DE102020122508A1 - POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, METHOD OF POWERING AT LEAST AN ELECTRICAL CONSUMER AND VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy supply device (102) for a vehicle (100) comprises at least one consumer interface (110, 112) for connecting at least one electrical consumer (104, 108), a generator (114), a battery device (116) and a switching device (118), designed to connect the generator (114) to the battery device (116) and the battery device (116) to the consumer interface (110, 112) in a normal state, and to connect the generator (114) to the consumer interface (110 , 112) and to disconnect the battery device (116) from the load interface (110, 112). The energy supply device (102) also includes a control device (120) for setting the switching device (118) to the emergency state.

Description

The present approach relates to an energy supply device, a method for supplying at least one electrical consumer and a vehicle.

An additional battery can be planned for the redundant energy supply of a vehicle's on-board network, or in the case of an e-truck, the voltage can be generated from different cells using a DC/DC converter.

Against this background, the object of the present approach is to create an improved energy supply device, an improved method for supplying at least one electrical load, and an improved vehicle.

This object is achieved by an energy supply device, a method for supplying at least one electrical consumer and a vehicle according to the main claims.

The advantages that can be achieved with the approach presented are that a generator already installed in a vehicle can also be used to secure the energy supply of an on-board network of the vehicle.

• zumindest eine Verbraucherschnittstelle zum Anschließen zumindest eines elektrischen Verbrauchers an die Energieversorgungsvorrichtung;
• einen Generator;
• eine Batterieeinrichtung;
• eine Schalteinrichtung, die ausgebildet ist, um in einem Normalzustand den Generator elektrisch leitend mit der Batterieeinrichtung zu verbinden, um die Batterieeinrichtung zu laden und die Batterieeinrichtung elektrisch leitend mit der Verbraucherschnittstelle zu verbinden, um den Verbraucher mit elektrischer Energie zu versorgen, und die ausgebildet ist, um in einem Notzustand den Generator elektrisch leitend mit der Verbraucherschnittstelle zu verbinden, um den Verbraucher mit elektrischer Energie zu versorgen und die Batterieeinrichtung elektrisch von der Verbraucherschnittstelle zu trennen; und
• eine Steuereinrichtung, die ausgebildet ist, um ein Steuersignal zum Versetzen der Schalteinrichtung von dem Normalzustand in den Notzustand ansprechend auf ein Fehlersignal bereitzustellen, das einen fehlerhaften Zustand der Batterieeinrichtung repräsentiert.

A corresponding power supply device for a vehicle has the following features:

• at least one consumer interface for connecting at least one electrical consumer to the energy supply device;
• a generator;
• a battery device;
• a switching device which is designed to electrically conductively connect the generator to the battery device in a normal state in order to charge the battery device and electrically conductively connect the battery device to the load interface in order to supply the load with electrical energy, and which is designed to electrically conductively connect the generator to the consumer interface in an emergency, in order to supply the consumer with electrical energy and to electrically separate the battery device from the consumer interface; and
• a control device that is designed to provide a control signal for shifting the switching device from the normal state to the emergency state in response to an error signal that represents a faulty state of the battery device.

The vehicle may be a passenger vehicle or a truck. The energy supply device can represent an on-board network of the vehicle or be part of such an on-board network. The electrical consumer can be, for example, a control device, a sensor or an electric motor of the vehicle. The battery device can include at least one battery. The battery device can be used to provide the electrical energy required to operate the electrical consumer. The generator can be coupled to a motor, for example an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, and can be used to provide electrical energy for feeding into the battery. The normal state can represent a state of the energy supply device in which the battery device can provide sufficient electrical energy. The emergency state can represent a state of the energy supply device in which an adequate energy supply via the battery device is not guaranteed, for example because the battery device has a fault. The switching device can include a plurality of electrical switches, for example in the form of power transistors. In the normal state, the switching device can be designed to connect electrical lines of the energy supply device in such a way that the electrical consumer is supplied with electrical energy from the battery device. In the emergency state, on the other hand, the switching device can be designed to connect the electrical lines of the energy supply device in such a way that the electrical consumer is supplied with electrical energy directly from the generator. In this case, the battery device can be electrically separated both from the generator and from the electrical consumer, with an optional ground connection to the generator and/or to the electrical consumer still being able to exist. A circuit can thus be separated. The control device can be part of the switching device or can be implemented externally to the switching device. The control device can include a sensor for detecting the faulty state of the battery device or can be coupled to such a sensor.

