WO2024096285A1

WO2024096285A1 - Charging control-based power amplifier

Info

Publication number: WO2024096285A1
Application number: PCT/KR2023/012886
Authority: WO
Inventors: 최정섭
Original assignee: (주)에너캠프
Priority date: 2022-10-31
Filing date: 2023-08-30
Publication date: 2024-05-10
Also published as: KR20240062311A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging control-based power amplifier. The charging control-based power amplifier comprises: a first switching unit having a plurality of switches connected to a first power supply unit; a plurality of battery modules connected to each switch; a second switching unit having a plurality of switches connected to each battery module; a current sensing unit connected to the plurality of switches of the second switching unit; an adder that adds a voltage applied from the current sensing unit and power applied from a second power supply unit and outputs the amplified power to a load; and a control unit that determines the current output current by using the current detection signal applied from a current detection unit, controls the operation of the second switching unit according to the determined state of the current output current to switch a currently discharging battery module currently supplying power to the load to another battery module from among the plurality of battery modules, and controls the charging operation of the currently discharging battery module by controlling the operation of the first switching unit.

Description

Charge control based power enhancer

The present invention relates to a power enhancement device based on charging control, and more specifically, to a power enhancement device based on charging control that enhances output power using two different power sources.

Due to the depletion of fossil fuels and the problem of environmental pollution, research on electric vehicles using electricity is actively being conducted and commercialized.

Electric vehicles do not use an internal combustion engine, but instead use a rechargeable battery to generate the energy needed to drive the vehicle. The battery must be charged in order to operate the vehicle.

There are two ways to charge the battery of an electric vehicle: slow charging, which is an alternating current charging method, and fast charging, which is a direct current charging method.

Additionally, loads such as electric vehicles can be charged using a mobile charging device equipped with a battery as well as a commercial power source.

A mobile charging device that is free to move has the advantage of not requiring installation costs associated with power equipment compared to a fixed charging device that has a fixed location.

In the case of fixed charging devices, there is a problem of incurring costs related to parking space because the space where the fixed charger must be installed must be specified. However, in the case of mobile charging devices, there is no need to fix the installation location, so the installation space is limited. There are no significant restrictions and the resulting cost issues are not significant.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to increase the amount of power applied to the load using a portable battery module.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to increase the amount of power applied to the load using a battery module.

Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide stable power supply to a load using a plurality of battery modules.

A charging control-based power enhancement device according to one feature of the present invention includes a first switching unit having a plurality of switches connected to a first power supply unit, a plurality of battery modules connected to each switch of the first switching unit, and A second switching unit having a plurality of switches connected to the battery module, a current sensing unit connected to the plurality of switches of the second switching unit, a voltage applied from the current sensing unit and a second power supply different from the first power supply unit. It is connected to an adder that sums the power applied from the power supply unit and outputs the increased power to the load, and the current detection unit, the first switching unit, and the second switching unit, and receives a current detection signal applied from the current detection unit. determines the current output current, and controls the operation of the second switching unit according to the determined state of the current output current, so that the currently discharging battery module currently supplying power to the load among the plurality of battery modules is switched to another battery module. and a control unit that controls the charging operation of the currently discharged battery module by switching and controlling the operation of the first switching unit.

Each switch of the second switching unit is a diode whose anode terminal is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding battery module, a first switching element whose one terminal is connected to the cathode terminal of the diode and the other terminal is connected to the current sensing unit. And it may include a second switching element whose one terminal is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding battery module and the other terminal is connected to the current sensing unit.

The control unit determines the current output current of the currently discharged battery module using the current detection signal applied from the current detection unit, and if the output current difference between the determined current output current and the previous output current is greater than a set value, the currently discharged battery module A control signal for controlling a switching operation from one discharge battery module to the next discharge battery module may be output to the second switching unit.

The control unit switches only one of the first switching element and the second switching element to a switching state in the current discharge switch connected to the current discharge battery module and the next discharge switch connected to the next discharge battery module. can be controlled to change.

The next discharged battery module may be a battery module located immediately after the current discharged battery module among a plurality of battery modules.

When the switching operation to the next discharging battery module is completed, the control unit may output a control signal to the first switching unit to turn on the switch of the first switching unit connected to the current discharging battery module.

The current sensing unit may include a shunt resistor.

The first power source may output direct current power, and the second power source may output alternating current power.

The power enhancement device based on charging control according to the above characteristics is connected to the second power supply unit and includes a converter that converts AC power output from the second power supply unit into DC power or converts the AC power into AC power and outputs it to the adder. More may be included.

The first power source may be an energy device using solar energy or wind power.

Each battery module may be a portable battery module that is separated from each other.

According to these characteristics, the final output power can be increased by using additional power. Power can be increased to a desired size by increasing or decreasing the number of separately designed battery modules and changing the connection state to series or parallel state. Additionally, depending on the amount of residual charge in the discharging battery, the currently discharging battery module can be electrically replaced with a new battery module. Because of this, even though it is a mobile charger, the amount of power delivered to the load can be maintained constant, so charging efficiency, such as the charging time of the load, can be improved.

