DESC:ARRANGEMENT FOR CHARGING SWAPPABLE BATTERIES
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority from Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202321036226 filed on 25/05/2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by a reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to swappable battery charging. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to an arrangement for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs electric vehicle(s).
BACKGROUND
Recently, there has been a rapid development in electric vehicles because of their ability to resolve pollution-related problems and serve as a clean mode of transportation. Generally, electric vehicles include a battery pack, power pack, and/or combination of electric cells for storing electricity required for the propulsion of the vehicles. The electrical power stored in the battery pack of the electric vehicle is supplied to the traction motor for moving the electric vehicle. Once the electrical power stored in the battery pack of the electric vehicle depletes, the battery pack is required to be charged from a power source by connecting the electric vehicle with a charger.
Generally, the electric vehicles comprise non-removable battery which is required to be charged by connecting a charger to the electric vehicle. However, such arrangement suffers from multiple drawbacks such as overlong charging time required, anxiety mileage of the user, inconvenience in charging, unavailability of charging infrastructure and so forth.
To overcome the above issues, the swappable battery packs are gaining popularity as it solves the problem of long charging times and range anxiety. The user can swap a discharged battery with a fully charged one at a battery swapping station.
However, the existing battery swapping stations are not efficient to handle simultaneous charging of multiple batteries. Furthermore, the existing battery swapping stations are complex in nature leading to decreased robustness. Furthermore, the complexity of the existing battery swapping stations increases the chances of fault occurrence. Furthermore, the existing battery swapping stations are required to be completely shut in case of occurrence of any fault anywhere in the station. Furthermore, the existing battery swapping stations are difficult to maintain and repair due to their complex design. Moreover, the existing battery swapping stations are not capable of charging swappable battery using different modes of charging.
Therefore, there exists a need for an improved system for charging battery packs at the battery swapping station and overcome one or more problems associated as set forth above.
SUMMARY
An object of the present disclosure to provide an arrangement for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an arrangement for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement comprises a front-end converter connected to a power source, a swapping module configured to facilitate wired charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs, and a wireless charging module configured to facilitate wireless charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs.
The present disclosure provides an arrangement for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement as disclosed in the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of simultaneous charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement as disclosed in the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of enabling efficient power conversion for simultaneous charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs. Beneficially, the arrangement of the present disclosure operates with reduced losses.
Additional aspects, advantages, features, and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments constructed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an arrangement for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of an arrangement for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of an arrangement for simultaneous charging of a plurality of swappable battery packs and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various structures and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include(s)”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, or system that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or system. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which are shown by way of illustration-specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the description with unnecessary detail.
As used herein, the terms “electric vehicle”, “EV”, and “EVs” are used interchangeably and refers to any vehicle having stored electrical energy, including the vehicle capable of being charged from a power source that is located outside the vehicle. This may include vehicles having power packs that are exclusively charged from a power source, as well as hybrid vehicles which may include power packs capable of being at least partially recharged via a power source. Additionally, it is to be understood that the ‘electric vehicle’ as used herein includes electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers, electric four-wheelers, electric pickup trucks, electric trucks, and so forth.
As used herein, the terms “power pack”, and “battery pack” are used interchangeably and refer to multiple individual battery cells connected to provide a higher combined voltage or capacity than what a single battery can offer. The power pack is designed to store electrical energy in form of chemical energy and supply the electrical energy as needed to various devices or systems. Power pack, as referred herein are used for various purposes such as for powering electric vehicles and other energy storage applications.
As used herein, the term “front-end converter” refers to a component to convert the alternating current (AC) power from a power source into a direct current (DC) link voltage. The converter referred herein within the arrangement, converts AC input received from the power source, into the DC link voltage. The converter actively shapes the AC input current waveform to be in phase with waveform of AC input voltage. The shaping of the AC input waveform corrects the power factor of the AC input. Consequently, the converter rectifies the AC input to produce the DC link voltage as output of the converter. The front-end converter enables flow of power from the power source to the at least one battery pack. The timing and duration of the switching of the switches is controlled to in the rectification operation.
As used herein, the term “inductor” refers to the component that stores electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field and release the stored energy as electrical energy, on requirements.