According to one embodiment, the battery device can have two batteries connected in series. Such a series connection is often found in trucks, for example. Two batteries connected in series are particularly necessary for 24 V vehicle electrical systems such as those used in trucks. As a rule, only a 12th is required for passenger cars V battery installed, or two separate batteries not connected in series, with one only serving as a starter battery, the other for the remaining consumers.

The generator may have a generator shaft for coupling the generator to an engine of the vehicle. For example, the generator can be coupled to a shaft of the engine via a V-belt. Thus, a generator can be used, as is typically used in vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine.

The energy supply device can have a voltage regulator which is designed to regulate an electrical voltage provided by the generator. In this case, a dynamic range of the voltage regulator can be adapted to expected load changes of a power consumption of the consumer. Advantageously, a corresponding voltage regulator is typically already installed in vehicles that include a generator. Since the electrical load is supplied directly by the generator, it is advantageous for the dynamic range of the voltage regulator to be adapted to voltage fluctuations that are to be expected when the vehicle is in operation. For this purpose, the voltage regulator can, for example, comprise sufficiently large capacitors. The voltage regulator can advantageously be designed to regulate the voltage without the presence of a further battery serving as a buffer.

The switching device can be designed to electrically disconnect the battery device from the generator in the emergency state. In this way, further damage to the battery device can be avoided, for example, or a loss of energy, for example via a short circuit, can be prevented.

The control device can be designed to provide a switch-off signal for switching off at least one consumer in response to the error signal. In this way, the generator can be relieved. For example, a non-safety-related consumer is suitable for switching off.

The energy supply device can include an error detection device that is designed to detect the faulty state of the battery device. Furthermore, the fault detection device can be designed to provide the fault signal when the faulty state is detected. For example, the error detection device can include a voltmeter.

The switching device can have a generator connection for connecting the switching device to the generator, at least one first consumer connection for connecting the switching device to a first consumer interface, a first battery connection and a second battery connection for connecting the switching device to the battery device, and at least one second consumer connection for connecting the switching device with a second consumer interface. In this way, the switching device can be arranged between the generator, the battery device and the consumer that the switching device can activate or interrupt relevant electrical lines between the generator, the battery device and the consumer, depending on whether the normal state or the emergency state is present.

The energy supply device can advantageously be used in a vehicle. In addition to the energy supply device mentioned, a corresponding vehicle has a motor for driving the vehicle and at least one electrical consumer. The motor can be mechanically coupled to the generator of the energy supply device and the at least one electrical consumer is electrically conductively connected to the at least one consumer interface of the energy supply device.

In this case, the electrical load can be designed as a control device for a safety-critical electrical load and/or as a starter for the engine. For example, the electrical load can be designed as a control device for a braking system and/or as a control device for the automated control of the vehicle. Advantageously, consumers required for safe operation of the vehicle can also be reliably supplied with electrical energy in this way when the battery device is in a fault state.

The engine can be designed to provide a first kinetic energy in idling operation. Typically, the kinetic energy provided in idle operation is less than the energy provided to drive the vehicle. The generator can be designed to provide a first electrical energy using the first kinetic energy, which corresponds to a maximum energy consumption of the at least one consumer. The generator can be dimensioned accordingly for this purpose. In this way, the electrical consumers or at least the electrical consumers to be supplied in an emergency or in the Standstill of the vehicle are supplied with sufficient electrical energy.

Optionally, an adaptive increase in the idle speed can be carried out in this error state in order to cover the energy requirements in the electrical system. For this purpose, the energy supply device can be designed to increase a speed of the engine in idle operation in response to the emergency state. Thus, an adaptive increase in the speed can take place during the error state.

