U.S. patent application number 12/466312 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for battery charging control methods, electrical vehicle charging methods, battery charging control apparatus, and electrical vehicles.
Invention is credited to Michael Kintner-Meyer.
Application Number | 20100292855 12/466312 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43037125 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100292855 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kintner-Meyer; Michael |
November 18, 2010 |
Battery Charging Control Methods, Electrical Vehicle Charging
Methods, Battery Charging Control Apparatus, and Electrical
Vehicles
Abstract
Battery charging control methods, electrical vehicle charging
methods, battery charging control apparatus, and electrical
vehicles are described. In one arrangement, battery charging
control methods include accessing price information for electrical
energy supplied by an electrical power distribution system and
controlling an adjustment of an amount of the electrical energy
from the electrical power distribution system used to charge a
rechargeable battery at different moments in time using the price
information. Other arrangements are described.
Inventors: |
Kintner-Meyer; Michael;
(Richland, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELLS ST. JOHN P.S.
601 WEST FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 1300
SPOKANE
WA
99201-3828
US
|
Family ID: |
43037125 |
Appl. No.: |
12/466312 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/291 ;
700/296; 700/36; 903/907 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60W 2510/246 20130101;
B60L 53/305 20190201; Y02T 10/7072 20130101; B60L 2240/80 20130101;
Y04S 30/14 20130101; Y02T 90/167 20130101; Y02T 10/62 20130101;
B60L 1/08 20130101; B60W 2510/244 20130101; Y02T 10/70 20130101;
B60L 53/64 20190201; Y02T 90/16 20130101; B60L 53/14 20190201; Y02T
90/169 20130101; B60L 58/24 20190201; B60L 53/65 20190201; H02J
7/007 20130101; B60L 58/12 20190201; Y02T 90/14 20130101; B60L
11/184 20130101; Y02T 90/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/291 ;
700/296; 700/36; 903/907 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/26 20060101
G06F001/26; G05B 13/02 20060101 G05B013/02 |
Goverment Interests
GOVERNMENT RIGHTS STATEMENT
[0001] This invention was made with Government support under
contract DE-AC0676RLO1830 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Claims
1. A battery charging control method comprising: accessing price
information of electrical energy supplied by an electrical power
distribution system; and controlling an adjustment of an amount of
the electrical energy from the electrical power distribution system
which is used to charge a rechargeable battery at different moments
in time using the price information.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling comprises using
the price information to reduce a cost of charging the rechargeable
battery compared with arrangements which do not perform the
controlling of the adjustment using the price information.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling comprises charging
using different amounts of the electrical energy from the
electrical power distribution system at the different moments in
time using the price information.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the controlling comprises ceasing
the charging at one of the different moments in time.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the controlling comprises charging
using an increased amount of the electrical energy at a first of
the different moments in time compared with a second of the
different moments in time as a result of the price of the
electrical energy being less at the first of the different moments
in time compared with the second of the different moments in
time.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing comprises accessing
the price information comprising different prices of the electrical
energy at the different moments in time and the controlling
comprises increasing and decreasing the amount of the electrical
energy used to charge the rechargeable battery at the different
moments in time as a result of the different prices.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing comprises accessing
the price information including one or more projected prices over a
future period of time and the controlling comprises controlling the
adjustment based on the one or more projected prices at respective
moments of the future period of time.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving an update
changing one of the one or more projected prices and the
controlling comprises adjusting the amount of the electrical energy
as a result of the receiving of the update.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing comprises receiving
the price information from the electrical power distribution
system.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing information
describing a desired future point in time for the rechargeable
battery to be charged to a desired state and wherein the
controlling comprises controlling so that the rechargeable battery
reaches the desired state by the desired future point in time.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an
anticipated amount of time to charge the rechargeable battery based
on a current state of charge of the rechargeable battery and
wherein the controlling comprises controlling as a result of the
determining of the anticipated amount of time.
