ZONE FAULT DETECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A system for detecting faults in an electric vehicle charging system, the system comprising:
- an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE);
a cable for electrically coupling the EVSE to a power storage device located in an electric vehicle, the cable including a first ungrounded cable conductor and a second ungrounded cable conductor each conducting a respective current between the EVSE and the power storage device to charge the power storage device, the cable further including a grounded cable conductor for conducting electrical current from the vehicle to a ground at the EVSE; and
a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) at the EVSE, the first CCID being configured to monitor a current differential between the current conducted on the first ungrounded cable conductor, the current conducted on the second ungrounded cable conductor, and a first portion of the current conducted on the grounded cable conductor, the EVSE being configured such that a second portion of the current conducted on the grounded cable conductor bypasses the first CCID.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting faults in an electric vehicle charging system includes an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) coupled to an electric vehicle via a cable. The EVSE includes a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) configured to detect faults at let-go levels between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and an external (or unintended) ground. The first CCID is also configured to detect faults above leakage current levels between a chassis of the vehicle and a power storage device of the vehicle. A second CCID is included in the cable or the vehicle to detect faults at let-go levels between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and the chassis. The system maintains grounding continuity between the electric vehicle and ground. The system thus provides protection at let-go levels while allowing a leakage current in the vehicle to be detected at a higher level for nuisance trip avoidance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting faults in an electric vehicle charging system, the system comprising:
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an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE); a cable for electrically coupling the EVSE to a power storage device located in an electric vehicle, the cable including a first ungrounded cable conductor and a second ungrounded cable conductor each conducting a respective current between the EVSE and the power storage device to charge the power storage device, the cable further including a grounded cable conductor for conducting electrical current from the vehicle to a ground at the EVSE; and a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) at the EVSE, the first CCID being configured to monitor a current differential between the current conducted on the first ungrounded cable conductor, the current conducted on the second ungrounded cable conductor, and a first portion of the current conducted on the grounded cable conductor, the EVSE being configured such that a second portion of the current conducted on the grounded cable conductor bypasses the first CCID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing zone fault detection for an electric vehicle being charged by an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), the method comprising:
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conducting an electrical current from an EVSE to a power storage device of an electric vehicle via a cable coupled to the EVSE to charge the power storage device; detecting whether a first fault has occurred in a first zone by a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) at the EVSE, the first zone being between the power storage device and a chassis of the electric vehicle; detecting whether a second fault has occurred in a second zone by a second CCID, the second zone being between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and the chassis of the vehicle; detecting whether a third fault has occurred in a third zone by the first CCID, the third zone being between the ungrounded conductor in the cable and a ground external to the EVSE, the cable, and the vehicle; and interrupting the conduction of electrical current from the EVSE to the power storage device in response to an occurrence of at least one of the first fault, the second fault, or the third fault being detected. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for detecting faults in an electric vehicle charging system, the system comprising:
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an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE); a cable electrically coupling the EVSE to an electric vehicle, the cable including a first ungrounded cable conductor and a second ungrounded cable conductor each conducting a respective current between the EVSE and the electric vehicle to charge a power storage device located in the electric vehicle, the cable further including a grounded cable conductor for conducting electrical current from the electric vehicle to a ground at the EVSE; a first control pilot circuit located at the EVSE; a second control pilot circuit located at the electric vehicle, the first control pilot circuit being communicatively coupled to the second control pilot circuit via a control pilot conductor in the cable and the grounded cable conductor in the cable. a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) at the EVSE, the first CCID being configured to monitor a current differential between the current conducted on the first ungrounded cable conductor and the current conducted on the second ungrounded cable conductor; a second CCID at the EVSE, the second CCID being configured to monitor a current differential between the current conducted on the first ungrounded cable conductor, the current conducted on the second ungrounded cable conductor, and the current conducted on the grounded cable conductor; and a third CCID located in the cable, the third CCID being configured to monitor a current differential between the first ungrounded cable conductor, the second ungrounded cable conductor, the grounded cable conductor, and the control pilot conductor.
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Specification