• Verbinden des Generators elektrisch leitend mit der Batterieeinrichtung, um die Batterieeinrichtung zu laden, und Verbinden der Batterieeinrichtung elektrisch leitend mit einer Verbraucherschnittstelle, um den Verbraucher mit elektrischer Energie zu versorgen, ansprechend auf einen fehlerfreien Zustand der Batterieeinrichtung; und
• Verbinden des Generators elektrisch leitend mit der Verbraucherschnittstelle, um den Verbraucher mit elektrischer Energie zu versorgen, und Trennen der Batterieeinrichtung elektrisch von der Verbraucherschnittstelle, ansprechend auf einen fehlerhaften Zustand der Batterieeinrichtung.

Such a procedure includes the following steps:

• electrically conductively connecting the generator to the battery device to charge the battery device and electrically conductively connecting the battery device to a load interface to provide electrical energy to the load in response to a healthy condition of the battery device; and
• electrically conductively connecting the generator to the load interface to provide electrical energy to the load, and electrically disconnecting the battery device from the load interface in response to a fault condition of the battery device.

For example, an automatic start-stop system of the vehicle can be blocked in response to the faulty state.

For example, the steps of the method can be implemented using a named switching device.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugs mit einer Energieversorgungsvorrichtung gemäß eines Ausführungsbeispiels; und
• 2 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Versorgen zumindest eines elektrischen Verbrauchers gemäß eines Ausführungsbeispiels.

Exemplary embodiments of the approach presented here are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle with an energy supply device according to an embodiment; and
• 2 a flowchart of a method for supplying at least one electrical load according to an embodiment.

In the following description of favorable exemplary embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference symbols are used for the elements which are shown in the various figures and have a similar effect, with a repeated description of these elements being dispensed with.

1 10 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 100 with an energy supply device 102 according to an exemplary embodiment. For example only, the vehicle 100 is a truck. Vehicle 100 has at least one electrical consumer 104, typically a plurality of electrical consumers. For example, electrical consumer 104 is a control unit for a brake system of vehicle 100 or a control unit for controlling a functionality of vehicle 100. Such a control unit can also be a control unit for automated control of vehicle 100, for example, or in general act a control unit for an electrical consumer of the vehicle 100. Vehicle 100 also has an engine 106 . For example, motor 106 is embodied as a drive motor for moving vehicle 100 . This is, for example, an internal combustion engine. In this case, the vehicle has a further electrical load 108 in the form of a starter for starting the engine 106 . The electrical loads 104, 108 require electrical energy for their operation. This electrical energy is provided by energy supply device 102 via at least one consumer interface according to this exemplary embodiment via a first consumer interface 110 and a second consumer interface 112 .

According to this exemplary embodiment, the energy supply device 102 comprises a generator 114, a battery device 116, a switching device 118 and a control device 120.

The battery device 116 comprises at least one battery 122, according to this exemplary embodiment optionally two batteries 122 connected in series. For example, the batteries 122 are each a 12 V, 225 Ah, 1150 A battery, as is typically used in vehicles. If the vehicle 100 is designed as a passenger car, the battery device 116 typically does not comprise two batteries connected in series. When the battery device 116 is in a fault-free state, the battery device 116 is designed to supply the at least one electrical load 104, 108 with electrical energy. This is also known as the normal state. In a faulty state of the battery device 116, the battery device 116 may not be able to provide sufficient electrical energy to supply an electrical consumer 104, 108. This condition will also referred to as an emergency. In this case, the energy supply device 102 is designed to provide the electrical energy required to supply the at least one electrical load 104, 108 directly from the generator 114, bypassing the battery device 116.

The generator 114 is mechanically coupled to the engine 106, for example a generator shaft of the generator 114 is connected to a motor shaft of the engine 106 via a V-belt. In this way, when the engine 106 is operating, kinetic energy provided by the engine 106 can be converted into electrical energy by the generator 114 . In the normal state, the electrical energy provided by the generator 114 is fed into the battery device 116 so that the batteries 122 can be charged. In emergency operation, the electrical energy provided by the generator is used to supply at least one of the electrical loads 104, 108.

