EV Charge Control Device for Grid Demand-Supply Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) disrupts the demand-supply balance of the electric power grid due to fluctuating renewable energy sources and varying EV charging patterns, making it challenging to maintain a stable power supply while ensuring EVs are charged adequately by the time they are disconnected from the grid.

Innovation Solution

A charge control system that divides the charging period into a 'core period' for maintaining demand-supply balance and a 'non-core period' for managing charge fluctuations, using a control device to set and manage target charge levels based on the total required charge amounts from EVs, ensuring EVs are charged with the necessary amount by the time they are disconnected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If EV charging demand increases to satisfy user needs, then user satisfaction improves, but demand-supply balance of the electric power grid deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser satisfactionVSAvoiddemand-supply balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The charging control device segments the charging process into two distinct periods: a first period where charging is controlled to maintain demand-supply balance, and a second period where remaining charging requirements are fulfilled. This segmentation allows the system to balance grid stability with user needs by treating different time periods differently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by controlling charging during the first period to prevent demand-supply imbalance before it occurs. By proactively managing charging demand in the first period and calculating remaining requirements, the system prepares for the second period where user satisfaction is optimized without compromising grid stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If charging is controlled to maintain demand-supply balance, then grid stability improves, but EV charging requirements may not be fully satisfied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedemand-supply balanceVSAvoidcharging requirement satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by receiving required charge amounts from EVs, calculating remaining total charge amounts after first period charging, and using this information to determine second period charging targets. This feedback loop ensures that charging requirements are accurately tracked and satisfied while maintaining grid stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-generated harmful factors

If renewable electric power sources are increased to reduce CO2 emissions, then environmental benefit improves, but electric power supply control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCO2 emissionsVSAvoidpower supply control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The charging control device acts as an intermediary between renewable power sources and EV charging demands. It receives power supply information, processes this information to determine appropriate charging control strategies, and coordinates charging across multiple EVs. This intermediary function simplifies the complexity of managing renewable power variability by providing a centralized control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If thermal generators are used to adjust output for renewable fluctuations and charging demand, then power supply stability improves, but CO2 emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidCO2 emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by adjusting charging power levels and timing based on power supply information and demand characteristics. By dynamically modifying charging parameters across different periods, the system maintains power supply stability without requiring additional thermal generation, thereby avoiding increased CO2 emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9682633B2Charge control device, battery management device, charge control method, and record medium

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 NEC CORP

AI summary

A charge-control device that controls charging of vehicles, which use electric power as a drive source, using electric power from an electric power grid includes storage means storing a first period in a charge control period for which the charging is controlled; a second period other than the first period in the charge control period; and a target level of a charge demand in the first period; receipt means receiving from each of the vehicles the required charge amount; and control means controlling the charging using the target level of the charge demand in the first period, setting up a target level of charging in the second period based on a remaining total amount generated by subtracting the charge amount in the first period from a total amount of the plurality of required charge amounts to control the charging using the target level of the charging.