Additionally, since a charging operation for another battery module can be performed while a battery module is being discharged, the charging time for charging the battery module can be greatly reduced.

1 is a conceptual diagram to explain the concept of the charging control-based power enhancement device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a power enhancement device based on charging control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a graph showing the change in current capacity value depending on the discharge state of the battery module of the power enhancement device based on charging control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an operation flowchart of the control unit of the power enhancement device based on charging control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A to 5G are diagrams showing the operation state of the second switching unit for switching from the current discharge battery module to the next discharge battery module under the control of the control unit in the power enhancement device based on charging control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, identical or similar components will be assigned the same reference numbers regardless of reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted. Additionally, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed descriptions will be omitted.

Terms containing ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In this application, each step described may be performed regardless of the listed order, except when it must be performed in the listed order due to a special causal relationship.

In this application, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features. It should be understood that it does not exclude in advance the possibility of the existence or addition of elements, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, a power enhancement device based on charging control according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, the operating concept of the power enhancement device based on charging control of the present invention will be described.

Power augmentation increases the amount of power entering the load by connecting a commercial power source and a separate power source separate from the commercial power source in parallel, which can reduce the charging speed of the load.

For example, power augmentation converts the power of the AC commercial power supply into direct current (DC), combines the power of the commercial power converted to DC with the power of a separate DC power source, and transmits it to the load, reducing the amount of power applied to the load. can be increased.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power enhancement device based on charging control for such power enhancement is conceptually an AC-DC converting the output of a commercial power source 11, such as an in-house power source, and an AC commercial power source 11 into direct current. Converter (AC-DC converter) (12), battery module (e.g., separate power source) (13), direct current (DC)-direct current (DC) converter (14) that boosts the output of the battery module (13), which is direct current (DC) ), an inverter 15 may be provided to convert the combined output of the AC-DC converter 12 and the DC-DC converter 14 into AC and output it to the load 100.

At this time, the inverter 15 may be omitted as needed depending on the characteristics of the load, and an adder that sums the output may be additionally provided.

For example, when the output of the commercial power supply 11 is up to 3 kW, the final output output to the load by summing with the power of the battery module 13 can increase the power to 7 kW to 11 kW, and the commercial power supply (11 ) When the output is 7kW to 50kW, the final output output to the load by summing it with the power of the battery module 13 can increase the power to 50kW to 120kW.

At this time, the battery module 13 may be a modular battery designed as a separate module, or may be a portable battery module that can be moved and installed in a desired location. This battery module 13 can be charged not only through generally supplied electricity but also through an external power source 110 such as an eco-friendly energy device using solar energy or wind power.

A plurality of battery modules 13 of the present invention can be used by connecting them in series or parallel, and the number of electrically connected battery modules 14 can also be increased or decreased depending on the level of the desired output voltage.

When the load is an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle can be charged using the final output of the charging control-based power enhancement device, and at this time, the power applied to the electric vehicle using the charging control-based power enhancement device of the present invention. By increasing power, slow charging or fast charging can be performed.

During slow charging, the power of the final output voltage may be 7kW to 11kW, and during fast charging, the power of the final output voltage may be 50kW to 120kW.

In addition, since the power applied to the electric vehicle during slow charging is alternating current, the combined power of the commercial power source 11 and the power source (e.g., battery power) of the battery module 13 is used using a DC-AC inverter. can be converted to alternating current and then output to electric vehicles.

In addition, if necessary during high-speed charging using direct current power, the combined power of the commercial power source 11 and the battery power in direct current state can be boosted using a DC-DC converter and then output to the electric vehicle.

In this way, the charging power of the electric vehicle can be increased by connecting the output of the battery module 13 to a power enhancement device based on charging control using the commercial power source 11, so the charging speed of the electric vehicle during slow charging can be greatly increased. It can be improved.

Additionally, the output of the electric vehicle charging system can be expanded by combining the battery module 13 of the present invention with the electric vehicle charging system.

By distributing and managing a large amount of power using the battery module 13 configured in the form of a module, the efficiency of power management can be improved and it can be advantageous in terms of heat management.

Moreover, the battery module 13, whose installation position is free to move, may have the advantage of not incurring or greatly reducing installation costs due to power equipment compared to a fixed charging control device that cannot be moved due to its fixed installation position.

As already described, the stationary charging control device must have a specific installation location, so if you want to use the stationary charging control device to perform charging operations for loads such as electric vehicles, the stationary charging control device must be installed at the location where the stationary charging control device is installed. Since the load must be moved and positioned, space for the load (e.g. parking space) may be needed.

