METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING OF AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

• US 20160121734A1
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: STORM, Jonas
• Granted Patent: US 9,931,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/24 Pantographs
• 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 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• 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 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/143 Busses
• 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling charging of an energy storage system in a vehicle including an electric machine which is arranged for propulsion of the vehicle. The method includes initiating the charging upon connection of the energy storage system to an external power supply via connector elements; and transmitting, between the vehicle and the external power supply, a control signal including data related to the charging by a wireless transmission link. The method furthermore includes evaluating whether the control signal is received; and terminating the charging in the event that the control signal is not received. An arrangement for controlling charging of an energy storage system is also provided.

Claims

1. Method for controlling charging of an energy storage system (7) in a vehicle (1) comprising an electric machine (3) which is arranged for propulsion of said vehicle (1), said method comprising:

initiating said charging upon connection of said energy storage system (7) to an external power supply (11) via connector elements (9, 10); and

transmitting, between said vehicle (1) and said external power supply (11), a control signal comprising data related to said charging by means of a wireless transmission link (18);

characterized in that said method furthermore comprises;

evaluating whether said control signal is received; and

terminating said charging in the event that said control signal is not received.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

transmitting said control signal from said vehicle (1) to said external power supply (11), wherein said evaluating is carried out in said external power supply (11).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises:

providing said control signal in the form of a modulated radio signal transmitted by means of a radio transmitter unit (13a) in said vehicle (1); and

receiving said control signal by means of a radio receiver unit (17a) in said external power supply (11).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises:

transmitting and receiving said radio signal by means of a wireless short-range radio network.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises:

detecting whether the carrier wave of said modulated radio signal is interrupted, and, if this is the case;

terminating said charging.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control signal is provided in at least one of the following forms:

i) a generally continuous signal having a predetermined frequency and/or amplitude;

ii) a generally pulse-shaped signal with a predetermined pulse width and/or amplitude; and

iii) a repeated sequence comprising a signal as defined in i) or ii) and a pause of predetermined length.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said data related to the charging comprises information related to at least one of the following parameters:

i) the current position of said vehicle (1);

ii) any occurrence of movement of said vehicle (1);

iii) the identity of said vehicle (1);

iv) the electrical isolation of said electrical storage system (7);

v) the status of contact elements of high voltage components of said vehicle;

vi) the charging current;

vii) the charging voltage; and

viii) the temperature of said connector elements;

wherein said transmission of the control signal is terminated in the event that said at least one parameter deviates from a predetermined value.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said parameter corresponding to any occurring movement of the vehicle (1) is determined by detecting if the means of detecting whether the vehicle (1), or any part thereof, is located within a predetermined area or section.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

providing a predetermined modulation of said control signal;

evaluating whether the charging supplied to said energy storage system (7) comprises said predetermined modulation; and

, if this is not the case,

indicating that said charging of the energy storage system (7) is erroneous.

11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

disconnecting said energy storage system (7) from said external power supply (11) in the event that said charging is terminated.

9. Method according to any one of the precedings claims, characterized in that it comprises:

generating an alarm signal in the event that said charging is terminated due to the control signal not being received.

12. An arrangement for controlling charging of an energy storage system (7) in a vehicle (1) comprising an electric machine (3) which is arranged for propulsion of said vehicle (1), said arrangement comprising an external power supply (11) arranged for initiating charging upon connection of said energy storage system (7) to the external power supply (11) via connector elements (9, 10), and a transmitter unit (13a) and receiver unit (17a) arranged for wirelessly transmitting a control signal comprising data related to said charging between said vehicle (1) and said external power supply (11), characterized in that said arrangement is configured for evaluating whether said control signal is received in said receiver unit (17a) and for terminating said charging in the event that said control signal is not received.

13. Arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a transmitter unit (13a) for transmitting said control signal from said vehicle (1) to said external power supply (11).

14. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a transmitter unit (13a) for providing said control signal in the form of a modulated radio signal, and a radio receiver unit (17a) in said external power supply (11) for receiving said control signal.

15. Arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that said radio transmitter unit (13a) and radio receiver unit (17a) form part of a wireless short-range radio network.

16. Arrangement according to any one of claims 12-15, characterized in that the hybrid control unit (13) comprises a modulation unit (13b) for applying a predetermined modulation of said control signal and an evaluation unit (13c) for determining whether the charging supplied to said energy storage system (7) comprises said predetermined modulation;

and, if this is not the case, indicating that said charging of said energy storage system (7) is erroneous.

17. Arrangement according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that the external charger control unit (17) is configured for generating an alarm signal in the event that said charging is terminated due to the control signal not being received.

18. Arrangement according to any one of claims 12-17, characterized in that the charging control unit (17) is configured for disconnecting said energy storage system (7) from said external power supply (11) in the event that said charging is terminated.

19. Arrangement according to any one of claims 12-18, characterized in that said connector elements (9, 10) are constituted by conductive or inductive connector elements associated with said vehicle and said external power supply, respectively.

20. Arrangement according to claim 19, characterized in that said connector elements (9, 10) comprises a pantograph (9) on said vehicle (1).

21. Arrangement according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that said energy storage system (7) comprises a battery unit.