EV Charger Power Allocation Using EMS and User Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle charging stations consume significant power, potentially leading to shutdowns of facilities where they are installed, necessitating an efficient electric vehicle charger control system linked with an energy management system (EMS) to manage energy usage and charging amounts in real time.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle charger control system that includes a communication unit for receiving allowable power information from the EMS, a management unit for generating charger setting information considering priority, maximum charging power, current power, and user reservation, and a control unit for managing charger operations based on this information, allowing for real-time power adjustments and charging control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electric vehicle charging stations operate at high power to meet charging demands, then charging service capability is improved, but facility power stability deteriorates due to risk of shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station system dynamically adjusts charging power based on real-time facility power availability information received from the EMS. The control unit modifies charging parameters (power level, charging speed) according to changing facility conditions, enabling the system to operate at high power when available and scale back when facility power stability is at risk, thus resolving the contradiction between charging capability and power stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the communication unit continuously receives facility power availability information from the EMS and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts charging operations based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that balances charging demands with facility power capacity, preventing shutdowns while maximizing charging service when possible.
2Productivity
If multiple chargers operate simultaneously at maximum power, then charging efficiency is improved, but total power consumption increases causing facility shutdown risks
Solution Approach 1:
The management unit assigns different charging priorities and power allocations to individual chargers based on local conditions such as user reservations, charger status, and facility power availability. Instead of uniform maximum power to all chargers, each charger receives customized power settings appropriate to its specific situation, enabling efficient charging where possible while distributing power consumption across the facility to avoid overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows chargers to operate at maximum power when facility capacity permits, but implements partial action by reducing power for some chargers when total facility power consumption approaches safety limits. The control unit selectively applies full or reduced power to individual chargers based on real-time facility conditions, optimizing charging efficiency while preventing facility shutdowns.
3Reliability
If real-time power adjustment is implemented to prevent facility shutdowns, then facility power stability is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary energy management system (EMS) that handles the complex calculations and decision-making for power allocation. The EV charging station's control unit communicates with the EMS, which acts as a mediator to determine optimal power distribution. This separates the complex power management logic from the charging control logic, maintaining facility power stability while avoiding excessive complexity in the charging station's own control system.
4Reliability
If charging power is limited to ensure facility power stability, then facility reliability is improved, but charging service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The management unit processes user reservations and charger status information in advance to pre-determine charging priorities and power allocations. By performing preliminary actions such as accepting reservations, assessing charger availability, and pre-calculating power distribution plans, the system can provide high-quality charging service to prioritized users while ensuring total power consumption remains within facility safety limits, thus maintaining both facility reliability and charging service quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is an electric vehicle charger control system linked with an EMS including a communication unit which receives allowable power information which is information about available power to charge an electric vehicle from an energy management system (EMS); a management unit which generates charger setting information which is information about charging setting in consideration of at least one of a priority for every charger, a maximum/minimum charging power amount for every charger, a current charging power amount for every charger, and reservation state information of the user, for the plurality of electric vehicle chargers, using the allowable power information; and a control unit which controls the plurality of electric vehicle chargers according to the charger setting information for every charger.