Therefore, in the case of a fixed charging control device, difficulties arise in securing such space. However, when using the battery module 13, the mobile battery module 13 can be moved to the place where the load is located instead of the load, and the size of the space for the mobile battery module 13 is not large, so the mobile battery module ( 13) There is no significant burden of securing a separate space for this, and as a result, there are no corresponding costs incurred.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5G, a power enhancement device based on charging control according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIG. 2, the charging control-based power enhancement device of this example includes an external power source (DC10) (e.g., a first power supply unit), a first converter 10 whose input terminal is connected to the external power source (DC10), and a first converter. A first switching unit 20 having an output terminal connected to (10), a battery module unit 30 having a plurality of battery modules, each of which has an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the first switching unit 20, and a battery module unit. A second switching unit 40, each input terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of each battery module of (30), a current sensing unit 50, and a current sensing unit 50 connected to the output terminal of the second switching unit 40. The second converter 60 connected to the commercial power supply (AC10) (e.g., the second power supply unit), the third converter 70 connected to the commercial power supply (AC10), the output terminal of the second converter 60, and the third converter 70 connected to the commercial power supply (AC10). 3 An adder 80 having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the converter 70 and an output terminal connected to the load 100, and a first switching unit 20, a second switching unit 40, and a current sensing unit 50. ) may be provided with a control unit 90 connected to the.

In this example, the load 100 may be an electric vehicle 100, for example, and in this case, the power output from the adder 80 may be used to charge a battery mounted on the electric vehicle 100.

However, the load 100 is not limited to this, and may be a device that can perform a charging or driving operation of a mounted battery using power output from the adder 80.

The external power source (DC10) is a power source for charging each battery module, and may be a separate power source different from the commercial power source, such as a renewable energy source such as a solar power generator or wind discharger as well as a commercial power source.

When the external power source (DC10) is a separate power source different from the commercial power source, the external power source (DC10) may output power in a direct current (DC) state.

The first converter 10 may be a DC-DC converter that outputs DC power output from the external power source DC10 as DC power of a predetermined size.

Therefore, the DC power converted by the first converter 10 can be applied to the first switching unit 20 and used as power to charge the corresponding battery module of the battery module unit 30.

The first switching unit 20 is used to apply direct current power supplied from the first converter 10 to one of the plurality of battery modules under the control of the control unit 90.

To this end, the first switching unit 20 may have an input terminal connected to the first converter 10 and a plurality of output terminals connected to the input terminal of each battery module.

An example of this first switching unit 20 may include a plurality of switches (SW21-SW2n) connected to each battery module, as shown in FIG. 1.

The plurality of switches (SW21-SW2n) may all have the same structure, and as an example, may include a switching element whose operating state is changed to turn on or off under the control of the control unit 90.

The switching elements (SW21-SW2n) may be switching elements such as relays or transistors whose operating states change depending on the control signal applied from the control unit 90.

Accordingly, one side of each switch (SW21-SW2n) is commonly connected to the first converter 10, and the other side can be connected to the input side of each corresponding battery module, so that a plurality of switches are connected under the control of the control unit 90. One of the switches (SW21-SW2n) is electrically and physically connected to one of the plurality of battery modules, so that the voltage output from the first converter 10 can be supplied to the connected battery module.

As a result, the battery module that receives the output voltage of the first converter 10 through the switches (SW21-SW2n) can be charged by the supplied voltage.

As already described, the battery module unit 30 may include a plurality of battery modules and may include an installation detection unit (not shown) that detects whether each battery module is installed.

Accordingly, the battery module unit 30 may be provided with at least one mounting part on which a battery module is mounted and a mounting detection part located in each mounting part to detect whether a battery module is mounted on the mounting part.

At this time, the mounting detection unit may be a photo sensor including a light-emitting diode and a photo transistor, and may be connected to the control unit 90, thereby generating a mounting detection signal output from each mounting detection unit ( S1-Sn) may be input to the control unit 90.

Accordingly, the control unit 90 can determine whether a battery module is mounted on the corresponding mounting unit by using the mounting detection signal (S1-Sn) applied from each mounting detection unit.

At this time, each mounting part may be assigned a unique identification number, and as a result, the control unit 90 determines the mounting position of the mounting detection part (i.e., the position of the mounting part) using the position of the input terminal where each mounting detection signal is input. It is possible to determine whether a battery module is located in each mounting part.

The plurality of battery modules may be modular batteries each manufactured as a separate module.

Accordingly, each battery module, as a portable battery, can be provided with battery cells that output a direct current voltage of a predetermined size, and can individually perform charging and discharging operations.

Accordingly, each battery module may have at least one input terminal to receive a voltage for charging the battery cell and at least one output terminal to output the voltage toward the load 100 located at the rear end.

Additionally, the battery module may be additionally equipped with a handle attached to the external case for convenience of movement. In this way, when the battery module is provided with a handle, the user can easily place and use the desired number of battery modules in the desired location.

In this example, the battery cell of each battery module may be a lithium-ion battery cell, and in this case, the charging and discharging operations for one battery module cannot be performed simultaneously. Therefore, in this example, when one battery module is electrically connected to the load 100 by the operation of the second switching unit 40 and performs a discharging operation, the other battery module is connected to the load 100 by the operation of the second switching unit 40. Charging can be accomplished by connecting to an external power source (DC10) through the operation of .

