Charging sequence control of a power electronics system

Abstract

A method for charging sequence control of a power electronics system, in which a charging power is provided by the power electronics system, in which a charging unit, which is operated by a user and which transfers the charging power to a battery, is controlled by a charging control system. A communication exchange is carried out at least between a control device of the power electronics system and the charging control system, in which a plurality of charging process states are predetermined, in which sequences between the charging process states are stored in a program sequence plan and in which the program sequence plan is used for charging sequence control of the power electronics system. For the event of a fault the charging process states “Not ready to charge” and “Fault in charging process” are predetermined.

Claims

1. A method for charging sequence control of a power electronics system, in which a charging power is provided by the power electronics system, the method comprising: controlling a charging unit, which is operated by a user and which transfers the charging power to a battery, using a charging control system, carrying out a communication exchange at least between a control device of the power electronics system and the charging control system, in which a plurality of charging process states are predetermined, in which sequences between the charging process states are stored in a program sequence plan, and in which the program sequence plan is used for charging sequence control of the power electronics system, proceeding from a switch-on process, predetermining the charging process states “Initialization,” “Ready to charge,” “Initialization of charging interface,” “Insulation measurement,” “Precharging,” “Charging,” “End charging process,” “Charging process terminated,” and for the event of a fault the charging process states “Not ready to charge” and “Fault in charging process,” wherein the respective charging process state is supplied with at least one respective task and/or is formed by at least one respective piece of state information coupled to the respective charging process state, forming the communication exchange with the charging control system by at least one of the pieces of state information, wherein, if no fault arises, a change is made to a respective next charging process state as soon as a respective task is ended and/or a change is triggered by communication exchange with the charging control system, and wherein, if a fault arises, a change is made to the charging process states “Fault in the charging process” or “Not ready to charge” and a change is made to the charging process state “Ready to charge” after the fault has been eliminated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the control device of the power electronics system is formed by a power electronics control device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the control device of the power electronics system is formed by a ChargeBox controller.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the power electronics system, including control device, and the charging control system are arranged in a physically separated manner.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the communication exchange is performed by Ethernet and/or powerline communication and/or WLAN and/or LAN and/or CAN bus and/or mobile radio.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising performing a rapid charging process, a high charging power of which is provided either by a high direct-voltage or a high direct current.

7. A system for charging sequence control of the power electronics system, comprising: the power electronics system, the control device for the power electronics system and the charging unit, which comprises the charging control system, wherein the system is configured, in order to charge the battery of an electric vehicle, to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1 by way of charging sequence control on the respective control device for the power electronics system and the charging control system.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, in which the control device for the power electronics system is a power electronics control device.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, in which the control device for the power electronics system is a ChargeBox controller.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a CoolingBox, a charging plug on the charging station, a charging plug control device and an electric vehicle fitted with the battery.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the fault arises during the “Initialization” state, the change is made to the charging process state “Not ready to charge”.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, when the change is made to the charging process state “Fault in the charging process,” a change is made to the charging process state “Not ready to charge” if the fault cannot be eliminated within predetermined parameters, and a change is made to the charging process state “Ready to charge” only after a readiness to charge has been re-established.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further advantages and configurations of the invention emerge from the description and from the appended drawing.

(2) The FIGURE shows a program sequence plan corresponding to one embodiment of the method according to aspects of the invention.