12. An electrical vehicle charging method comprising: coupling an
electrical vehicle having a depleted state of charge with an
electrical power distribution system; accessing price information
for electrical energy of the electrical power distribution system;
charging the electrical vehicle using the electrical energy of the
electrical power distribution system; and controlling an amount of
the electrical energy consumed by the charging of the electrical
vehicle at different moments in time using the price
information.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the charging comprises charging
at different rates at the different moments in time based on the
price information.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the controlling comprises
ceasing the charging at one of the different moments in time.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the charging comprises charging
using an increased amount of the electrical energy at a first of
the different moments in time compared with a second of the
different moments in time as a result of the price of the
electrical energy being less at the first of the different moments
in time compared with the second of the different moments in
time.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the accessing comprises
accessing the price information comprising different prices of the
electrical energy at the different moments in time and the
controlling comprises increasing and decreasing an amount of the
electrical energy consumed by the charging at the different moments
in time as a result of the different prices.
17. A battery charging control apparatus comprising: processing
circuitry configured to: access price information of electrical
energy supplied by an electrical power distribution system; and
control an adjustment of an amount of the electrical energy from
the electrical power distribution system used to charge a
rechargeable battery at different moments in time using the price
information.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the price information
comprises different prices of the electrical energy at the
different moments in time and the processing circuitry is
configured to increase and decrease the amount of the electrical
energy used to charge the rechargeable battery at the different
moments in time as a result of the different prices.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the price information
includes one or more projected prices over a future period of time
and the processing circuitry is configured to control the
adjustment based on the one or more projected prices at respective
moments of the future period of time.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry is
configured to receive an update changing one of the one or more
projected prices and to control the adjustment of the amount of the
electrical energy as a result of receiving the update.
21. An electrical vehicle comprising: a rechargeable battery; a
charger configured to consume electrical energy from an electrical
power distribution system to charge the rechargeable battery; and a
controller configured to: access price information of the
electrical energy supplied by the electrical power distribution
system; and control an amount of the electrical energy from the
electrical power distribution system consumed by the charger at
different moments in time using the price information.
22. The vehicle of claim 21 further comprising a climate system
configured to heat and/or cool the electrical vehicle and wherein
the controller is configured to: estimate an amount of time to be
consumed by the climate system to bring a temperature of the
electrical vehicle to a desired temperature; and using the
estimated amount of time, control the amount of the electrical
energy consumed by the charger at the different moments in
time.
23. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to
use the price information to reduce a cost of charging the
rechargeable battery compared with arrangements which do not
control the adjustment of the amount using the price
information.
24. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to
control the charger to charge the rechargeable battery using
different amounts of electrical energy at the different moments in
time using the price information.
25. The vehicle of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to
control the charger to charge using an amount of electrical energy
at a first of the different moments in time compared with a second
of the different moments in time as a result of the price of the
electrical energy being less at the first of the different moments
in time compared with the second of the different moments in
time.
26. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to
access information describing a desired future point in time for
the rechargeable battery to be charged to a desired state and to
control the charger so that the rechargeable battery reaches the
desired state by the desired future point in time.
27. The vehicle of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to
use the price information to reduce a cost of charging the
rechargeable battery compared with arrangements which do not
control the adjustment of the amount using the price
information.
28. The vehicle of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to
control the charger to charge the rechargeable battery using
different amounts of electrical energy at the different moments in
time using the price information.
29. The vehicle of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to
access information describing a desired future point in time for
the rechargeable battery to be charged to a desired state and to
control the charger so that the rechargeable battery reaches the
desired state by the desired future point in time.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention, in various embodiments, relates to
battery charging control methods, electrical vehicle charging
methods, battery charging control apparatus, and electrical
vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The use of hybrid electric vehicles is widespread. In these
vehicles, batteries are recharged by the vehicle itself without
relying on a plug-in connection to an electrical power distribution
system. A new generation of vehicles is now being developed,
however, that will rely on drawing electrical energy from the
electrical power distribution system to charge rechargeable
batteries. Such vehicles include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
and plug-in electric vehicles. These vehicles may begin charging
upon being connected to the electrical power distribution
system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are described below
with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a battery system and an
electrical power distribution system according to one
embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller according to one
embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an illustrative representation of an electrical
vehicle coupled with a battery charging apparatus and an electrical
power distribution system according to one embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a battery charging method
according to one embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating price information according
to one embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 5B is a graph illustrating resting time information
according to one embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5C is a graph illustrating schedule information
according to one embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 5D is a graph illustrating schedule information
according to another embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 5E is a graph illustrating schedule information
according to one embodiment.
