EV Backup Power Switching for AC Home Supply During Outages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems that supply power from an electric vehicle during a power outage require household appliances to handle DC voltage, which is inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a power outage detector, a charging device, a residential distribution panel, and a switch that converts AC voltage from the electric vehicle to supply it to the panel during an outage, allowing household appliances to operate on AC voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DC voltage is used as the voltage supplied from the electric vehicle, then power can be supplied during a power outage, but household appliances must be capable of handling DC voltage which reduces convenience for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the voltage type parameter from DC to AC by incorporating an inverter device. The inverter converts the DC voltage stored in the electric vehicle's battery to AC voltage, matching the standard household appliance requirement. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by maintaining power supply capability while ensuring compatibility with conventional AC-powered appliances.
Solution Approach 2:
The inverter acts as an intermediary device between the electric vehicle's DC power source and the AC-powered household appliances. It mediates the incompatibility between DC voltage from the vehicle and AC voltage requirements of standard appliances, enabling power transfer without requiring users to modify their appliances or adapt to DC voltage.
2Ease of operation
If a switch is added to enable AC voltage supply from the electric vehicle to the residential distribution panel, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch is integrated into the existing charging device, which already serves multiple functions: charging the electric vehicle when external power is available and supplying power to the house during outages. By making the charging device universal—capable of both charging and power supply functions—the system avoids adding separate dedicated equipment, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while enabling AC voltage supply functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the power supply control functionality into the existing charging device structure. The switch that enables AC voltage supply from the electric vehicle is integrated with the charging circuitry, merging two functions (charging control and power supply control) into a single device. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate independent control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes: a power outage detector that detects a power outage, based on a voltage supplied by a commercial power supply; a charging device that is connected to the commercial power supply via the power outage detector and charges an electric vehicle; a residential distribution panel that is connected to the commercial power supply via the power outage detector and distributes power to a plurality of loads provided in a house; and a switch provided between the charging device and the residential distribution panel. When the power outage is detected, the switch is closed, and an AC voltage supplied from the electric vehicle is supplied to the residential distribution panel.