Dark Start Boost Calibration for EVSE Outage Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bidirectional energy transfer systems in electrified vehicles struggle to maintain communication and power transfer during grid power outages without requiring a large, dedicated power source within the EVSE, leading to increased complexity and size.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional energy transfer system utilizing a dark start energy storage resource and a variable voltage regulated boost circuit to boost the output voltage, compensating for voltage drops across cables, and a control system to manage power transfer between an EVSE and a combiner box, enabling communication and power transfer during outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large dedicated power source is installed within the EVSE to maintain communication during grid outages, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a combiner box as an intermediary component between the EVSE and the energy storage resource. The combiner box contains the dark start energy storage resource and boost circuit, mediating the power supply function so the EVSE doesn't need its own dedicated power source. This resolves the contradiction by providing reliability through the intermediary's power source while keeping the EVSE simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power source function from the EVSE and places it in a separate combiner box. The dark start energy storage resource and voltage boost circuit are taken out from the EVSE configuration, allowing the EVSE to remain simple while still maintaining communication capability during outages through the external power source.
2Reliability
If voltage is boosted to compensate for cable voltage drops, then power delivery reliability is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring the cable voltage drop during normal operation and using this information to pre-calculate the required boost voltage. The control system stores this calibration data and applies the appropriate boost only when needed during outages, avoiding excessive energy loss from over-boosting while ensuring sufficient power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by measuring the actual voltage at the EVSE during outages and comparing it to the target voltage level. The control system adjusts the boost circuit output based on this feedback to maintain reliable power delivery while minimizing energy loss through optimized boost levels.
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 efficiently maintains communication and power transfer between an electrified vehicle and a structure during grid power outages, reducing the need for a dedicated power source within the EVSE and minimizing component size and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a variable voltage regulated boost circuit configured to boost an output voltage of the dark start energy storage resource for powering a circuitry of the EVSE
Data Source
AI summary
Bidirectional energy transfer systems are provided for transferring energy between an electrified vehicle and other structures. The bidirectional energy transfer system may utilize dark start reserve power from a dark start energy storage resource for maintaining communications between electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and a combiner box during grid power outage conditions. An output voltage of the dark start energy storage resource may be boosted within a variable voltage regulated boost circuit of the combiner box in order to supply a calibrated output voltage to the EVSE. The calibrated output voltage compensates for voltage drops that can occur across a length of a cable that extends between the EVSE and the combiner box.