DC EV Charging Station With Battery Buffering for Weak Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of fast-charging infrastructure, particularly in weak AC distribution grids, restricts the adoption of electric vehicles due to range anxiety and integration issues, leading to protection system and voltage regulation problems.
Innovation Solution
A battery-enabled, direct current (DC) electric vehicle charging station with a controller that monitors and controls power flow from multiple sources, including battery energy storage systems and renewable energy, to manage charging demands and prevent operating condition violations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If EV fast-charging stations are integrated into weak AC distribution grids, then electric vehicle charging capability is provided, but protection system issues and voltage/frequency regulation problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary energy storage system and DC bus architecture between the weak AC grid and the EV fast-charging loads. This intermediary DC energy storage system acts as a buffer that decouples the fast-charging station from the weak AC grid, allowing high-power charging operations without directly impacting grid stability. The DC-DC converters and control systems manage power flow to prevent voltage and frequency regulation issues while enabling fast charging capability.
2Productivity
If multiple EV fast-charging stations operate simultaneously, then charging infrastructure capacity increases, but weak AC distribution grids cannot support the load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary energy storage and power management actions by incorporating DC energy storage systems that can pre-charge or buffer power before EV fast-charging operations begin. The controller monitors and manages power flow in advance, allowing multiple charging stations to operate simultaneously by drawing from stored energy rather than directly from the weak AC grid, thus avoiding power capacity limitations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If AC to DC conversion is performed at each charging station, then charging flexibility is improved, but system complexity and loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the AC to DC conversion function into a centralized architecture where a common DC bus and energy storage system serve multiple charging stations. Instead of each station having independent AC-DC converters, the system consolidates conversion infrastructure, reducing overall device complexity and minimizing conversion losses while maintaining charging flexibility through the DC bus distribution network.
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 DC architecture enables efficient and scalable fast charging, mitigating grid voltage regulation issues and supporting large-scale electric vehicle adoption by stabilizing power distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a battery-enabled, direct current (DC) electric vehicle charging station with a controller that monitors and controls power flow from multiple sources, including battery energy storage systems
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle charging station comprises a direct current (DC) bus configured to receive DC power from multiple power sources including at least one battery energy storage system (BESS); at least one electric vehicle charging stall connected to the DC bus and configured to charge an electric vehicle load; and a controller configured to monitor and control power flow from the DC bus to the at least one electric vehicle charging stall and to monitor and control power flow between the BESS and the DC bus.