Bidirectional EV Supply Interface for Multi-Voltage Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrified vehicle charging systems are limited in their ability to accommodate different voltage architectures and concurrently charge multiple vehicles from a single source, often requiring separate charging stations and lacking flexibility in energy transfer configurations.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional energy transfer system with a reconfigurable supply device that includes a vehicle port, inverter port, converter, and isolation transformer, allowing for flexible coupling with various electrified vehicles and inverters, enabling energy transfer between vehicles and external storage devices, and accommodating different voltage architectures through DC-to-DC buck-boost conversion and multi-lug output interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single charging station is used to charge one vehicle at a time, then the charging infrastructure is simple, but the productivity and energy utilization efficiency are low
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station is designed with a reconfigurable power transfer system that can serve multiple functions: charging a single vehicle, concurrently charging multiple vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle energy transfer, and providing bidirectional energy transfer capabilities. The system can dynamically reconfigure its electrical connections to adapt to different charging scenarios, effectively making one charging station serve the role of multiple charging stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables vehicle-to-vehicle energy transfer where one electrified vehicle acts as a mobile energy source to charge another vehicle. This self-service capability allows vehicles to charge each other without requiring additional external charging infrastructure, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining simple infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate charging stations are used for different voltage architectures, then each vehicle type can be charged optimally, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station incorporates a reconfigurable power transfer system with dynamic switching capabilities that can adapt its electrical configuration in real-time. The system can reconfigure its power transfer path to match different voltage architectures (e.g., 400V, 800V) and accommodate various vehicle types without requiring separate dedicated charging stations for each voltage level.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters (voltage levels, current characteristics, power transfer configuration) dynamically based on the connected vehicle's requirements. By adjusting these parameters rather than maintaining fixed configurations, the charging station achieves broad voltage architecture compatibility while maintaining a single unified infrastructure.
3Productivity
If multiple charging stations are deployed to charge multiple vehicles simultaneously, then the productivity increases, but the loss of substance (infrastructure resources) and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple charging functions into a single charging station by enabling vehicle-to-vehicle energy transfer. Instead of requiring separate charging stations for each vehicle, the system allows one vehicle to serve as a mobile charging source for another, effectively combining multiple charging operations within a single infrastructure footprint and reducing resource consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fixed output configuration charging stations are used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different vehicle types and energy transfer scenarios is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The supply device incorporates reconfigurable output configurations with dynamic switching capabilities. The system can transition between different output configurations (e.g., single-phase, three-phase, bidirectional power flow) based on the connected inverter's requirements and the desired energy transfer scenario, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed configuration devices.
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 enables efficient and flexible energy transfer between electrified vehicles and external storage devices, supporting multiple voltage configurations and allowing for simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles from a single source, enhancing flexibility and reliability in energy management.
Implementation Method 1
an isolation transformer, where the vehicle port is configured to electrically couple the supply device to the electrified vehicle and the inverter port is configured to electrically couple the supply device to the inverter
Implementation Method 2
the converter is a DC-to-DC buck-boost converter
Data Source
AI summary
A bidirectional energy transfer system includes a supply device having a vehicle port, an inverter port, a converter, and an isolation transformer. The vehicle port is configured to electrically couple the supply device to an electrified vehicle. The inverter port is configured to electrically couple the supply device to an inverter that is separate from the supply device.