JP2023016057A - Solar charge system - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a power storage device from losing a charge opportunity and an actual life period of a relay from being too short concurrently.SOLUTION: A solar charge system has a solar device capable of executing solar charge of generating power by using solar light and supplying generated power to a power storage device, a relay performing connection and blockage between the solar device and the power storage device by on/off operation, and a control device controlling the relay. When the number of accumulated operations of the relay is equal to or less than a frequency threshold value based on a passed frequency of a predetermined period at an each evaluation timing per predetermined period, the control device relaxes a limit of the number of accumulated operations in a subsequent predetermined period compared with a case where the number of accumulated operations is more than the frequency threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to solar charging systems.

Conventionally, this type of solar charging system includes a solar panel, a solar battery for temporary power storage, a power generation mode in which the solar battery is charged with the power generated by the solar panel, and at least a power generation mode in which the charging of the solar battery is stopped and more power is generated than in the power generation mode. A device has been proposed that includes a control section that switches between a power saving mode that reduces consumption and controls, and a relay that connects and disconnects the driving battery and the control section by turning on and off (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP 2020-120441 A

In such a solar charging system, it is conceivable to limit the number of operations of the relay for each predetermined period by the number of equal divisions obtained by dividing the number of operations during the lifetime by the number of times in the predetermined period included in the assumed life period. Because the required number of relay operations varies for a given period of time depending on the environment around the vehicle (the amount of charge in the solar panel), limiting the number of relay operations for a given period of time by dividing the number of relay operations into equal numbers will result in loss of opportunities to recharge the power storage device. tends to increase. On the other hand, not limiting the number of relay actuations per predetermined period of time may result in the actual life span of the relay being too short.

A main object of the solar charging system of the present invention is to achieve both suppression of loss of opportunity for charging a power storage device and suppression of excessive shortening of the actual service life of a relay.

The solar charging system of the present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above main objectives.

The solar charging system of the present invention is
a solar device capable of performing solar charging for generating power using sunlight and supplying the generated power to a power storage device;
a relay that connects and disconnects the solar device and the power storage device by turning on and off;
a control device that controls the relay;
A solar charging system comprising:
When the cumulative number of operations of the relay is equal to or less than a number threshold based on the number of times the predetermined period has elapsed at each evaluation timing for each predetermined period, the control device compares when the cumulative number of operations is greater than the threshold number of times. loosening the limit on the cumulative number of operations for the next predetermined period;
This is the gist of it.

In the solar charging system of the present invention, at each evaluation timing for each predetermined period, when the cumulative number of relay operations is equal to or less than the number threshold based on the number of times the predetermined period has elapsed, the cumulative number of operations is greater than the number threshold. Then, the restriction on the cumulative number of operations is loosened for the next predetermined period. As a result, the loss of opportunity to charge the power storage device can be suppressed compared to the case where the number of times of operation of the relay is limited by the above-described equally divided number of times for each predetermined period. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the actual service life of the relay from becoming too short, as compared with the case where the number of times the relay operates for each predetermined period is not limited at all. That is, it is possible to achieve both suppression of loss of opportunity for charging the power storage device and suppression of excessive shortening of the actual service life of the relay.

In the solar charging system of the present invention, the control device may not limit the cumulative number of operations in the next predetermined period when the cumulative number of operations is equal to or less than the number threshold at the evaluation timing.

In the solar charging system of the present invention, when the cumulative number of operations at the evaluation timing is greater than the threshold number of times, the controller controls the cumulative number of operations to be equal to or less than the threshold number of times at the next evaluation timing. The cumulative number of operations in the next predetermined period may be limited.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power supply device 10 including a solar charging system 20 as one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation permission/prohibition routine executed by a charging ECU 32; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an allowable number of operations setting routine executed by a charging ECU 32; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the number of times Np in a predetermined period, the number of times Nac of cumulative operations of a relay 30, the number of times Nlim of allowable operations of a relay 30, and whether it is a strict restriction period or a loose restriction period;

Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power supply device 10 including a solar charging system 20 as one embodiment of the present invention. The power supply device 10 of the embodiment is mounted on an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and includes a battery 12 as a power storage device capable of exchanging electric power with a driving motor, and a battery electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as a battery electronic control unit) that manages the battery 12. ) 14 and a solar charging system 20 capable of charging the battery 12 .

