DE102014113240A1 - Device for charging an electrical energy storage device of a vehicle and use of such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for charging an electrical energy store (7) of a vehicle, comprising an external power connection (9) for connecting the device (1) to an electrical network, a charging connection (2, 6) for connecting a charging device Vehicle (8) and a control unit (12) for controlling or regulating a charging process, in which the electrical energy store (7) is charged. According to the invention, the charging device (1) comprises a current meter (10) for measuring a charging current with which the energy store (7) is charged, wherein the electricity meter (10) is designed to measure the current with respect to a specific reference quantity and in time periods of less than one hour or in real time, and in that a communication interface (16, 17) is provided for the transmission of data, via the communication interface electricity price and network load information or electricity price and / or network load-dependent control data to the control unit (12 ), and the control unit (12) is designed such that it uses the transmitted information or data for the charging or network load-dependent control of a charging process.

Description

The invention relates to a device for charging an electrical energy storage device of a vehicle and the use of such a charging device in a non-public environment.

Chargers, referred to below, typically provide one or more connectivity options for charging electric vehicles and include e.g. a charging cable with a plug for plugging in an electric vehicle or one or more sockets for plugging in a charging cable. Chargers intended for use in a non-public environment, ie private or semi-public, are also referred to as wall charging stations or "wallboxes".

Known wall charging stations can be network side, e.g. be connected to 400 V / 16 A with three-phase current. In addition, they usually provide a communication interface for communication with the battery management system of the vehicle, via which the state of charge of the battery and possibly also other parameters can be queried.

Typical wall charging stations are eg in DE 10 2012 202 688 A1 , of the DE 20 2014 001 367 U1 or the DE 10 2013 002 078 A1 known. In addition, these documents describe various methods for controlling the charging of an electric vehicle.

The known from the prior art wall charging stations are typically connected after the house electricity meter to the power grid of the utility. In this case, the household electricity meter measures the total electricity consumption of the household, including the electricity consumption of the electric vehicle. It is therefore not possible to use different electricity tariffs for household electrical appliances and the electric vehicle. In addition, it is also not possible to regulate the charging of the electric vehicle depending on the price of electricity or to let the connection from the energy supplier and / or network operator steplessly remote control without loss of comfort for the end customer between 0-100% load.

An object of the present invention is thus to provide a device for charging an electric energy storage of an electric vehicle, which makes it possible to use a separate electricity tariff for charging the electric vehicle. In addition, the charging process should be controllable by the energy supply and / or network operator depending on the electricity price, the network load and / or other considerations.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in the patent claim 1 and in claim 8. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

According to the invention, a device for charging an electrical energy storage device of a vehicle in a non-public environment is proposed which has an external power connector for connecting the device to an electric utility network, one or more charging ports for connecting one or more vehicles to be charged and a control unit for controlling or Controlling a charging process comprises, wherein the charging device according to the invention comprises an electricity meter for measuring a charging current and a communication interface for transmitting data from and to at least one external data processing device.

According to the invention, electricity price or network load information or power-price or network-load-dependent control commands are transmitted to the charging device via the communication interface, which are taken into account by the control unit during the regulation of the charging process. The charging of an electric vehicle can thus be carried out in accordance with the electricity price and the network load. The above-mentioned electricity meter is also designed to supply the current with respect to a certain reference quantity, e.g. In terms of time, and in periods of less than one hour, in particular with an accuracy of about 15 minutes or less. This makes it possible to account for the power consumption timely or the consumption information otherwise, for. B. to control the power generation or power consumption in an electrical network to use. This makes it possible to regulate the entire energy-related connection between 0-100% load without restriction for the end customer. The power consumption values provided with a "time stamp" are, according to the invention, transmitted via the communication interface to an external receiver, such as e.g. a server of an electricity supplier or meter operator, transferred. The electricity supplier can then perform a time-accurate electricity billing or otherwise use the information.

