Energy supply unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy supply unit comprising: a network connection designed to be connected to a first three-phase AC network; a house connection designed to be connected to a second three-phase AC network; a first DC connection designed to be connected to a first DC network with a first predefined DC voltage; a second DC connection designed to be connected to a second DC network with a second predefined DC voltage which differs from the first DC voltage; a first voltage converter; a second voltage converter; and an energy flow controller; wherein the energy flow controller is configured to ascertain an energy requirement and / or an energy provision possibility of the first DC network and / or of the second DC network and / or of the first three-phase AC network and / or of the second three-phase AC network in order to set an energy flow between the network connection, the house connection, the first DC network connection and the second DC network connection.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Energy supply unit

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The present invention relates to an energy supply unit and in particular an energy supply unit for a building.

[0006] The state of the art includes so-called "Home Energy Management Systems" (HEMS), which are designed to control the energy flow between different energy sources and energy sinks available to a building or household, such as a public power grid, a house network, a PV system, an electric vehicle, a battery storage system, etc., in a suitable manner in order to achieve, for example, optimal utilization of self-generated electricity.

[0007] These HEMS are typically based on the household's AC power grid, which electrically connects the individual energy sources and sinks. However, since most energy sources and sinks operate on DC power, it is necessary to provide voltage converters capable of connecting DC-based energy sources and sinks to the connecting AC grid.

[0008] DE 102023 113 037 A1 discloses a converter device comprising a bidirectional DC charging port for connecting an electric vehicle, a first AC connection for connecting to an AC power grid, a second AC connection for connecting a load, a contactor box, a bidirectional DC / inverter arrangement arranged between the contactor box and the DC charging port, and a control unit which is configured to set a charging voltage level for the electric vehicle and to switch the contactor box as required.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The energy supply unit according to the invention has a grid connection designed to be connected to a first three-phase alternating current network, in particular for bidirectional energy transmission. The grid connection is understood to be a connection to a public electricity grid, via which individual buildings or households can be supplied with electricity and / or via which self-generated electricity can be fed into the electricity grid.

[0011] The energy supply unit also has a service connection designed to be connected to a second three-phase AC network, particularly for bidirectional power transmission. The service connection refers to the electrical network of a building, through which, for example, sockets and lighting circuits are supplied with electricity.

[0012] It should be noted that the network connection and the house connection can be the same connection.

[0013] The three-phase alternating current network is designed, for example, as 230 V / 50 Hz or as a different power network.

[0014] The power supply unit also has a first DC connection, which is configured to be connected to a first DC network with a first predefined DC voltage, particularly for bidirectional power transmission. The first DC voltage can, in principle, be arbitrarily defined and can, for example, have typical voltage values ​​of 18 V, 48 V, 400 V, 800 V, etc., without thereby restricting it to these voltage values. Furthermore, the power supply unit has a second DC connection, which is configured to be connected to a second DC network with a second predefined DC voltage that differs from the first DC voltage, particularly for bidirectional power transmission. The second DC voltage can, in principle, also be arbitrarily defined and can, for example, have typical voltage values ​​of 18 V, 48 V, 400 V, 800 V, etc.exhibit, without thereby imposing a restriction to the aforementioned voltage values.

[0015] Such a first DC network and / or second DC network is, for example, based on a large number of DC lines and / or distribution components in order to connect the respective electrical devices to the power supply unit via the DC networks.

[0016] Finally, the power supply unit includes at least a first voltage converter, a second voltage converter, and a power flow control system.

[0017] The first voltage converter is electrically connected to the house connection and the grid connection via its first terminal, and to the first DC connection via its second terminal. Based on this connection, the first voltage converter is configured to perform (preferably bidirectional) energy transfer between its first and second terminals.

[0018] The second voltage converter is electrically connected to the second terminal of the first voltage converter via its first terminal and to the second DC terminal via its second terminal. Based on this configuration, the second voltage converter is configured to perform (preferably bidirectional) energy transfer between its first and second terminals. The energy flow control is configured to determine the energy demand and / or supply capacity of the first DC network and / or the second DC network and / or the first three-phase AC network and / or the second three-phase AC network.This determination is carried out, for example, on the basis of one or more data interfaces of the energy flow control, via which the energy flow control is set up to be connected to electrical devices that can be connected to the first DC network and / or the second DC network and / or the first three-phase AC network and / or the second three-phase AC network and can realize respective energy sources and / or energy sinks on the respective power networks.

