DE102021127931A1 - Charging station for electric vehicles and electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

At least one charging cable for electrically charging an electric vehicle can be connected to a charging station (1) for electric vehicles (4), the charging station (1) having at least one air fan (5) which is designed to emit a temperature-controlled air flow (L) at least in the form of to generate cold air and to provide the air flow (L) to a user of the charging station (1) for tempering at least one component (3) of the electric vehicle. An electric vehicle (4) has a combination charging socket (8) which has a power connection for a charging cable (2) and an air connection, and the air connection is connected to an air duct (10) which is subject to at least one thermal load during an electrical charging process Component (3, 8) of the electric vehicle leads. A method is used to change a temperature (Tbatt, Tdose) on at least one component (3) of an electric vehicle (4) connected to a charging station (1), in which an air flow (L) from temperature-controlled air is generated by means of the charging station (1). and this air flow is directed to the at least one component (3).

Description

The invention relates to a charging station for electric vehicles, to which at least one charging cable for electrically charging an electric vehicle can be connected. The invention also relates to an electric vehicle that has a charging socket and a power connection for a charging cable. The invention also relates to a method for changing, in particular lowering, a temperature on at least one component of an electric vehicle connected to a charging station. The invention can be applied particularly advantageously to electric vehicles in the form of two-wheelers.

Two-wheelers typically do not have air conditioning. Accordingly, the so-called "traction batteries" of electrically driven two-wheelers cannot be cooled to temperatures below the ambient temperature. This is not a problem when driving (provided there is sufficient ambient air flow around it). However, if the battery is to be charged with high electrical power when the two-wheeler is stationary, thermally critical conditions can arise.

FR2999812A3 discloses a traction battery for an electric car, which has a coolant circuit for circulating air for thermal conditioning of the battery when a vehicle is being driven. Another coolant circuit circulates a liquid coolant, ie a water-glycol mixture, for thermal conditioning of the battery when the electric car is being charged. A two-way connector fitted to the body of the vehicle allows the water-glycol mixture to circulate between part of the latter cooling circuit in the battery and another part of the latter cooling circuit in a charger.

DE 10 2012 011 606 A1 discloses a charging station, in particular for charging the battery of an electric vehicle, having a housing for stationary assembly on a receiving body, with charging electronics for providing a charging current via a charging cable being accommodated in a protected manner in the interior of the housing, and with heat dissipation means being provided, with which by operation the charging electronics resulting heat from the interior of the housing can be dissipated. For this purpose, it is provided that the housing has at least one air flow duct for forming the heat dissipation means, which is designed for the passage of a cooling air flow, the cooling air flow flowing through the air flow duct separately from the interior.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide an improved possibility for thermal conditioning of at least one component of an electric vehicle connected to a charging station. It is a special task to implement this thermal conditioning in a particularly inexpensive and operationally reliable manner for different types of electric vehicles, in particular also for electrically powered two-wheelers.

This object is solved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be found in particular in the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a charging station for electric vehicles to which at least one charging cable for electrically charging an electric vehicle can be connected, the charging station having at least one air blower which is designed to generate a temperature-controlled air flow at least in the form of cold air and to blow the air flow into a Provide users of the charging station for tempering at least one component of the electric vehicle.

This charging station has the advantage that the electric vehicle is not only provided with charging current, but also with a cooling air flow or cooled air mass flow. This flow of cooling air can be used specifically to cool the at least one component of the electric vehicle. As a result, a thermal load on this at least one component can be reduced during a charging process, which reduces its aging and lengthens its service life. This is particularly advantageous for components of the electric vehicle that are thermally stressed by the charging process, e.g. the energy storage device (hereinafter referred to as "battery" without restriction of generality) and/or the charger, but also a charging socket, electrical lines that carry the charging current lead, etc. This in turn can advantageously increase a charging power, because thermally critical states then only occur at higher powers.

Compared to liquid cooling, the advantages are that air cooling is noticeably cheaper to implement and leaks to the environment are far less critical.

The charging station can be a charging station or a wall box. The charging station can be a public or a private charging station. The electrical charging of electric vehicles via charging stations is well known and is therefore not discussed further here.

The fact that at least one charging cable can be connected to the charging station includes, in a further development, that an external charging cable, for example one carried along with the electric vehicle, can be connected to the charging station. In another development, the charging station is equipped with at least one charging cable, which can then, for example, be permanently attached to the charging station.

The electric vehicle can be an all-electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The electric vehicle can be a two-wheeler (e.g. motorcycle), a car, a truck, a bus, and so on.

