Battery Swapping Cabinet Power Backup via Bidirectional Bus Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging station systems require uninterruptible power supplies with idle batteries and allow only one-directional charging of portable batteries, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns due to high voltage differences.
Innovation Solution
A charging station system with multiple battery swapping cabinets and an AC discharging cabinet, utilizing a common bus for power distribution, bidirectional converters, and a main board to manage voltage states, ensuring uninterrupted operation and safe power switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uninterruptible power supply with idle batteries is installed to maintain system operation during power failures, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the battery swapping cabinet serve multiple functions: it acts as both a battery charging station and an uninterruptible power supply source. The battery cabinet can switch between charging mode and power supply mode, eliminating the need for dedicated idle batteries while maintaining system operation during power failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational batteries to provide power during failures rather than requiring separate standby batteries. The battery cabinet automatically switches to power supply mode when main power fails, serving itself as the UPS source without additional dedicated components.
2Power
If high voltage difference is used for battery charging, then charging power is improved, but safety concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the high voltage charging process into multiple stages with different voltage levels. The battery charging is performed in steps: first charging at higher power, then switching to lower voltage for final charging. This segmentation reduces safety risks while maintaining overall charging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes voltage parameters during the charging process. When the battery reaches certain charge levels, the charging voltage is reduced from high voltage to lower voltage, transforming the electrical parameters to balance power efficiency and safety requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional converters are used for power conversion, then power supply flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bidirectional converter is designed to perform multiple conversion functions: AC-to-DC conversion for charging, DC-to-AC conversion for power supply, and DC-to-DC conversion for voltage regulation. This single multi-functional device replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate converters, balancing versatility with controlled complexity.
4Productivity
If multiple battery swapping cabinets are connected through common bus, then power distribution efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple battery swapping cabinets are connected through a common DC bus, merging their power distribution capabilities into a unified system. This allows any cabinet to supply power to any load, improving overall power distribution efficiency and flexibility while sharing control and management functions across the system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides multiple power supply modes, including uninterrupted operation during power failures, efficient battery swapping, and safe power management, reducing the need for idle batteries and enhancing system stability.
Implementation Method 1
an AC-to-DC converter (11), which receives a three-phase AC power supply (VAC3) and converts the three-phase AC power supply (VAC3) into a DC bus voltage (VBUS)
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of charging/discharging DC converters (13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-N), which respectively receive the DC bus voltage (VBUS) and convert the DC bus voltage (VBUS) into a plurality of DC voltages (V1, V2, . . . , VN)
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of batteries (14-1, 14-2, . . . , 14-N), which are correspondingly connected to the plurality of charging/discharging DC converters (13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-N), and receive the plurality of DC voltages (V1, V2, . . . , VN)
Implementation Method 4
a DC-to-AC converter (24), which receives the DC bus voltage (VBUS) and converts the DC bus voltage (VBUS) into an AC conversion voltage (VACC)
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply management method applied to a charging station system including a plurality of battery swapping cabinets and an AC discharging cabinet. Each battery swapping cabinet receives an AC mains, and includes a plurality of batteries. The method includes steps of: (a) determining that the AC mains fails to supply power normally so that the batteries cannot be powered by the AC mains and operated in a power-off idle mode, (b) selecting one of the batteries to discharge for providing the power required by the charging station system, (c) determining the selected battery is in a discharging and loaning mode to select one battery swapping cabinet to operate in a discharging mode, and (d) supplying power to the AC discharging cabinet by converting the power of the battery through the selected battery swapping cabinet.