Vehicle DC-DC Converter Phase Control for Battery Deterioration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-phase DC-DC converters for vehicles face challenges in efficient control and output voltage drop, affecting power conversion efficiency and cruising distance, especially in electric vehicles without internal combustion engines.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling power conversion in a multi-phase DC-DC converter by monitoring and adjusting phase activations based on battery state, including determining deterioration states and selectively restricting power supply to non-essential loads to maintain high efficiency and battery charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multi-phase DC-DC converter is applied to increase power conversion capacity, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but control complexity and output voltage stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multi-phase DC-DC converter into separate phase units (first phase unit, second phase unit, etc.), each with its own switch, diode, and inductor. This segmentation allows independent control of each phase, simplifying the overall control strategy while maintaining high power conversion efficiency through parallel operation of multiple phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching control for each phase unit, where switches are turned on and off in a periodic manner with specific duty cycles. This periodic action enables continuous power conversion across multiple phases while maintaining output voltage stability through the combined effect of all phases operating in sequence.
2Loss of energy
If multi-phase DC-DC converter is applied to increase power conversion capacity, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but output voltage stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple phase units in parallel configuration, where the output terminals of all phase units are connected together. This merging of multiple phases provides current ripple cancellation and maintains stable output voltage, as the combined output of multiple phases smooths out individual phase variations and improves overall voltage stability.
3Reliability
If phase activation is increased to compensate for battery deterioration, then power supply stability is improved, but power conversion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of phase activation based on battery state of charge (SOC). When battery SOC is high, more phases are activated to provide stable power supply. When battery SOC is low, fewer phases are activated to maintain high power conversion efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the number of active phases to the current operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the DC-DC converter by adjusting the number of active phases based on battery deterioration state. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between power supply stability and power conversion efficiency by selecting appropriate phase activation levels according to battery health and charge state.
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 stabilizes power supply and enhances power conversion efficiency by dynamically adjusting phase activations and power distribution, compensating for battery deterioration and optimizing energy use in electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-phase DC-DC converter is applied and through power supply control to an electrical load... determining power conversion of a converter to generate a converted current
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling power of a vehicle includes: collecting, by a controller, data on a current consumed by an electrical load of the vehicle and calculating an average current consumption for the electrical load based on the collected data on the current consumed; determining, by the controller, power conversion of a converter to generate a converted current having an amount corresponding to the calculated average current consumption; variably controlling, by the controller, the power conversion of the converter to compensate for a deterioration state of a battery when the deterioration state of the battery provided to supply power to the electrical load occurs; and securing, by the controller, higher power conversion efficiency of the converter by controlling power supply to the electrical load when the deterioration state of the battery does not occur.