DESCRIPTION
[0014] This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the
constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws "to promote the
progress of science and useful arts" (Article 1, Section 8).
[0015] At least some aspects of the present disclosure are directed
towards methods and apparatus for charging rechargeable batteries.
In some embodiments described herein, price information is used
during charging of the rechargeable batteries. In one specific
embodiment described below, price information regarding prices of
electrical energy supplied by an electrical power distribution
system is used to control one or more charging operations of the
rechargeable batteries. The disclosure describes, in some example
embodiments herein, methods and apparatus for charging batteries of
an electrical vehicle. In other embodiments, the rechargeable
batteries may be used in applications other than vehicle
applications. Other aspects and embodiments are described herein
and are encompassed by the claims.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a battery system 12
is shown coupled with an electrical power distribution system 10.
Although only one battery system 12 is shown in the embodiment of
FIG. 1, numerous additional battery systems 12 may be coupled with
electrical power distribution system 10 in other embodiments. In
one embodiment, electrical power distribution system 10 is arranged
to provide electrical energy to the battery system 12 to charge one
(or more if present) rechargeable batteries 16 of the battery
system 12. In some embodiments described below, the rechargeable
battery or batteries 16 may be utilized to power an electrical
vehicle (e.g., plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), electric
vehicle (EV)). Rechargeable batteries 16 may be used in other
apparatus and/or in different applications in other
embodiments.
[0017] In one embodiment, electrical power distribution system 10
comprises any appropriate electrical energy delivery system
configured to deliver residential, commercial, industrial, or other
electrical energy from a supply to customers or consumers.
Electrical power distribution system 10 is arranged to provide
electrical energy for consumption by battery system 12, for
example, for operation and for recharging the rechargeable
batteries 16. Electrical power distribution system 10 may be
arranged as one or more source (e.g., generator or other
construction) configured to supply electrical energy. Generators
may be individually taken on-line (e.g., on grid) or off-line
(e.g., off grid), or the output thereof may be adjusted, according
to the usage of the electrical energy. Electrical power
distribution system 10 includes a distribution grid which may
comprise a plurality of switching stations, transformers, and
transmission lines arranged to transmit electrical energy from
sources to loads, such as the battery systems 12. The transmission
lines may transmit the electrical energy using high voltage lines
spanning across vast distances (e.g., hundreds or thousands of
miles) between distant geographic locations in some
arrangements.
[0018] In addition to remotely located generators, electrical power
distribution system 10 may include one or more generators located
near battery system 12. For example, in one embodiment, electrical
power distribution system 10 may include one or more generators
located in the same neighborhood as battery system 12 and the one
or more generators may be configured to provide power to some or
all of the neighborhood. In another more specific example,
electrical power distribution system 10 may include one or more
generators located in or adjacent to a structure to which battery
system 12 is connected. The one or more generators may be
configured to provide power to the structure. In some cases, the
one or more generators may be configured to provide power to the
structure in the event that another power generator of electrical
power distribution system 10 is disabled or in the event that
transmission lines that typically provide power to the structure
are disabled. In some cases, the one or more generators may be
located in or adjacent to residential, commercial, industrial, or
other structures.
[0019] In one implementation, electrical power distribution system
10 is arranged to provide alternating current electrical energy at
a system frequency of 60 Hz. System frequency is the frequency of
system voltage. Electrical power distribution system 10 may provide
electrical energy at exemplary voltages of 120/240 VAC, 120/208
VAC, 277/480 VAC or other appropriate voltages in example
arrangements.
[0020] As mentioned above, battery system 12 includes one or more
rechargeable batteries 16 in the described embodiment. Rechargeable
battery 16 may have different configurations in different
implementations (e.g., lead acid, nickel hydride, lithium ion in
some examples). During use, the state of charge of rechargeable
battery 16 decreases, and electrical energy from electrical power
distribution system 10 is configured to supply electrical energy
for recharging of the rechargeable battery 16 to an increased state
of charge.
[0021] In addition, battery system 12 also includes a battery
charging apparatus 14 in one embodiment. In the depicted
embodiment, battery charging apparatus 14 is coupled between
electrical power distribution system 10 and rechargeable battery
16. Battery charging apparatus 14 is configured to implement
charging operations of rechargeable battery 16 using the electrical
energy from the electrical power distribution system 10 in one
embodiment.