In this way, when one battery module (e.g., currently discharging battery module) performs a discharging operation, another battery module (e.g., currently charging battery module) performs a charging operation, so that a charging operation for a plurality of battery modules and Since the discharging operation can be performed efficiently, the charging operation of the battery module can be managed efficiently.

Additionally, when the battery cell of the battery module is a lithium-ion battery cell, as shown in FIG. 3, when the remaining amount of internal charge in the battery module exceeds a threshold (eg, 18 Ah), the discharge rate may be rapidly reduced.

However, in this example, since there are other battery modules that have completed charging in addition to the currently discharging battery module, if the remaining amount of charge (e.g., residual charge amount) of the currently discharging battery module is below the set amount, the second switching unit 40 is used to You can change the currently discharged battery module to another battery module.

Because of this, the amount of power applied to the electric vehicle 100, which is the load 100, does not change significantly, so the charging speed of the electric vehicle 100 can be maintained without decreasing regardless of the remaining amount of the battery module. Therefore, compared to when the electric vehicle 100 is charged using a single battery module, the charging speed of the electric vehicle 100 according to this example can be greatly improved.

The second switching unit 40 may include a plurality of input terminals and one output terminal connected to the output terminal of each battery module.

Accordingly, the second switching unit 40 is electrically and physically connected to one of the plurality of battery modules under the control of the control unit 90, and outputs the voltage output from the connected battery module toward the load 100. You can.

This second switching unit 40, similar to the first switching unit 20, may be provided with a plurality of switches 41-4n having the same structure, and each switch 41-4n has one structure. It can be equipped with a diode (D41-D4n) and two switching elements (SW411-SW41n, SW421-SW42n).

Therefore, as an example, each switch (41-4n) has a diode (D41-D4n) whose anode terminal is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding battery module, and one terminal of which is connected to the cathode terminal of the diode (D41-D4n) A switching element (e.g., first switching element) (SW411-SW41n) whose other terminal is connected to the current detection unit 50, and one terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding battery module, is connected to the current detection unit 50. A switching element (e.g., a second switching element) (SW421-SW42n) to which the other terminal is connected may be provided.

The second switching elements (SW421-SW42n) may be connected in parallel to the diodes (D41-D4n) and the first switching elements (SW411-SW41n), which are connected in series.

In this example, the first and second switching elements (SW411-SW41n, SW421-SW42n) may also be relays or transistors whose operating states change depending on the control signal applied from the control unit 90.

Accordingly, the second switching unit 40 electrically and physically connects one of the plurality of switches 41-4n to one of the plurality of battery modules under the control of the control unit 90, so that the connected battery The power output from the module can be output toward the load 100 to charge the load 100.

The current sensing unit 50 may include a shunt resistor.

One terminal of the current sensing unit 50 may be connected to the output terminal of each switch 41-4n of the second switching unit 40, and the other terminal may be connected to the input terminal of the second converter 60.

Therefore, the control unit 90 can measure the current flowing through the current detection unit 50 by detecting the potential difference between the voltages (Vst+, Vst-) detected at both terminals of the current detection unit 50, and thereby, the current The current charge amount of the discharged battery module, that is, the current state of charge, can be determined.

Accordingly, the control unit 90 can control the operation of the second switching unit 40 according to the determined current charging state of the current discharging battery module to control the switching operation to a new discharging battery module, and also control the operation of the first switching unit 40. By controlling the operation of the unit 20, the charging operation of a discharged battery module that requires charging (eg, a currently discharged battery module before switching) can be controlled.

The second converter 60 receives the voltage supplied from the currently discharged battery module currently connected to the second switching unit 40 through the current sensing unit 50, converts it into a direct current voltage of the corresponding size, and then converts it into a direct current voltage of the corresponding size and then converts it to a DC voltage of the corresponding magnitude. ) can be output.

At this time, the second converter 60 may be a DC-DC converter.

The commercial power source (AC10) may be a power supply supplied from a power plant to the home, and may output an alternating current voltage of approximately 100 to 220 V. The alternating current voltage supplied from the commercial power source (AC10) is converted to power by the third converter 70. It can be converted to direct current voltage and then output to the adder 80.

However, in an alternative example, it could be a converted power source using the utility power source (AC10) or a separate external power source other than the utility power source (AC10) supplied from the outside, such as an external power source (DC10) instead of the utility power source (AC10). In this case, the power of these power sources may be alternating current or direct current.

In this example, the power applied to the load may be alternating current or direct current depending on the characteristics of the load, and accordingly, at least one of the first to

third converters

10, 60, and 70 of this example may be omitted. Additionally, when the characteristics of the power applied to the load are alternating current, at least one of the first to

third converters

10, 60, and 70 may convert the alternating current power into alternating current power.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one converter may be added that converts direct current power to alternating current power depending on the state of the power applied to the load (i.e. alternating current or direct current state).

