Charger and charging method

• US 8,258,746 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot
• Application Number:
  US12/339,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/109
• 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 configured to charge 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 configured to detect 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 configured to receive the grid parameter detection signal and to determine a control signal on the basis of the received grid parameter detection signal; and

a charging power adjustment unit configured to receive the control signal and being configured to adjust the electrical charging power on the basis of the control signal, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from a first electrical charging power value to a second electrical charging power value when the at least one electrical grid parameter is above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value.

2. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one 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 at least one electrical grid parameter is below the first threshold value.

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

5. The charger in accordance with claim 4, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from the second electrical charging power value to a third electrical charging power value when the at least one electrical grid parameter is above the third threshold value and below a fourth threshold value larger than the third threshold value.

6. The charger in accordance with claim 5, wherein the electrical charging power is kept at a constant value when the at least one electrical grid parameter is above the fourth threshold value.

7. The charger in accordance with claim 5, wherein the third threshold value is larger than the second threshold value.

8. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the increase in the electrical charging power is according to a linear function.

9. The charger in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first, second, third and fourth threshold values are at least one of grid voltages and grid frequencies.

10. 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.

11. The charger in accordance with claim 1, wherein a storage device parameter detector unit is provided which is configured to detect 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 a storage device parameter detection signal, the control signal being configured to control the charging power adjustment unit.

12. The charger in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one of the grid parameter detector unit and the storage device parameter detector unit is formed as an integral part of the at least one energy storage device to be charged.

13. The charger in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least one storage device parameter of the at least one 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.

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

a grid parameter detector unit configured to detect at least one electrical grid parameter of an electrical power supply grid and to output a grid parameter detection signal on the basis of the at least one detected electrical grid parameter;

a control unit configured to receive the grid parameter detection signal and to determine a control signal on the basis of the received grid parameter detection signal; and

a charging power adjustment unit configured to receive the control signal and being configured to adjust an electrical charging power on the basis of the control signal, wherein the electrical charging power is increased from a first electrical charging power value to a second electrical charging power value when the at least one electrical grid parameter is above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value.

15. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 14, wherein the at least one electrical grid parameter of the electrical power supply grid is at least one of a grid frequency, a grid voltage and a grid current.

16. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 14, wherein a storage device parameter detector unit is provided which is configured to detect at least one storage device parameter which is provided for the control unit configured to determine the control signal on the basis of at least one of the grid parameter detection signal and a storage device parameter detection signal, the control signal being configured to control the charging power adjustment unit.

17. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of the grid parameter detector unit and the storage device parameter detector unit is formed as an integral part of the energy storage device to be charged.

18. The electrically powered car in accordance with claim 16, wherein the at least one 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.