Devices, systems, and related methods for power conversion and management
AssigneeIntertie, Incorporated
InventorsRichard Mrlik, Eric Stafl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular, integrated charging system and method for fast charging of a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) include an under-ground stationary battery storage system and an above-ground charging station, which is operatively connected to an AC grid and a solar panel. The EV's battery may be charged using little or no grid capacity by prioritizing and managing power production and use based on loading and pricing in real time.
Claims34
A modular, integrated charging system for fast charging of a battery of an electric vehicle (EV), said system comprising:
- an under-ground stationary battery storage system;
- an above-ground charging station, said charging station being disposed substantially directly above said battery storage system, and including:
- a user interface;
- a bi-directional alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) power converter that is configured to receive and rectify AC power from an AC power grid into DC power;
- a high voltage (HV) direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converter;
- a high voltage (HV) DC bus configured to receive DC power from said bi-directional AC/DC power converter and from a solar photovoltaic (PV) array and to operatively connect said battery storage system and said HV DC/DC converter;
- a station charge controller that is off board said electric vehicle and regulates transfer of DC power between said HV DC/DC converter and said EV battery;
- and
- a charging system master controller that is configured to optimize and manage power flow among said AC power grid, said solar PV array, said battery storage system, and said EV battery.
A method for fast charging of an electric vehicle (EV) through an integrated charging system including an above-ground charging station, an under-ground stationary battery system, and a system controller, said charging system being operatively connected with an alternating current (AC) power grid and a solar array, said method comprising:
- providing power to said stationary battery system by at least one of said AC power grid and said solar panel;
- converting said power to direct current (DC) charge and storing said DC charge by said stationary battery system;
- receiving a request, by said system controller, for charging a battery of said electric vehicle;
- determining in real time, by said system controller, whether power for charging said battery of the electric vehicle should be delivered from said AC grid, said solar array, said stationary battery system, or a combination thereof;
- identifying, by said system controller, one or more of said AC grid, said solar array, and said stationary battery system as a source for delivering power to said battery of the electric vehicle;
- and
- routing, by said system controller, power from the identified source to charge said battery of the electric vehicle based on said identification.
A method of real-time power distribution and management among a plurality of power sources, said plurality of power sources including an alternating current (AC) grid and a solar photovoltaic (PV) array, said method comprising:
- operatively connecting said AC grid and solar PV array to a battery storage system;
- storing power from said AC grid in said battery storage system during one or more low electric-price time windows;
- storing power from said solar PV array in said battery storage system during daylight hours;
- and
- identifying one of said power sources, based on respective power loads on said plurality of power sources and real-time cost of providing power from each respective source, for providing fast-charging power to a battery of an electric vehicle without imposition of additional loading on said AC grid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.