EV Charging Load Management via MQTT Message Broker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional load management systems for charging stations are complex to configure and manage, especially when dealing with multiple charging stations, making it difficult to react to status changes and optimize energy distribution effectively.

Innovation Solution

A modular load management system utilizing a publisher-subscriber architecture with a message broker to assign topics to charging stations, allowing for decentralized communication and separate management of status and command topics, enabling efficient load management and power optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional load management system is used to manage multiple charging stations, then the system can handle charging operations, but the configuration and management becomes technically complex and difficult to react to status changes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAbility to manage multiple charging stationsVSAvoidConfiguration and management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the management architecture by introducing a message broker that separates communication between charging stations and the central system. Each charging station operates as an independent node publishing status updates and receiving commands through standardized MQTT topics, dividing the complex management task into manageable modular units that can be configured independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An MQTT message broker is introduced as an intermediary component between charging stations and the central management system. The broker handles message routing, topic subscription, and status change notification automatically, eliminating the need for complex direct communication protocols and reducing configuration complexity while enabling scalable management of multiple stations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If direct communication connections are established between the processing unit and each charging station, then commands can be transmitted directly, but the system complexity increases and scalability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCommand transmission efficiencyVSAvoidCommunication architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The message broker provides universal communication services to all charging stations through standardized MQTT topics. A single broker instance handles routing, publishing, and subscription for multiple stations simultaneously, eliminating the need for individual communication channels and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining efficient command transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The MQTT message broker serves as a universal intermediary that all charging stations communicate through. Instead of establishing direct point-to-point connections between the processing unit and each station, all communication is routed through the broker using standardized topics, simplifying the communication architecture while preserving transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4015288A1Method for providing a load management system
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 COMPLEO CHARGING SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4015288A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4015288A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4015288A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing a load management system (1) for at least one charging station (100) for charging electric vehicles, wherein the following steps are carried out: - providing at least one charging point (110) of the at least one charging station (100), wherein the at least one charging point (110) is configured as an interface for charging, - providing a message intermediary (200) for assigning the at least one charging station (100) and/or the at least one charging point (110) to at least one associated topic (300) in order to transmit at least one command (310) for load management depending on the assignment to the charging station (100).