[0019] Using such a data interface, it is possible, for example, to determine the state of charge of a battery storage system, which may be connected to one of the DC networks, and / or the energy consumption of a household appliance, which may be connected to the house connection via a socket.

[0020] Based on the determined energy demand and / or the respective energy supply possibility, the energy supply unit is finally set up to control the first voltage converter and the second voltage converter depending on the determined energy demand, the determined energy supply possibility and predefined criteria, in order to establish an energy flow between the grid connection, the house connection, the first DC connection and the second DC connection.

[0021] The energy supply unit according to the invention offers the particular advantage, through the direct electrical connection of direct current-based electrical devices (such as PV systems, battery storage systems, etc.) via the first and / or second direct current network, that a number of conventionally required inverters for connecting such components to an alternating current network can be saved, thereby saving both one-time costs for the inverters themselves and ongoing costs due to conversion losses in such inverters.

[0022] A further advantage of the power supply unit according to the invention results from the fact that communication with the first voltage converter, the second voltage converter and possibly further voltage converters of the power supply unit is limited to the power supply unit, which, for example, enables shorter wiring distances for such communication links, which are generally associated with lower costs and / or lower susceptibility to interference.

[0023] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0024] Preferably, the power supply unit has a housing in which the respective components of the power supply unit are arranged. This means that the mains connection, the service connection, and the respective connections for the DC networks that can be connected to the power supply unit are advantageously located in and / or on the housing.

[0025] Device connections for direct connection of electrical devices to the power supply unit, the first voltage converter and the second voltage converter, etc., can be arranged.

[0026] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first voltage converter is configured to provide and / or receive a third, predefined DC voltage that differs from the first and second DC voltages. For this purpose, a third DC connection of the power supply unit is preferably provided, which is configured to be connected to a third DC network via which the third DC voltage can be provided and / or received. Providing two different DC voltages (i.e., the first DC voltage and the third DC voltage) using the same voltage converter offers, among other advantages, cost savings, since no additional separate voltage converter is required for the second voltage level.Furthermore, it is possible to provide and / or receive additional voltage levels that deviate from the above by connecting electrical devices not only to the first DC voltage or the third DC voltage, which preferably each have a common reference potential, but also, if necessary, between the first voltage level and the second voltage level. In addition, it is conceivable that the first voltage converter is additionally configured to provide further DC voltages that deviate from the above.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the power supply unit further comprises at least one third voltage converter, which is configured to provide and / or receive a fourth DC voltage that differs from the first DC voltage, the second DC voltage, and optionally from other existing DC voltages (e.g., differing from the aforementioned third DC voltage). This is explicitly not intended to preclude the power supply unit from having one or more voltage converters designed for a voltage level that is already provided and / or received by one of the other voltage converters in the power supply unit.

[0028] Particularly preferably, at least some of the DC connections of the power supply unit are configured to be connected to an electric vehicle and / or a photovoltaic system and / or a battery storage system and / or a charger (e.g., for power tools, mobile devices, electric vehicles, etc.). In a case where, for example, a charger for an electric vehicle is provided within the power supply unit, the functionality of a charging station ("wallbox") for the electric vehicle can be provided by the power supply unit according to the invention, thereby eliminating the need for a conventionally required separate component. It should be generally noted that electrical devices connected to the power supply unit or to the respective DC networks connected to the power supply unit can function as an energy source and / or as an energy sink.

[0029] Furthermore, the power supply unit according to the invention advantageously has a predefined electrical interface on the basis of which the power supply unit is configured to electrically and, in particular, also mechanically integrate a voltage converter for providing and / or receiving one of the DC voltages of the power supply unit. In this way, all voltage converters used in the power supply unit (e.g., the first voltage converter and / or the second voltage converter and / or further voltage converters) or only a subset of these voltage converters can be integrated via this interface. Such a modular design offers, among other things, the advantage of easy expandability and / or scalability and / or interchangeability (e.g., in the event of a defect of one of the voltage converters, etc.) of the power supply unit according to the invention.Furthermore, this modular approach offers the possibility, if necessary, to replace an existing voltage converter with a more powerful voltage converter and / or with a voltage converter with a different voltage level, should the infrastructure of the house network and / or electrical devices connected to the house network change over time.

[0030] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, voltage converters that can be integrated via the electrical interface described above are designed as plug-in cards. This allows for particularly simple handling and / or a space-saving arrangement of the voltage converters within the power supply unit. In such a case, the mechanical / electrical interface for the plug-in cards can preferably be arranged and designed such that the respective external connections of the voltage converters are located on one side of the plug-in cards, which, when the plug-in cards are mounted, are accessible from the outside through openings in the housing of the power supply unit for external contact.

