Switchable Energy Storage Device for Motor Vehicle Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage devices in motor vehicles with higher voltages than conventional 12 or 24 volts face challenges in being efficiently charged by standard charging infrastructure, requiring large, expensive, and heavy power electronic circuits.
Innovation Solution
A switchable and separable energy storage device with multiple energy stores and a switching device featuring a fifth switching element that permanently couples opposite poles, allowing for series or parallel connection, enabling four operating states including charging at lower voltages without additional charge contactors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a power electronic circuit is used to enable charging of high-voltage energy storage devices, then charging compatibility is improved, but device complexity, cost, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage device is divided into multiple independent energy stores (first energy store, second energy store, etc.) that can be selectively connected in series or parallel through switching elements. This segmentation allows the same physical hardware to present different voltage configurations to the charging infrastructure, enabling charging compatibility without complex power electronic conversion circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching device is pre-configured with multiple switching elements that can establish different connection topologies before charging begins. By preliminarily arranging the energy stores in series or parallel configurations through these switches, the system prepares the appropriate voltage level in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time power electronic conversion during charging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple switching elements are used to enable series/parallel connection of energy stores, then operational flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device uses simple switching elements (such as contactors or relays) that serve multiple functions: they can connect energy stores in series, connect them in parallel, and isolate individual energy stores. Each switching element is permanently electrically coupled to opposite polarity poles, enabling universal control over the connection topology without requiring complex dedicated circuits for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical or similar switching elements repeated multiple times in a standardized configuration. Instead of designing complex unique circuits for each switching function, simple identical switching components are copied and arranged in a systematic pattern, reducing design complexity while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Power
If energy stores are connected in series to achieve higher voltage, then operating voltage is improved, but charging compatibility with standard infrastructure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection topology between energy stores is made dynamic rather than fixed. Through the switching device, the system can dynamically reconfigure from a series connection (high voltage for operation) to a parallel connection (lower voltage for charging compatibility). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same hardware to adapt to different voltage requirements without permanent structural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical configuration parameter (series vs. parallel connection) of the energy stores based on operational requirements. By altering how the energy stores are electrically connected through the switching elements, the system can present different equivalent voltages to external systems, enabling both high-voltage operation and compatibility with standard charging infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage device for a motor vehicle includes a first energy store and a second energy store for storing electrical energy, a charging connection for charging the energy stores, an operating connection for operating a load on the energy storage device, and a switching device which has a plurality of switching elements and via which the energy stores can be connected selectively in series or in parallel. A fifth switching element of the switching device is permanently electrically coupled to the electrical poles of opposite polarity of the energy stores and the energy stores can be connected in series via the fifth switching element independently of the other switching elements of the switching device.