested in order to identify the device as a load to be charged.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device further comprises an inverter (WR) to make absorbed energy available at the terminal for outputting electrical energy (A) during operation.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device further comprises a power converter (SR) to provide absorbed energy at the terminal for outputting electrical energy (A) during operation 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device further comprises a defined load (R) which is designed to convert electrical energy to be delivered into thermal energy.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device further comprises a charging module (LM) for supplying energy to a consumer.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that • that the device further comprises a further communication module (I / O2) for communication with a charging module (LM) and / or a consumer for electrical energy (L2, E-FZ) and / or • that the communication module (I / Oi) for communication with a charging station to be tested (LI) is also designed for communication with a charging module (LM) and / or a consumer for electrical energy (L2,E-FZ).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control parameters for a plurality of load points (Pi, P2, ... PN) are stored in a database (DB).

8. System comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and a device for energy measurement (EM) and a control unit (PC).

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the system further comprises a consumer for electrical energy (L2, E-FZ), wherein the device further comprises a charging module (LM) for supplying energy to a consumer.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the consumer for electrical energy is a further charging station (L2) capable of regenerating energy, in particular a charging station (L2).

11. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the consumer of electrical energy is a battery-operated vehicle.

12. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical energy consumer is an alternating current consumer.

13. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical energy consumer is a direct current consumer.

Images