Current monitoring and limiting apparatus, system and method for electric vehicle supply equipment

• US 8,872,480 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: DeBoer, John, McCoy, Brian Timothy, Hancock, Drew Stephen, Haas, Harry Price, Turner, Scott Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US13/308,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/107, 320/109, 320/116, 320/119, 320/134, 320/136, 361/78, 361/79, 361/88
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/52 The controlling of the operation of the load not being the total disconnection of the load, i.e. entering a degraded mode or in current limitation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

An electric vehicle charging system is disclosed. More particularly, the system encompasses a load center having one or more electrical loads coupled thereto, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to charge an electric vehicle (EV), and a monitoring and limiting device (MLD) to monitor power or current usage of at least the one or more loads coupled to the load center, and adjust a charging level setting of the EVSE based upon the level of the usage. MLD apparatus and methods of charging a vehicle with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) are provided, as are other aspects.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle charging monitoring and limiting device, comprising:

a monitoring and limiting device (MLD) adapted to monitor power or current usage of one or more electrical loads coupled to a load center, each electrical load protected by its own circuit breaker, and send a signal to adjust a charging level setting of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) based upon a level of the usage, the MLD configured to receive power via one of the circuit breakers protecting one of the electrical loads.

2. The monitoring and limiting device of claim 1, comprising a sensor adapted to monitor an electric current supplied to one or more electrical loads coupled to the load center.

3. The monitoring and limiting device of claim 1, comprising a communication module adapted to wirelessly communicate directly with the EVSE.

4. The monitoring and limiting device of claim 1, comprising a maximum amperage set switch operable to set a maximum amperage rating corresponding to the load center.

5. The monitoring and limiting device of claim 1, wherein the MLD is integral with a circuit breaker mounted in the load center.

6. The monitoring and limiting device of claim 1, comprising a microcontroller adapted to compare a monitored current value to a threshold current value and adjust a charging level setting of the EVSE if the monitored current value exceeds the threshold current value.

7. An electric vehicle charging system, comprising:

a load center having one or more electrical loads coupled thereto, each electrical load protected by its own circuit breaker of the load center;

electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) adapted to supply an electrical current to charge an electric vehicle (EV); and

a monitoring and limiting device (MLD) adapted to monitor power or current usage of the one or more loads coupled to the load center, and adjust a charging level setting of the EVSE based upon a level of the usage, the MLD coupled to receive power via one of the circuit breakers protecting one of the electrical loads.

8. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the charging level setting of the EVSE is decreased based upon a monitored current (Am) flowing to the one or more loads and a maximum amperage set switch setting.

9. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 8, wherein the charging level setting (Ac) of the EVSE is set according to the relationship:

Ac=C(Amax−

Am)

Wherein Amax is a setting of a maximum amperage set switch, Am is a monitored current flowing to the one or more loads, and C is a constant.

10. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the MLD comprises at least one sensor adapted to measure a current flow.

11. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the MLD comprises a communication module adapted to wirelessly communicate directly with the EVSE.

12. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 11, wherein the communication module communicates with the EVSE based on an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802 standard.

13. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the MLD comprises a maximum amperage set switch operable to set a maximum amperage rating corresponding to the load center.

14. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the maximum amperage rating is greater than or equal to 60 A and less than or equal to 400 A.

15. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, comprising at least one sensor coupled to incoming utility line of the load center.

16. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the MLD is integral with a circuit breaker mounted in the load center.

17. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the MLD is located outside of the load center.

18. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 7, wherein the MLD comprises a microcontroller adapted to compare a monitored current value to a threshold current value and adjust a charging level setting of the EVSE if the monitored current value exceeds the threshold current value.

19. An electric vehicle charging system, comprising:

a load center adapted and configured to have one or more electrical loads coupled thereto, each electrical load protected by its own circuit breaker of the load center; and

a monitoring and limiting device (MLD) adapted to monitor current usage of at least one of the one or more electrical loads coupled to the load center, the MLD adapted to communicate with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and coupled to receive power via one of the circuit breakers protecting one of the electrical loads, the MLD further including

a maximum amperage set switch operable to set a maximum amperage rating corresponding to the load center, and

an MLD communication module adapted to send a signal to adjust a charging level setting of the EVSE based upon the monitored current usage.

20. A circuit breaker, comprising:

at least two mechanical poles; and

a monitoring and limiting device (MLD) adapted to monitor power or current usage of the one or more electrical loads coupled to a load center, and send a signal to adjust a charging level setting of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) based upon a level of the usage, wherein the MLD is integrated between the two mechanical poles.

21. A method of charging a vehicle with electric vehicle supply equipment, comprising:

providing an electrical load center having one or more electrical loads coupled thereto, each electrical load protected by its own circuit breaker of the load center;

providing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) adapted to supply an electrical current to charge an electric vehicle, the EVSE electrically coupled to the load center;

monitoring usage of one or more of the electrical loads coupled to the electrical load center;

powering the monitoring via one of the circuit breakers protecting one of the electrical loads; and

adjusting a charging level setting of the EVSE based on the monitored usage.