EV Charging Load Management via Segmented Master Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations faces challenges in efficiently and fairly distributing electrical energy, particularly during peak usage times, while also ensuring compliance with ecological and capacity-related conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for load management that can be implemented as either centralized or decentralized, which regulates the maximum charging current and power consumption across multiple charging stations, ensuring fair distribution and compliance with technical and economic conditions, including the use of a master charging station and peer-to-peer communication for decentralized networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple charging stations are combined into a group with centralized control to minimize peak power requirements, then power distribution efficiency is improved, but system complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower distribution efficiencyVSAvoidsystem control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments charging stations into groups that can be managed independently, with each group having its own master charging station. This segmentation allows localized control decisions while maintaining overall system efficiency, reducing the complexity of centralized control over all stations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The master charging station role is dynamically assigned rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions. The master station is selected based on current operational status, enabling flexible response to peak power requirements and varying load conditions across different groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If charging parameters are dynamically adjusted based on load forecasts to comply with ecological electricity requirements, then environmental compliance is improved, but response time and coordination overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveecological compliance reliabilityVSAvoidcoordination response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates load forecasts in advance and pre-determines target charging parameters based on anticipated ecological electricity availability. This preliminary action allows charging stations to be pre-configured with appropriate parameters, reducing the coordination response time when actual charging begins while ensuring ecological compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a centralized authentication and billing system is implemented to ensure fair load distribution, then fairness and security are improved, but system complexity and operational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidcentralized system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The master charging station acts as an intermediary between individual charging stations and the central authentication/billing system. It handles local coordination and parameter distribution, reducing the direct complexity burden on the centralized system while maintaining authentication reliability and fair load distribution through the intermediary layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of energy

If peak power requirements are minimized through coordinated charging, then energy efficiency is improved, but flexibility in handling individual charging demands decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak power lossVSAvoidindividual charging flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different control strategies to different groups of charging stations based on local conditions. Each master charging station optimizes power distribution for its specific group, allowing localized flexibility in handling individual charging demands while collectively minimizing peak power requirements across the entire system through coordinated group management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2665618B1Method and apparatus for providing electrical energy
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2665618B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2665618B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2665618B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates in particular to a charging management system for electrical vehicles, wherein a maximum charging current for a plurality of charging operations, e.g. for a plurality of charging stations and/or electrical vehicles, can be coordinated in a centralized or decentralized manner whilst complying with predefined flexibly adjustable secondary conditions. Advantageously, the secondary conditions can comprise economic and/or technical stipulations. In addition to the centralized load management system, a decentralized load management facility is also presented, the load distribution being carried out via a master charging station or autonomously by each charging station itself. If the master charging station fails, a changeover is made to a backup master charging station. The invention can be used, for example, in electrical mobility, in particular the electrification of individual traffic.