(3) It is self-evident that the features mentioned above and the features yet to be discussed below may be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or individually without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) The FIGURE shows a program sequence plan 100 corresponding to one embodiment of the method according to aspects of the invention. A power electronics control device is selected as a control device of a power electronics system, said control device communicating with a charging control system. However, the same program sequence would also be conceivable with a ChargeBox controller. Furthermore, in the embodiment of the method according to aspects of the invention shown, the charging control system can communicate with a charging plug control device, which controls a charging plug, which is located at the end of a charging cable connected to a charging unit and is plugged into a corresponding charging socket on the electric vehicle during a charging process of a battery comprised by an electric vehicle. The power electronics system and the power electronics control device are arranged in a power electronics module, abbreviated to LEM. The program sequence plan 100 begins in a switched-off state 110 of the LEM and, with switch-on 111, which is triggered, for example, by a specific action of a user, such as, for example, by plugging the charging plug into a charging socket of an electric vehicle to be charged or by removing the charging plug from the charging column or by touching a charging column display, transitions to a charging process state “Initialization” 10, in which initialization 11 takes place. If a fault arises, which may be based, for example, on incomplete initialization, another internal system fault arisen in the LEM or an external system fault communicated to the LEM, a change 108 is made to a charging process state “Not ready to charge” 8. If no fault arises, the charging process state “Initialization” 10 is considered to be terminated. To this end, a communication exchange with the charging control system of the charging unit, which has confirmed or demanded the charging process state “Initialization” 10, may also be necessary. After fault-free termination of the charging process state “Initialization” 10, a charging process state “Ready to charge” 1 follows in the program sequence plan. If a fault arises in this charging process state, which may be internal as well as external in nature, a change 18 is made to the charging process state “Not ready to charge” 8. As soon as a readiness to charge 88 is considered to be present there, possibly after communication exchange with the charging control system, a change 81 is made again to the charging process state “Ready to charge” 1. If no fault arises and if the charging process state “Ready to charge” 1 is confirmed through communication exchange possibly by the charging control system, which stipulates establishment of a connection between an electric vehicle and a charging plug of the charging unit, a change 12 is made to a charging process state “Initialization of charging interface” 2 in the program sequence plan. In the charging process state “Initialization of charging interface” 2, a selection from predetermined options of a charging system and of charging parameters of the electric vehicle is transmitted from the charging control system through communication exchange 22 to the LEM. If in the meantime the charging plug should be disconnected from the electric vehicle, a change 21 is made back to the previous charging process state “Ready to charge” 1. If otherwise a fault should be identified, a change 29 is made to the charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9. If, however, no fault arises and if the charging control system demands, possibly prompted by the electric vehicle, through communication exchange an insulation measurement 33 of the power electronics system, a change 23 to a charging process state “Insulation measurement” 3 results. Otherwise, a change 26 can be made to a charging process state “End charging process” 6 from the charging process state “Initialization of charging interface” 2 when the charging process is ended prematurely, for example through interruption by the user at the charging station. If a fault arises during the insulation measurement 33, a change 39 is made to a charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9. If no fault arises and the LEM sends a positive result, a change 34 is made to a charging process state “Precharging” 4, provided that this is also demanded by the charging control system through communication exchange with the LEM, wherein it may also be that this has been demanded previously by a control device of the electric vehicle during charging control. Otherwise, a change 36 is made from the charging process state “Insulation measurement” 3 to the charging process state “End charging process” 6 when the charging process is ended prematurely. In the charging process state “Precharging” 4, possibly a charging cable and possibly capacitances located on the electric vehicle and possibly the power electronics system are precharged, wherein it may also be that this is performed by the electric vehicle itself. If a fault arises, a change 49 is made to the charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9. However, if the precharging 44 is carried out and the charging parameters prescribed by the electric vehicle are confirmed by the LEM, for example by adjusting a charging voltage, a change 45 is made to a charging process state “Charging” 5, provided that the start thereof is also demanded by the charging control system through communication exchange with the LEM, wherein it may also be in this case that this has been demanded previously by a control device of the electric vehicle during charging control. Otherwise, a change 46 can also be made to the charging process state “End charging process” 6 from the charging process state “Precharging” 4 when the charging process is ended prematurely. In a charging process state “Charging” 5, the battery of the electric vehicle is charged by way of a charging power corresponding to the charging system selection and the charging parameters of the electric vehicle. The charging parameters of the electric vehicle are constantly exchanged through communication exchange 55 between the electric vehicle, charging control system and LEM, in particular between the electric vehicle and the charging control system and between the charging control system and the LEM. If a fault arises, a change 59 is made to the charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9. However, if no fault arises, the battery is charged up to full charge and, when the electric vehicle and/or the charging control system demands the end of the charging process, a change 56 is made to a charging process state “End charging process” 6, or a change is made thereto anyway when the charging process is ended prematurely. In the charging process state “End charging process” 6, an absence of current and voltage at an output of the power electronics system is established and the associated DC voltage contactors are opened as an action 66 of the LEM. If a fault arises, a change 69 is made to the charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9. If no fault arises and if the absence of current and voltage is confirmed by the LEM and if the DC voltage contactors are open, a change 67 is made to a charging process state “Charging process terminated” 7. The charging process state “Charging process terminated” 7 is an additional safety state 77 in which the absence of current and voltage and the opening of the DC voltage contactors is intended to be confirmed again by the power electronics control device in order that the charging plug ultimately connected to the LEM through electrical feedthrough is definitely switched to current-free or voltage-free upon removal from the electric vehicle. Furthermore, in said charging process state, sticking of the contactors of the electric vehicle can be checked. If a fault arises, a change 79 is made to the charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9. If no fault arises and if the absence of current and voltage has been established, a change 71 is made to the charging process state “Ready to charge” 1, which can be demanded by the charging control system or takes place automatically. The charging process state “Fault in charging process” 9 is reached when a fault from the respective charging process states “Initialization of charging interface” 2, “Insulation measurement” 3, “Precharging” 4, “Charging” 5, “End charging process” 6 and “Charging process terminated” 7 arises. If the fault is eliminated 99 or the fault is no longer present or the fault has been caused by the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle is no longer connected to the charging unit, a change 91 is made to the charging process state “Ready to charge” 1. However, if the fault cannot be eliminated, a change 98 is made to the charging process state “Not ready to charge” 8. Finally, a change 81 can be made to the charging process state “Ready to charge” from the charging process state “Not ready to charge” 8 only when the readiness to charge has been re-established, for example, through elimination of the fault 88.