[0022] In the depicted embodiment, battery charging apparatus 14
includes a charger 18 and a controller 20. Charger 18 is configured
to receive electrical energy from electrical power distribution
system 10 and to provide the electrical energy to rechargeable
battery 16 to charge rechargeable battery 16. In doing so, charger
18 may, in one embodiment, alter a form of the electrical energy
received from electrical power distribution system 10 and provide
the altered electrical energy to rechargeable battery 16. For
example, charger 18 may alter the voltage of the electrical energy
and/or may alter the electrical energy to be Direct Current (DC)
electrical energy rather than AC electrical energy.
[0023] As discussed herein according to one embodiment, charger 18
can apply different amounts of electrical energy to the
rechargeable battery 16 at different moments in time. Furthermore,
controller 20 may control when and at what rate charger 18 applies
electrical energy to rechargeable battery 16 in one embodiment.
[0024] In one embodiment discussed in additional detail below,
controller 20 is configured to access price information regarding
prices of the electrical energy supplied by electrical power
distribution system 20. The price information may describe prices
of the electrical energy (e.g., in cents per kilowatt hour, in one
embodiment). For example, the price information may describe future
prices of the electrical energy over a future period of time. In
some cases, an operator of electrical power distribution system 10
may alter the price for electrical energy supplied by electrical
power distribution system 10 over time. For example, the price of
the electrical energy may be higher during the day when there is
greater aggregate consumption of electrical power than at night. In
one embodiment, the operator may charge several different prices
during the course of a twenty-four hour period. Accordingly, in one
embodiment, the price information may describe hourly prices of the
electrical energy over a future twenty-four hour period. The prices
may vary from hour to hour. Controller 20 may additionally access
updates to the price information as described in more detail
below.
[0025] Controller 20 may access the price information via a price
information source 22. Price information source 22 may be embodied
in many different forms. In one embodiment, price information
source 22 may be an article of manufacture which can contain,
store, or maintain the price information. For example, price
information source 22 may be a USB drive, floppy diskette, zip
disk, hard drive, random access memory, read only memory, flash
memory, cache memory, and/or other configuration capable of storing
the price information. The electrical power distribution system 10
may program the article of manufacture with the price information
and then couple the article of manufacture to controller 20.
[0026] In another embodiment, price information source 22 may
include one or more of a server, computer, or other data device
storing the price information that may be in communication with
controller 20 via a communications network. For example, price
information source 22 may be a server on the Internet and
controller 20 may be connected to the Internet via wired and/or
wireless communication. In other arrangements, the server may be
located on a private network and controller 20 may communicate with
the server via wired and/or wireless communication (e.g., via a
Power Line Carrier (PLC) network). In another arrangement, a power
meter of electrical power distribution system 10 may comprise price
information source 22 and controller 20 may be in communication
with the meter, for example via a PLC network.
[0027] In one embodiment, Controller 20 may use the price
information to control charger 18, as is further discussed below.
For example, using the price information, controller 20 may
increase or decrease the amount of electrical energy which is
provided by charger 18 to charge rechargeable battery 16 in one
embodiment. In one more specific example, controller 20 may use the
price information to determine at least one window of time during
which controller 20 may allow charger 18 to charge rechargeable
battery 16. The window of time may include one or more hour
segments of a twenty-four hour period during which the price of the
electrical energy supplied by electrical power distribution system
10 is lower compared with other windows of the twenty-four hour
period. Optimizing the cost of charging rechargeable battery 16 in
this manner may be economically advantageous to the person or
entity paying for the electrical energy consumed in charging
rechargeable battery 16.
[0028] For example, battery charging apparatus 14 may be connected
to electrical power distribution system 10 at 3:00 PM and
controller 20 may determine (e.g., using a present state of charge
of rechargeable battery 16) that rechargeable battery 16 should be
charged for six hours during a twenty-four hour period, the
twenty-four hour period beginning at 3:00 PM. Controller 20 may
determine, based on the price information, that charging
rechargeable battery 16 from 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM will result in the
lowest possible cost available during the twenty-four hour period.