The switching device 118 is designed to ensure that the electrical consumers 104, 108 are supplied with energy via the battery device 116 or the generator 114, depending on whether the normal state or the emergency state is present. If the normal state is present, the switching device 118 is designed to electrically conductively connect the generator 114 to the battery device 116 . As a result, the battery device 116 can be charged or recharged. Furthermore, the switching device 118 is designed to electrically conductively connect the battery device 116 to the second consumer interface 112 in the normal state. As a result, the at least one electrical consumer 104, 108 can be supplied with electrical energy directly from the battery device 116. In the emergency state, switching device 118 is designed to electrically conductively connect generator 114 to second load interface 112 , bypassing battery device 116 . As a result, the at least one electrical consumer 104, 108 is supplied with energy directly by the generator 114. Furthermore, the switching device 118 is designed to electrically disconnect the battery device 116 from the second load interface 112 . The switching device 118 is optionally designed to electrically separate the battery device 116 from the generator during emergency operation.

The control device 120 is designed to switch the switching device 118 between the normal state and the original state. For this purpose, control device 120 is designed to provide a corresponding control signal 124 to switching device 118 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the control device 120 is designed to provide a control signal 124 that is suitable for shifting the switching device 118 from the normal state to the emergency state in response to an error signal 126 that represents a faulty state of the battery device 116 . Optionally, the control device 120 is designed to provide a control signal 124 that is suitable for moving the switching device 118 from the emergency state to the normal state in response to a signal that represents a fault-free state of the battery device 116 .

Optionally, the energy supply device 102 includes an error detection device 128, which is designed to detect the faulty state of the battery device 116 and to provide the fault signal 126 indicating the faulty state. For this purpose, the error detection device 128 is coupled to the battery device 116 in a suitable manner. For example, the fault detection device 128 is designed to detect a short circuit within the battery device 116 or an output voltage of the battery device 116 that is below a specification as the faulty state.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the energy supply device 102 includes a voltage regulator 130 which is designed to regulate a voltage provided by the generator 114 . Voltage regulator 130 is optionally configured, at least in emergency operation, to regulate the voltage provided by generator 114 in such a way that the voltage provided corresponds to expected load changes of a power consumption of the at least one consumer that is supplied with electrical energy directly by generator 114 in emergency operation to adjust. For this purpose, according to one exemplary embodiment, a dynamic range of the voltage regulator 130 is designed according to the load change to be expected.

Control device 120 is optionally designed to provide a switch-off signal 132 for switching off at least one consumer 104, 108 in emergency operation. For example, control device 120 is designed to provide switch-off signal 132 in response to error signal 126 . This has an advantageous effect on the required dynamic range of the voltage regulator 130 .

According to one exemplary embodiment, the generator 114 is designed with regard to its performance in such a way that a kinetic energy coupled into the generator 114 of the engine 106 operated in idle mode is sufficient to provide sufficient electrical energy to allow a maximum energy consumption of the at least to be able to fulfill an electrical load to be supplied in emergency operation.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown, switching device 118 has a generator connection 140, for example two first consumer connections 142, a first battery connection 144, at least one second battery connection 146, here for example three separate second battery connections 146, and at least one second consumer connection 148, for example three second consumer connections 148. The generator 114 is connected to the generator connection 140 and optionally to the starter 108 via an electrical line. The at least one electrical load 104 is connected to the first load connection 142 via an electrical line and optionally a safety device 150, here an interposed fuse box. According to this exemplary embodiment, two electrical lines are shown, for example for connecting two separate electrical consumers 104 to the two first consumer connections 142 shown. The first battery connection 144 is connected via an electric line to a first pole of the battery device 116 and the second battery connection or connections 146 are connected to a second pole of battery device 116 via one or more electrical lines. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, one of the second consumer connections 148 is connected to the starter 108 and optionally to the motor 106 via an electrical line, a further second consumer connection 148 is connected to the electrical consumer 104 via an electrical line and a further second consumer connection 148 is connected via an electrical line connected to a further electrical load 104. According to this exemplary embodiment, the first consumer interface 110 comprises the first consumer connections 142 and optionally the generator connection 140 and the second consumer interface 112 comprises the second consumer connections 148.