The battery 12 is configured as, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery. The battery ECU 14 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, input/output ports, and communication ports (not shown). Signals from various sensors are input to the battery ECU 14 through an input port. Signals input to the battery ECU 14 include, for example, a voltage Vb from a voltage sensor 12a attached between terminals of the battery 12, and a current Ib from a current sensor 12b attached to the positive terminal of the battery 12 (the battery 12 is positive value on the charging side). The battery ECU 14 calculates the state of charge SOC of the battery 12 based on the integrated value of the current Ib of the battery 12 from the current sensor 12b. The power storage ratio SOC is the ratio of the amount of electric power that can be discharged from the battery 12 to the total capacity of the battery 12 . The battery ECU 14 is communicably connected to a charging electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as "charging ECU") 32 of the solar charging system 20 via a communication port.

The solar charging system 20 includes a solar device 21 , a solar electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as “solar ECU”) 28 , a relay 30 and a charging ECU 32 . Solar device 21 includes solar panel 22 , solar converter 24 , and boost converter 26 . The solar panel 22 is installed on the roof of the vehicle or the like, and generates power using sunlight. Solar converter 24 is connected to solar panel 22 via power line 23 and to boost converter 26 via power line 25 . This solar converter 24 supplies the power of the power line 23 to the power line 25 with a change in voltage. A capacitor 25 a is attached to the power line 25 . The boost converter 26 is connected to the solar converter 24 through the power line 25 and to the battery 12 through the power line 27 . The boost converter 26 boosts the power on the power line 25 and supplies it to the power line 27 . A capacitor 27 a is attached to the power line 27 .

The solar ECU 28 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, input/output ports, and communication ports (not shown). Signals from various sensors are input to the solar ECU 28 through input ports. Signals input to the solar ECU 28 include, for example, the input voltage Vs1 from the voltage sensor 24a attached between the input-side terminals of the solar converter 24, and the current sensor attached to the input-side positive terminal of the solar converter 24. 24b, and an output voltage Vs2 from a voltage sensor 26a attached between terminals on the output side of the boost converter . Various control signals are output from the solar ECU 28 through an output port. Examples of signals output from the solar ECU 28 include a control signal to the solar converter 24 and a control signal to the boost converter 26 .

While driving the solar converter 24, the solar ECU 28 calculates the input power Ws1 of the solar converter 24 based on the input voltage Vso1 from the voltage sensor 24a and the input current Iso1 from the current sensor 24b. It should be noted that this input power Ws1 corresponds to power generated by the solar panel 22 . The solar ECU 28 is communicably connected to the charging ECU 32 via a communication port.

Relay 30 is provided closer to battery 12 than capacitor 27a of power line 27, and connects and disconnects boost converter 26 and battery 12 by turning on and off. The charging ECU 32 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, input/output ports, and communication ports (not shown). A control signal to the relay 30 is output from the charging ECU 32 via the output port. The charging ECU 32 is communicably connected to the battery ECU 14 and the solar ECU 28 via communication ports.

In the solar charging system 20 provided in the power supply device 10 of the embodiment configured in this manner, the power generated by the solar panel 22 is appropriately supplied to the power line 23, the solar converter 24, the power line 25, and the boost converter 26 while the vehicle is stopped. , to perform solar charging for charging the battery 12 via the power line 27 .

