Power converter with dark start precharge circuit
OwnerHamidreza Esmaeilian, Olivier Raymond-Dubois +1inventors
InventorsHamidreza Esmaeilian, Olivier Raymond-Dubois, Ernest Montllo Casabayo
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a bidirectional power converter comprising dark start precharge circuit capable of receiving low-voltage DC power and boosting it to the target voltage specified by charge data of a BMS associated with an EV battery. Dark start precharge circuit allows to further establish a power connection with the EV and draw DC power from the EV battery to supply power to electrical loads of a household in absence of AC power at the AC power mains.
Claims18
A bidirectional power converter for converting AC power to DC charging power for an electric vehicle (EV) and for converting DC power from the EV to AC power, the bidirectional power converter comprising:
- at least one bidirectional AC-to-DC power conversion module having an AC port connectable to mains power supply in a grid-tie or island mode and at least one DC port connectable to at least one EV cable connection;
- a dark start precharge circuit for delivering DC voltage derived from an auxiliary battery to said at least one DC port in the absence of AC power at said AC port;
- and
- a power conversion controller having an interface for receiving charge data from a battery management system (BMS) associated with an electric power storage battery of said EV, said power conversion controller operatively connected to said at least one bidirectional AC-to-DC power conversion module for:
- (1) when said AC power is available at said AC port, controlling said at least one bidirectional AC-to-DC power conversion module to deliver to said DC port at least one voltage according to said charge data received from said BMS so as to establish a DC power connection to said EV and then begin charging or discharging said electric power storage battery of said EV;
- and
- (2) when said AC power is not available at said AC port, controlling said dark start precharge circuit to deliver to said DC port at said at least one voltage corresponding to said charge data at said at least one DC port to establish a DC power connection to said EV and, in response to detecting that the DC power connection to said EV is established, stopping said dark start precharge circuit from delivering said DC voltage derived from the auxiliary battery, and controlling said at least one bidirectional AC-to-DC power conversion module to convert DC power from said EV to AC power.
A method for delivering power between an electric power storage battery of an electric vehicle (EV) and at least one power conversion module of a power converter, the method comprising:
- connecting an AC port of said at least one power conversion module to mains power supply, said mains power supply is in a grid-tie or island mode;
- connecting at least one DC port of said at least one power conversion module to at least one EV cable connection;
- connecting a dark start precharge circuit to at least one DC port of said power converter for delivering DC voltage delivered from an auxiliary battery to said at least one DC port;
- receiving at an interface of a controller charge data from a battery management system (BMS) associated with said electric power storage battery of said EV, said controller operatively connected to said at least one power conversion module for, when said AC power is not available at said AC port, controlling said dark start precharge circuit to deliver to said at least one DC port at said at least one voltage corresponding to said charge data at said at least one DC port to establish a DC power connection to said EV and, in response to detecting that the DC power connection to said EV is established, stopping said dark start precharge circuit from delivering said DC voltage derived from the auxiliary battery, and controlling said at least one power conversion module to convert DC power from said EV to AC power.
An inverter for converting DC power from an electric vehicle (EV) to AC power, the inverter comprising:
- at least one inverter module having an AC port connectable to mains power supply in a grid-tie or island mode and at least one DC port connectable to at least one EV cable connection;
- a dark start precharge circuit for delivering DC voltage derived from an auxiliary battery to said at least one DC port;
- and
- a controller having an interface for receiving charge data from a battery management system (BMS) associated with an electric power storage battery of said EV, said controller operatively connected to said at least one inverter module for, when said AC power is not available at said AC port, controlling said dark start precharge circuit to deliver to said DC port at said at least one voltage corresponding to said charge data at said at least one DC port to establish a DC power connection to said EV and, in response to detecting that the DC power connection to said EV is established, stopping said dark start precharge circuit from delivering said DC voltage derived from an auxiliary battery, and controlling said at least one inverter module to convert DC power from said EV to AC power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.