[0031] Advantageously, the power supply unit has a switching matrix configured to selectively connect at least one device terminal of the power supply unit, which is intended for electrically connecting an electrical device to the power supply unit, to one of the multiple DC voltages used in the power supply unit. This allows for particularly flexible adaptation to the electrical devices to be connected. Furthermore, the power supply unit is preferably configured to control at least some of the voltage converters used in the power supply unit collectively via a control unit of the power supply unit. The control unit can be designed, for example, as an ASIC, FPGA, processor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or similar device, but is not limited to this.It should be noted that the control unit for the voltage converters can be, for example, a logically and / or physically separate unit dedicated solely to controlling the different voltage converters, and / or a unit in which further logic is implemented, such as energy flow control logic, which in particular provides the functionality of the "Home Energy Management System" described above. An information technology connection between the control unit and the respective voltage converters is established, for example, via separate electrical connections and / or a bus line (e.g., a CAN bus line, etc.).

[0032] Particularly advantageous are the predefined criteria, on the basis of which the energy flow control between the respective direct current and alternating current networks is carried out, which minimize energy costs.

[0033] Brief description of the drawings

[0034] An embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows:

[0035] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a power supply unit according to the invention in conjunction with externally connected electrical components.

[0036] embodiment of the invention

[0037] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a power supply unit 10 according to the invention in conjunction with external components. The power supply unit 10 has a grid connection 20, which is connected to a first three-phase AC grid 25 (here a public power grid) for bidirectional power transmission.

[0038] The energy supply unit 10 also has a service connection 30, which is connected to a second three-phase AC network 35 for bidirectional energy transmission. The second AC network 35 is, in this context, an electrical house installation comprising, for example, a sub-distribution board, numerous sockets, numerous switches, numerous electrical cables connecting the respective components of the house installation, etc.

[0039] The network connection 20 and / or the house connection 30 can, for example, be configured as identical or as different electrical and mechanical interfaces and, for example, be set up to establish an electrical connection by means of a screw connection, a clamp connection, a plug connection, or a different method. The same can, for example, also apply to the different connections of the energy supply unit 10 according to the invention described below.

[0040] The power supply unit 10 also has a first DC connection 40, which is connected to a first DC network 45 with a first predefined DC voltage U1 for bidirectional power transmission, where the first DC voltage U1 corresponds to a value of 400 V. It should be noted that the first DC network 45 can, for example, consist of only a connection cable and an electrical interface (e.g., a socket, etc.) to which one or more electrical devices can be connected. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the first DC network 45 has a multitude of interconnected electrical cables, etc., which are configured to be connected to a multitude of locally distributed electrical devices.

[0041] The power supply unit 10 also has a second DC connection 50, which is connected to a second DC network 55 with a second predefined DC voltage U2 that differs from the first DC voltage U1 for bidirectional power transmission, where the second DC voltage corresponds to a value of 18 V. One configuration of the second DC network 55 can, for example, correspond to the variants of the first DC network 45 mentioned above.

[0042] Furthermore, the power supply unit 10 comprises a first voltage converter 60, a second voltage converter 70, a third voltage converter 100, a fourth voltage converter 105, an energy flow control 80, a switching matrix 120, a charger 113, a control unit 140 and a housing 90, wherein the components of the power supply unit 10 described above are arranged in or on the housing.

[0043] The house connection 30 and the grid connection 20 are electrically connected, while the first voltage transformer 60 is electrically connected to the house connection 30 and the grid connection 20 via a first terminal of the first voltage transformer 60 and electrically connected to the first DC connection 40 via a second terminal of the first voltage transformer 60. Based on this configuration, the first voltage transformer 60 is configured to carry out energy transfer between the first terminal and the second terminal (which here is designed for the aforementioned first DC voltage U1 of 400 V) of the first voltage transformer 60.

[0044] In addition, the first voltage converter 60 is set up to provide and / or receive a third predefined DC voltage U3 of 800 V, which differs from the first DC voltage U1.

[0045] The second voltage converter 70 is electrically connected to the second terminal of the first voltage converter 60 via a first terminal of the second voltage converter 70 and to the second DC terminal 50 via a second terminal of the second voltage converter 70. Based on this configuration, the second voltage converter 70 is configured to perform energy transfer between the first terminal and the second terminal (which here is designed for the aforementioned second DC voltage U2 of 18 V) of the second voltage converter 70.

