BATTERY CHARGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

• US 20100259218A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gale, Allan Roy, Degner, Michael W., Tamor, Michael Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,253,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4225 using a non-isolated boost converter
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery charger may be capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit. The charger may be configured to receive a request for reactive power and, in response, cause the requested reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.

Claims

1. A battery charger capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit, the charger configured to receive a request for reactive power and, in response, cause the requested reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.

2. The charger of claim 1 wherein the requested reactive power caused to be present on the power distribution circuit increases a phase between voltage and current waveforms on the power distribution circuit.

3. The charger of claim 1 wherein the requested reactive power caused to be present on the power distribution circuit decreases a phase between voltage and current waveforms on the power distribution circuit.

4. The charger of claim 1 wherein the charger is further configured to determine a capacity to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the distribution circuit.

5. The charger of claim 4 wherein the capacity is determined based on a phase between voltage and current waveforms on the power distribution circuit.

6. The charger of claim 4 wherein the charger is further configured to transmit a signal representing the determined capacity to cause the specified reactive power to be present on the distribution circuit.

7. The charger of claim 6 wherein the request is based on the determined capacity to cause the specified reactive power to be present on the distribution circuit.

8. The charger of claim 1 wherein the request includes a magnitude for and sign of the requested reactive power.

9. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a traction battery; and

a battery charger capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit remote from the vehicle, the charger configured to (i) charge the battery, (ii) receive a request for reactive power, and (iii) cause the requested reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the requested reactive power caused to be present on the power distribution circuit increases a phase between voltage and current waveforms on the power distribution circuit.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the requested reactive power caused to be present on the power distribution circuit decreases a phase between voltage and current waveforms on the power distribution circuit.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the charger is further configured to determine a capacity to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the distribution circuit.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the capacity is determined based on a phase between voltage and current waveforms on the power distribution circuit.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the charger is further configured to transmit a signal representing the determined capacity to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the distribution circuit.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the request is based on the determined capacity to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the distribution circuit.

16. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the request includes a magnitude for and sign of the requested reactive power.

17. A method for operating a battery charger comprising:

receiving a request for reactive power; and

causing, in response, the requested reactive power to be present on a power distribution circuit electrically connected with the battery charger.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining a capacity of the charger to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting a signal representing the determined capacity of the charger to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the request is based on the determined capacity of the charger to cause a specified reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.