APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHARGING AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORE FROM AN AC VOLTAGE SOURCE

• US 20140132203A1
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schillinger, Bertram
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/02 characterised by the form of the current used in the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/526 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Apparatus for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source. The apparatus includes a rectifier device with a capacitor interconnected in parallel with the rectifier device A current controller device is interconnected with the rectifier device. A converter device is interconnected with the current controller device. The converter device includes at least one first half-bridge having two switches connected in series, An inductor is interconnected with a connection point of the switches of the first half-bridge Depending on the voltage of the AC voltage source and a current through the inductor a switch of the current controller device and one of the switches of the first half-bridge of the converter device are switchable by means of a controller in such a manner that a current for charging the electrical energy store drawn from the AC voltage source and a voltage of the AC voltage source are substantially in phase.

Claims

1. An apparatus for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source, the apparatus comprising:

a rectifier device with a capacitor interconnected in parallel with the rectifier device;

a current controller device interconnected with the rectifier device;

a converter device interconnected with the current controller device, said converter device having at least one first half-bridge comprising two switches connected in series; and

an inductor, wherein the inductor is interconnected with a connection point of the switches of the first half-bridge;

wherein, depending on the voltage of the AC voltage source and a current through the inductor, a switch of the current controller device and one of the switches of the first half-bridge of the converter device are switchable by means of a controller in such a manner that a current for charging the electrical energy store drawn from the AC voltage source and a voltage of the AC voltage source are substantially in phase.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein depending on the charging current and the voltage of the AC voltage source, a duty ratio of the second switch of the first half-bridge and of the switch of the current controller device is adjustable by means of the controller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch of the current controller device is permanently closed, wherein only the second switch of the first half-bridge of the converter device is cyclically switched.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in each case one winding of a three-phase electric motor is interconnected with in each case one connection point of two switches of a half-bridge of the converter device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein second switches of a second and a third half-bridge of the converter device are switchable in a synchronized manner.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second switches of the second and third half-bridges of the converter device are switchable in an interleaved manner.

7. A method for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source, comprising the steps of:

rectifying an AC input voltage;

stepping down the rectified AC input voltage if a voltage level of the AC input voltage is higher than a voltage level of the electrical energy store; and

generating a back-emf with respect to the rectified voltage in such a way that a voltage of the AC voltage source and a current which is drawn from the AC voltage source for charging the electrical energy store are substantially in phase.

8. A computer program product having program code for performing the method according to claim 7, when the code is executed on an electronic controller.