A “tempered” air flow is understood to mean, in particular, an air flow whose temperature has been changed compared to an ambient temperature.

The fact that the air flow can be made available to a user of the charging station for the purpose of tempering at least one component of the electric vehicle includes, in particular, that the air flow can be used in a targeted manner in order to change the temperature of the at least one component of the electric vehicle, e.g. by providing a suitable air duct, e.g. hose, for directing the temperature controlled airflow generated by the air blower and discharging the airflow to the electric vehicle.

The user can be a human user or a loading robot.

In one configuration, the air blower is designed to selectively generate cold air or warm air. This achieves the advantage that, at very low ambient temperatures, the air flow can also be used to heat at least one component of the electric vehicle.

In one configuration, an air temperature of the air flow can be adjusted. In this way, the thermal influencing or conditioning of the at least one component of the electric vehicle can advantageously be set particularly precisely. For example, the air temperature can be set in increments, e.g. in increments of 1°C, 5°C, 10°C, etc.

In a further development, the air temperature of the cooled air flow has a minimum value of approximately −10° C., in particular between 2° C. and 4° C. In a further development, the air temperature of the heated air flow has a maximum value of between 80°C and 90°C.

It is a development that the air temperature of the air flow can be adjusted by the user.

In one configuration, the air temperature of the air flow can be automatically adjusted. This achieves the advantage that the air temperature can be adjusted particularly precisely to the cooling or heating capacity required at the component.

In one configuration, the air temperature can be set automatically as a function of an ambient (air) temperature at the charging station. This enables a particularly simple implementation. In addition, a data report from the electric vehicle can be dispensed with. The lower the ambient temperature, the higher the air temperature of the air flow can be set.

In one configuration, the air temperature can be set as a function of a temperature (“component temperature”) of at least one component of the electric vehicle. This advantageously enables a particularly precise thermal conditioning of the at least one component of the electric vehicle.

In one configuration, the charging station is set up to automatically receive values for the component temperature of at least one component of the connected electric vehicle. This can be done, for example, by data transmission from the electric vehicle to the charging station via the charging interface.

In one configuration, the air temperature of the air flow is set as a function of received (actual) values for the component temperature and a setpoint value for the component temperature. As a result, the thermal conditioning of the at least one component can take place towards a predetermined, in particular thermally particularly favorable, target state. For example, to cool the battery of the electric vehicle, the air temperature of the air flow can be set such that the battery is thermally conditioned or set to a target battery temperature of 25° C., for example, based on current actual values of the battery temperature. The setting can include regulating the component temperature to the setpoint using the air temperature of the air flow as the manipulated variable.

In principle, the charging cable and an air duct, e.g. hose, for the temperature-controlled air flow can be routed or routed independently of one another. For example, a user can connect the charging cable to the electric vehicle and then arrange the air duct in a suitable manner, for example pointing it at the battery in the case of a two-wheeler.

In one configuration, the charging station has a combination charging plug for connection to the Having an electric vehicle having a charging cable connected to the power connector and an air outlet connector connected to the air blower. This advantageously improves the user-friendliness and speed of connecting the electric vehicle to the charging station, since the charging cable and air duct are connected to the electric vehicle in a common handling process. Another advantage is that the temperature-controlled air flow can be directed into the electric vehicle in a particularly targeted manner, for example behind its body.

• - einen Verdichter, der Umgebungsluft ansaugt und erwärmte verdichtete Luft ausstößt,
• - eine ausstoßseitig dem Verdichter strömungstechnisch nachgeschaltete Luftverzweigung, , der sich ein erster Luftzweig und parallel dazu ein zweiter Luftzweig anschlie-ßen, die beide zu einem Luftauslass des Luftgebläses führen,

wobei

• - in dem ersten Zweig in Reihe geschaltet eine Luftkühlungseinrichtung und eine Turbine vorhanden sind, wobei die Turbine dazu eingerichtet ist, von der Luftkühlungseinrichtung angelieferte Luft zu entspannen und weiter zu kühlen und wobei
• - das Luftgebläse ist ferner dazu eingerichtet, die von dem Verdichter ausgestoßene Luft wahlweise durch den ersten Luftzweig und/oder durch den zweiten Luftzweig zu leiten.

It is an embodiment that the air blower has:

• - a compressor that sucks in ambient air and expels heated compressed air,
• - an air branch downstream of the compressor in terms of flow, which is connected to a first air branch and parallel to it a second air branch, both of which lead to an air outlet of the air fan,

whereby

• - An air cooling device and a turbine connected in series are present in the first branch, the turbine being set up to expand and further cool the air supplied by the air cooling device and wherein
• - The air fan is also set up to guide the air expelled from the compressor either through the first air branch and/or through the second air branch.

