CHARGING DEVICE STATION FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging column for charging electric vehicles, which has a housing, a first device for energy conversion, a second device for energy conversion, a control unit, and a tank for a liquid energy carrier, wherein both units for energy conversion, the tank, and the control unit are arranged in the housing. The invention also relates to a method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles with the method steps of feeding a liquid energy carrier from a tank arranged in a housing of a charging column to a first device for energy conversion, wherein the first device for energy conversion is also arranged in the housing, converting the liquid energy carrier into a kinetic or an electrical energy in the first device for energy conversion, converting the kinetic or the electrical energy into a current in a second device for energy conversion, wherein the second device for energy conversion is arranged in the housing, and outputting the current to an electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles, which has: a housing (2) a first device for energy conversion (3) a control unit a tank (6) for a liquid energy carrier, wherein the first device for energy conversion (3), the tank (6), and the control unit (5) are arranged in the housing (2).

2. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the first device for energy conversion (3) is suitable for converting a liquid energy carrier into electrical and/or kinetic energy.

3. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid energy carrier is methanol, ethanol, biogas, or hydrogen.

4. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the first device for energy conversion (3) is a fuel cell (7) or a combustion engine (7).

5. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according claim 1, characterized in that a second device for energy conversion (4) is arranged in the housing (2) wherein the second device for energy conversion (4) is a generator (8).

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) has an electrical energy store (9), wherein the electrical energy store (9) is connected such that it is suitable for starting a device for conveying the liquid energy carrier (11) to the first device for energy conversion (3).

9. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) is suitable for generating current without feeding in energy from outside.

10. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) has exclusively one or more electrical connections which are suitable for charging electric vehicles.

11. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) has exclusively lines and/or connections which are suitable for conducting electrical energy out of the charging column.

12. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (6) holds at least 100 l of liquid energy carrier, preferably 200 l, and particularly preferably 500 l.

13. The charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (6) has a volume for receiving an amount of a liquid energy carrier with an energy of at least 125 kWh, preferably 440 kWh, and particularly preferably 2000 kWh.

14. A method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles, which has the following steps: Feeding (100) a liquid energy carrier into a tank (6) arranged in a housing (2) of a charging column (1), Feeding (200) a liquid energy carrier from a tank (6) arranged in a housing (2) of a charging column (1) to a first device for energy conversion (3), wherein the first device for energy conversion (3) is also arranged in the housing (2), Converting (300) of the liquid energy carrier into a kinetic or an electrical energy by the first device for energy conversion (3) Outputting (500) the electrical energy to an electric vehicle in the form of a current.

15. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14, characterized in that Converting (400) of the kinetic or the electrical energy into a direct current by a second device for energy conversion (4).

16. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14, characterized in that a device for conveying the liquid energy carrier (11) to the first device for energy conversion (3) is started by the charging of an electrical energy store (9).

17. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14, characterized in that the liquid energy carrier is fed (200) to the first device for energy conversion (3) by the charging of an electrical energy store (9).

18. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14, characterized in that electrical energy is transported exclusively from the charging column (1) outward.

19. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14, characterized in that the generation of the electrical energy in the charging column (1) starts with the beginning of a charging process and/or the generation of the electrical energy in the charging column (1) ends with the termination of a charging process.

20. (canceled)

21. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14 characterized in that the feeding (200) of a liquid energy carrier from a tank (6) arranged in a housing (2) of a charging column (1) to a first device for energy conversion (3) does not take place simultaneously with the feeding (100) of a liquid energy carrier into a tank arranged in a housing (2) of a charging column (1).

22. (canceled)

23. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14 characterized in that during charging processes of electric vehicles, an energy of at least 125 kWh, preferably at least 440 kWh, and particularly preferably at least 2000 kWh is output between two processes for feeding (100) a liquid energy carrier into a tank (6) arranged in a housing (2) of a charging column (1).

24. The method for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles according to claim 14 characterized in that at least 100 l, preferably at least 200 l, and particularly preferably at least 500 l of liquid energy carrier are fed during a feeding (100) of a liquid energy carrier into a tank (6) arranged in a housing (2) of a charging column (1).