The aforementioned communication interface may in principle comprise a wireless and / or wired data interface, such as a WLAN or mobile radio interface as a wireless connection and / or a LAN or PLC interface (Power Line Communication) as a wired interface. The term "communication interface" is one or more wireless and / or wired ones To understand data interfaces of the same or different type.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging device is designed such that a user can enter certain specifications with regard to the electricity price or the timing of the charging process, or other parameters, which are then taken into account by the control unit when charging the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the charging device according to the invention may also be designed such that the charging process can be remotely controlled externally. For this purpose, further parameters, for. B. also certain control commands are transmitted to the charging device.

The user can e.g. specify one or more of the following quantities: information about the price of electricity, e.g. a price threshold, a maximum or minimum electricity price, a time value, such as a start time, the time of the end of charging or a certain period of time, a preferred electricity tariff, a preferred power mix, z. B. consisting of locally generated power and / or power, information about a desired charge level (eg., As% of full charge) or other parameters. In this way, the user can configure the charging process in the desired manner. He can z. B. determine from which maximum electricity price the vehicle should not be charged as possible or at which electricity price the vehicle should be charged in any case. Owners of a photovoltaic system or other power generation plant can also regulate the charging of their vehicle depending on the power provided by the generation facility and z. B. pretend that the vehicle should only be charged if possible, when the generating plant supplies electricity or when the proportion of the charging current, the generating plant is at least a certain percentage of the total charging current. In principle, almost any conditions are adjustable and combinable. Unless the user makes entries, the loading is performed based on preset and / or automatically read parameter values.

The control unit preferably also takes into account one or more of the following variables during a charging process: the state of charge of the electrical energy store, the state of health of the electrical energy store, a maximum charging power, and an available electrical charge Performance or other parameters. Technical information or state variables of the electrical energy store are preferably transmitted automatically from the battery management system of the vehicle to the charging device according to the invention. The above-mentioned communication interface of the charging device for this purpose preferably comprises a corresponding data transmission interface for communication with the vehicle.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the control unit can also be designed so that it can be controlled remotely. An energy supplier or another person can thus intervene in the charging process if he or she considers this necessary. The electrical load that is generated by charging one or more vehicles can thus be varied depending on the total load of the power grid or depending on the generation situation. This makes it possible, in particular for electricity suppliers, to adapt the load connected to the grid better to the generation situation or to carry out other economic optimizations.

In order to improve the ease of use of the loading device according to the invention, it is preferably designed such that the user various parameters over which he can control the charging process, and / or different operating modes are displayed for selection. The mentioned data can e.g. be displayed on a display of the charging device according to the invention or in a smartphone app or Internet application.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging device comprises a housing with an external power connection for connecting the charging device to the mains and one or more charging connections for the vehicles to be charged. The control unit, the electricity meter and preferably also the communication interface are preferably integrated in the housing. The charging device according to the invention thus comprises all components within a compact housing and is therefore quick and easy to install and easy to use.

The charging device is preferably designed as a wall charging station, that is, for wall mounting.

The present invention also relates to the use of a charging device according to one of the embodiments described above in the non-public - ie private or semi-public - environment. According to the invention, the charging device is connected directly to the power grid of a power supplier, without the interposition of a house electricity meter. The user thus has, for example, the possibility of various energy suppliers or tariffs for charging his electric vehicle and the operation of his domestic Power consumers to choose. In addition, due to the integrated electricity meter, it is possible to bill, control or monitor the power consumption on time.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 an external view of a wall charging station according to the invention according to an embodiment of the invention; and

2 a schematic view of the electronic components of a charging device for charging an electric vehicle.

1 shows a device for charging the electrical energy storage 7 an electric vehicle 8th (see also 2 ), under the term "electric vehicle" both purely electrically powered vehicles and hybrid vehicles of all kinds, ie, for. B. also electric motorcycles are to be understood. The charging device shown here is designed as a wall charging station, which is often referred to as a "wallbox". It essentially comprises one in the housing 5 integrated charging electronics and an electrical connection 18 , In the illustrated embodiment, a socket on which a charging cable 2 with a plug 6 connected. The plug 6 is usually standardized and can be plugged into an appropriate socket on the electric vehicle 8th be plugged to its energy storage 7 charge.

