CHARGER AND CHARGING METHOD

• US 20100156348A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Grid Solutions LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kirchner, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,258,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A charger adapted for charging at least one energy storage device to be charged by means of an electrical charging power provided by an electrical power supply grid is provided. The charger includes a grid parameter detector unit adapted for detecting at least one electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid and for outputting a grid parameter detection signal on the basis of the at least one detected electrical grid parameter. A control unit receives the grid parameter detection signal and determines a control signal, wherein a charging power adjustment unit adjusts the electrical charging power on the basis of the control signal.

Claims

1. A charger adapted for charging at least one energy storage device to be charged by means of an electrical charging power provided by an electrical power supply grid, the charger comprising:

a grid parameter detector unit adapted for detecting at least one electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid and for outputting a grid parameter detection signal on the basis of the at least one detected electrical grid parameter;

a control unit adapted for receiving the grid parameter detection signal and for determining a control signal on the basis of the received grid parameter detection signal; and

a charging power adjustment unit adapted for receiving the control signal and being adapted for adjusting the electrical charging power on the basis of the control signal.

2. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid is at least one of a grid frequency, a grid voltage and a grid current.

3. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical charging power is set to zero when the electrical grid parameter is below a first threshold value.

4. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from a first electrical charging power value to a second electrical charging power value when the electrical grid parameter is above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value.

5. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical charging power is kept at a constant value when the electrical grid parameter is above a second threshold value and below a third threshold value larger than the second threshold value.

6. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from a second electrical charging power value to a third electrical charging power value when the electrical grid parameter is above a third threshold value and below a fourth threshold value larger than the third threshold value.

7. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical charging power is kept at a constant value when the electrical grid parameter is above a fourth threshold value.

8. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the third threshold value is larger than the second threshold value.

9. The charger in accordance with claim 4, wherein the increase in electrical charging power is according to a linear function.

10. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth threshold values are at least one of grid voltages and grid frequencies.

11. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is at least one of a battery, a capacitor, a fuel cell, and an ultraCap.

12. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein a storage device parameter detector unit is provided which is adapted for detecting at least one storage device parameter which is provided for the control unit for determining the control signal on the basis of at least one of the grid parameter detection signal and the storage device parameter detection signal, the control signal being adapted for controlling the charging power adjustment unit.

13. The charger in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of the grid parameter detection unit and the storage device parameter detection unit is formed as an integral part of the energy storage device to be charged.

14. The charger in accordance with claim 12, wherein the storage device parameter of the energy storage device to be charged is at least one of an energy storage device voltage, an energy storage device current, and an energy storage device temperature.

19. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 13, wherein the storage device parameter of the energy storage device to be charged is at least one of an energy storage device voltage, an energy storage device current and an energy storage device temperature.

15. An electrically powered car comprising a charger and an energy storage device to be charged, the charger comprising:

a grid parameter detector unit adapted for detecting at least one electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid and for outputting a grid parameter detection signal on the basis of the at least one detected electrical grid parameter;

a control unit adapted for receiving the grid parameter detection signal and for determining a control signal on the basis of the received grid parameter detection signal; and

a charging power adjustment unit adapted for receiving the control signal and being adapted for adjusting the electrical charging power on the basis of the control signal.

16. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 15, wherein the electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid is at least one of a grid frequency, a grid voltage and a grid current.

17. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 15, wherein a storage device parameter detector unit is provided which is adapted for detecting at least one storage device parameter which is provided for the control unit for determining the control signal on the basis of at least one of the grid parameter detection signal and the storage device parameter detection signal, the control signal being adapted for controlling the charging power adjustment unit.

18. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 17, wherein at least one of the grid parameter detection unit and the storage device parameter detection unit is formed as an integral part of the energy storage device to be charged.

20. A method for charging at least one energy storage device to be charged by means of an electrical power supply grid, the method comprising:

providing an electrical charging power by means of the electrical power supply grid;

receiving at least one electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid;

determining a control signal on the basis of the received electrical grid parameter; and

adjusting the electrical charging power for the energy storage device to be charged on the basis of the control signal.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the at least one energy storage device is charged in accordance with at least one pre-determined charge curve.

22. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electrical charging power is set to zero when the electrical grid parameter is below a first threshold value.

23. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from a first electrical charging power value to a second electrical charging power value when the electrical grid parameter is above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value.

24. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electrical charging power is kept at a constant value when the electrical grid parameter is above a second threshold value and below a third threshold value larger than the second threshold value.

25. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from a second electrical charging power value to a third electrical charging power value when the electrical grid parameter is above a third threshold value and below a fourth threshold value larger than the third threshold value.

26. The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the electrical charging power is kept at a constant value when the electrical grid parameter is above a fourth threshold value.