Apparatus and method for rapid charging using shared power electronics
An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.
1. A vehicle comprising:
a first energy storage device;
a charging system comprising a first voltage converter, the first voltage converter coupleable to the first energy storage device via a first switching device, the first voltage converter comprising a plurality of half wave modules configured to rectify and boost an AC signal derived from an external charging source;
a second energy storage device; and
a traction drive system comprising a second voltage converter, the second voltage converter coupleable to the second energy storage device via a second switching device;
the second switching device being configured to selectively decouple the second voltage converter from the second energy storage device during a period when the first energy storage device is coupled to the first voltage converter via the first switching device to be charged from the external charging source; and
the second switching device being configured to selectively couple the second voltage converter to the second energy storage device during a period when the second energy storage device is to be charged via regenerative braking.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the traction drive system further comprises a traction motor/generator.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an axle coupled to the traction drive system, the axle comprising one or more drive wheels.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to selectively operate the first switching device and the second switching device.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second voltage converter comprises a DC/DC converter configured to operate in a bucking mode.
6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second voltage converter comprises a DC/DC converter configured to operate in a boosting mode.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first energy storage device comprises a battery.
8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the external charging source comprises an AC source.
9. A method for charging a vehicle, the vehicle including a first voltage converter coupleable to a first energy storage device via a first switching device and a second voltage converter coupleable to a second energy storage device via a second switching device, the method comprising:
rectifying and boosting via the first voltage converter an AC signal derived from an external charging source;
selectively decoupling the second voltage converter from the second energy storage device via the second switching device during a period when the first energy storage device is coupled to the first voltage converter via the first switching device to be charged from the external charging source; and
selectively coupling the second voltage converter to the second energy storage device via the second switching device during a period when the second energy storage device is to be charged via regenerative braking.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising operating the first switching device and second switching device via a controller of the vehicle.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising operating the second voltage converter in a bucking mode.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising operating the second voltage converter in a boosting mode.
13. A vehicle comprising:
a first energy storage device;
a first voltage converter coupleable to the first energy storage device via a first switching device, the first voltage converter configured to rectify and boost an AC signal derived from an external charging source;
a second energy storage device; and
a second voltage converter coupleable to the second energy storage device via a second switching device;
the second switching device being configured to selectively decouple the second voltage converter from the second energy storage device during a period when the first energy storage device is coupled to the first voltage converter via the first switching device to be charged from the external charging source; and
the second switching device being configured to selectively couple the second voltage converter to the second energy storage device during a period when the second energy storage device is to be charged via regenerative braking.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a traction motor/generator coupled to the first voltage converter.
15. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a controller configured to selectively operate the first switching device and the second switching device.
16. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the second voltage converter comprises a DC/DC converter configured to operate in a bucking mode.
17. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the second voltage converter comprises a DC/DC converter configured to operate in a boosting mode.
18. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first energy storage device comprises a battery.
19. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the external charging source comprises an AC source.