Segmented Primary Inductors for EV Wireless Charging Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inductive charging systems for electric vehicles face inefficiencies and increased leakage fields when the secondary coil is smaller than the primary coil, limiting flexibility in charging different vehicle sizes and power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A modular inductive charging device with multiple primary inductors, each with independent current supply and control, allowing for variable secondary inductor arrangements and power adjustments based on impedance and voltage measurements to optimize energy transfer, enabling charging of vehicles with different power needs without significant losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single large primary coil is used for inductive charging, then high power transmission is achieved, but efficiency decreases and leakage fields increase when charging smaller vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The primary coil is divided into multiple independent primary inductors (at least two) that can be individually activated or deactivated. This segmentation allows the system to match the active primary inductors to the size and position of the secondary coil, optimizing energy transfer efficiency for different vehicle sizes while maintaining the ability to deliver high power when needed.
2Power
If a single large primary coil is used for inductive charging, then high power transmission is achieved, but leakage fields increase when charging smaller vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the primary coil into multiple independently controllable primary inductors, the system can activate only the inductors necessary for the current charging task. This reduces the overall active area of the primary coil, thereby minimizing leakage fields when charging smaller vehicles while preserving the capability to activate all inductors for high-power charging of larger vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically activates or deactivates individual primary inductors based on the detected position and size of the secondary coil. This dynamic adaptation allows the primary coil configuration to change in real-time, optimizing the magnetic field distribution to reduce leakage fields for smaller vehicles while maintaining high power capability when needed.
3Loss of energy
If the primary and secondary coils are matched 1:1, then efficient energy transfer is achieved, but flexibility to charge different vehicle sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The primary coil is segmented into multiple independent primary inductors that can be selectively activated. The secondary coil is also segmented into multiple secondary inductors. This dual segmentation allows the system to create multiple 1:1 matched pairs between primary and secondary inductors, maintaining high energy transfer efficiency while providing flexibility to charge vehicles of different sizes by activating appropriate subsets of inductors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines which primary inductors to activate based on impedance or voltage measurements that indicate the presence and position of the secondary coil. This dynamic matching allows the system to maintain optimal 1:1 pairing for efficiency while adapting to different vehicle sizes and configurations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple primary inductors with independent control are used, then flexibility and efficiency for different vehicle sizes are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Both the primary and secondary coils are segmented into multiple independent inductors with matching numbers. Each primary inductor can be independently controlled, and each secondary inductor is independently detectable. This segmentation provides the flexibility needed for different vehicle sizes while keeping the control architecture manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses impedance or voltage measurements from each primary inductor to detect the presence and position of corresponding secondary inductors. This feedback mechanism automatically determines which primary inductors should be activated, reducing the complexity of control logic while maintaining high adaptability for different vehicle configurations.
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
The modular design ensures high efficiency and minimal leakage losses, allowing for flexible charging of various vehicle sizes, tolerating positional errors, and enabling simultaneous charging of multiple smaller vehicles, while providing cost advantages and redundancy.
Implementation Method 1
Device for the inductive transmission of electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the inductive transfer of electric energy from a stationary unit that has at least two similar primary inductances (1-4) to a vehicle (5) standing adjacent to said unit. The primary inductances (1-4) of the stationary unit can be supplied with electrical current independently of one another and the current supply can be individually activated or deactivated by a central control unit (12). Preferably, the device is equipped with a uniform two-dimensional arrangement (26-32, 27A-31A) of a plurality of primary inductances that are similar to one another and are in the form of a rectangular matrix (26-31). Either a dedicated output of a central current supply unit or a dedicated current supply unit (7-10) is assigned to each primary inductance. Preferably, the vehicle has several secondary inductances that are similar to one another, the dimensions and arrangement of said inductances being designed in such a way that several pairs of secondary and primary inductances overlap at any one time in at least one position of the vehicle (5A, 5B, 5C).