[0046] The second voltage converter 70 is also configured to provide and / or receive a fifth DC voltage U5 of 48 V at another connection of the power supply unit 10.

[0047] An electric vehicle 110, a photovoltaic system 111 and a battery storage system 112 are electrically connected to the energy supply unit 10 via the respective device connections 130 of the energy supply unit 10 (for the sake of clarity, only the device connection 130 for the electric vehicle 110 is shown here with a reference sign).

[0048] The electric vehicle 110 is also connected via the switching matrix 120, which is configured to provide the electric vehicle 110 with either the first DC voltage U1 or the third DC voltage U3 as needed via an integrated charger 113 for charging the traction battery of the electric vehicle 110. In this way, no additional wallbox is required for charging electric vehicles 110, and electric vehicles 110 with different voltage levels (here 400 V and 800 V) can be charged flexibly.

[0049] The third voltage converter 100 is set up to receive a fourth DC voltage U4 from the photovoltaic system 111 and to convert it as needed into the first DC voltage U1 and / or the third DC voltage U3.

[0050] The fourth voltage converter 105 is configured to receive a sixth DC voltage U6 from the battery storage 112 and / or to provide the sixth DC voltage U6 to the battery storage 112 by configuring the fourth voltage converter 105 to convert between the first DC voltage U1 and the sixth DC voltage U6 and / or between the third DC voltage U3 and / or the sixth DC voltage U6.

[0051] The energy flow controller 80, implemented here as an ASIC, is connected via information technology to the respective electrical devices 110, 111, 112, 113, etc. (this connection is not shown here for clarity), so that it is configured to determine the energy demand and / or energy supply capability of the first DC network 45 and / or the second DC network 55 and / or the first three-phase AC network 25 and / or the second three-phase AC network 35 and / or other connected DC networks and / or electrical devices, and to control the voltage converters 60, 70, 100, 105 depending on the determined energy demand, the determined energy supply capability, and predefined criteria, which here include, among others...An energy cost optimization is specified, in order to control an energy flow between the grid connection 20, the house connection 30, the first DC connection 40, the second DC connection 50 and further DC connections and / or electrical devices.

[0052] The first voltage converter 60 is a voltage converter integrated into a circuit of the power supply unit, while the further voltage converters 70, 100, 105 are modular voltage converters 70, 100, 105, which are designed as plug-in cards and are inserted into predefined slots of the power supply unit 10.

[0053] The energy flow control 80 is furthermore connected via a data interface to the control unit 140, which is designed here as a microcontroller, so that the control unit 140 is set up by a specification from the energy flow control 80 to control the respective voltage converters 60, 70, 100, 105 in order to set the energy flow provided by the energy flow control 80.

[0054] An operating procedure for a aforementioned energy supply unit 10 can consist of controlling the energy flow control in such a way that the energy flow control (80) is controlled in such a way that it determines an energy demand and / or an energy supply possibility of the first DC network (45) and / or the second DC network (55) and / or the first three-phase AC network (25) and / or the second three-phase AC network (35), and the first voltage transformer (60) and the second voltage transformer (70) are controlled depending on the respective determined energy demand, the respective determined energy supply possibility and predefined criteria in such a way that an energy flow is established between the network connection (20), the house connection (30), the first DC connection (40) and the second DC connection (50).

Claims

Claims 1. Energy supply unit (10) comprising: - a network connection (20) which is designed to be connected to a first three-phase alternating current network (25), in particular for bidirectional power transmission, - a house connection (30) which is designed to be connected to a second three-phase alternating current network (35), in particular for bidirectional energy transmission, - a first DC connection (40) configured to be connected to a first DC network (45) with a first predefined DC voltage (U1), in particular for bidirectional power transmission, - a second DC connection (50) which is configured to be connected to a second DC network (55) with a second predefined DC voltage (U2) that differs from the first DC voltage (U1), in particular for bidirectional power transmission, - a first voltage converter (60), - a second voltage converter (70), and - an energy flow control (80), wherein - the house connection (30) and the network connection (20) are electrically connected, - the first voltage converter (60) - is electrically connected via a first connection of the first voltage transformer (60) to the house connection (30) and the grid connection (20), - is electrically connected via a second terminal of the first voltage converter (60) to the first DC terminal (40), and - is set up to carry out an energy transfer between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first voltage transformer (60), - the second voltage converter (70) - is electrically connected via a first terminal of the second voltage converter (70) to the second terminal of the first voltage converter (60) and is electrically connected via a second terminal of the second voltage converter (70) to the second DC terminal (50), and - is set up to carry out an energy transfer between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second voltage transformer (70), and - the energy flow control (80) is set up, - to determine an energy demand and / or an energy supply possibility of the first DC network (45) and / or the second DC network (55) and / or the first three-phase AC network (25) and / or the second three-phase AC network (35), and - to control the first voltage transformer (60) and the second voltage transformer (70) depending on the respective determined energy demand, the respective determined energy supply possibility and predefined criteria in order to establish an energy flow between the grid connection (20), the house connection (30), the first DC connection (40) and the second DC connection (50).