The illustrated charging device 1 also includes a user interface - here several buttons 3 (It could of course also a touch screen or the like. Be Provided) - where a user make various inputs or the charging device 1 can configure, as well as a display 4 on which various information regarding the charging process can be displayed. At the back of the case (not shown) is an external power connector for connecting the charger 1 to an electrical network.

2 shows the interior of a loading device according to the invention 1 with the charging electronics and communication technology as well as various other components inside the case 5 are integrated.

The charging electronics comprises a control unit 12 to control or regulate a charge. The control unit 12 in turn comprises a data processing device 13 with a processor and a control algorithm 19 , as well as a power controller 14 , by means of which via the charging cable 2 flowing charging current or the charging power can be provided. The power controller 14 is with the data processing device 13 connected and may be formed, for example, as a thyristor or as another common circuit breaker.

The loading device 1 further includes an electricity meter 10 for measuring the charging current with which the energy storage 7 of the electric vehicle 8th is loaded, a user interface 11 through which a user can enter various commands or the loader 1 can configure an output device 15 for optical or acoustic display of information as well as a communication interface 16 . 17 for transmitting data from or to an external data processing device via a wireless or wired communication link. Next includes the charging device 1 an external power connection 9 for connecting the charging device 1 to an electrical network.

The electricity meter 10 is designed so that the charging current with respect to a specific time and in a certain period of time, for. B. with an accuracy of 15 min., Or can measure in real time. According to a preferred embodiment, the electricity meter 10 able to measure the current in time periods of less than one hour, in particular approximately every 15 minutes, or in real time. It is thus possible to measure and charge the charging current or charging power at certain times, for example between 4:00 pm and 4:15 pm (at a 15 minute interval).

The electricity meter 10 and the communication interface 16 . 17 thus meet the requirements for a measuring system according to EnWG.

The control unit 12 Here, it is set up in such a way that it carries out charging and network load-dependent regulation of the charging process in order to minimize the charging costs and / or to enable economic optimization of the energy supplier. For this purpose, electricity price and / or network load information, ie, for example, the actual electricity price on a stock exchange, or alternatively electricity price and network load-dependent control commands to the charging device 1 transfer. This information or commands are taken into account by the control unit during the regulation of the charging process. Depending on the electricity price and network load or other parameters, the charging process can thus be started or stopped or carried out with a specific charging power.

The operation of the illustrated charging device 1 is briefly explained below with reference to an example: Before starting a charging process, the user can, if desired, specify various parameters to set the charging process according to certain criteria. So can the Users eg enter information about the price of electricity, such as price thresholds, a minimum or maximum electricity price, or a time value, such as a start time, end-of-charge time or time period, a desired tariff or power mix, and possibly other parameters as well. Alternatively or additionally, the user can also be offered various charging modes, such as a cost-optimized or time-optimized charging mode, or another charging mode in which a certain tariff is utilized or a certain electricity mix of self-generated electricity and electricity supplied by the energy supplier is adhered to. The input can be via the optional on the charging device 1 provided user interface 11 or by means of an external input unit, such as by means of a smartphone and an associated app or Internet application.

The data entered is from the data processing unit 13 processed and from the control algorithm 19 taken into account in the control or regulation of the charging process. A charging process can also be carried out without input of user specifications. In this case, the charging process would be based solely on preset parameters and depending on technical constraints, such as the state of charge (SOC) or health status (SOH) of the electrical energy storage 7 , the maximum charging power, or depending on the available electrical power and / or other parameters are performed.

