ES2716485B2 - DEVICE FOR THE GENERATION OR RECEPTION OF AN ELCTROMAGNETIC FIELD - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR THE GENERATION OR RECEPTION OF A FIELD

ELECTROMAGNETIC

Technical sector

The invention is related to the field of wireless energy transfer by inductive coupling, in particular relates to a preferred application device in railway vehicles that is configured to generate or receive an electromagnetic field for charging the energy storage means vehicle.

State of the art

There is currently a trend towards high performance electric vehicles with sufficient autonomy that can replace current fossil fuel systems.

Currently the development of electric vehicles presents a series of problems related to the capacity of the vehicle's electrical energy storage means (batteries, supercapacitors or the like), their charging time and the physical means for connecting electric vehicles to the storage media charging stations.

In relation to the last aspect, the "plug-in" type contact-based systems are valid means of connection to electrically power private vehicles, for example taking advantage of night periods, however they are not valid for public transport vehicles, since in order not to interrupt the service operation, loading can only be done at certain points along the route, such as the beginning and end of the line, which involves using large storage media.

To solve this problem, for example, inductive coupling power transfer systems (“ICPT” “Inductive Coupling Power Transfef”) are known, which allow vehicles to be recharged without human intervention and without electrical risks. For example, in the cases of trams or buses Electric charging can be carried out during shutdown periods, recovering the energy consumed between two shutdowns and therefore considerably reducing the weight of the storage media.

An “ICPT” system is made up of an emitter device for the generation of an electromagnetic field, generally located in the infrastructure through which the vehicle circulates, and a receiver device that receives the electromagnetic field, generally shipped in the vehicle.

These devices comprise electrical conductive means, such as a coil, and magnetic elements, for example ferrites, configured for the generation or reception of the electromagnetic field, and an envelope for the electrical conductive means and magnetic elements having a part of electrically conductive material for shielding the electromagnetic field and another part of electrically non-conductive material that allows the transmission of the electromagnetic field. In these devices, the electrical conductors face each other with the non-conductive part of the envelope, so that the emitter and receiver devices of the system face each other with their non-conductive part, which allows the transmission of the electromagnetic field. However in this arrangement the electrical conductive means of the system are not close enough to each other, which decreases the performance of the power transfer between the devices.

Furthermore, this arrangement presents other problems, since not only is voltage induced in the electrical conductive means of the receiving device, but also a current is induced in the enclosure and especially in the areas of connection between the conductive part and the non-conductive part. of the envelope, thereby reducing the level of magnetic coupling between the devices.

In addition, these devices, and mainly the emitter device located in the infrastructure, are subject to high structural loads because they must support the weight of the vehicles that pass over them, which can cause the envelope to break.

European Patent EP2620960 discloses a contactless power supply device that supplies contactless electrical power to a mounted power receiver device on a movable object including a bottom plate that structures an installation face; an energy transmitting coil arranged in the bottom plate to supply electrical energy to an energy receiving coil included in the energy receiving device; and a cover attached to the bottom plate to cover the power transmitter coil arranged on the bottom plate. An air layer is formed between the power transmitter coil and the cover.

It is therefore necessary an alternative configuration of the devices for the generation or reception of electromagnetic fields that allows to increase the performance of the power transfer between devices at the same time that it presents an improved structural configuration that allows it to resist the high loads at which it is subdued.

Object of the invention

The invention relates to a device for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field with an improved structural configuration that allows solving the problems indicated above. The invention is preferably applied in railway vehicles, such as for example trains or trams, although it can be applied to other types of land vehicles such as cars, buses or the like.

The device for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field comprises:

• electrical conductive means and magnetic elements that are configured for the generation or reception of the electromagnetic field, and

• an envelope of the electrical conductive means and of the magnetic elements that has an electrically conductive part for shielding the electromagnetic field and another electrically non-conductive part that allows the transmission of the electromagnetic field, where the electrical conductive means are arranged facing each other electrically non-conductive. where

the electrically non-conductive part of the envelope has a hollow central area where the electrical conductive means and the magnetic elements are housed; and the central hollow area has channels reciprocally to the electrical conductive means, such that the electrical conductive means are arranged in the channels of the hollow central zone, in which the magnetic elements are inserted in housings of a support that has an outer perimeter contour reciprocally to the inner perimeter contour of the hollow central zone of the electrically non-conductive part of the envelope, the magnetic elements facing the electrical conductive means; and the electrical conductive means being an electrical conductive wire of one or more turns, so that said wire is arranged in the channels to be guided in the envelope.