The air blower designed in this way corresponds to the arrangement of an open cold air machine.

The fact that the air fan is set up to direct the air expelled from the compressor either through the first air branch and/or through the second air branch can be implemented such that a valve with a controllably adjustable flow cross section is present in the second air branch. Another further development is that the air branch is designed as an air diverter, e.g. flap, with a controllably adjustable flap angle.

If the air expelled by the compressor is only routed through the first air branch via the air cooling device (e.g. an air cooler in the form of an intercooler) and then the turbine to the air outlet of the air fan, the ambient air drawn in can be brought to air temperatures of around -10 °C without any special design effort be cooled. If heated air or warm air is to be blown out by the air blower, the air expelled by the compressor can only flow through the second air branch to the air outlet of the air blower. In this way, ambient air drawn in can, for example, be heated to air temperatures of up to approx. 90 °C. By setting a relative air mass ratio of the air flowing through the first air branch and the second air branch, intermediate temperatures of the air temperature at the air outlet of the fan can be set.

In order to vary or change the air temperature at the air outlet of the fan, the speed of the compressor (if possible, see below) and/or the cooling capacity introduced into the air cooling device can also be varied.

In one embodiment, the compressor is driven by a variable-speed motor. As a result, the air temperature of the air flow blown out can be varied particularly easily and precisely.

The object is also achieved by an electric vehicle having a combination charging socket which has a power connection and an air connection and the air connection is connected to an air duct which leads to at least one component of the electric vehicle that is thermally stressed during an electrical charging process. The electric vehicle can be designed analogously to the charging station and has the same advantages. In particular, a targeted thermal conditioning of the thermally stressed component(s) can also be carried out effectively in this way if these component(s) are located in the vehicle that is difficult to access from the outside or are even arranged in a practically inaccessible manner.

In a further development, the air duct is set up (i.e. designed and arranged) in such a way that temperature-controlled air exiting from it is guided or blown over the component to be thermally conditioned.

Alternatively or additionally, an air duct can have a thermally highly conductive wall, e.g. made of metal, which is routed around the component to be thermally conditioned, in particular making contact with it or forming a uniform component with it.

In one configuration, the air duct leads to at least one component of the electric vehicle from the group comprising an energy store, a power connection on the charging socket of the vehicle, an electrical line connected to the power connection and/or a charger.

The object is also achieved by a method for changing a temperature on at least one component of an electric vehicle connected to a charging station, in which an air flow of temperature-controlled air is generated by means of the charging station and this air flow is directed to the at least one component. The method can be designed analogously to the charging station and the electric vehicle and has the same advantages.

• 1 zeigt eine Skizze einer Ladestation und eines daran angeschlossenen Elektrofahrzeugs;
• 2 zeigt eine Skizze mit einer detaillierteren Darstellung der Ladestation und des daran angeschlossenen Elektrofahrzeugs aus 1; und
• 3 zeigt eine Skizze eines Grundaufbaus eines Luftgebläses der Ladestation aus 1.

The characteristics, features and advantages of this invention described above, and the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings.

• 1 shows a sketch of a charging station and an electric vehicle connected to it;
• 2 shows a sketch with a more detailed representation of the charging station and the electric vehicle connected to it 1 ; and
• 3 Fig. 12 shows a sketch of a basic structure of an air blower of the charging station 1 .

1 shows a sketch of a charging station in the form of a charging station 1 and an electric vehicle 4 connected to it via a charging cable 2 for charging its battery 3 electrically. The charging station 1 and the electric vehicle 4 can also exchange data, for example via the charging cable 2 using a PLC. For example, data from the electric vehicle 4 such as a state of charge (SoC), a battery temperature T _batt of the battery 3 , etc. can be transmitted to the charging station 1 .

In addition to this, the charging station 1 has an air fan 5 which is designed to generate a temperature-controlled air flow L. This air flow L is provided via an air duct, here in the form of a flexible hose 6, to a user of the charging station 1 for temperature control or thermal conditioning of at least one component of the electric vehicle 4, here: the battery 3. The hose 6 can also be connected to the electric vehicle 4 at one end or alternatively directed towards the electric vehicle 4 .

In particular, the air blower 5 is designed here to selectively generate cold air or warm air, and in particular an air temperature T _L of the air flow L can be set, e.g. stepwise, in a further development also automatically by the charging station 1.