The adder 80 has two (+) input terminals (e.g., a first (+) input terminal and a second (+) input terminal) connected to the output terminal of the second converter 60 and the output terminal of the third converter 70, respectively. It may have one output terminal connected to the overload 100.

Accordingly, the adder 80 can add the two direct current voltages input to the first (+) input terminal and the second (+) input terminal, respectively, and output the sum to the electric vehicle 100, which is the load 100, through the output terminal.

Accordingly, the electric vehicle 100 can perform a charging operation of the battery using the power output through the adder 80.

A charging control-based power enhancement device according to an alternative example may additionally include an inverter that converts a direct current signal into an alternating current signal between the adder and the electric vehicle 100.

In this way, when the charging control-based power enhancement device of the present example is provided with an inverter, the power of the AC component converted by the inverter can be applied to the electric vehicle 100, which is the load 100, and thereby, the electric vehicle 100 may perform a charging operation of the corresponding battery through a slow charging mode.

In this way, the charging control-based power enhancement device of this example can add power using a portable battery module that is convenient to move to the power using a commercial power source (AC10) and apply it to the load 100. Because of this, power can be conveniently and easily increased using a portable battery module that is easy to move and install.

In addition, compared to a commercial power source (AC10) whose size is fixed, the number of battery modules can be adjusted depending on the size of power to be increased through the battery module, so user convenience can be greatly improved.

The control unit 90 is a control module that controls the charging control-based power enhancement device of this example, and may be a processor and may be provided with a storage unit such as a memory 91 therein. However, in another example, the memory 91 may be provided as a separate component from the control unit 90 and may be connected to the control unit 90.

As already described, the control unit 90 detects the voltages (Vst+, Vst-) of both terminals of the current detection unit 50, and outputs the voltage from the currently discharged battery module currently connected to the second switching unit 40. Current can be detected.

Accordingly, the control unit 90 can control the operation of the second switching unit 40 by determining the amount of charge remaining in the currently discharged battery module using the detected current, and also the switching operation of the first switching unit 20. It can also be controlled. At this time, the control unit 90 can determine the status of the battery module currently installed in the installation unit using the installation detection signals (S1-Sn) applied from each installation detection unit, and according to this installation situation, the second switching unit ( 40) operations can be controlled.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the control unit 90 according to this example will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the operation starts, the control unit 90 reads the voltages (Vst+, Vst-) output from both terminals of the current detection unit 50 (S11) and then calculates the difference between the two voltages, The current output from the currently discharging battery module (e.g., current output current) can be calculated (S12).

Then, the control unit 90 may store the calculated current as the current output current in the memory 91 (S12).

Next, the control unit 90 can read the previous output current stored in the memory 91, calculate the output current difference with the calculated current output current (e.g., previous output current - current output current), and compare it with the set value. There is (S13, S14).

At this time, the set value may be determined by referring to the threshold for the remaining amount of internal charge of the battery module. If the output current difference is greater than or equal to the set value, the remaining internal charge of the currently discharging battery module may approach or reach a threshold value, and the discharge rate of the currently discharging battery module may be rapidly reduced.

Therefore, if the output current difference is less than the set value (S14), the control unit 90 maintains the operating state of the second switching unit 40 as is and connects the corresponding battery module currently performing the discharging operation to the currently discharging battery module. It can continue to be maintained as, and the current output current can be stored in the memory 91 as the previous output current (S15).

However, if the output current difference is greater than or equal to the set value (S14), the control unit 90 may determine that the remaining charge amount of the currently discharging battery module is less than or equal to the set amount. For this reason, the control unit 90 changes the currently discharging battery module that is supplying power to the electric vehicle 100 to another battery module so that power can be continuously supplied to the electric vehicle 100 from the changed other battery module. Through this switching operation of the currently discharged battery module, the charging speed of the electric vehicle 100 does not decrease due to the remaining charge of the battery module and allows the electric vehicle 100 to maintain a normal speed.

In addition, when switching the current discharged battery module to the next discharged battery module (e.g., the next discharged battery module) in which the discharging operation will be performed, if the power supply to the electric vehicle 100 is cut off during the switching operation, the electric vehicle 100 )'s charging operation may also be interrupted.

Therefore, when a switching operation is performed from the current discharging battery module to the next discharging battery module, it is necessary to prevent power supply from being cut off due to the switch switching operation of the second switching unit 40.

Accordingly, if the output current difference is greater than or equal to the set value (S14), the control unit 90 may determine the next discharging battery module in which the discharging operation is performed next among the plurality of battery modules (S16).

The discharging order for a plurality of battery modules may already be stored in the memory 91. For example, the memory 91 may store the battery module unit 30 according to the position of the mounting portion (e.g., battery module mounting order). The discharge order of the battery module may be determined.

For example, the battery module unit 30 may be provided with four mounting parts, and the positions of the input terminals to the control unit 90 may be determined according to the positions of the mounting parts from the top to the bottom. Accordingly, the control unit 90 can determine the location of the mounting portion where the battery module is currently located according to the state of the mounting detection signal input through each corresponding input terminal and the location of each corresponding input terminal.