Charging ECU 32 permits or prohibits the operation of relay 30 by executing the operation permission/prohibition routine of FIG. 2 when solar charging is not performed (when relay 30 is off). When this routine is executed, charging ECU 32 determines whether the current period is a strict restriction period in which the cumulative operation count Nac of relay 30 is strictly restricted or a loose restriction period in which the restriction is loose (step S100). Here, the cumulative operation count Nac of the relay 30 is set to 0 as an initial value when the relay 30 is first mounted on the power supply device 10 (vehicle) and shipped, or when the relay 30 is replaced. , is counted up each time the relay 30 is operated. In the process of step S100, the period for which the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is set by the allowable number of operations setting routine of FIG. A period that is not set is determined to be a loose restriction period. The allowable number of operations setting routine will be described later. When it is determined in step S100 that it is the loose restriction period, the operation of the relay 30 is permitted (step S130), and this routine ends. In this manner, the accumulated operation count Nac of the relay 30 is not limited during the loose limitation period. When it is determined in step S100 that the period is strictly limited, the cumulative number of operations Nac and the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 are input (step S110), and the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is compared with the allowable number of operations Nlim (step S110). S120). When the accumulated operation number Nac of the relay 30 is less than the allowable operation number Nlim in step S120, the operation of the relay 30 is permitted (step S130), and the routine ends. When the cumulative operation number Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or greater than the allowable operation number Nlim in step S120, the operation of the relay 30 is prohibited (step S140), and this routine ends. In this manner, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is limited by the allowable number of operations Nlim for the severely limited period.

When the operation of the relay 30 is permitted, the charging ECU 32 periodically (for example, every several tens of minutes) determines the presence or absence of solar radiation when solar charging is requested and is not being performed. do. Here, the request for solar charging is made, for example, when the state of charge SOC of battery 12 received from battery ECU 14 is less than threshold value Sref1. Further, the determination of the presence or absence of insolation is performed, for example, by causing the solar ECU 28 to temporarily drive the solar converter 24, receiving the input power Ws1 of the solar converter 24 at that time from the solar ECU 28, and determining the threshold value Ws1ref for insolation determination. It can be done by comparing.

When charging ECU 32 determines that there is sunlight, charging ECU 32 switches relay 30 from OFF to ON and causes solar ECU 28 to drive solar converter 24 and boost converter 26 . Solar charging is thereby performed. The presence or absence of solar radiation is determined (monitored) even during solar charging. During solar charging, when the power storage rate SOC of the battery 12 received from the battery ECU 14 reaches a threshold Sref2 or more which is equal to or greater than the threshold Sref1, or when the solar radiation disappears, the solar ECU 28 drives the solar converter 24 and the boost converter 26. stop and switch the relay 30 from on to off. This completes the solar charging.

Next, the allowable number of operations setting routine of FIG. 3 will be described. This routine is executed when the relay 30 is first mounted on the power supply device 10 (vehicle) and shipped, or when the relay 30 is replaced after that, that is, when the cumulative operation count Nac of the relay 30 is set to the initial value. When set to 0, execution begins.

When the allowable number of operations setting routine of FIG. 3 is executed, charging ECU 32 does not first set the allowable number of operations Nlim of relay 30 (step S200). The count of T is started (step S210), and the value 1 is set to the predetermined period count Np, which means the number of times of the predetermined period Tp after the start of execution of this routine (step S220). Here, for example, several months to about one year are used as the predetermined period Tp.

Subsequently, it waits until the elapsed period T reaches the product of the predetermined number of times Np and the predetermined period Tp (Np·Tp) or more (step S230). Therefore, for the first predetermined period Tp (when the predetermined number of times Np is 1) after the start of execution of this routine, the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is not set, i.e., the loose limit period is set. become.

