Dynamic EV Charging Current Control via Grid Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for electric vehicle charging poses challenges for grid capacity, as simultaneous charging can lead to high power demands that may cause blackouts, and existing technologies struggle to balance charging currents effectively across different charging stations from various manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A computer device is used to control charging currents of electric vehicles through internet-based communications, allowing for dynamic management of charging power by grouping stations hierarchically and adjusting maximum currents based on the number of vehicles, ensuring maximum available current is provided while not exceeding capacity, regardless of station location or manufacturer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple electric vehicles charge simultaneously at high power, then charging speed and user satisfaction improve, but grid capacity is exceeded causing blackouts and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic current adjustment by continuously monitoring the number of charging vehicles and automatically modifying the maximum charging current accordingly. The system transitions from static fixed current limits to dynamic adaptive current control, allowing the charging infrastructure to respond in real-time to changing load conditions and maintain grid stability while maximizing charging speed when capacity permits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of charging stations by adjusting the maximum charging current based on the number of active charging vehicles. When fewer vehicles are charging, higher current parameters are permitted; when more vehicles charge simultaneously, the maximum current parameter is reduced to prevent grid overload, thus resolving the contradiction between charging speed and grid stability.
2Reliability
If charging current is limited to protect grid capacity, then grid stability is maintained, but charging power and user satisfaction decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than applying static current limits that permanently reduce charging power, the system uses dynamic adjustment where the current limit adapts to real-time conditions. When grid capacity is available and fewer vehicles are charging, the system permits higher charging power. The limitation is temporary and conditional, not permanent, thus maintaining user satisfaction while protecting grid stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system automatically monitors its own load conditions and self-regulates the maximum charging current without external intervention. The computer device detecting the number of charging vehicles triggers automatic current adjustment, allowing the system to serve itself in managing its own power distribution and eliminating the need for manual intervention or external grid control.
3Ease of operation
If a centralized system controls all charging stations, then charging current balance and grid load distribution improve, but system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal communication protocol that enables different charging station models from various manufacturers to interoperate through a common interface. This multi-functional communication system handles multiple tasks including vehicle detection, current calculation, and control commands, reducing the need for proprietary specialized systems and simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining centralized coordination benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer device serves as an intermediary between the grid and multiple charging stations, translating grid capacity requirements into station-specific control commands. This mediator approach simplifies the complexity by providing a single point of coordination that manages current distribution across the network, rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer communication between all charging stations and the grid simultaneously.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different charging station models from various manufacturers are integrated, then system versatility and coverage improve, but communication compatibility and control standardization become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal communication protocol that functions across multiple charging station models and manufacturers. This single standardized interface performs multiple functions including vehicle presence detection, charging parameter negotiation, and current control, eliminating the need for manufacturer-specific communication systems and reducing overall system complexity despite the diversity of integrated charging stations.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect, there is provided a computer device configured to control charging currents of at least a first charging station of an electric vehicle and at least a second charging station of an electric vehicle by internet based communications, wherein the charging stations are from different manufacturers, and wherein the charging stations are wirelessly coupled to the computer device.