In contrast, in an alternative example, each mounting part may be assigned a unique identification number, and the mounting detection signal output from each mounting part includes not only whether the battery module is mounted but also the corresponding identification number and is output to the control unit 90. can do. Accordingly, the control unit 90 can determine the location of the mounting unit where the battery module is currently located using the identification number included in the input mounting detection signal.

As an example, the discharge order of the battery modules stored in the memory 91 may be changed depending on the positional order of the battery modules. For example, the order may be changed sequentially starting from the battery module currently located at the top or front. You can.

Accordingly, the control unit 90 determines the position of the currently discharging battery module (e.g., the first battery module 31) and then determines the position of the battery module (e.g., immediately below) the currently discharging battery module. The second battery module 32 may be the next discharged battery module.

If the position of the currently discharging battery module (e.g., the fourth battery module) is at the bottom or at the rear, the control unit 90 reconnects the battery module (e.g., the first battery module 31) located at the top or front. It can be determined by the following discharged battery module.

In this way, the control unit 90 can determine the next discharged battery module to be discharged next according to the position of the battery module.

In this way, when the next discharge battery module is determined among the plurality of discharge battery modules, the control unit 90 performs a switching operation from the current discharge battery module to the next discharge battery module using the control signal applied to the second switching unit 40. can be controlled (S17).

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5G, the switching control operation (S17) of the discharge battery module by the control unit 90 will be described in detail.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as an example, it is assumed that the currently discharging battery module is the first battery module 31 and the next discharging battery module is assumed to be the second battery module 32.

Accordingly, in FIGS. 5A to 5G, the first switch 41 (e.g., the current discharge switch) is respectively connected to the first battery module 31, which is the current discharging battery module, and the second battery module 32, which is the next discharging battery module. ) and the state change of only the second switch 42 (e.g., the next discharge switch) can be shown sequentially.

When switching the discharged battery module from the first battery module 31 to the second battery module 32, the other battery modules, the third battery module 33 to the nth battery module 3n, are connected to the second switching unit 40. ), so all switching elements (SW431-SW4n1, SW432-SW43n) provided in the third to nth switches (33-3n) respectively connected to the third to nth battery modules (33) to the nth battery module (3n). ) can all remain off.

First, as shown in FIG. 5A, since the first battery module 31 is currently a discharged battery module, the first switching of the first switch 41 of the second switching unit 40 connected to the first battery module 31 The device SW411 may maintain an off state, and the second switching device SW412 may maintain an off state. At this time, both the first switching element (SW421) and the second switching element (SW422) of the second switch 42 connected to the second battery module 32, which is the next discharging battery module, may remain in an off state.

For this reason, the power applied to the load 100 may be the power of the first battery module 31 transmitted through the second switching element (SW412) of the first switch 41 that is in the on state.

In the state of FIG. 5A, the control unit 90 uses the first switching element connected to the diode D41 of the first switch 41, as shown in FIG. 5B, for a discharge switching operation to the second battery module 32. (SW411) can be turned on and the second switching element (SW412) can still be kept in the on state. At this time, all switching elements of the second switch 42, the first switching element (SW421) and the second switching element (SW422), can still remain in the off state.

For this reason, the power applied to the load 100 may be the power of the first battery module 31 transmitted through the second switching element (SW412) of the first switch 41 that is still in the on state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the control unit 90 turns on the first switching element (SW411) connected to the diode (D41) of the first switch 41, and the second switching element (SW412) is in the on state. It can be switched to the off state. Even at this time, all switching elements of the second switch 42, the first switching element (SW421) and the second switching element (SW422), can still remain in the off state.

Because of this, the power applied toward the load 100 is still the power applied from the first battery module 31, but instead, the power of the first battery module 31 is applied toward the load 100 through the diode D41. , The voltage drop may be the power generated by the diode D41 of the first switch 41.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, the control unit 90 can change the first switching element (SW421) of the second switch 42 connected to the second battery module 32 from the off state to the on state. .

By turning on the second switch 42, the power applied to the load 100 may be the power of the second battery module 32, which is the next discharged battery module.

That is, since the current charge amount of the first battery module 31 of the currently discharged battery module is significantly less than that of the second battery module 32 that is not discharged, the output voltage of the first battery module 31 is the second battery module ( 32) may be lower than the output voltage. Because of this, even if the first switching element (SW411) of the first switch 41 remains in the on state, the first switching element (SW421) of the second switch 42 connected to the second battery module 32 Power from the second battery module 32 may be transmitted to the load 100 through this.

At this time, since the reverse voltage is applied to the diode D41 located in the first switch 41, the first battery module 31 through the diode D41 of the first switch 41 and the turned-on first switching element SW411 ) power is no longer applied to the load 100 and may be blocked.

Accordingly, the diode D41 can function as a reverse current prevention diode, and from this point on, the power applied to the load 100 can be switched from the first battery module 31 to the second battery module 32. Because of this, the second battery module 32 may be a new, currently discharged battery module, and the first battery module 31 may be a new, previously discharged battery module.