When it is determined in step S230 that the elapsed period T has reached the period (Np·Tp) or longer, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is input (step S240), and the input cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is less than the lifetime number of operations Nlf. (step S250). When it is determined that the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is less than the number of lifetime operations Nlf, it is determined whether the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the product of the number of times Np in the predetermined period and the coefficient kn (Np·kn). is determined (step S260). Here, as the coefficient kn, for example, the number of equal divisions obtained by equally dividing the number of times of lifetime operation Nlf by the number of times of the predetermined period Tp included in the assumed life period Tlf is used. In this case, if the assumed life period Tlf is 15 years, the predetermined period Tp is 1 year, and the number of operation times Nlf is 150,000 times, the coefficient kn is 10,000 times.

When it is determined in step S260 that the cumulative operation count Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the count (Np·kn), the predetermined period count Np is updated by incrementing the value by 1 (step S270). , without setting the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30, that is, as a loose restriction period (step S270), and the process returns to step S230.

When it is determined in step S260 that the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is greater than the number of times (Np·kn), the predetermined period number Np is counted up by 1 (step S290), and the next predetermined period Tp is updated. , the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is set to the number of times (Np·kn) of the product of the number of times Np in the predetermined period after updating and the coefficient kn, that is, the strictly limited period (step S300), and the process returns to step S230. Since the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 set in step S300 is equal to the number of times (Np·kn) used next time in step S260, during the next predetermined period Tp, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is set to the allowable number of operations Nlim. , and when the next predetermined period Tp has elapsed, it is determined in step S260 that the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number (Np·kn).

Thus, in the embodiment, when the period (Np·Tp) of the product of the predetermined period number Np and the predetermined period Tp has passed, the cumulative operation number Nac of the relay 30 is the product of the predetermined period number Np and the coefficient kn. is greater than the number of times (Np·kn) in the next predetermined period Tp, the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is set to the number of times (Np·kn) of the product of the number of times Np in the predetermined period after updating and the coefficient kn. . On the other hand, when the period (Np·Tp) has elapsed, if the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number of times (Np·kn), the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is not set for the next predetermined period Tp. . As a result, the opportunity loss of solar charging can be suppressed as compared with the case where the number of operations of the relay 30 is limited by the above-mentioned equally divided number of times for each predetermined period Tp. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the actual life span of the relay 30 from becoming too short, as compared with the case where the number of operations of the relay 30 for each predetermined period Tp is not limited at all. That is, it is possible to achieve both suppression of the loss of opportunity for charging the battery 12 and suppression of the actual life span of the relay 30 from becoming too short.

The processing of steps S230 to S280 and S300 is repeatedly executed, and when it is determined in step S250 that the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 has reached the number of operations for the life of the relay 30 or more Nlf, it is determined that the relay 30 has reached the end of its life, and this routine is executed. finish. In this case, it is preferable to inform the user that the relay 30 has reached the end of its service life by turning on a warning light or displaying a message on the display device, or to urge the user to bring the vehicle to a dealer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the predetermined period number Np, the cumulative operation number Nac or allowable operation number Nlim of the relay 30, and the severe restriction period/loose restriction period. As shown in the figure, for the predetermined period Tp when the predetermined period number Np is 1, the allowable operation number Nlim is not set, that is, the loose limit period is set. Then, when the period Tp elapses, since the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is greater than the number kn, the number of times ( 2·kn) is set, that is, a strictly limited period. Accordingly, in this predetermined period Tp, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is limited by the number of times (2·kn). Therefore, when the period (2·Tp) elapses, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 becomes equal to or less than the number of times (2·kn). Nlim is not set, that is, it is set as a loose restriction period. When the period (3·Tp) elapses, the cumulative operation number Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number of times (3·kn). The number of times Nlim is not set, that is, the loose restriction period is set. In this way, it is possible to achieve both suppression of the loss of opportunity for charging the battery 12 and suppression of the actual life span of the relay 30 from becoming too short.