In some cases, there may be several windows of time during the
twenty-four hour period that may also result in the lowest possible
cost. For example, the cost of charging from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM
may be the same as the cost of charging from 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM. Of
course, periods of different lengths and other resolutions of price
information could alternatively be used. For example, if the price
information describes prices of a future twelve-hour period with
half-hour granularity, controller 20 may select a charging window
based on half-hour segments of time (e.g., 8:30 PM to 2:30 AM). In
another example, plural non-continuous windows occurring at
different times of the day may be used.
[0029] Controller 20 may also be configured to access information
regarding rechargeable battery 16 and to control an amount of the
electrical energy used to charge rechargeable battery 16 and/or a
time of charging by charger 18 using the accessed information. In
addition, controller 20 may access other information for use in
controlling the rate and/or time of charging. For example, in one
embodiment, controller 20 may communicate with charger 18 to access
information related to a current charge state of rechargeable
battery 16, a temperature of rechargeable battery 16, and/or a
capacity of rechargeable battery 16.
[0030] Controller 20 may also access user-inputted information
(e.g., a desired point in time in the future for the battery 16 to
be fully charged) to control the amount of electrical energy used
to charge rechargeable battery 16 and/or a time of charge in
illustrative examples. Additional information may also be used by
controller 20 to control the charging.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, one embodiment of controller 20 is
shown. The illustrated example controller 20 includes processing
circuitry 22, storage circuitry 24, an external interface 26 and a
user interface 28 in the depicted embodiment. Controller 20 may
include more, less, and/or alternative components in other
embodiments.
[0032] In one embodiment, processing circuitry 22 is arranged to
process data, control data access and storage, issue commands, and
control other desired operations. For example, processing circuitry
22 is configured to access price information regarding prices of
electrical energy supplied by electrical power distribution system
10, information regarding a state of charge of rechargeable battery
16, and user-inputted information in one embodiment. Processing
circuitry 22 may utilize the accessed information to control
charging operations of charger 18 with respect to rechargeable
battery 16 in one embodiment.
[0033] Processing circuitry 22 may comprise circuitry configured to
implement desired programming provided by appropriate media in at
least one embodiment. For example, processing circuitry 22 may be
implemented as one or more of processor(s) and/or other structure
configured to execute executable instructions including, for
example, software and/or firmware instructions, and/or hardware
circuitry. Exemplary embodiments of processing circuitry 22 include
hardware logic, PGA, FPGA, ASIC, state machines, and/or other
structures alone or in combination with a processor. These examples
of processing circuitry 22 are for illustration and other
configurations are possible.
[0034] Storage circuitry 24 is configured to store programming such
as executable code or instructions (e.g., software and/or
firmware), electronic data, databases, or other digital information
and may include processor-usable media. For example, processing
circuitry 22 may control storage circuitry 24 to store information
accessed from system 10, rechargeable battery 16 and/or
user-inputted information in one embodiment.
[0035] Processor-usable media may be embodied in any computer
program product(s) or article of manufacture(s) 25 which can
contain, store, or maintain programming, data and/or digital
information for use by, or in connection with, an instruction
execution system including processing circuitry in the exemplary
embodiment. For example, exemplary processor-usable media may
include any one of physical media such as electronic, magnetic,
optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor media. Some
more specific examples of processor-usable media include, but are
not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette, such as a
floppy diskette, zip disk, hard drive, random access memory, read
only memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or other
configurations capable of storing programming, data, or other
digital information.
[0036] At least some embodiments or aspects described herein may be
implemented using programming stored within appropriate storage
circuitry 24 described above and/or communicated via a network or
other transmission media and configured to control appropriate
processing circuitry. For example, programming may be provided via
appropriate media including, for example, embodied within articles
of manufacture. In another example, programming may be embodied
within a data signal (e.g., modulated carrier wave, data packets,
digital representations, etc.) communicated via an appropriate
transmission medium, such as a communication network (e.g., the
Internet and/or a private network), wired electrical connection,
optical connection and/or electromagnetic energy, for example, via
a communications interface, or provided using other appropriate
communication structure. Exemplary programming including
processor-usable code may be communicated as a data signal embodied
in a carrier wave in but one example.