In addition, as the first switching element (SW421) of the second switch 42 is turned on at the time of FIG. 5D, the voltage between the output voltage of the first battery module 31 and the output voltage of the second battery module 32 A difference occurs, and sparks may occur due to this voltage difference. However, the size of the spark generated due to the voltage difference between the output voltage of the first battery module 31 and the output voltage of the second battery module 32 does not cause damage to the battery module portion 30.

The operation to suppress spark generation due to the simultaneous switching operation of the first switch 41 connected to the first battery module 31 and the second switch 42 connected to the second battery module 32 is performed up to the operation shown in FIG. 5D. It has been completed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5E, the on state of the first switch 41 connected to the first battery module 31 is no longer necessary, so the control unit 90 maintains the first switch 41 in the on state. The first switching element (SW411) of can be switched to the off state. Due to this, all switching elements (SW411, SW412) of the first switch 41 connected to the first battery module 31, which is the previous discharged battery module, designate the first battery module 31 as the next discharged battery module to perform the next discharge. All can remain in the off state until a switching operation to the battery module is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5F, the control unit 90 turns on the second switching element (SW422) of the second switch 42 connected to the second battery module 32 to turn on the second battery module 32. The power can be transmitted directly to the load 100 through the second switching element (SW422) without passing through the diode (D42). Because of this, the load 100 can receive power from the second battery module 32 in which no voltage drop occurs due to the diode D42.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5G, the control unit 90 turns off the first switching element (SW421) of the second switch 42, that is, the first switching element (SW421) connected to the diode D42, The power of the second battery module 32 is transmitted to the load 100 through the second switching element (SW422), which is normally maintained in the on state.

Due to this, the currently discharged battery module is completely switched from the first battery module 31 to the second battery module 32, and is directed toward the load 100 until the remaining charge of the second battery module 32 decreases to the set amount. Power can be supplied.

As the switching operation of the switch (e.g., 41) connected to the current discharging battery module (e.g., 31) and the switch (e.g., 42) connected to the next discharging battery module (e.g., 32) are performed sequentially, the load (100) ), power can be transmitted smoothly and without interruption.

As explained with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5G, the control unit 90 operates the current discharge switch 41 connected to the current discharge battery module 31 and the next discharge switch connected to the next discharge battery module 32 ( In 42), the switching state of only one of the first switching elements (SW411, SW421) and the second switching elements (SW412, SW422) is changed so that the different switching elements are not turned on or off at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent sparks from occurring when different switching elements are switched simultaneously.

In this example, for convenience of explanation, one battery module among the plurality of battery modules 31-3n is electrically connected to the load 100, and the operation of supplying power from one battery module to the load 100 is performed. It is explained. However, unlike this, by the operation of the second switching unit 40, two or more battery modules are electrically connected to the load 100 at the same time, and the power output from each of the plurality of battery modules is summed to supply power of the desired size to the load. It can be forwarded to (100).

Even in this case, in the manner described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5G, a switching operation to another battery module is performed according to the current charge amount of the battery module, so that the desired amount of power can be transmitted to the load 100 without interruption.

Again, referring to FIG. 4, when the transition control operation from the current discharged battery module to the next discharged battery module is completed, the current charge less than the set amount exists and the battery module requiring charging, that is, the previous battery module (e.g. , the charging operation for the first battery module 31 can be controlled.

Therefore, the control unit 90 outputs a control signal to the first switching unit 20 to switch the first switch 21 connected to the first battery module 31 from the off state to the on state to convert the first converter (10) can be electrically connected to the corresponding battery module (S17).

As a result, the power of the external power source DC10 is applied to the previously discharged battery module (eg, 41) that needs to be charged through the first converter 10, so that the previously discharged battery module 41 can be charged. At this time, the control unit 90 may control the charging operation of the previously discharged battery module 31 during the set time. In this case, the control unit 90 may control the charging operation of the previously discharged battery module 31 when the charging time of the previously discharged battery module 31 reaches the set time. The switch 21 can be switched from the on state to the off state to block power applied to the previously discharged battery module.

Or, as an alternative example, the current state of charge, such as the amount of current charge for each battery module, can be used to control the charging operation of the previously discharged battery module.

In this case, the charging control-based power enhancement device may be additionally provided with a charging state detection unit (not shown) that detects the charging status (e.g., remaining charge) of each battery module, and the control unit 90 may be configured to detect the charging status of each battery module. The current charging state of each battery module can be determined using the charging state detection signal applied from the detection unit.

Therefore, in this case, the control unit 90 determines the current charging state by reading the charging state detection signal input from the corresponding charging state detection unit connected to the previously discharged battery module currently in charge, and then determines the current charging state. When the set amount is reached, the corresponding switch connected to the previously discharged battery module can be controlled from the on state to the off state.

In this way, when the charging operation of each battery module is controlled using the charging state detection unit, the control unit 90 can accurately control the charging state of the corresponding battery module to a desired state, so that the charged state of all battery modules can be adjusted while waiting for discharge. are all in the same state, so the reliability of operation can be greatly improved.