2 shows a sketch with a more detailed representation of the charging station 1 and the electric vehicle 4 connected to it via the charging cable 2 and the hose 6. The hose 6 and the charging cable 2 are designed here in particular as a combination line 2, 6 in the sense that they can be used by a user can be handled together as a combined line.

Furthermore, the hose 6 and the charging cable 2 open into a common combination charging plug 7 of the charging station 1, which can be plugged into a matching combination charging socket 8 of the electric vehicle 4. The combination charging plug 7 has the power connection connected to the charging cable 2 (e.g. one or more contact elements) and an air outlet connection 9 connected to the air blower 5 via the hose 6 .

The combi-charging socket 8 of the electric vehicle 4 has a counter-current connection that matches the power connection of the combi-charging plug 7 and can have one or more counter-contact elements, for example. The combination charging socket 8 also has an air connection which can be coupled to the air outlet connection 9 and which, on the other hand, is connected to an air duct 10 laid in the electric vehicle 4 . The air duct 10 leads to at least one component of the electric vehicle 4 that is thermally stressed during an electrical charging process, namely here at least to the battery 3, which heats up during charging. However, the air duct can additionally or alternatively lead, for example, to the counter-current connection, to at least one electrical line connected to the counter-current connection, to a charger (not shown), etc., and to optionally cool or heat these component(s). In particular, it is possible for the combination charging socket 8 to be tempered or thermally conditioned by the air flow L.

A charging process can then take place, for example, as follows: a driver drives the electric vehicle to the charging station 1 (this can alternatively be done autonomously without driver intervention) and closes the combination line 2.6 by coupling, e.g. plugging in, the combination charging plug 7 with the combination charging socket 8 on. As a result, the hose 6 and the air duct 10 are air-technically coupled, and the charging cable 2 is connected to the electric vehicle. Now, among other things, the state of charge and the temperature T _batt of the battery 3 , which is sensed via a temperature sensor 11 , are transmitted to the charging station 1 via the charging cable 2 . Optionally, for example, a temperature T _dose of the charging socket 8 sensed via a temperature sensor 12 can also be transmitted.

The charging station 1 is set up for this purpose, for example by programming data processing unit to set the air temperature T _L of the air flow L to a specific value (“target value”) depending on the received values of the temperature T _batt and/or the temperature T _dose . This target value is selected in such a way that it brings the temperature T _batt of the battery 3 to a target value of, for example, 25° C. and/or keeps it there during an electrical charging process that is carried out at the same time. This can be done using a suitable control algorithm, which can also take into account the electrical charging power, the battery behavior during charging, etc., for example.

Once the desired air temperature T _L has been determined, the air blower 5 is adjusted and activated accordingly. The airflow L, hereinafter a cooling airflow as an example, discharged from the air blower 5 flows through the hose 6 and the air outlet port 9 into the air duct 10 and is then discharged from the air duct 10 toward the battery 3 . This cools the battery 3, which is heated by the electrical charging process that is carried out at the same time. This can extend the life of the battery 3 and/or higher charging capacities can be implemented.

3 shows a sketch of a basic structure of the air blower 5. The air blower 5 has at least: a compressor or compressor 13, which draws in ambient air UL of the ambient air temperature T _amb and expels heated, compressed air. Downstream of the discharge side of the compressor 13 is an air branch 14 , which is followed by a first air branch 15 and, in terms of flow, a second air branch 16 parallel thereto, both of which lead to an air outlet 17 of the air fan 5 . In the first air branch 15, an air cooling device 18 (e.g. an intercooler) and a turbine 19 are present in series, with the turbine 19 being set up to expand the cooled air supplied by the air cooling device 18 and thereby cool it even further.

The air fan 5 is also set up to guide the air expelled by the compressor 13 selectively through the first air branch 15 and/or through the second air branch 16 . For this purpose, the second air branch 16 has a valve 20 as the only flow-impeding element, the flow cross section of which can be varied continuously or in several steps. If the valve 20 is closed, the warm air expelled from the compressor 13 is passed completely through the first air branch 15 and is thereby cooled to the maximum extent, for example to an air temperature T _L of up to -10°C. In a development, the air temperature T _L at the air outlet 17 can also be varied by changing the speed of a motor 21 driving the compressor 13 (if the speed of the motor can be regulated) and by changing the cooling capacity introduced into the air cooling device 18 .

