Phase-Resolved EV Charging Device for Asymmetrical Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing three-phase charging devices for motor vehicles often create an unsymmetrical load in infrastructure units, leading to potential fuse failures and inefficient use of available power, as they charge all phases equally without considering the varying loads on different phases.

Innovation Solution

A method where a charging device uses a measuring device, such as a smart meter, to collect phase-resolved power data, allowing for selective regulation of power distribution across phases to achieve a symmetrical load, thereby maximizing available power for charging without triggering fuses, by adjusting power consumption based on phase-specific loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the charging device charges all phases equally, then the charging operation is simple, but the load becomes unsymmetrical and may trigger fuse failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging operation simplicityVSAvoidfuse failure prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The charging device applies different charging strategies to different phases based on their individual load conditions. The control unit determines phase-specific target power outputs by evaluating the actual power consumption of other consumers on each phase, enabling localized optimization rather than uniform charging across all phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the charging device reduces power on high-load phases, then fuse failures are prevented, but the available power potential is not fully utilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuse failure preventionVSAvoidcharging speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The charging device intentionally creates an asymmetrical charging pattern where different phases receive different power levels. This asymmetric approach allows the system to exploit available power potential on phases with lower consumption while maintaining safety margins on phases with higher consumption, thereby maximizing overall charging speed without triggering fuse failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The charging device dynamically adjusts the power output for each phase based on real-time measurements of actual power consumption. The control unit continuously monitors the energy system and modifies target power outputs accordingly, enabling adaptive optimization of charging speed while preventing fuse failures as load conditions change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the charging device maximizes power output, then charging speed increases, but the load distribution becomes unsymmetrical and may trigger protection responses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidprotection response triggering

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The charging device implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously receives information about the actual power consumption on each phase from the energy system. Based on this feedback, the control unit calculates and adjusts the target power outputs for each phase, ensuring that maximum charging speed is achieved while maintaining symmetrical load distribution and preventing protection responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If the charging device uses phase-resolved power data, then power utilization is optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcharging device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors actual power consumption on each phase, determines target power outputs based on this data, and controls the power electronics to implement the optimized charging strategy. By consolidating these functions in a single control unit, the patent achieves phase-resolved power optimization without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables faster and more efficient charging by optimizing power utilization across all phases, preventing fuse activation and allowing for higher charging outputs without increasing the overall input power, while also enabling discharging operations.

Implementation Method 1

a converter device converts electric current into an electric current that is suitable for charging a battery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Energy Conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS10333336B2Method for operating a charging device, charging device and motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 AUDI AG

AI summary

A method for operating a charging device for a battery of a motor vehicle. The charging device converts electric power obtained from a motor vehicle-external, three-phase energy system supplying other consumers in an infrastructure unit, in particular a house, by a converter device into an electric current that is suitable for charging the battery, and supplies electric energy of the battery by the converter device into the energy system. The charging device receives in an operating phase phase-resolved power data, which is fed to the energy system and measured by a measuring device, and determines phase-specified target power while using phase-related power data outputs for each phase. The target power that is determined for each phase is retrieved from each phase.