Onboard Power Network Voltage Segmentation for Loss Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern motor vehicle electrical systems face challenges in efficiently operating consumers with high power loss due to the routing of current through voltage converters, leading to inefficiencies and increased fuel consumption.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a voltage converter with a source voltage higher than the base voltage, allowing direct feeding of current from the voltage source or basic energy store to consumers, reducing power loss by routing part of the current directly to consumers without passing through the voltage converter, and includes a method to detect faults and redistribute load to maintain reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If current is routed through the voltage converter to operate electrical consumers, then the consumers can be powered, but power loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower lossVSAvoidcurrent routing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electrical system into two separate voltage domains: a high-voltage domain (first voltage level) and a low-voltage domain (second voltage level). Each domain has its own energy storage device and consumer set. This segmentation allows current to be routed directly from the appropriate voltage source to the consumers, bypassing the voltage converter for direct供电, thereby reducing power loss while maintaining manageable complexity through structured separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage converter serves as an intermediary component that enables interaction between the high-voltage and low-voltage domains. Instead of routing all current through the converter, it acts as a mediator that allows selective current flow: high-voltage consumers draw power directly from the first energy storage device, low-voltage consumers draw from the second energy storage device, and the converter only handles necessary voltage conversion tasks, minimizing its role as a current bottleneck.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If voltage converter is used to supply all consumers, then voltage stability is maintained, but efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different voltage levels to different consumers based on their specific requirements. High-voltage consumers receive direct high-voltage supply from the first energy storage device, while low-voltage consumers receive supply from the second energy storage device. This localized voltage matching eliminates unnecessary voltage conversion for each consumer group, improving overall system efficiency while maintaining appropriate voltage stability for each domain independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing two separate energy storage devices at different voltage levels before power distribution is needed. This allows the system to be pre-configured with appropriate voltage sources for different consumer types, enabling direct power supply without real-time voltage conversion and thereby improving efficiency while maintaining voltage stability through dedicated voltage sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If higher source voltage is used, then power loss is reduced, but safety requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower lossVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the voltage system into isolated high-voltage and low-voltage domains with separate energy storage devices and consumer groups. This segmentation contains the higher voltage to specific areas where it is needed, reducing the overall safety risk exposure. The high-voltage domain operates independently with its own protection schemes, while the low-voltage domain maintains traditional safety levels, thereby reducing power loss in critical paths without unnecessarily increasing safety risks across the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2501588B1Electric power network, method and device for controlling the electric power network
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2501588B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

An onboard power supply system for a motor vehicle includes a voltage converter and a voltage source which is electrically coupled with the voltage converter and is constructed for providing a predefined source voltage. The onboard power supply system further has a base energy accumulator which is electrically coupled with the voltage converter and is constructed for providing a predefined base voltage. With respect to the amount, the source voltage is greater than the base voltage. The onboard power supply system also has at least one first selection circuit of at least one first electric consuming device which can be electrically coupled parallel to the voltage converter. Furthermore, the onboard power supply system has at least one second selection circuit of at least one second electric consuming device which can be electrically coupled parallel to the base energy accumulator.