[0037] External interface 26 is arranged to implement external
communications and/or data acquisition of controller 20. For
example, external interface 26 may be coupled with price
information source 22 and charger 18 in one embodiment. External
interface 26 may be implemented as a network interface card (NIC),
serial or parallel connection, USB port, FireWire interface, flash
memory interface, floppy disk drive, or any other suitable
arrangement.
[0038] User interface 28 is configured to interact with a user
including conveying data to a user (e.g., displaying data for
observation by the user, audibly communicating data to a user,
etc.) as well as receiving inputs from the user (e.g., tactile
input, voice instruction, etc.). Accordingly, in one exemplary
embodiment, user interface 28 may include a display (e.g., cathode
ray tube, LCD, etc.) configured to depict visual information and an
audio system as well as a keyboard, mouse and/or other input
device. Any other suitable apparatus for interacting with a user
may also be utilized. In one arrangement, a user may input
information to control the charging by charger 18. For example, the
user may specify a point of time in the future in which the battery
16 is to be fully charged.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, one embodiment of charging operations
of battery system 12 (illustrated in FIG. 1) is described with
respect to a load in the form of an electrical vehicle 34 which
includes one or more rechargeable batteries 16. Vehicle 34 may be
at least partially powered by an electric motor (not illustrated).
The electric motor may consume electrical energy stored by
rechargeable battery 16 to, at least in part, provide motive power
to propel vehicle 34.
[0040] The arrangement of battery system 12 in FIG. 3 is
illustrative for explanation of some aspects of the disclosure and
other arrangements are possible. For example, battery charging
apparatus 14 of battery system 12 may be installed at home, work,
or any other location where it is desirable to implement charging
of rechargeable battery 16 and electrical energy from electrical
power distribution system 10 is available for consumption. Although
FIG. 3 depicts rechargeable batteries 16 in electrical vehicle 34,
rechargeable batteries 16 charged by battery charging apparatus 14
may be utilized in different applications other than electrical
vehicles 34.
[0041] Furthermore, one or more components of the battery system 12
may be implemented differently in other embodiments. For example,
battery charging apparatus 14 may be located onboard vehicle 34 in
some implementations. In other arrangements, charger 18 may be
located onboard vehicle 34 and controller 20 may be located
offboard vehicle 34. In addition, rechargeable batteries 16 may be
removable from vehicle 34 (or the housing of other loads) and
coupled with charger 18, which is not located on the vehicle in
some embodiments.
[0042] Vehicle 34 may include a climate system 36. Climate system
36 may be configured to modify a temperature associated with
vehicle 34. For example, climate system 36 may include an air
conditioner for cooling a cabin of vehicle 34. Alternatively or
additionally, climate system 36 may include a heater for heating
the cabin. In one embodiment, climate system 36 may measure and/or
monitor one or more temperatures associated with vehicle 34 and may
provide information describing the measured and/or monitored
temperatures to controller 20 and/or charger 18. A user of vehicle
34 may provide a desired temperature (e.g., a desired cabin
temperature) to vehicle 34. In some configurations, climate system
36 may have access to information describing the desired
temperature.
[0043] In one arrangement, climate system 36 may be configured to
heat and/or cool rechargeable battery 16. Doing so may be helpful
in extreme weather conditions. For example, if the temperature is
very cold, climate system 36 may heat rechargeable battery 16 to
improve the performance of rechargeable battery 16. Similarly, if
the temperature is very hot, climate system 36 may cool
rechargeable battery 16. Heating and/or cooling rechargeable
battery 16 may make charging rechargeable battery 16 more efficient
or may improve the usable life of rechargeable battery 16 in some
embodiments.
[0044] As was described above, controller 20 may be onboard vehicle
34 in one embodiment. If controller 20 is onboard, vehicle 34 may
be connected to electrical power distribution 10 via a simple
electrical cable and might not require any circuitry between
vehicle 34 and electrical power distribution 10 other than the
cable. In this embodiment, controller 20 may communicate with
charger 18 and/or climate system 36 using wired and/or wireless
connections (e.g., via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus onboard
vehicle 34 that facilitates communication between devices of
vehicle 34). For example, controller 20 may retrieve temperature
information from climate system 36. Furthermore, controller 20 may
communicate with other devices onboard vehicle 34 (e.g., a
navigation system, vehicle computer, etc.).