As used herein, the term “rectification bridge” refers to an electronic component to convert the incoming AC current/ applied AC voltage into a pulsating DC voltage. The rectification bridge comprises switches including insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) or metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). The switches are arranged in a bridge configuration. The switching of the state of switches is controlled to rectify the AC input voltage/current waveform. The rectification bridge act as rectifier and performs rectification of input voltage in one direction from AC input to DC link voltage.
As used herein, the term “DC link capacitor” refers to the component that stores electrical energy of DC power, during periods of high voltage or power availability to be utilized during periods of lower voltage or power demand of direct voltage.
As used herein, the term “isolated transformer” refers to the transformer that steps up or steps down the AC input voltage at high frequency. The isolated transformer used herein in the arrangement, steps up or steps down the received high frequency AC input to provide a variable high frequency AC output.
As used herein, the term “swapping module” refers to a module in the swappable battery charging arrangement that provides wired charging to the swappable batteries.
As used herein, the terms “first charging output” and “second charging output” used herein refers to the components that provide DC voltage output from 40 V to 120V for charging of at least one battery pack. The DC voltage charges the power pack of the electric vehicle.
As used herein, the term “wireless charging module” refers to a module in the swappable battery charging arrangement that provides wireless charging to at least one battery.
As used herein, the term “control unit” refers to the component used herein, in the charger to control the operation of the front-end converter, the first charging output, the second charging output and the wireless charging module. The control unit is a computational element that is operable to respond to and process instructions that control the system. Optionally, the control unit includes a microprocessor and a micro-controller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a digital signal processor, or any other type of processing unit.
As used herein, the term “switching legs” refers to the circuit provided in the arrangement to provide the bridge connection that includes a pair of switches. The switches of each switching leg is in series and the switching legs are in parallel with one another.
As used herein, the term “switches” or “switch” or “pair of switches” of the switching legs refers to power electronics devices that control the flow of electrical current. The switches may comprise MOSFETs, IGBTs, transistors, or a combination thereof.
Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment, describes an arrangement 100 for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement 100 comprises a front-end converter 102 connected to a power source, a swapping module 104 configured to facilitate wired charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs, and a wireless charging module 106 configured to facilitate wireless charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs.
The present disclosure provides arrangement 100 for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement 100 as disclosed in the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of simultaneous charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement 100 as disclosed in the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of enabling efficient power conversion for simultaneous charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs. Beneficially, the arrangement 100 of the present disclosure operates with reduced losses. Beneficially, the arrangement 100 as disclose in the present disclosure allows charging of the different types of swappable battery packs.
In an embodiment, the swapping module 104 is connected to the front-end converter 102 via an isolated transformer 108, and the wireless charging module 106 is connected to the front-end converter 102 via a coupling coil 110. Beneficially, such arrangement enables simultaneous and independent power transfer to both the swapping module 104 and the wireless charging module 106.
Beneficially, the front-end converter 102 comprises a rectification bridge configured to convert AC input received from a power source into DC voltage. Beneficially, the rectification bridge rectifies the AC input to generate the DC link voltage. It is to be understood that the switching of the state of switches is controlled to rectify the AC input voltage. More beneficially, the front-end converter 102 comprises an inductor for power factor correction of the AC input received from the power source. It is to be understood that the inductor present in the front-end converter 102 actively shape the AC input waveform. Beneficially, the shaping of the AC input current waveform eliminates the phase shift between the waveform of the AC input current and AC input voltage thereby, reduces losses.
In an embodiment, the arrangement 100 comprises DC link capacitors to minimize voltage ripples. It is to be understood that the DC link capacitor absorbs electrical energy of the DC link voltage during higher amplitudes of the DC link voltage and releases energy during the lower amplitudes of the DC link voltage. Beneficially, the DC link capacitor alternately stores and releases the electrical energy to minimize the voltage ripple from DC link voltage. Beneficially, the lowered voltage ripples result in lesser losses during the operation of the arrangement 100. Such lowered losses may improve thermal management of the arrangement 100.
In an embodiment, the swapping module 104 comprises a first charging output 114 and a second charging output 116 functioning simultaneously, to charge the plurality of swappable battery packs. Beneficially, the simultaneous functioning of the first charging output 114 and the second charging output 116 enables simultaneous charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs.