Description

[0041] Exemplary embodiments of the charging column according to the invention for charging electric vehicles and of the method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles are shown in the drawings in a schematically simplified manner and are explained in more detail in the following description. The figures show:

[0042] FIG. 1: An exemplary embodiment of the charging column according to the invention with a combustion engine

[0043] FIG. 2: An exemplary embodiment of the charging column according to the invention with a fuel cell

[0044] FIG. 3: An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for charging electric vehicles

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the charging column 1 according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the charging column 1 has a combustion engine 7, which is installed inside the first device for energy conversion 3. The combustion engine 7 is usually a piston combustion engine, but other structural designs such as a rotary engine or turbine are also possible. The combustion engine 7 is advantageously preferably operated with methanol or ethanol or a mixture of methanol and ethanol. Both types of fuel can be produced in an environmentally friendly way from biomass, have long been established as fuels worldwide, and are thus affordably available. Transporting and storing them as well as their operation in combustion engines are comparable to conventional gasoline (for motor vehicles) and therefore unproblematic. The fuel is stored in the charging column 1 according to the invention in a tank 6 with a capacity of 100 l. The combustion engine 7 drives the second device for energy conversion 3 through rotation, in this exemplary embodiment a generator 8. The kinetic energy generated by the combustion engine 7 is thus converted into electrical energy, into a current, by the generator 8.

[0046] Furthermore, an electrical energy store (rechargeable battery) 9 and a device for conveying the liquid energy carrier 11 are installed in the charging column 1. The energy store 9 supplies the control unit 5, by means of which the charging column 1 detects and initializes the beginning and the termination of a charging process. In addition, a user can pay for the charging process by means of the control unit 5. Multiple payment systems are possible here, for example, via various credit cards or via a mobile end device, e.g., a smartphone.

[0047] The electrical energy store 9 starts via a starter and the fuel pump 11, which conveys the fuel into the combustion engine 7, also starts the combustion engine 7 at the beginning of a charging process. The electrical energy store 9 is charged, if applicable, by the electrical energy generated by the generator 8. The electrical energy generated in the charging column 1 is output to a motor vehicle via one or more electrical connections 10 (charging cables).

[0048] The first and the second device for energy conversion 3, 4 with the combustion engine 7 and generator 8, tank 6, energy store 9, the fuel pump 11, control unit 5, and the electrical connections 10 are all advantageously installed in a housing 2. As described, the charging column 1 is to be operated fully independently, i.e., it does not require an electrical connection to an existing power grid. The required electrical energy for its operation is delivered by the rechargeable energy store 9. The dimensions of the charging column 1 are also very compact; the fuel pump 6 usually takes up the most space. By suitably choosing the size of the tank 6, the dimensions of the charging column 1 can be kept small; however, it may then be necessary to fill the tank 6 with fuel often. For this purpose, the control unit 5 is advantageously connected to the operator of the charging column 1 via WLAN or similar communication apparatuses and outputs a corresponding message when the tank 6 needs to be refilled.

[0049] The method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles has five method steps: In the first method step 100, a liquid energy carrier, in this exemplary embodiment methanol obtained from biomass, is fed into a tank 6 arranged in a housing. The tank 6 is filled by means of a filling vehicle. At least 100 l (corresponding to 200 kWh) of methanol, preferably 200 l (corresponding to 400 kWh), and particularly preferably 500 l (corresponding to 1000 kWh) are fed to the tank 6. The volume of the tank is dimensioned so that at least 10 charging processes (tank contents 100 l) are possible. The tank volume can be adjusted according to the requirements, which are determined by the location at which the charging column is erected. It is thus practical, for example, to choose a small tank volume in large cities, because the infrastructure for refilling is good and the charging column can thus be refilled very quickly. In rural areas, a larger tank volume is chosen in order to increase the intervals between the individual refill processes. Preferred tank volumes here are 2000 l, 10,000 l, or also 20,000 l.

[0050] The charging process begins when a user plugs the electrical connection (charging cable) 10 into the corresponding socket of the motor vehicle to be charged. The control unit 5 detects this, and in the second method step 200 the fuel is fed from the tank 6 through the fuel pump 11 to the combustion engine 7 and the engine is started by means of a starter. The starter and fuel pump 11 are supplied here with energy by the energy store 9. In the third method step 300, the combustion engine 7 drives the generator 8; the chemical energy stored in the fuel is thus converted into kinetic energy and in the fourth method step 400 into electrical energy. This electrical energy is output to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10 in the fifth method step 500. The charging process ends when the user releases the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle, or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is charged sufficiently (e.g., 80% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process is terminated, the combustion engine 7 is stopped and no more fuel is conveyed to the combustion engine 7. The charging column 1 enters a standby mode until the beginning of the next charging process.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the charging column according to the invention which generates current for charging a motor vehicle by means of a fuel cell 7. The charging column 1 has a fuel cell 7, which is installed inside the first device for energy conversion 3. The fuel cell 7 is usually a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), which is operated by means of methanol. However, other embodiments of the fuel cell 7 which are operated, for example, by means of ethanol, biogas, or hydrogen are also possible. All of these types of fuel can be produced in an environmentally friendly way from biomass or from natural gas, have long been established as fuels worldwide, and are thus affordably available.