[0045] In another embodiment, controller 20 may be offboard vehicle
34. If offboard, controller 20 may communicate with charger 18,
climate system 36, and/or other devices of vehicle 34 using one or
more wired and/or wireless connections (e.g., via a ZigBee wireless
connection, Power Line Carrier (PLC) connection, a cable having a
J1772 SAE standard five-pin plug plugged into vehicle 34, or any
other suitable arrangement). In one embodiment, controller 20 may
be built into a cable used to connect electrical vehicle 34 to
electrical power distribution system 20. In this embodiment,
controller 20 may appear to be a "bump" in the cable. Any suitable
communication system and power delivery system may be used to
transfer communications, data, and energy between system 10 and
battery system 12.
[0046] As was described above, controller 20 may include user
interface 28. A user may communicate information to controller 20
via user interface 28 such as a desired time of charge completion,
a desired state of charge of the battery at time of charge
completion (e.g., 50% charged, 80% charged, 100% charged, etc.), a
desired temperature for vehicle 34, whether to pre-heat or pre-cool
vehicle 34 to the desired temperature, etc. In one embodiment, user
interface 28 may be integrated with vehicle 34 and may be used for
purposes other than communicating information related to charging
rechargeable battery 16. For example, user interface 28 may also be
used to control an entertainment system of vehicle 34 or a
navigation system of vehicle 34.
[0047] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, controller 20 is
configured to control an adjustment of an amount of electrical
energy from electrical power distribution system 10 that charger 18
uses to charge rechargeable battery 16 at different moments in time
using price information for the electrical energy. Controller 20
may access the price information for electrical energy, for
example, via price information source 22.
[0048] In some embodiments, controller 20 may automatically access
the price information without user intervention and may control an
adjustment of an amount of electrical energy that charger 18 uses
to charge rechargeable battery 16 automatically and without user
intervention.
[0049] In one embodiment, controller 20 uses the price information
to reduce a cost of charging rechargeable battery 16 compared with
arrangements which do not perform the controlling of the adjustment
using the price information. For example, controller 20 may reduce
a cost of charging rechargeable battery 16 as compared to a battery
charging apparatus that is not aware of the price information by
enabling charger 18 to charge rechargeable battery 16 during
portions of a period of time when the price of the electrical
energy is lowest and reducing charging or not charging vehicle 34
when costs of electrical energy are higher.
[0050] Controller 20 may control charger 18 to charge rechargeable
battery 16 using different amounts of electrical energy at
different moments in time using the price information. For example,
at one moment in time (e.g., at a time when the price of the
electrical energy increases), controller 20 may ceasing the
charging. Furthermore, controller 20 may control charger 18 to
charge rechargeable battery 16 using an increased amount of
electrical energy at a first of the different moments in time
compared with a second of the different moments in time as a result
of the price of the electrical energy being less at the first of
the different moments in time compared with the second of the
different moments in time. For example, controller 20 may configure
charger 18 to charge at 50% of a maximum rate at one moment in time
when the electrical energy is available at a first price and later
configure charger 18 to charge at 90% of a maximum rate at a second
moment in time when the electrical energy is available at price
lower than the first price. In another example, the charger may
cease charging altogether when the price of electrical energy is
elevated and may charge using a maximum amount of electrical energy
when the price of electrical energy is lower.
[0051] As discussed above, the price information may include
different prices of the electrical energy at the different moments
in time. For example, the price information may indicate hourly
prices, at least some of which are different relative to one
another, over a twenty-four hour period. Controller 20 may increase
and/or decrease the amount of the electrical energy used to charge
rechargeable battery 16 at the different moments in time as a
result of the different prices. The price information may include
one or more projected prices over a future period of time and
controller 20 may control charger 20 based on the one or more
projected prices at respective moments of the future period of
time. In some configurations, controller 20 may receive the price
information from electrical power distribution system 10.
[0052] In some cases, controller 20 may receive an update changing
one of the one or more projected prices and may adjust the amount
of the electrical energy as a result of the receiving of the
update. The update to the projected price may result from a change
in electrical power distribution system 10. For example, if an
amount of power available from electrical power distribution system
10 suddenly changes (e.g., because a power generation source is
disabled or a major transmission line is disabled or because an
on-site generator has been activated), the projected price may
change accordingly (e.g., the price may drastically increase
because supply is low and demand is high). In one embodiment, if a
price update changes the previously projected price, the controller
may alter the charging (e.g., reduce or cease charging if cost
increases or increase charging if cost decreases).