With this arrangement, the electrical conductive means are arranged in the electrically non-conductive part of the envelope through which the electromagnetic field is transmitted, so that when a device emitting the electromagnetic field is arranged facing a receiving device thereof, it is guaranteed that the electrical conductive means of both devices are close to each other and that there is no electrical conductive element between them that can reduce the performance of the power transfer. Furthermore, in this arrangement the electrical conductive means are separated from the side walls of the enclosure since they are arranged in the hollow central area, thereby reducing the possibility of unwanted currents being induced in the enclosure that may reduce the transfer of power.

The channels guide the electrical conductive means and, in addition, since the partially integrated electrical conductive means remain in the electrically non-conductive part of the enclosure, it is also possible to reduce the distance between the electrical conductors of two opposite emitting and receiving devices.

Preferably the electrically non-conductive part of the envelope has ribs that are located on the periphery of the hollow central area, thereby providing a stiffness to the electrically non-conductive part of the envelope that allows improving the structural behavior of the envelope against to the high loads to which it is subjected.

The magnetic elements are arranged on a support that is inserted in the hollow central area of the electrically non-conductive part of the envelope. The support has an exterior perimeter contour reciprocally to the interior perimeter contour of the hollow central area, so that the support arranged within the hollow central area provides additional rigidity to the envelope, which improves its behavior against loads.

Said support has some housings where the magnetic elements are inserted. The housings of the magnetic elements face the electrical conductive means, so that the magnetic elements are away from the electrically conductive part of the envelope and close to the electrical conductive means, thereby improving the direction of the electromagnetic field.

It is provided that the electrically non-conductive part of the shell is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. It has also been provided that the support for the magnetic elements is also made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. For example, the fiber-reinforced composite material of both elements may be glass fiber-reinforced polyester, which provides the necessary stiffness while not interfering with the electromagnetic field.

On the other hand, it has been provided that the electrically conductive part of the enclosure is made of aluminum, a light material suitable for shielding the electromagnetic field.

With all this, a device is obtained for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field with an improved arrangement of its constituent elements that allows to increase the performance of power transfer compared to the solutions of the state of the art, while resulting in an improved structural configuration to withstand the loads the device is subjected to during operation.

Description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a diagram of an inductive coupling electrical energy transfer system according to the state of the art.

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the elements that make up the device for generating or receiving an electromagnetic field of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the support for the arrangement of the magnetic elements.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the electrically non-conductive part of the enclosure where the electrical conductive means and the magnetic elements are arranged.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows a schematic of an "ICPT" inductive coupling electrical energy transfer system according to the state of the art. The system comprises two opposite devices (10,10 ’) that have the same structural configuration, one operating in the configuration of emission of an electromagnetic field and the other operating in configuration of reception of the electromagnetic field. The receiving device (10) is located in an electric vehicle that has energy storage means to be charged (not shown) and the emitting device (10 ') is located in the infrastructure through which the electric vehicle circulates.

The receiving device (10) comprises electrical conductive means (11) and magnetic elements (12) that are configured to receive the electromagnetic field, and the emitting device (10 ') comprises other electrical conductive means (11') and other elements magnetic (12 ') that are configured for the emission of the electromagnetic field.

In both devices (10, 10 ') the electrical conductive means (11,11') and the magnetic elements (12,12 ') are located in an envelope (13,13', 14,14 ') that has a part of electrically conductive material (13,13 ') for shielding the electromagnetic field and another part of electrically non-conductive material (14,14') that allows the transmission of the electromagnetic field.

The electrical conductive means (11,11 ') and the magnetic elements (12,12') are located on supports (15,15 ') of plastic material so that the electrical conductive means (11,11') are faced with the electrically non-conductive material part (14,14 ') of the envelope and the magnetic elements (12,12') are faced with the electrically conductive material part (13,13 ') of the envelope, thus the electrical conductive means (11,11 ') are away from the electrically conductive material part (13,13') and close to the electrically non-conductive material part (14,14 ') of the envelope.

In this way, the electrical conductive means (11.11 ’) of each device (10.10’) face each other and are relatively close to each other for the transmission of the electromagnetic field. However, the generated magnetic field (B) not only induces voltage in the electrical conductive means (11) of the device (10) shipped on the vehicle, but also induces a current in the envelope and especially in the connection area ( 16) between the electrically conductive material part (13,13 ') of the casing and the electrically non-conductive material part (14,14') of the casing, thereby reducing the level of magnetic coupling between the devices ( 10, 10 ').

In figures 2 to 4 of the invention an improved arrangement of a device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field is shown, which allows to improve the performance of "ICPT" inductive coupling electrical energy transfer systems .

The device (100) comprises electrical conductive means (110) that generate or receive the electromagnetic field, magnetic elements (120) that conduct the electromagnetic field and an envelope (130, 140) where the electrical conductive means (110) are arranged. ) and the magnetic elements (120).