2. Power supply unit (10) according to claim 1 further comprising a housing (90) in which respective components of the power supply unit (10) are arranged.

3. Power supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first voltage converter (60) is configured to provide and / or receive a third predefined DC voltage (U3) that differs from the first DC voltage (U1) and from the second DC voltage (U2).

4. Power supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims further comprising at least a third voltage converter (100) which is configured to provide and / or receive a fourth DC voltage (U4) that differs from the first DC voltage (U1) and the second DC voltage (U2).

5. Power supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the DC connections (40, 50) of the power supply unit (10) are provided, each with - an electric vehicle (110), and / or - a photovoltaic system (111), and / or - a battery storage system (112), and / or - to be connected to a charger (113).

6. Power supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply unit (10) has a predefined electrical interface on the basis of which the power supply unit (10) is configured to electrically integrate a voltage converter (60, 70) for providing and / or receiving one of the DC voltages (U1 , U2) of the power supply unit (10).

7. Power supply unit (10) according to claim 6, wherein the voltage converter (60, 70) which can be integrated via the electrical interface - is designed as a plug-in card, and / or - includes respective connections (20, 30, 40, 50) for connecting electrical devices (110, 111, 112, 113), which are accessible in a mounted state of the voltage converter (60, 70) in the power supply unit (10) via an opening in a housing (90) of the power supply unit (10).

8. Power supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims further comprising a switching matrix (120), wherein the switching matrix (120) is configured to provide at least one device connection (130) of the power supply unit (10), which is provided for electrically connecting an electrical device (110, 111, 112, 113) to the power supply unit (10), optionally with one of the plurality in the to connect the power supply unit (10) to the DC voltages (U1 , U2) used.

9. Power supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply unit (10) is configured to control at least a part of the voltage converters (60, 70) used in the power supply unit (10) jointly via a control unit (140) of the power supply unit (10).

10. Energy supply unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the predefined criteria include a minimization of energy costs.

11. Operating method for a power supply unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the power supply unit (10) - a network connection (20) which is designed to be connected to a first three-phase alternating current network (25), in particular for bidirectional power transmission, - a house connection (30) which is designed to be connected to a second three-phase alternating current network (35), in particular for bidirectional energy transmission, - a first DC connection (40) which is configured to be connected to a first DC network (45) with a first predefined DC voltage (U 1), in particular for bidirectional power transmission, - a second DC connection (50) which is configured to be connected to a second DC network (55) with a second predefined DC voltage (U2) that differs from the first DC voltage (U1), in particular for bidirectional power transmission, - a first voltage converter (60), - a second voltage converter (70), and - an energy flow control (80), wherein - the house connection (30) and the network connection (20) are electrically connected, - the first voltage converter (60) - is electrically connected via a first connection of the first voltage transformer (60) to the house connection (30) and the grid connection (20), - is electrically connected via a second terminal of the first voltage converter (60) to the first DC terminal (40), and - is set up to carry out an energy transfer between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first voltage transformer (60), - the second voltage converter (70) - is electrically connected via a first terminal of the second voltage converter (70) to the second terminal of the first voltage converter (60) and is electrically connected via a second terminal of the second voltage converter (70) to the second DC terminal (50), and - is set up to carry out an energy transfer between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second voltage transformer (70), wherein the method controls the energy flow control (80) such that, - an energy demand and / or an energy supply possibility of the first DC network (45) and / or the second DC network (55) and / or the first three-phase AC network (25) and / or the second three-phase AC network (35) is determined, and - the first voltage transformer (60) and the second voltage transformer (70) are controlled depending on the respective determined energy demand, the respective determined energy supply possibility and predefined criteria in order to establish an energy flow between the grid connection (20), the house connection (30), the first DC connection (40) and the second DC connection (50).

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