Urban Bus Charging System Using Power Line Carrier Safety Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing charging systems for electric vehicles require a physical pilot connection for safety and data exchange, which is cumbersome and lacks efficient safety monitoring, especially in scenarios like urban bus charging where reliability and safety are critical.
Innovation Solution
A charging system that eliminates the physical pilot connection by using a carrier current through the electrical lines, employing a power line carrier (PLC) signal to ensure safety and data exchange, with protection systems monitoring isolation and automatically interrupting the connection in case of faults, and allowing simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical pilot connection is used for safety monitoring and data exchange, then safety and communication are ensured, but the system complexity increases and the connection points become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the safety monitoring function and data exchange communication into the existing power transmission lines. The carrier current system modulates safety and communication signals onto the power lines, eliminating the need for separate pilot connections. This merging reduces system complexity while maintaining safety and communication capabilities through the same physical infrastructure.
2Productivity
If multiple vehicles are charged simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the risk of accidental connections and safety hazards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier current system provides continuous feedback between the charging infrastructure and multiple vehicles being charged simultaneously. Safety signals are constantly monitored and transmitted through the power lines, allowing the system to detect and respond to potential hazards in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables safe simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles by maintaining constant safety oversight through the existing power transmission paths.
3Reliability
If a wired pilot line is used for data exchange, then communication reliability is ensured, but the ease of operation decreases due to cumbersome connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data exchange and safety communication functions from the separate physical pilot connection and integrates them into the power transmission lines. By taking out these functions and embedding them within the existing power infrastructure through carrier current modulation, the system eliminates cumbersome separate connections while maintaining reliable data exchange and safety monitoring capabilities.
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
This solution provides enhanced electrical safety, automatic testing of protection systems, and simplified connection points, enabling efficient and safe charging of electric buses with reduced risk of accidental connections and improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A power line carrier generator PLC enters a high frequency and reduced energy signal s(t) in the electrical connection
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Charging system for urban bus wherein an overhead power supply line (5) comprising two cables (7a and 7b) receives a power supply from a source (2) of charging voltage. A urban bus is provided with a pantograph (10) provided with shoes (14a, 14b) which can touch the respective cables (7a, 7b) to provide a charging current to the batteries (16) of the vehicle. A power line carrier generator PLC 30 enters a high-frequency and reduced energy signal s(t) in the electrical connection comprising the two cables (7a and 7b) and the conductors (14a, 14b) of the pantograph (10) coupled to the cables (7a and 7b). A unit (33) is provided which controls whether the signal sR(t) received from the vehicle (9) complies with, is proportionate, appropriate for the impedance Z(ω) which is expected in case of proper electrical connection in the electrical connection. The unit (33) is adapted to obtain the automatic interruption of the electrical connection when an unexpected change in the signal sR(t) with respect to the expected signal is detected.