Generator Startup Control for Immediate Grid Power Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric power supply devices in electric vehicles experience poor charging experiences due to the need to wait for power grid quality checks before allowing power exchange, which is inefficient and inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

A control unit that monitors power grid frequency and voltage during an observation period and provides a startup control signal allowing power exchange if within limits, or adjusts energy storage operations to stabilize the grid if out of limits, ensuring immediate power exchange when connected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electric power supply device performs power grid quality observation before allowing power feed-in, then the power grid stability is improved, but the charging time increases due to waiting period

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower grid stabilityVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electric power supply device continuously monitors power grid quality parameters (voltage, frequency) before connection and stores observation results in advance. When an energy storage device connects, the pre-conducted observation results are immediately applied, eliminating the need for waiting during actual charging operations while maintaining grid stability requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the electric power supply device continuously monitors power grid frequency and voltage, then the grid quality control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrid quality controlVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit of the electric power supply device performs multiple functions: it continuously monitors power grid quality parameters, stores observation results, determines grid suitability, and provides startup control signals to energy storage devices. This multi-functional integration avoids the need for separate dedicated monitoring systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive grid quality control

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

Data Source

PatentEP4641865A1Startup control of generator
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4641865A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4641865A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4641865A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A control unit for controlling an electric power supply device being configured for power supply between an energy storage and a power grid supplying electric power to a connection point, the control unit configured to receive first data indicative of if the energy storage is connected to the electric power supply device, detect that the energy storage is connected to the electric power supply device, after detecting that the energy storage is connected, obtain second data indicative of a frequency and a voltage of an exchanged electric power at the connection point for an observation period, determine, if both the frequency has been maintained within frequency limitations, and the voltage has been maintained within voltage limitations during the observation period, and, provide a startup control signal to the electric power supply device indicating that the energy storage is allowed to exchange electric power with the power grid.