Charging Infrastructure Unit With DC Chopper Controller for Cost Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging infrastructure units for electric vehicles are costly and inflexible due to the need for multiple secondary windings and individually controllable voltage/current controllers for DC-isolation, limiting expandability and charging power provision.
Innovation Solution
A charging infrastructure unit with DC chopper controllers that can be supplied via multiple connections, featuring a boost unit connected in parallel to increase charging power, and a communication/control unit for optimized operation and energy distribution, including battery storage for peak shaving and frequency stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple secondary windings and individually controllable voltage/current controllers are provided for DC-isolation at each charging point, then reliable DC-isolation and charging function are achieved, but system cost and design complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple DC chopper controllers into a single shared controller that serves multiple charging points. Instead of having separate controllers at each charging point, one controller manages DC-isolation and power distribution for all connected vehicles, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable DC-isolation through controlled switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single DC chopper controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides DC-isolation for all charging points, distributes power to multiple vehicles simultaneously, and can dynamically adjust charging parameters for each connected vehicle. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated controllers at each charging point.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple secondary windings are provided for each charging point, then expandability is enabled, but system cost increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple secondary windings into a single transformer with one secondary winding. The DC chopper controller achieves the power distribution and isolation functions that would otherwise require multiple windings, reducing component count and system cost while maintaining the ability to serve multiple charging points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the DC-isolation and power conversion function from the transformer's multiple windings structure and implements it through a single transformer combined with an active DC chopper controller. This separation allows the transformer to be simpler and less expensive while the controller provides the necessary isolation and distribution capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If individually controllable voltage and current controllers are provided for each charging connection, then precise charging control is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual voltage and current controllers into a single DC chopper controller that can independently control power distribution to multiple charging points. The controller uses switching operations to precisely regulate voltage and current for each connected vehicle without requiring separate controller hardware for each charging connection.
4Reliability
If LF transformers with separate secondary windings are provided at the network connection point, then DC-isolation is achieved, but system flexibility and expandability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DC-isolation function from the transformer structure itself and implements it through a single transformer combined with an active DC chopper controller. This allows the system to maintain DC-isolation while gaining flexibility, as the controller can dynamically adjust to different charging configurations without requiring physical reconfiguration of transformer windings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control through the DC chopper controller, which can adaptively manage DC-isolation and power distribution in real-time. This dynamic approach replaces the static, fixed configuration of multiple transformer windings, enabling flexible reconfiguration for different charging scenarios without hardware changes.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, flexible, and efficient charging system with enhanced expandability and power distribution, enabling optimized charging times and network services through modular design and energy management.
Implementation Method 1
They generally provide charging connections for one or more vehicles. The powers provided at these charging connections of a charging infrastructure unit can also be redirected in some cases to one charging connection
Implementation Method 2
one or more second types of a DC-isolated DC chopper controller are arranged such that they can be connected in parallel with the first type of DC-isolated DC chopper controller via one or more switches in such a manner that the DC-isolated DC chopper controller of the second type forms a boost unit
Data Source
AI summary
A charging infrastructure unit for at least partly electrically driven vehicles has one or more DC supply devices for charging one or more vehicles, one or more supply connections, and one or more charging connections. At least one of the one or more DC supply devices can be supplied with energy via one or more supply connections, and a respective vehicle can be connected to a charging connection. There is also described a charging infrastructure with such charging units.