If the boundary conditions are established, the charging process is started and by the control unit 12 controlled or regulated. The electricity consumed during a charging process is from the electricity meter 10 timely measured. The electricity meter 10 For this purpose, it is designed such that it can measure the charging current in relation to a specific time and within short periods of less than one hour, eg with an accuracy of 15 minutes or more precisely. It could also be electricity meters 10 used for real-time measurement. The from the electricity meter 10 acquired measured values are then transmitted via a communication interface 16 . 17 sent to a recipient. The charging device according to the invention 1 can for this purpose eg a wired interface 16 , such as a LAN or PLC interface, or a wireless data interface 17 , such as have a wireless or cellular interface. The consumption data transmitted to an external computer can then be processed, for example, for time-accurate electricity billing or otherwise used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit 12 designed such that a charging process in dependence on the price of electricity is regulated. In this mode, the control unit is via the communication interface 16 . 17 with a data source (eg., Via the Internet) in connection and receives from this either concrete electricity price information, ie, for example, the specific electricity price on a stock exchange, and / or alternatively electricity price and / or network load-dependent control commands. In the former case, the control or regulation of the charging process can be carried out automatically depending on the current electricity price or a predicted electricity price development. For this purpose, the current electricity price, for example, with one or more in the algorithm 19 thresholds are compared and the charging current according to on or off or regulated to a certain value. The control commands may alternatively be elsewhere, outside the charging device 1 , generated and via the communication interface 16 . 17 to the loader 1 be transmitted. By processing electricity price information, it is in any case possible to regulate the charging process in a cost-optimized manner.

Next to it offers the loading device shown 1 preferably also the possibility to remotely control the charging process. Such functionality is particularly important for utilities of great importance in order to better match the electrical power generated and the power consumption in the network. As a result, the energy supplier has the option of switching on electricity consumers when needed in order to reduce an excess supply of electrical power or to switch off electricity consumers in order to avoid a shortage and thereby carry out further economic optimizations.

In the 2 Optionally, the charging device illustrated may also include a display device 15 , such as a display, where basically any information related to the charging process can be displayed. The information could of course also be displayed on another device, such as a smartphone.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least the control unit 12 , the electricity meter 10 and the communication interface 16 . 17 in a housing 5 integrated as a structural unit. The loading device 1 can be easily and quickly mounted.

The loading device 1 is, as mentioned above, designed for non-public, ie private or semi-public, use. It is inventively not connected to the house electricity meter but directly to the electrical supply network. Due to its special electricity meter 10 a charging process can be monitored relatively precisely and it can be carried out an electricity price-dependent charge control.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102012202688 A1 [0004]
• DE 202014001367 U1 [0004]
• DE 102013002078 A1 [0004]

Claims (8)

Contraption ( 1 ) for charging an electrical energy store ( 7 ) of a vehicle ( 8th ), comprising an external power connector ( 9 ) for connecting the device ( 1 ) to an electrical network, a charging port ( 2 . 6 ) for connecting one or more vehicles to be loaded ( 8th ) and a control unit ( 12 ) for controlling or regulating a charging process, characterized in that an electricity meter ( 10 ) for measuring the charging current with which the energy store ( 7 ) is provided, wherein the electricity meter ( 10 ) is adapted to measure the current with respect to a specific reference time and in time periods of less than one hour or in real time, and further that a communication interface ( 16 . 17 ), via which the electricity meter ( 10 ) measured values are transmitted to a remotely located data processing unit, and that via the communication interface also electricity price and / or network load information or other control information to the control unit ( 12 ), the control unit ( 12 ) is designed such that it processes the transmitted information or commands and taken into account in the control or regulation of a charging process. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit ( 12 ) controls or regulates the charging process in dependence on one or more parameters specified by the user. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that as user preferences one or more of the following parameters can be input: information about a price of electricity, a electricity tariff or a power mix, a time value, a time span or another parameter. Contraption ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that one or more of the following variables are taken into account as further parameters in the control or regulation of the charging process: the state of charge (SOC) and / or the state of health (SOH) of the electrical energy store ( 7 ), an available electric power, a maximum charging power, or another parameter. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit ( 12 ) is designed so that it can be remotely controlled by an external control unit. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is set up in such a way that the user can see on a display ( 4 ) various parameters and / or different operating modes are offered for selection. Contraption ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a housing ( 5 ) with the external power connector ( 9 ) and the charging port ( 2 . 6 ) for the vehicle to be loaded ( 8th ), wherein the control unit ( 12 ) and the electricity meter ( 10 ) as well as the communication interface ( 16 . 17 ) in the housing ( 5 ) are integrated. Use of a device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims in a non-public environment, the device ( 1 ) is connected directly to the electricity grid of an electricity supplier, without the interposition of a household electricity meter.

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