If the valve 20 is fully open, the air expelled by the compressor 13 flows almost completely through the second air branch 16, since its flow resistance is comparatively lower than the flow resistance through the first air branch 15 an air temperature T _L of up to 90 °C.

If the valve 20 is partially open, part of the air expelled from the compressor 13 flows through the first air branch 15 and another part through the second air branch 16. Since the air flowing through the second air branch 16 is not cooled, the air outlet 17 cold air flowing from the first air branch 15 and the warm air flowing from the second air branch 16 are mixed. The air temperature T _L at the air outlet 17 can thus also be varied by changing the flow cross section of the valve 20 .

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.

The hose 6 can also be positioned separately from the charging cable 2.

Furthermore, instead of the valve 20, an air diverter such as a flap with a variably adjustable flap angle can be used.

In general, "a", "an" etc. can be understood as a singular or a plural number, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more" etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression "exactly a" etc.

A numerical specification can also include exactly the specified number as well as a usual tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

Reference List

1

charging station

2

charging cable

3

battery

4

electric vehicle

5

air blower

6

Hose

7

Combo charging connector

8th

Combination charging socket

9

air outlet connection

10

air duct

11

temperature sensor

12

temperature sensor

13

compressor

14

air manifold

15

First air branch

16

Second air branch

17

air outlet

18

air cooling device

19

turbine

20

Valve

21

engine

L

Air flow of tempered air

Tamb

ambient air temperature

tcan

Temperature of the charging socket

tray

battery temperature

tsp

Air temperature of the tempered air flow

UL

ambient air

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• FR 2999812 A3 [0003]
• DE 102012011606 A1 [0004]

Claims (13)

Charging station (1) for electric vehicles (4) to which at least one charging cable for electrically charging an electric vehicle (4) can be connected, the charging station (1) having at least one air fan (5) which is designed to generate a temperature-controlled air flow (L ) to generate at least in the form of cold air and to provide the air flow (L) to a user of the charging station (1) for tempering at least one component (3) of the electric vehicle (4). charging station (1) after claim 1 , wherein the air blower (5) is designed to produce temperature-controlled air flow (L) either in the form of cold air or warm air. Charging station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an air temperature (T _L ) of the air flow (L) is adjustable. charging station (1) after claim 3 , whereby the air temperature (T _L ) of the air flow (L) is automatically adjustable. charging station (1) after claim 4 , The air temperature (T _L ) of the air flow (L) being adjustable depending on an ambient temperature (T _amb ) and/or depending on a component temperature (T _batt , T _dose ) of at least one component (3) of the connected electric vehicle (4). charging station (1) after claim 4 , wherein the charging station (1) is set up to automatically receive values of the component temperature (T _batt , T _dose ) and the air temperature (T _L ) of the air flow (L) depending on the received values of the component temperature (T _batt , T _dose ) and a setpoint of the component temperature (T _batt , T _dose ). Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging station (1) has a combination charging plug (7) for connection to the electric vehicle (4), which has a power connection connected to the charging cable (2) and a power connection connected to the air blower (5 ) associated air outlet port (9). Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the air blower (5) is connected on the discharge side to an air duct (6), in particular a hose, for conducting and discharging the air flow (L). Charging station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air blower (5) comprises: - a compressor (13) that draws in ambient air (UL) and expels heated, compressed air, - an air branch (14) downstream of the compressor (13) in terms of flow, which is followed by a first air branch (15) and parallel thereto a second air branch (16), both of which lead to an air outlet (17) of the air blower (5), wherein - An air cooling device (18) and a turbine (19) are connected in series in the first branch, the turbine (19) being set up to expand and further cool the air supplied by the air cooling device (18) and wherein - The air fan (5) is also set up to direct the air expelled from the compressor (13) selectively through the first air branch (15) and/or through the second air branch (16). charging station (1) after claim 9 , wherein the compressor (13) can be driven by a variable-speed motor (21). Electric vehicle (4), having a combination charging socket (8) which has a power connection for a charging cable (2) and an air connection, and the air connection is connected to an air duct (10) leading to at least one component that is thermally stressed during an electrical charging process (3, 8) of the electric vehicle (4). electric vehicle (4) after claim 11 , Wherein the air duct (10) leads to at least one component of the electric vehicle from the group - energy store (3), - power connection (8), - connected to the power connection electrical line, - charger. Method for changing a temperature (T _batt , T _dose ) on at least one component (3) of an electric vehicle (4) connected to a charging station (1), in which an air flow (L) from temperature-controlled air is generated by means of the charging station (1). and this air flow (L) is directed to the at least one component (3).

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