[0052] In particular transporting and storing the liquid fuels (methanol, ethanol) as well as their operation in fuel cells are comparable to conventional gasoline (for motor vehicles) and therefore unproblematic. The fuel is stored in the charging column 1 according to the invention in a tank 6. The fuel cell 7 usually consists of multiple stacks of individual fuel cells and can thus be adjusted to the desired output of the charging column 1.

[0053] Furthermore, an electrical energy store (rechargeable battery) 9 and a device for conveying the liquid energy carrier 11 are installed in the charging column 1. The energy store 9 supplies the control unit 5, by means of which the charging column 1 detects and initializes the beginning and the termination of a charging process. In addition, a user can pay for the charging process by means of the control unit 5. Various payment systems are possible here, for example, via various credit cards or via a mobile end device, e.g., a smartphone.

[0054] The electrical energy store 9 starts via the fuel pump 11, which conveys the fuel into fuel cell 7, at the beginning of a charging process. The direct current generated in the fuel cell 7 is converted into direct current with a minimum voltage by means of the inverter 8. The electrical energy store 9 is recharged, if applicable, by the electrical energy generated by the generator 8. The electrical energy generated in the charging column 1 is output to a motor vehicle via one or more electrical connections 10 (charging cables).

[0055] The first and the second device for energy conversion 3, 4 with the fuel cell 7 and inverter 8, tank 6, energy store 9, the fuel pump 11, control unit 5, and the electrical connections 10 are all advantageously installed in a housing 2. As described, the charging column 1 is to be operated fully independently, i.e., it does not require an electrical connection to an existing power grid. The required electrical energy for its operation is delivered by the rechargeable energy store 9. The dimensions of the charging column 1 are also very compact; the fuel pump 6 usually takes up the most space. By suitably choosing the size of the tank 6, the dimensions of the charging column 1 can be kept small.

[0056] The method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles has five method steps: In the first method step 100, a liquid energy carrier is fed into a tank 6 arranged in a housing. The tank 6 is filled by means of a filling vehicle. The charging process begins when a user plugs the electrical connection (charging cable) 10 into the corresponding socket of the motor vehicle to be charged. The control unit 5 detects this, and in the second method step 200 the fuel is fed from the tank 6 through the fuel pump 11 to the fuel cell 7. The fuel pump 11 is supplied here with energy by the energy store 9. In the third method step 300, the fuel cell 7 generates a direct current; in the fourth method step 400, the direct current is converted into a direct current with a minimum voltage (e.g., 230 V or 920 V) by the power converter 8. This direct current is output to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10 in the fifth method step 500. The charging process ends when the user releases the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle, or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is charged sufficiently (e.g., 90% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process is terminated, the operation of the fuel cell 7 is stopped and no more fuel is conveyed to the fuel cell 7. The charging column 1 enters a standby mode until the beginning of the next charging process.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows the method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles. The method according to the invention by means of the charging column 1 according to the invention has five method steps: In the first method step 100, a liquid energy carrier is fed into a tank 6 arranged in a housing. The charging process begins when a user plugs the electrical connection (charging cable) 10 into the corresponding socket of the motor vehicle to be charged. The control unit 5 detects this, and in the second method step 200 the fuel is fed from the tank 6 through the fuel pump 11 to the fuel cell 7 or respectively the combustion engine 7 and the engine is started by means of a starter. The fuel pump 11 is supplied here with energy by the energy store 9. In the third method step 300, the fuel cell 7 generates a direct current or respectively the combustion engine 7 drives the generator 8. In the fourth method step 400, the direct current which is generated by the fuel cell 7 is converted into direct current with a minimum voltage by the power converter 8. If a combustion engine 7 is present, the combustion engine 7 drives the generator 8; the chemical energy stored in the fuel is thus converted into kinetic energy and in the fourth method step 400 into electrical energy.

[0058] This current is output to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10 in the fifth method step 500. The charging process ends when the user releases the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle, or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is charged sufficiently (e.g., 75% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process is terminated, the combustion engine 7 is stopped and no more fuel is conveyed to the combustion engine 7. The charging column 1 enters a standby mode until the beginning of the next charging process.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0059] 1 Charging column [0060] 2 Housing [0061] 3 First device for energy conversion [0062] 4 Second device for energy conversion [0063] 5 Control unit [0064] 6 Tank [0065] 7 Fuel cell/combustion engine [0066] 8 Power converter/generator [0067] 9 Energy store [0068] 10 Electrical connection [0069] 11 Device for conveying the liquid energy carrier [0070] 100 Feeding a liquid energy carrier into the tank [0071] 200 Transporting a liquid energy carrier from the tank to the first device for energy conversion [0072] 300 Converting the liquid energy carrier into a kinetic or electrical energy [0073] 400 Converting the kinetic or electrical energy into a direct current [0074] 500 Charging an electric vehicle