Supercapacitor EV Charging Architecture for Fast Charging Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems face challenges in maintaining high charging efficiency, managing rapid charging and discharging, and preventing battery degradation, while also addressing safety concerns such as potential fires due to over-potential build-up and heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A supercapacitor-based electric vehicle charging system that includes a grid converter to convert AC power to DC, a charging station with supercapacitors to store energy, and a charger converter to manage power flow to the electric vehicle's supercapacitor energy storage unit, all controlled by a programmable logic control (PLC) unit to achieve efficient and safe charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rapid charging is implemented using conventional batteries, then charging speed is improved, but battery degradation accelerates and safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into two distinct energy storage components: supercapacitors for rapid power delivery and batteries for sustained energy storage. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal performance range, with supercapacitors handling high-power rapid charging demands and batteries providing baseline energy storage, thereby preventing battery degradation while maintaining fast charging capability
Solution Approach 2:
Supercapacitors serve as an intermediary component between the charging infrastructure and the battery system. They buffer the high-power charging input, delivering energy to the battery at controlled rates, thus protecting the battery from the harmful effects of rapid charging while still enabling fast charging at the vehicle level
2Quantity of substance
If conventional battery charging is used, then energy storage capacity is maintained, but power density is limited and charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges supercapacitor technology with conventional battery technology in a hybrid energy storage system. The supercapacitor module provides high power density for rapid charging, while the battery module maintains adequate energy storage capacity, creating a synergistic combination that achieves both fast charging and sufficient range
3Power
If supercapacitors are used for fast charging, then power density and charging speed are improved, but energy storage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is segmented into supercapacitor modules for power delivery and battery modules for energy storage. The supercapacitors handle the high-power charging input and deliver energy during acceleration and high-demand periods, while the batteries provide sustained energy storage for extended range, compensating for the limited capacity of supercapacitors
4Ease of operation
If charging occurs during peak grid hours, then charging availability is ensured, but grid load increases and energy costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions during off-peak grid hours when energy costs are lower and grid load is reduced. The hybrid energy storage system allows the vehicle to be charged during these favorable conditions, storing energy in both supercapacitor and battery modules, thereby avoiding peak-hour charging while ensuring charging availability when needed
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 system achieves a charging efficiency of greater than or equal to 90%, supports rapid charging without significant battery degradation, and includes safety features to prevent over-charging and heat-related hazards, enabling efficient and safe charging of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The grid converter receives power supply to convert into DC power
Implementation Method 2
electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) or ultracapacitors are, together with pseudocapacitors, part of a new type of electrochemical capacitors called supercapacitors, which store energy through accumulation of ions on an electrode surface
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a supercapacitor-based electric vehicle charging system to manipulate power supply from an AC grid to an electric vehicle having a supercapacitor energy storage unit. The supercapacitor-based electric vehicle includes a grid converter, a charging station, and a charger converter. The grid converter receives power supply to convert into DC power. The charging station includes supercapacitors to receive the DC power from the grid converter. Further, the charging station stores the DC power. The charger converter manages the DC power flow to the supercapacitor energy storage unit of the electric vehicle. The charger converter operates at a same voltage value between the AC grid to the supercapacitor energy storage unit to achieve a conversion efficiency of greater than or equal to 90%.