Charging facility and energy management method for charging facility
A charging facility collects DC power supplied from a plurality of power supply devices in a DC bus, and then uses the DC power to charge an on-board rechargeable battery for an electric vehicle. In an energy management method for a charging facility, each power supply device operates under independent automatic control according to a change in voltage in the DC bus. An upper-level control unit which collectively controls a plurality of power supply sources is not required, and a plurality of power supply devices can be combined with a simple configuration achieved by merely connecting respective output terminals to the DC bus. In addition, the entire charging facility can be operated flexibly. Thus, it is possible to achieve a simple configuration and to allow flexible operation while a plurality of power converters are combined with a system power supply.
1. A charging facility comprising:
a direct current (DC) bus;
a plurality of power converters configured to supply DC power to the DC bus; and
a charging device configured to charge a vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery with the DC power supplied to the DC bus, wherein
each of the plurality of power converters comprises:
a DC power generator configured to generate the DC power; and
a power controller configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus, determine a priority of operation of the plurality of the power converters based on the comparison result of the monitored DC voltage and a predetermined set voltage, and independently control operation of each of the DC power generators based on the priority of operation, and
the charging device comprises:
a DC/DC converter configured to convert the DC power supplied to the DC bus to DC power for charging; and
a charging controller configured to control the operation of the DC/DC converter.
2. The charging facility according to claim 1 , wherein
the DC power generator is configured to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than the predetermined set voltage.
3. The charging facility according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of power converters comprises:
a system power supply converter configured to convert alternating current (AC) power received from a system to DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus, and
a storage system configured to supply DC power discharged from a storage battery charged in advance to the DC bus.
4. The charging facility according to claim 3 , wherein
the system power supply converter comprises:
an AC/DC converter for a system power supply configured to function as the DC power generator and to convert the AC power to the DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus; and
a system power supply controller configured to function as the power controller which is configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus and to control the operation of the AC/DC converter for a system power supply to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than a set voltage for a system power supply.
5. The charging facility according to claim 4 , wherein
the storage system comprises:
the storage battery;
a DC/DC converter for a storage device configured to function as the DC power generator which is configured to convert DC power discharged from the storage battery to different DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus at the time of discharging the storage battery; and
a storage device controller configured to function as the power control unit which is configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus and to control the operation of the DC/DC converter for a storage device to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than a set voltage for a storage device.
6. The charging facility according to claim 5 , wherein
the plurality of power converters comprises:
a power generation system configured to supply DC power generated by power generation to the DC bus.
7. The charging facility according to claim 6 , wherein
the power generation system comprises:
a power generation module configured to generate DC power by power generation;
a DC/DC converter for a power generation device configured to function as the DC power generator and to convert the generated DC power to the DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus; and
a power generation device controller configured to function as the power control unit which is configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus and to control the operation of the DC/DC converter for a power generation device to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than a set voltage for a power generation device.
8. The charging facility according to claim 7 , wherein
the power generation module comprises
a solar power generation module or a wind power generation module.
9. The charging facility according to claim 7 , wherein
the DC/DC converter for a power generation device is configured to operate on a priority basis and the generated power generated by the power generation is supplied to the DC bus and the power supply to the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery is started.
10. The charging facility according to claim 9 , wherein
in response to the charge of the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery by the power supply based on the generated power falling below a threshold value, the AC/DC converter for a system power supply is configured to operate on a priority basis and the received power received from the system is supplied to the DC bus and the power supply to the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery is continued.
11. The charging facility according to claim 10 , wherein
in response to the charge of the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery by the power supply based on the generated power and the received power falling below the threshold value, the DC/DC converter motor circuit for a storage device is configured to operate and the discharged power discharged from the storage device is supplied to the DC bus and the power supply to the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery is continued.
12. The charging facility according to claim 11 , wherein
in response to the amount of charge of the storage device decreasing by the discharge of the discharged power, the DC/DC converter motor circuit for a storage device is configured to stop the operation and the generated power and the received power are supplied to the storage device to recover the amount of charge.
13. The charging facility according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of power converters comprises:
a system power supply converter configured to convert AC power received from a system to DC power and supplies the DC power to the DC bus,
a storage system configured to supply DC power discharged from a storage battery charged in advance to the DC bus, and
a power generation system configured to supply DC power generated by power generation to the DC bus.
14. The charging facility according to claim 13 , wherein
the system power supply converter comprises:
an AC/DC converter for a system power supply configured to function as the DC power generation unit and to convert the AC power to the DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus; and
a system power supply controller configured to function as the power control unit which is configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus and to control the operation of the AC/DC converter for a system power supply to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than a set voltage for a system power supply.
15. The charging facility according to claim 14 , wherein
the storage system comprises:
the storage battery;
a DC/DC converter for a storage device configured to function as the DC power generation unit which is configured to convert DC power discharged from the storage battery to different DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus at the time of discharging the storage battery; and
a storage device controller configured to function as the power control unit which is configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus and to control the operation of the DC/DC converter for a storage device to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than a set voltage for a storage device.
