Combiner Box Reserve Power Verification for EVSE Dark Start
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to ensure that electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and combiner boxes can receive required DC power during power outages, necessitating a reliable mechanism for dark start verification.
Innovation Solution
A combiner box system with main and reserve switch mode power supplies, a battery, and a microprocessor that disables the main power supply and enables the reserve power supply to ensure power continuity during outages, using Power over Ethernet (PoE) for energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main power converter is disabled and reserve power converter is enabled during grid availability, then power continuity during outages is ensured, but system complexity increases due to dual power converter configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of the reserve power converter and battery while grid power is available. The controller disables the main power converter and enables the reserve power converter to test whether the battery can provide sufficient power to start the home energy system. This preliminary action ensures that the backup system is functional before an actual outage occurs, resolving the contradiction by verifying reliability through advance testing while managing complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply system is segmented into main power converter and reserve power converter, with each having distinct functions. The main power converter operates during normal grid availability, while the reserve power converter with battery provides backup capability. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through dedicated backup components while managing complexity through clear functional separation and automated switching control.
2Reliability
If periodic dark start verification is performed, then operational readiness is confirmed, but energy consumption increases during verification tests
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs dark start verification periodically at predetermined intervals while grid power is available, rather than continuously. This periodic action confirms operational readiness of the reserve power system without causing continuous energy consumption. The system switches to reserve power converter only during verification periods, minimizing energy usage while maintaining reliability through regular checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own battery and reserve power converter to perform self-verification of operational readiness. During verification, the controller disables the main power converter and enables the reserve power converter to test whether the battery can provide sufficient power. This self-service approach allows the system to verify its own capability without external intervention, confirming reliability while consuming minimal additional energy.
3Reliability
If signal is sent to EVSE to disable main power converter and enable reserve power converter, then power flow from battery to EVSE is established, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the combiner box and EVSE, managing the communication and coordination required for power flow establishment. The controller sends signals to the EVSE to disable its main power converter and enable its reserve power converter, and also controls the combiner box power converters. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system complexity by centralizing control logic in the controller, which manages all communication and switching operations to establish reliable power flow from the battery to the EVSE during verification.
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
Ensures that both the combiner box and EVSE can receive necessary DC power during power outages, verifying operational readiness through periodic checks and ensuring seamless power continuity.
Implementation Method 1
a battery that provides power to start a home energy system that includes the combiner box
Implementation Method 2
the electric vehicle supply equipment consumes power from a battery of the combiner box, that provides power to start a home energy system including the combiner box when the grid power is unavailable, via Power over Ethernet
Data Source
AI summary
A combiner box, provided grid power is available to the combiner box and the combiner box is connected with electric vehicle supply equipment, disables a main power converter of the combiner box, enables a reserve power converter of the combiner box, and sends a signal to the electric vehicle supply equipment. This results in a main power converter of the electric vehicle supply equipment being disabled, a reserve power converter of the electric vehicle supply equipment being enabled, and power from a reserve power source of the combiner box, that provides power to start a home energy system when the grid power is unavailable, flowing to the electric vehicle supply equipment.