Apparatus and method for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source

• US 9,231,433 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schillinger, Bertram
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbowski, Leigh
• Application Number:
  US14/074,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 having a switch, the current controller device interconnected with the rectifier device;

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

an inductor interconnected with a connection point between the two switches of the first half-bridge and with the current controller; and

a three-phase electric motor including a first winding interconnected at the connection point between the two switches of the at least one first half-bridge of the converter device,

wherein, depending on the voltage of the AC voltage source and a current through the inductor, the switch of the current controller device and one of the switches of the first half-bridge of the converter device are switchable by a controller so that a charging 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 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 the three-phase electric motor includes a second winding interconnected with a connection point between two switches of a second half-bridge of the converter device and a third winding interconnected with a connection point between two switches of a third half-bridge of the converter device.

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

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, including omitting an intermediate circuit capacitor from the apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus being free from a transformer device providing galvanic isolation.

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

rectifying an AC input voltage with a rectifier device of the apparatus;

stepping down the rectified AC input voltage when a voltage level of the AC input voltage is higher than a voltage level of the electrical energy store using a step down converter of the apparatus; and

generating a back-emf with respect to the rectified voltage with a converter device of the apparatus, the converter device including at least one half-bridge so that a voltage of the AC voltage source and a current which is drawn from the AC voltage source are provided to the electrical energy store substantially in phase for charging the electrical energy store,

wherein the apparatus is free from an intermediate circuit capacitor.

10. The method according to claim 9, including providing an inductor between the step down converter and the converter device, the converter device including a plurality of half-bridges that each have first and second switches in series.

11. The method according to claim 10, including switching the second switches of the half-bridges in a synchronized manner.

12. The method according to claim 10, including switching the second switches of the half-bridges in an interleaved manner.

13. The method according to claim 9, including providing an inductor between the step down converter and the converter device.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is free from a transformer device providing galvanic isolation.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code for executing on an electronic controller to:

rectify an AC input voltage with a rectifier device of an apparatus;

stepping down the rectified AC input voltage when a voltage level of the AC input voltage is higher than a voltage level of the electrical energy store using a step down converter of the apparatus; and

generating a back-emf with respect to the rectified voltage with a converter device of the apparatus including at least one half-bridge so that a voltage of the AC voltage source and a current which are drawn from the AC voltage source are provided to the electrical energy store substantially in phase for charging the electrical energy store,

wherein the apparatus is free from an intermediate circuit capacitor.