Dynamic Battery Charging Control for Grid Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid charging of electric vehicles at gas stations often leads to power peaks that exceed the maximum connected load of the electrical network, causing infrastructure costs to rise and potential disconnections of subordinate consumers, which is unpopular and costly for energy suppliers.
Innovation Solution
A system that measures electrical power consumption and regulates battery charging power based on usage data, such as operating times and vehicle type, to ensure charging occurs within the defined maximum load, using intelligent communication means for fleet management and prioritization, and adapting charging times and locations to avoid peak loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If maximum charging intensity is used to charge batteries quickly, then charging speed is improved, but power peaks exceed the maximum connected load of the electrical network
Solution Approach 1:
The charging power is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed at maximum. The control system continuously monitors the electrical network's power consumption and adapts the charging intensity in real-time, allowing the charging power to vary between minimum and maximum levels based on current network conditions and priority settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging power parameter based on multiple factors including network power consumption, battery priority level, state of charge, and time of day. By dynamically adjusting this critical parameter, the system resolves the contradiction between maintaining high charging speeds and preventing power peaks that would exceed network capacity.
2Power
If the electrical network infrastructure is designed for peak load, then power supply capacity is improved, but infrastructure costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing the infrastructure for maximum possible peak load (excessive action), the system applies partial charging power when network capacity is constrained. The intelligent control distributes available power according to battery priorities and states of charge, allowing the existing infrastructure to handle variable loads without requiring costly upgrades to accommodate theoretical maximum peaks that may never occur simultaneously.
3Power
If load management disconnects subordinate consumers when connection value is threatened, then power consumption is controlled, but consumer availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies differentiated quality treatment to different charging consumers based on their priority levels. Instead of uniform disconnection or throttling, high-priority batteries (e.g., emergency vehicles) receive preferential power allocation and maintain higher charging rates even when network capacity is constrained, while lower-priority consumers experience reduced power allocation. This local differentiation maintains overall power control while preserving availability for critical applications.
4Productivity
If multiple vehicles charge simultaneously at maximum power, then charging throughput is improved, but power peaks cause costly exceeding of maximum connected load
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the total charging power into priority-based allocations for different vehicles. Instead of treating all charging requests equally or simply limiting total power, the control system divides available power according to battery priority levels, states of charge, and estimated time to full charge. This segmentation allows multiple vehicles to charge simultaneously at optimized power levels that maximize throughput while preventing total power consumption from exceeding network capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for controlling the intensity of charging a battery in an electrical network for which a maximum connection power is defined, it is provided that an electrical power input in a network to be supplied with electrical power is measured and the intensity of charging the battery is controlled as a function of the measured electrical power input, such that the measured electrical power input is less than or equal to the defined maximum power.