In this way, the final power delivered to the load 100 may be the sum of not only the power delivered through the commercial power supply (AC10) but also the power output from at least one battery module.

As a result, the size of the final power delivered to the load 100 may increase compared to when only the Senate power source is used, and this may cause effects such as a shortening of the charging speed for the battery of the load 100.

In addition, since each battery module is free to move and can be easily combined with other battery modules, the user can select the number of battery modules used according to the amount of power to be increased, thereby improving user convenience.

In addition, by using a plurality of battery modules to increase power, a switching operation to other battery modules is performed according to the residual charge amount of each battery module, so that the power increase operation using the battery module is performed without interruption, and other batteries that require charging at the same time are performed. A charging operation for the module can be performed.

Therefore, when the battery module is a lithium-ion battery including lithium-ion battery cells, charging and discharging operations for one battery module cannot be implemented simultaneously.

However, in this example, since charging and discharging operations for different battery modules are performed simultaneously using the first switching unit 20 and the second switching unit 40, the charging efficiency of each battery module will be greatly improved. You can.

In addition, charging efficiency can be improved, such as a reduction in charging speed, compared to when charging the load 100 using a single battery module, and problems caused by discharge of the battery module can also be greatly improved.

Additionally, since charging and discharging operations for different battery modules can be performed simultaneously, power supply to the load 100 can be maintained while converting the discharging battery module to charge the load 100.

In addition, since the number of battery modules can be increased by the number desired by the user, an extra battery module is provided that maintains a fully charged state even if the charging rate is slower than the discharging rate for one battery module, so the load 100 This can enable uninterrupted power supply. As the number of battery modules used (i.e., expanded) increases, the burden of the difference between the charging and discharging rates of the battery modules decreases.

The technical features disclosed in each embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the corresponding embodiment, and unless they are incompatible with each other, the technical features disclosed in each embodiment may be combined and applied to other embodiments.

Therefore, in each embodiment, each technical feature is mainly explained, but unless the technical features are incompatible with each other, they can be applied in combination with each other.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and variations will be possible from the perspective of those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined not only by the claims of this specification but also by equivalents to these claims.

Claims

A power enhancement device based on charge control, comprising:

a first switching unit including a plurality of switches connected to a first power supply unit;

a plurality of battery modules connected to each switch of the first switching unit;

a second switching unit including a plurality of switches connected to each battery module;

a current sensing unit connected to a plurality of switches of the second switching unit;

an adder that adds the voltage applied from the current sensing unit and the power applied from the first power supply unit and a second power supply unit different from the first power supply unit and outputs the increased power to the load; and

It is connected to the current detection unit, the first switching unit, and the second switching unit, and determines the current output current using the current detection signal applied from the current detection unit, and determines the current output current according to the determined state of the current output current. Controls the operation of the second switching unit to switch the currently discharged battery module currently supplying power to the load among the plurality of battery modules to another battery module, and controls the operation of the first switching unit to switch the current discharged battery module to another battery module. Control unit that controls charging operation

A charge control-based power enhancer comprising a.
According to claim 1,

Each switch of the second switching unit,

A diode whose anode terminal is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding battery module;

a first switching element having one terminal connected to the cathode terminal of the diode and the other terminal connected to the current sensing unit; and

A second switching element having one terminal connected to the output terminal of the corresponding battery module and the other terminal connected to the current sensing unit.

A charge control-based power enhancer comprising a.
According to clause 2,

The control unit,

The current output current of the currently discharged battery module is determined using the current detection signal applied from the current detection unit, and if the output current difference between the determined current output current and the previous output current is greater than a set value, the next discharge is performed from the currently discharged battery module. A charging control-based power enhancement device that outputs a control signal that controls a switching operation to the battery module to the second switching unit.
According to clause 3,

The control unit switches only one of the first switching element and the second switching element to a switching state in the current discharge switch connected to the current discharge battery module and the next discharge switch connected to the next discharge battery module. A power enhancer based on charge control that controls to change.
According to clause 3,

The next discharging battery module is a battery module located immediately after the current discharging battery module among a plurality of battery modules.
According to clause 3,

When the switching operation to the next discharging battery module is completed, the control unit outputs a control signal to the first switching unit to turn on the switch of the first switching unit connected to the current discharging battery module. .
According to claim 1,

A charge control-based power enhancement device wherein the current sensing unit includes a shunt resistor.
According to claim 1,

A power enhancement device based on charging control wherein the first power unit outputs direct current power, and the second power unit outputs alternating current power.
According to clause 8,

A power enhancement device based on charging control further comprising a converter connected to the second power supply unit to convert AC power output from the second power supply unit into direct current power or convert the AC power into AC power and output the converted AC power to the adder.
According to clause 8,

The first power source is a charging control-based power enhancement device that is an energy device using solar energy or wind power.
According to claim 1,

A power enhancement device based on charge control, where each battery module is a portable battery module that is separated from each other.