According to one exemplary embodiment, switching device 118 is designed to connect generator connection 140 and first consumer connections 148 to first battery connection 144 in the normal state. Furthermore, the switching device 118 is designed to connect the second battery connection or connections 146 to the second consumer connections 148 in the normal state. Furthermore, the switching device 118 is designed to interrupt a direct electrical connection between the generator connection 140 and the second consumer connections 148, for example via a connecting line 151.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the switching device 118 includes a battery switch 152 to which the generator connection 140 and the first consumer connections 148 are assigned. Furthermore, the switching device 118 optionally includes a further battery switch 154, to which the second battery terminals 146 and the second consumption terminals 148 are assigned. The battery switches 152, 154 can also be embodied as a common circuit that includes a plurality of switches for interconnecting the terminals 140, 142, 144, 146, 148.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the switching device 118 is designed to interrupt an electrical connection between the generator connection 140 and the first consumer connections 142 with the first battery connection 144 in the emergency state. Additionally or alternatively, the switching device 118 is designed to interrupt an electrical connection between the second battery terminals 146 and the second consumption terminals 148 in the state. Furthermore, the switching device 118 is designed to connect the generator connection 140 directly, for example via the connecting line 151, to the second consumer connections 148 in order to enable a direct energy supply to the electrical consumers 104, 108 via the generator 114.

According to one exemplary embodiment, vehicle 100 has a redundant on-board electrical system through exclusive supply by means of generator 114 . Creating redundancies is necessary or at least useful, for example, in the course of automated or autonomous driving of vehicles of all kinds. These redundancies are to be designed in such a way that the vehicle 100 cannot get into a safety-critical or uncontrollable state. Systems such as the electric braking system EBS or ABS (anti-lock braking system), which are indicated by way of example by the at least one electrical load 104, are therefore being placed in vehicle 100 multiple times. So that this does not lead to a chained failure in the event of a single fault, the power supplies of the control units, such as the at least one electrical load 104, are designed to be sufficiently independent. According to the approach described, it is advantageously not necessary to plan for an additional battery or, in the case of an e-truck as vehicle 100, to generate the voltage from different cells by means of DC/DC converters. Instead, use is made of the fact that the generator 114 has the same voltage source character as a battery.

• Die Dynamik des Spannungsreglers 130 des Generators 114 genügt, im auch als Standalonebetrieb bezeichnetem Notzustand, den Stromänderungen der Verbraucher 104, 108 nachzukommen.

Advantageously, the approach described can be implemented by slightly adapting a conventional wiring in an on-board network the. According to one embodiment, the following adjustments are necessary at the system level:

• The dynamics of the voltage regulator 130 of the generator 114 are sufficient to meet the current changes of the loads 104, 108 in the emergency state, also referred to as standalone operation.

The battery switch 152 opens its contacts in the event of a fault in at least one battery 122, ie in an emergency.

The output current of the generator 114 covers the current requirements of the consumers 104, 108 when stationary. If necessary, non-safety-relevant secondary consumers are switched off. Optionally, the speed of the engine 106 is increased in idling operation during the error state in order to ensure an adequate energy supply.

Safety-related consumers, such as a speedometer, are connected behind the battery switch 152 so that they continue to be supplied when disconnected.

2 shows a flow chart of a method for supplying at least one electrical consumer according to an embodiment. The method can, for example, in connection with the basis of 1 described energy supply device are implemented.

The method can increase the availability of the vehicle electrical system insofar as the electrical loads, for example in the form of control units with a possibly degraded voltage quality and/or increased ripple, can still supply the logic and/or sensors/actuators in a stable manner.

In response to or during a fault-free state of the battery device, in a step 201 the generator is electrically conductively connected to the battery device. In addition, the battery device is electrically conductively connected to a consumer interface in order to supply the consumer with electrical energy.

In response to or during a faulty state of the battery device, the generator is electrically conductively connected to the consumer interface in a step 203 in order to supply the consumer with electrical energy. In addition, the battery device is electrically separated from the consumer interface. Comfort/efficiency functions that switch off the combustion engine are deactivated for this emergency mode, for example to be able to drive to the nearest workshop without having to rely on the starter battery.