In the solar charging system 20 included in the power supply device 10 of the embodiment described above, when the period (Np·Tp), which is the product of the predetermined number of times Np and the predetermined period Tp, has passed, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 reaches a predetermined value. If it is greater than the product of the number of periods Np and the coefficient kn (Np·kn), for the next predetermined period Tp, the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is updated to the product of the number of times Np of the predetermined period after updating and the coefficient kn. Set the number of times (Np·kn). On the other hand, when the period (Np·Tp) has elapsed, if the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number of times (Np·kn), the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is not set for the next predetermined period Tp. . As a result, it is possible to achieve both suppression of the loss of charging opportunities for the battery 12 and suppression of the actual life span of the relay 30 from becoming too short.

In the solar charging system 20 included in the power supply device 10 of the embodiment, when the period (Np·Tp) has elapsed, if the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is greater than the number of times (Np·kn), the next predetermined period Tp is set to the number (Np·kn) of the product of the number of times Np in the predetermined period after updating and the coefficient kn in the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30, and the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number of times (Np·kn) In this case, the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is not set for the next predetermined period Tp. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number of times (Np·kn) after the period (Np·Tp) has elapsed, the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is As compared with the case where the number of times Nac is greater than the number of times (Np·kn), the limitation on the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 for the next predetermined period Tp may be loosened. For example, when the cumulative number of operations Nac of the relay 30 is equal to or less than the number of times (Np·kn) when the period (Np·Tp) elapses, the allowable number of operations Nlim of the relay 30 is updated to the predetermined number of times Nlim for the next predetermined period Tp. The number of times may be set to be slightly larger than the number of times (Np·kn) of the product of the number of periods Np and the coefficient kn. Further, when the cumulative operation number Nac of the relay 30 is greater than the number of times (Np·kn) after the period (Np·Tp) has elapsed, the relay 30 is updated to the predetermined allowable number of operations Nlim for the next predetermined period Tp. The number of times may be set to be slightly smaller than the number of times (Np·kn) of the product of the number of periods Np and the coefficient kn.

In the power supply device 10 of the embodiment, the battery 12 is used as the power storage device. However, instead of this, a capacitor may be used as the power storage device.

In the power supply device 10 of the embodiment, the battery ECU 14, the solar ECU 28, and the charging ECU 32 are provided. However, at least two of them may be configured integrally.

The correspondence relationship between the main elements of the embodiments and the main elements of the invention described in the column of Means for Solving the Problems will be described. In the embodiment, the solar device 21 corresponds to the "solar device", the relay 30 corresponds to the "relay", and the solar ECU 28 and the charging ECU 32 correspond to the "control device".

Note that the correspondence relationship between the main elements of the examples and the main elements of the invention described in the column of Means for Solving the Problems is the Since it is an example for specifically explaining the mode for solving the problem, it does not limit the elements of the invention described in the column of the means for solving the problem. That is, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of Means to Solve the Problem should be made based on the description in that column, and the Examples are based on the description of the invention described in the column of Means to Solve the Problem. This is only a specific example.

Although the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments at all, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to the manufacturing industry of solar charging systems.

10 power supply device 12 battery 12a voltage sensor 12b current sensor 14 battery ECU 20 solar charging system 21 solar device 22 solar panel 23 power line 24 solar converter 24a voltage sensor 24b current sensor 25 power line, 25a capacitor, 26 boost converter, 26a voltage sensor, 27 power line, 27a capacitor, 28 solar ECU, 30 relay, 32 charge ECU.

Claims (1)

a solar device capable of performing solar charging for generating power using sunlight and supplying the generated power to a power storage device;
a relay that connects and disconnects the solar device and the power storage device by turning on and off;
a control device that controls the relay;
A solar charging system comprising:
When the cumulative number of operations of the relay is equal to or less than a number threshold based on the number of times the predetermined period has elapsed at each evaluation timing for each predetermined period, the control device compares when the cumulative number of operations is greater than the threshold number of times. loosening the limit on the cumulative number of operations for the next predetermined period;
solar charging system.

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