The casing (130, 140) has an electrically conductive part (130) that performs a screening of the electromagnetic field and another electrically non-conductive part (140) that allows the transmission of the electromagnetic field, where the electric conductive means (110) are arranged facing the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the shell.

The electrically non-conductive part (140) of the casing has a hollow central zone (141) defined in its center as a cavity in which the electrical conductive means (110) and the magnetic elements (120) are housed.

The magnetic elements (120) are arranged in a support (150) of electrically non-conductive material that is inserted in the central hollow area (141) of the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the casing. The support (150) has housings (151) in which the magnetic elements (120) are inserted, the housings (151) being arranged on the upper face of the support (150) so that they are faced with the electrical conductive means (110 ), while the opposite face of the support (150) remains faced with the electrically conductive part (130) of the envelope.

As seen in detail in Figure 4, the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the enclosure has a flat rectangular shape with a thickness similar to the thickness of the electrical conductive means (110) plus the thickness of the support (150), of so that the electrical conductive means (110) and the support (150) with the magnetic elements (120) are embedded in the hollow central area (141) of the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope.

The hollow central area (141) has machined channels (142) in its lower area that are reciprocal in shape to the electrical conductive means (110). The electrical conductive means (110) are coil-shaped, that is, they are an electrical conductive wire of one or more turns, so that the wire is arranged in the channels (142) of the hollow central area (141). The channels (142) have the function of guiding the wire in the envelope (140). Furthermore, the channels (142) allow the wires of the electrical conductive means (110) to be partially integrated into the envelope (140) and therefore that they are arranged as close as possible to the electrical conductive means (110) of the other device. of the “ICPT” system.

The electrical conductive means (110) is intended to be a Litz wire.

As seen in Figure 4, the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope has ribs (143) that are located around the central hollow area (141) which provide rigidity to the envelope so that it can withstand loads. to which it is subjected by the weight of vehicles that pass over it.

As seen in figure 4, the hollow central area (141) of the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope has a perimeter contour reciprocally to the outer perimeter contour of the support (150) that the magnetic elements (120) carry. ), so that the support (150) is embedded in the hollow central area (141), providing additional rigidity to the envelope to support the loads.

The electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope and the support (150) are made of a fiber-reinforced composite material, such as glass-fiber-reinforced polyester, while the electrically conductive part (130) of the envelope is a conductive material, such as aluminum.

Accordingly, the electrically conductive part (130) of the envelope is a flat cover that is arranged on the electrically non-conductive part (140), so that the electrical conductive means (110) and the magnetic elements (120) remain arranged in the hollow central zone (141), whereby when two devices (100) are arranged facing each other to perform a magnetic coupling, the electrical conductive means (110) of both devices (100) are as close as possible to each other and without that there is no electrically conductive element between them that can reduce the performance of the magnetic coupling.

Claims (7)

1. - Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, comprising: • electrical conductive means (110) and magnetic elements (120) that are configured for the generation or reception of the electromagnetic field, and • an envelope of the electrical conductive means (110) and of the magnetic elements (120) having an electrically conductive part (130) for shielding the electromagnetic field and another electrically non-conductive part (140) that allows the transmission of the electromagnetic field, wherein the electrically conductive means (110) are arranged facing the electrically non-conductive part (140), where the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope has a hollow central area (141) where the electrical conductive means (110) and the magnetic elements (120) are housed; and the hollow central zone (141) has channels (142) reciprocally to the electrical conductive means (110), such that the electrical conductive means (110) are arranged in the channels (142) of the hollow central zone ( 141), characterized in that the magnetic elements (120) are inserted in housings (151) of a support (150) that has an outer perimeter contour reciprocally to the inner perimeter contour of the hollow central area (141) of the part electrically non-conductive (140) of the envelope, the magnetic elements (120) facing the electrical conductive means (110); and the electrical conductive means (110) being an electrical conductive wire of one or more turns, so that said wire is arranged in the channels (142) to be guided in the envelope (140). 2. - Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope has ribs (143) that are located on the periphery of the hollow central area (141). 3. - Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically non-conductive part (140) of the envelope is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. 4. - Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, according to claim 3, characterized in that the support (150) is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. 5. Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the fiber-reinforced composite material is glass fiber-reinforced polyester. 6. - Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive part (130) of the envelope is aluminum. 7. - Device (100) for the generation or reception of an electromagnetic field, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive part (130) of the envelope is a flat cover that is arranged on the electrically non-part conductive (140), the electrical conductive means (110) and the magnetic elements (120) being housed in the central hollow area (141).