Hierarchical Power Network Current Regulation for EV Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional local electrical supply networks face challenges in managing high load peaks when charging multiple electric vehicles simultaneously, due to varying response times and charging characteristics, leading to inefficient infrastructure design and potential overloads.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that regulate power supply through a hierarchically structured local electrical supply network, using a central control unit to adjust electrical currents across all hierarchy levels, ensuring they remain within permissible limits, and dynamically distribute energy among nodes to prevent overloads and optimize utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the charging infrastructure is designed for maximum load peaks, then the reliability of power supply is improved, but the cost of providing the infrastructure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of power supplyVSAvoidcost of providing infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic current adjustment across hierarchical levels of the charging infrastructure. The control system continuously adapts current distribution based on real-time load conditions, transitioning from static maximum-load design to dynamic optimization. This allows the system to maintain reliability during peak loads while reducing infrastructure capacity requirements for average operation, thereby lowering overall infrastructure costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (current values) dynamically across different hierarchy levels based on actual demand. By adjusting current parameters in real-time rather than designing for fixed maximum values, the infrastructure can achieve the same reliability performance with reduced capacity requirements, lowering material and installation costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the charging infrastructure is designed for maximum load peaks, then the safety of the system is improved, but the utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of systemVSAvoidutilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic current adjustment across hierarchical levels of the charging infrastructure. The control system continuously adapts current distribution based on real-time load conditions, transitioning from static maximum-load design to dynamic optimization. This allows the system to maintain reliability during peak loads while reducing infrastructure capacity requirements for average operation, thereby lowering overall infrastructure costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically manages current distribution across the hierarchical network without external intervention. It self-regulates power allocation based on real-time measurements and predefined constraints, enabling the infrastructure to safely handle variable loads while maximizing utilization of available capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Power

If conventional local supply grids are designed with high maximum load capacity, then the ability to handle simultaneous charging is improved, but the cost of infrastructure provision increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaximum load capacityVSAvoidcost of infrastructure provision
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the charging infrastructure into hierarchical levels (distribution nodes and end nodes). Each segment manages current independently within its capacity, allowing the system to handle simultaneous charging requests distributed across multiple segments rather than requiring one oversized centralized capacity, thereby reducing overall infrastructure costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts current allocation across hierarchical segments based on real-time demand patterns. This dynamic segmentation and allocation allows the infrastructure to provide high maximum load capacity when needed while using reduced capacity during normal operation, lowering infrastructure provision costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the charging infrastructure accommodates heterogeneous electric vehicles with different charging characteristics, then the versatility of the system is improved, but the complexity of control increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to charge different electric vehiclesVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control system into hierarchical segments (distribution nodes and end nodes) that independently manage charging parameters. Each segment handles specific vehicles with their unique characteristics without requiring centralized control of all parameters, reducing overall control complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adapts to heterogeneous vehicles by dynamically adjusting electrical parameters (current, power) at different hierarchical levels based on vehicle-specific charging characteristics. This parameter-based adaptation allows versatile support for different vehicle types without requiring complex vehicle-specific control logic throughout the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4256666B1Method and system for controlling power supply through a local electric power network
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 FRONIUS INT GMBH
  • EP4256666B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4256666B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4256666B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for regulating a current supply through a local electrical supply network (1), the local supply network (1) having a root node (2-0) and end nodes (3, 4), which are connected hierarchically to one another in a tree structure, wherein, starting from the root node (2-0) of the tree structure, electrical currents flowing between a distribution node (2) located at a higher position in one hierarchy level of the supply network (1) via current lines (6) of the supply network (1) and one or more nodes (2, 3 ,4) located at a lower position in a hierarchy level of the supply network (1) directly thereunder, are modified iteratively across all hierarchy levels of the supply network (1) through to the end nodes (3, 4) of the local supply network (1) until the sum of the currents flowing between the respective higher-level distribution node (2) of the supply network (1) and its lower-level nodes (2, 3, 4) lie within permissible current limit values for the particular higher-level distribution node (2) and for the end nodes (3, 4).