On-board chargers (obc)

A method for extracting a power value from an AC electrical grid with an on-board charger (OBC) that comprises a power factor corrector (PFC) having a three phase active front end (AFE) connected to the AC electrical grid, a DC/DC converter receiving a regulated DC voltage from the PFC and configured to charge a high voltage battery and a switch arranged between the AFE and the AC electrical grid and is able to interrupt current flowing between two phase arms of the three phase AFE, the method comprising:

• extracting a power value equal to a reference maximum power extracted from a three phase electrical grid PMAX3∅, by actuating the switch in an open state in response to the PFC connected to the three phase electrical grid so that the switch interrupts current flowing between the two phase arms of the three phase AFE;
• or
• extracting the power value equal to a reference ⅔ PMAX3∅ by actuating the switch SW2 in a closed state in response to the PFC being connected to a single phase electrical grid so that the switch allows current to flow between the two phase arms of the three phase AFE, wherein a third phase arm of the AFE withstands a maximum value of the line current IMAX and the two phase arms of the three phase AFE withstand a value of the line current equal to ½ IMAX;
• or
• extracting the power equal to a reference ⅔ PMAX3∅ by actuating the switch in a closed state in response to the to the PFC being connected to a split-phase or a two phase electrical grid so that the switch allows current to flow between the two phase arms of the three phase AFE, wherein a third phase arm of the three phase AFE withstands a maximum value of the line current IMAX and the two phase arms of the AFE withstand a value of the line current equal to ½ IMAX.

An on-board charger (OBC), comprising:

• a power factor corrector (PFC) comprising a three phase active front end (AFE) connected to an AC electrical grid;
• and
• a DC/DC converter receiving a regulated DC voltage from the PFC and configured to charge a high voltage battery;
• wherein the OBC is configured to extract a power value which is equal to a reference maximum power extracted from a three phase electrical grid PMAX3∅ from any type of AC electrical grid to which the OBC is connected, the OBC comprising three switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 and a diodes arm having diodes D1 and D2 connected in series between a high and low side of the AFE, whereby two switches SW1 and SW2 are arranged between the AFE and the AC electrical grid and are able to interrupt current flowing between phase arms of the three phase AFE, wherein the third switch SW3 is arranged on a line connecting the diodes arm and the AC electrical grid.

An on-board charger (OBC), comprising:

• a power factor corrector(PFC) comprising a three phase active front end (AFE) connected to an AC electrical grid;
• and
• a DC/DC converter receiving a regulated DC voltage from the PFC and configured to charge a high voltage battery;
• wherein the OBC comprises a switch arranged between the AFE and the AC electrical grid that is able to interrupt current flowing between two phase arms of the three phase AFE;
• wherein the power value is equal to a reference maximum power extracted from a three phase electrical grid, PMAX3∅, when the AC grid is a three phase electrical grid by actuating the switch in an open state in response to the PFC connected to the three phase electrical grid so that the switch interrupts current flowing between the two phase arms of the three phase AFE;
• and
• wherein the power value is equal to a reference 2/3 PMAX3∅ when the AC grid is a single phase, a two phase or a split-phase electrical grid so that the switch allows current to flow between the two phase arms of the three phase AFE, wherein a third phase arm of the three phase AFE withstands a maximum value of the line current IMAX and the two phase arms of the AFE withstand a value of the line current equal to 1/2 IMAX.