EV Charging Station Battery Pack Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical vehicle charging stations are complex, costly, and require extensive high-power electronics, making them inefficient and prone to malfunction, especially when placed at remote locations where maintenance is expensive and challenging.
Innovation Solution
A charging station design featuring a battery pack with multiple batteries connected in series, each equipped with two switches and an electrical circuit element, allowing for individual battery control and switching between active and passive states, reducing the need for high-power electronics and enabling DC to DC charging with adjustable voltage to match the vehicle's state of charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional AC-DC converter circuit and DC-DC converter circuit with high power electronics are used to convert grid power to specific voltage for charging, then the charging station can deliver the correct voltage to the electrical vehicle, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple individual batteries connected in series, with each battery equipped with its own switch. This segmentation allows the system to adapt output voltage by selectively connecting or disconnecting individual batteries, replacing the need for complex AC-DC and DC-DC converter circuits with simple switchable battery strings.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station implements dynamic voltage adaptation by controlling switches to connect or disconnect individual batteries based on the charging requirements. This dynamic reconfiguration of the battery string allows the system to deliver varying voltages without requiring complex power conversion electronics.
2Ease of operation
If DC-DC converter with high power electronics is used to convert DC power to correct charging current, then the charging station can deliver correct current to the electrical vehicle, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the battery pack into individually controllable batteries with switches, the system can precisely control the charging current through simple on/off switching of battery connections, eliminating the need for complex DC-DC converter electronics while maintaining precise charging control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the complex DC-DC converter circuit from the charging station design, replacing it with a simpler battery string configuration using switches. This extraction eliminates unnecessary high-power electronic components while retaining the essential current control function.
3Reliability
If internal battery pack with multiple batteries is used to lower stress on external grid and deliver maximum output voltage, then the charging station can operate independently and enable DC to DC charging, but the battery management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into individually switchable batteries, simplifying the management of the internal energy storage system. Each battery can be independently connected or disconnected, making it easier to manage the overall battery pack state, monitor individual battery health, and maintain grid independence without excessive complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If charging station is placed at remote locations to serve electrical vehicles, then the accessibility and service coverage improve, but the maintenance cost and difficulty increase due to complex equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes complex high-power electronic converters from the charging station design, replacing them with simple switchable battery connections. This extraction of unnecessary complexity makes the system more robust, easier to maintain, and more suitable for deployment in remote locations where maintenance access is difficult.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing expensive, complex electronic components with simple, reliable mechanical or electronic switches and a modular battery pack design, the system becomes more resilient to harsh environments and easier to repair or replace in remote locations, effectively treating components as more replaceable and less critical.
Data Source
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AI summary
A charging station (20) adapted for charging electrical vehicles (100) and comprising at least one battery pack (30). The battery pack (30) comprises a plurality of batteries (1) being coupled in series and a control unit (40) adapted for controlling each of the batteries (1) of the plurality of batteries individually. Each battery (1) comprises at least one battery cell (2) with a battery inlet line (8) and a battery outlet line (9), an electrical circuit element (5) arranged to lead from the battery inlet line (8) to the battery outlet line (9) such as to form an electrical path leading around the battery cell (2), and one switch(6 or 7).The one switch (6 or 7) is arranged in one of the battery outlet line (8)and the battery inlet line (9)and is switchable between a first position and a second position. The control unit (40) is connected to the one switch (6 or 7) of each battery (1) and is adapted for controlling the one switch (6 or 7) to switch between the first position, in which an electrical power is lead through the battery cell corresponding to the battery (1) being in an active state, and the second position, in which the electrical power is lead through the electrical circuit element (5) corresponding to the battery being in a passive state.