APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RAPID CHARGING USING SHARED POWER ELECTRONICS

• US 20110148353A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Steigerwald, Robert Louis, King, Robert Dean
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/22 polyphase motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/28 polyphase motors
• 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 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 : with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power electronic energy conversion system comprising;

a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy;

a first voltage converter configured to;

convert a stored voltage from the first energy storage device into a first voltage configured to drive an electromechanical device; and

convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device; and

a first controller configured to;

control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation; and

communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first controller is further configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into a shared charging voltage during a sharing mode of operation and to provide the shared charging voltage to a second energy storage device located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system and coupled to the power electronic energy conversion system via a shared voltage bus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power electronic energy conversion system further comprises:

a second energy storage device configured to store DC energy;

a second voltage converter configured to convert a stored voltage from the second energy storage device into a third voltage; and

wherein the first controller is further configured to convert the third voltage into the first voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first controller is further configured to:

control the second voltage converter to convert the first charging voltage into a second charging voltage and to provide the second charging voltage to the second energy storage device during the charging mode of operation; and

control the second voltage converter to convert the first charging voltage into a shared charging voltage during a sharing mode of operation and to provide the shared charging voltage to a third energy storage device located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system and coupled to the power electronic energy system conversion via a shared voltage bus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power electronic energy conversion system further comprises:

a charge resistor;

a charge contactor coupled to the charge resistor; and

wherein the first controller is further configured to control the charge contactor such that current is directed to flow through the charge resistor prior to flowing into the first energy storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power electronic energy conversion system is located on a first vehicle and wherein the second controller is located on a second vehicle different from the first vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first vehicle comprises one of an on-road vehicle, an off-road vehicle, a utility truck, a fork lift truck, a golf car, and a neighborhood electric vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the electromechanical device;

a wheel coupled to the electromechanical device; and

wherein the first controller is further configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the stored voltage into the first voltage and to cause the first voltage to be provide to the electromechanical device to drive the wheel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the remote power supply is a utility grid.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first energy storage device comprises one of a battery, a flywheel system, a fuel cell, and an ultracapacitor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first voltage converter is a bi-directional DC-to-AC voltage inverter.

12. A method comprising:

coupling a first energy storage device to a first voltage converter, wherein the first energy storage device is configured to store electrical energy and wherein the first voltage converter is configured to convert a stored voltage from the first energy storage device into a first voltage configured to drive a motor and to convert a second voltage from a first remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device;

coupling a first controller to the first voltage converter and configuring the first controller to;

cause the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a rapid charging mode of operation; and

cause a second charging voltage from a second remote power supply to be provided to the first energy storage device during the rapid charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

coupling a first plurality of contactors to the first voltage converter, the first plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first voltage converter to the first remote power supply; and

coupling a second plurality of contactors to the first energy storage device, the second plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first energy storage device to the second remote power supply.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring the first controller to communicate with a second controller to cause the second charging voltage to be provided to a shared voltage bus coupleable to the first energy storage device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

coupling the first energy storage device to a second energy storage device via a second voltage converter; and

configuring the first controller to control the second voltage converter to convert the first charging voltage into a second charging voltage and to provide the second charging voltage to the second energy storage device to charge the second energy storage device.

16. A system comprising:

a first power bus;

a second power bus;

a first vehicle comprising;

a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy;

a first motor;

a first voltage converter configured to convert a stored voltage from the first energy storage device into a motoring voltage configured to drive the first motor and to convert a first voltage from the first power bus into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device; and

a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the first voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device; and

p1 a first energy conversion system located remotely from the first vehicle and comprising;

a second voltage converter configured to convert the first voltage from the first power bus into a second charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device of the first vehicle; and

a second controller configured to;

control the second voltage converter to convert the first voltage into the second charging voltage and to provide the second charging voltage to the second power bus; and

communicate with the first controller to cause the second charging voltage to be provided from the second power bus to the first energy storage device to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a second vehicle comprising:

a second energy storage device configured to store DC energy;

a second motor; and

the first energy conversion system.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first vehicle comprises a first plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first vehicle to the first and second power busses;

and

wherein the second vehicle comprises a second plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the second vehicle to the first and second power busses.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a charging station comprising:

the first power bus;

the second power bus;

a first plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first voltage converter to the first power bus;

a second plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first energy storage device to the second power bus;

a charging unit comprising the first energy conversion system;

a third plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first energy conversion system to the first power bus; and

a fourth plurality of contactors configured to selectively couple the first energy conversion system to the second power bus.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the charging unit further comprises:

a second energy storage device configured to store DC energy; and

a third voltage converter configured to convert a stored voltage from the second energy storage device into a third charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device of the first vehicle.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the charging unit further comprises a transformer coupled to one of the first plurality of contactors and the first voltage converter, the transformer configured to electrically isolate the first voltage converter from the first power bus.