In an embodiment, the first charging output 114 is a phase shift full bridge converter controlled by phase shift control. Beneficially, the phase shift full bridge converter efficiently converts the AC power in DC power to charge the at least one battery pack.
In an embodiment, the second charging output 116 is a resonant converter controlled by frequency control. Beneficially, the resonant converter efficiently converts the AC power in DC power to charge the at least one battery pack.
In an embodiment, the phase shift control and the frequency control are performed simultaneously, to charge the plurality of swappable battery packs. Beneficially, the simultaneous phase shift control and frequency control enables simultaneous charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs.
In an embodiment, the phase shift control is performed at the secondary side of the isolated transformer 108, based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the first charging output.
In an embodiment, the frequency control is performed at the primary side of the isolated transformer 108, based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the second charging output.
In an embodiment, the wireless charging module 106 is controlled at the secondary side of the coupling coil 110, based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the wireless charging module.
In an embodiment, the arrangement 100 comprises at least one control unit 112, wherein the control unit 112 is configured to control operation of the front-end converter 102, the first charging output 114, the second charging output 116 and the wireless charging module 106. Beneficially, the at least one control unit 112 controls same set of switches with two different control strategies simultaneously to charge the plurality of swappable power packs.
In an embodiment, the at least one parameter associated with the at least one power pack comprises a voltage requirement of the at least one power pack and a current requirement of the at least one power pack. Beneficially, the DC voltage output in the arrangement 100 may be adjusted in real time based on the at least one parameter associated with the at least one power pack.
Figure 2, in accordance with another embodiment, describes the arrangement 100 for simultaneously charging the plurality of swappable battery packs. The arrangement 100 comprises the front-end converter 102 connected to the power source, the swapping module 104 configured to facilitate wired charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs, and the wireless charging module 106 configured to facilitate wireless charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs. Furthermore, the swapping module 104 is connected to the front-end converter 102 via an isolated transformer 108, and the wireless charging module 106 is connected to the front-end converter 102 via a coupling coil 110. Furthermore, the swapping module 104 comprises a first charging output 114 and a second charging output 116 functioning simultaneously, to charge the plurality of swappable battery packs. Furthermore, the first charging output 114 is a phase shift full bridge converter controlled by phase shift control. Furthermore, the second charging output 116 is a resonant converter controlled by frequency control. Furthermore, the phase shift control and the frequency control are performed simultaneously, to charge the plurality of swappable battery packs. Furthermore, the phase shift control is performed at the secondary side of the isolated transformer 108, based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the first charging output. Furthermore, the frequency control is performed at the primary side of the isolated transformer 108, based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the second charging output. Furthermore, the wireless charging module 106 is controlled at the secondary side of the coupling coil 110, based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the wireless charging module.
In the description of the present invention, it is also to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms “disposed,” “mounted,” and “connected” are to be construed broadly, and may for example be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, either mechanically or electrically. They may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.
Modifications to embodiments and combinations of different embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, and “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural where appropriate.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. An arrangement (100) for simultaneously charging a plurality of swappable battery packs, wherein the arrangement (100) comprises:
- a front-end converter (102) connected to a power source;
- a swapping module (104) configured to facilitate wired charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs; and
- a wireless charging module (106) configured to facilitate wireless charging of the plurality of swappable battery packs.
2. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swapping module (104) is connected to the front-end converter (102) via an isolated transformer (108), and the wireless charging module (106) is connected to the front-end converter (102) via a coupling coil (110).
3. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swapping module (104) comprises a first charging output (114) and a second charging output (116) functioning simultaneously, to charge the plurality of swappable battery packs.
4. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first charging output (114) is a phase shift full bridge converter controlled by phase shift control.
5. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second charging output (116) is a resonant converter controlled by frequency control.
6. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the phase shift control and the frequency control are performed simultaneously, to charge the plurality of swappable battery packs.
7. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the phase shift control is performed at the secondary side of the isolated transformer (108), based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the first charging output.
8. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frequency control is performed at the primary side of the isolated transformer (108), based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the second charging output.
9. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless charging module (106) is controlled at the secondary side of the coupling coil (110), based on at least one requirement of the at least one battery pack charging at the wireless charging module.
10. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement (100) comprises at least one control unit (112), wherein the control unit (112) is configured to control operation of the front-end converter (102), the first charging output (114), the second charging output (116) and the wireless charging module (106).