Reference List

100

vehicle

102

power supply device

104

electrical consumer

106

engine

108

starter

110

first consumer interface

112

second consumer interface

114

generator

116

battery setup

118

switching device

120

control device

122

battery

124

control signal

126

error signal

128

error detection device

130

voltage regulator

132

shutdown signal

140

generator connection

142

first consumer connection

144

first battery connection

146

second battery connection

148

second consumer connection

150

fuse box

151

connection line

152

battery switch

154

another battery switch

201

step of connecting

203

Connecting and disconnecting step

Claims (14)

Energy supply device (102) for a vehicle (100), the energy supply device (102) having the following features: at least one consumer interface (110, 112) for connecting at least one electrical consumer (104, 108) to the energy supply device (102); a generator (114); a battery device (116); a switching device (118) which is designed to electrically conductively connect the generator (114) to the battery device (116) in a normal state in order to charge the battery device (116) and electrically conductively connect the battery device (116). to connect to the consumer interface (110, 112) in order to supply the consumer (104, 108) with electrical energy, and which is designed to electrically conductively connect the generator (114) to the consumer interface (110, 112) in an emergency connect to provide electrical energy to the load (104, 108) and electrically disconnect the battery device (116) from the load interface (110, 112); and a control device (120) which is designed to provide a control signal (124) for shifting the switching device (118) from the normal state to the emergency state in response to an error signal (126) which represents a faulty state of the battery device (116). Energy supply device (102) according to claim 1 wherein the battery means (116) comprises a single battery (122) or two batteries (122) connected in series. Energy supply device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the generator (114) has a generator shaft for coupling the generator (114) to an engine (106) of the vehicle (100). Energy supply device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, with a voltage regulator (130) which is designed to regulate an electrical voltage provided by the generator (114) without a further battery serving as a buffer, wherein a dynamic range of the voltage regulator (130) is adapted to expected load changes of a power consumption of the consumer (104, 108). Energy supply device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the switching device (118) is designed to electrically disconnect the battery device (116) from the generator (114) in the emergency state. Energy supply device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (120) is designed to provide a switch-off signal (132) for switching off at least one consumer (104, 108) in response to the error signal (126). Energy supply device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, with an error detection device (128) which is designed to detect the faulty state of the battery device (116) and to provide the error signal (126). Energy supply device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the switching device (118) has a generator connection (140) for connecting the switching device (118) to the generator (114), at least one first consumer connection (142) for connecting the switching device (118) with a first load interface (110), a first battery connection (144) and a second battery connection (146) for connecting the switching device (118) to the battery device (116), and at least one second load connection (148) for connecting the switching device (118) comprising a second consumer interface (112). Vehicle (100) with the following features: a power supply device (102) according to any one of the preceding claims; a motor (106) for driving the vehicle (100), wherein the motor (106) can be mechanically coupled to the generator (114) of the energy supply device (102); at least one electrical consumer (104, 108) which is electrically conductively connected to the at least one consumer interface (110, 112) of the energy supply device (102). Vehicle (100) according to claim 9 In which the electrical consumer (104, 108) is designed as a control unit for a safety-critical electrical consumer of the vehicle (100) and/or as a starter for the engine. Vehicle (100) according to claim 9 or 10 In which the motor (106) is designed to provide kinetic energy in idle operation and the generator (114) is designed to use the kinetic energy to provide electrical energy that corresponds to a maximum energy consumption of the consumer (104, 108). Vehicle (100) according to claim 11 In which the energy supply device (102) is designed to increase a speed of the engine (106) in the idling mode in response to the emergency state. Method for supplying at least one electrical consumer (104, 108) of a vehicle (100) comprising a generator (114) and a battery device (116) with electrical energy, the method comprising the following steps: connecting (201) the generator (114) electrically conductively connected to the battery device (116) in order to charge the battery device (116), and electrically conductively connecting the battery device (116) to a consumer interface (110, 112) in order to supply the consumer (104, 108) with electrical energy, in response to a healthy condition of the battery device (116); and connecting (203) the generator (114) electrically conductive tending to the load interface (110, 112) to supply electrical energy to the load (104, 108), and electrically disconnecting the battery device (116) from the load interface (110, 112) in response to a faulty condition of the battery device (116 ). procedure according to Claim 13 , in which the step (203) includes a blocking of a start-stop system of the vehicle (100).

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