16. The charging facility according to claim 15 , wherein
the power generation system comprises:
a power generation module configured to generate DC power by power generation;
a DC/DC converter for a power generation device configured to function as the DC power generation unit and is configured to convert the generated DC power to the DC power and supply the DC power to the DC bus; and
a power generation device controller configured to function as the power control unit which is configured to monitor a DC voltage in the DC bus and to control the operation of the DC/DC converter for a power generation device to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the monitored DC voltage being lower than a set voltage for a power generation device.
17. The charging facility according to claim 16 , wherein
the power generation module comprises
a solar power generation module or a wind power generation module.
18. The charging facility according to claim 16 , wherein
the DC/DC converter for a power generation device is configured to operate on a priority basis and the generated power generated by the power generation is supplied to the DC bus and the power supply to the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery is started.
19. The charging facility according to claim 18 , wherein
in response to the charge of the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery by the power supply based on the generated power falling below a threshold value, the AC/DC converter for a system power supply is configured to operate on a priority basis and the received power received from the system is supplied to the DC bus and the power supply to the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery is continued.
20. The charging facility according to claim 19 , wherein
in response to the charge of the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery by the power supply based on the generated power and the received power falling below the threshold value, the DC/DC converter motor circuit for a storage device is configured to operate and the discharged power discharged from the storage device is supplied to the DC bus and the power supply to the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery is continued.
21. The charging facility according to claim 20 , wherein
in response to the amount of charge of the storage device decreasing by the discharge of the discharged power, the DC/DC converter motor circuit for a storage device is configured to stop the operation and the generated power and the received power are supplied to the storage device to recover the amount of charge.
22. An energy management method for a charging facility comprising the steps of:
supplying direct current (DC) power to a DC bus; and
charging a vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery with the DC power supplied to the DC bus, wherein
the supplying of the DC power comprises:
in a plurality of power converters,
generating the DC power by a DC power generation unit;
monitoring the DC voltage in the DC bus by a power control unit; and
determining priority of operation of the plurality of the power converters based on the comparison result of the monitored DC voltage and a predetermined set voltage, and independently controlling each operation of the DC power generation units based on the priority by the power control unit, and
the charging of the vehicle-mounted rechargeable battery comprises:
converting the DC power supplied to the DC bus to DC power for charging by a DC/DC converter for a charging device; and
controlling the operation of the DC/DC converter for a charging device.
23. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 22 , wherein
in each of the plurality of power converters,
the DC power generation unit operates to start supply of the DC power to the DC bus in response to the DC monitored voltage being lower than the predetermined set voltage.
24. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 23 , wherein
the supplying the DC power comprises:
in the plurality of power converters,
converting alternating current (AC) power received from a system to DC power and supplies the DC power to the DC bus; and
supplying DC power discharged from a storage battery charged in advance to the DC bus.
25. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 24 , wherein
the generating of the DC power comprises:
receiving AC power from the system; and
converting the AC power to the DC power with an AC/DC converter for a system power supply, and
the independently controlling comprises:
controlling the operation of the AC/DC converter for a system power supply according to the monitored DC voltage.
26. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 25 , the energy management method further comprising:
receiving DC power from the DC bus and converting the received DC power to the DC power to charge a storage battery, wherein
the generating of the DC power comprises:
discharging DC power charged in advance in the storage battery; and
converting the discharged DC power to the DC power and supplying the DC power to the DC bus by a DC/DC converter for a storage device, and
the independently controlling comprises:
controlling power supply to the DC bus or the storage battery of the DC/DC converter for a storage device according to the result of monitoring.
27. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 26 , wherein
the supplying the DC power comprises:
in the plurality of power converters,
supplying DC power generated by power generation to the DC bus.
28. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 27 , wherein
the generating of the DC power comprises:
generating DC power with a power generation module; and
converting the generated DC power to the DC power by a DC/DC converter for a power generation device, and
the independently controlling comprises:
controlling the operation of the DC/DC converter for a power generation device according to the result of monitoring.
29. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 27 , wherein
the generating comprises:
solar power generating or wind power generating.
30. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 23 , wherein
the supplying the DC power comprises:
in the plurality of power converters,
converting AC power received from a system to DC power and supplies the DC power to the DC bus;
supplying DC power discharged from a storage battery charged in advance to the DC bus; and
supplying DC power generated by power generation to the DC bus.
31. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 30 , wherein
the generating of the DC power comprises:
receiving AC power from the system; and
converting the AC power to the DC power with an AC/DC converter for a system power supply, and
the independently controlling comprises:
controlling the operation of the AC/DC converter for a system power supply according to the monitored DC voltage.
32. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 31 , the energy management method further comprising:
receiving DC power from the DC bus and converting the received DC power to the DC power to charge a storage battery, wherein
the generating of the DC power comprises:
discharging DC power charged in advance in the storage battery; and
converting the discharged DC power to the DC power and supplying the DC power to the DC bus by a DC/DC converter for a storage device, and
the independently controlling comprises:
controlling power supply to the DC bus or the storage battery of the DC/DC converter for a storage device according to the result of monitoring.
33. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 32 , wherein
the generating of the DC power comprises:
generating DC power with a power generation module; and
converting the generated DC power to the DC power by a DC/DC converter for a power generation device, and
the independently controlling comprises:
controlling the operation of the DC/DC converter for a power generation device according to the result of monitoring.
34. The energy management method for a charging facility according to claim 33 , wherein
the generating comprises:
solar power generating or wind power generating.