[0053] In one embodiment, controller 20 may access information
describing a desired future point in time for rechargeable battery
16 to be charged to a desired state. For example, controller 20 may
access the information via user interface 28. Controller 20 may
control charger 18 so that rechargeable battery 16 reaches the
desired state by the desired future point in time. Furthermore,
controller 20 may determine an anticipated amount of time to charge
rechargeable battery 16 based on a current state of charge of
rechargeable battery 16 and may control charger 18 as a result of
the determining of the anticipated amount of time.
[0054] In some arrangements, controller 20 may control climate
system 36. Doing so may include controller 20 estimating an amount
of time to be consumed by climate system 36 to bring a temperature
of electrical vehicle 34 to a desired temperature. In one
embodiment, controller 20 may control an amount of the electrical
energy consumed by charger 18 at the different moments in time
based on the estimated amount of time to be consumed by climate
system 36 to avoid climate system 36 being enabled simultaneously
with charger 18.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 4, a method of charging a rechargeable
battery is illustrated according to one embodiment. Although FIG. 4
depicts actions of the method arranged in a particular way, other
embodiments of the method are possible including embodiments
including additional or fewer actions than illustrated in FIG. 4
and/or actions performed in a different order than illustrated in
FIG. 4. Below, the method of FIG. 4 is described as being
implemented by controller 20. However, other embodiments are
possible in which other circuitry apart from controller 20 may
perform the method. Furthermore, FIG. 4 is described with respect
to a vehicle application. The method may alternatively be applied
to other applications which include rechargeable battery 16 other
than vehicle applications.
[0056] At an act A10, controller 20 accesses price information, for
example, by receiving the price information from price information
source 22. In one embodiment, the price information may include
prices of electrical energy from electrical power distribution
system 10 for a future period of time (e.g., for the next
twenty-four hours). The period of time may be broken down into
intervals (e.g., one-hour intervals) and the price information may
include a price for each of the intervals. In addition, the price
information may include instantaneous updates in one embodiment.
Some or all of the prices may be different from one another.
[0057] At an act A12, controller 20 accesses other information
associated with charging rechargeable battery 16. The other
information may include a current state of charge of rechargeable
battery 16 (e.g., 20% charged), which controller 20 may retrieve
from charger 18 in one embodiment. Controller 20 may also access
information describing a desired state of charge (e.g., 100%
charged), which may be provided by a user (e.g., via user interface
28). Controller 20 may also access information describing a future
time by which rechargeable battery 16 should be charged to the
desired state of charge. This information may be provided by a
user, and in one configuration controller 20 may access this
information via user interface 28 or storage circuitry 24.
[0058] In one embodiment, controller 20 may access information
describing an energy storage capacity of rechargeable battery 16
(e.g., 14 kWh) and information describing an amount of power that
electrical power distribution system 10 may deliver to battery
charging apparatus 14 (e.g., 1 kW). In some cases, the amount of
power may be related to the amperage rating of a circuit breaker
through which the electrical energy flows. For example, if
electrical power distribution system 10 delivers electrical energy
at 120 V through a 15 A circuit breaker, the amount of power may be
1.4 kW.
[0059] At an act A14, controller 20 may determine whether vehicle
34 should be pre-heated or pre-cooled. In one embodiment, a user
may indicate (e.g., via user interface 28) that the vehicle should
be brought to a desired temperature by a future time. Alternatively
or additionally, controller 20 may determine whether rechargeable
battery 16 should be pre-heated or pre-cooled prior to or while
charger 18 charges rechargeable battery 16.
[0060] At an act A16, if vehicle 34 is to be pre-heated or
pre-cooled, controller 20 accesses temperature information
describing the desired temperature of the cabin and/or a desired
temperature of rechargeable battery 16. In one embodiment,
controller 20 may also access information describing one or more
current temperatures of vehicle 34, for example, from an onboard
temperature sensing device.
[0061] At an act A18, controller 20 may use the desired temperature
and the current temperature to estimate an amount of time that it
will take for climate system 36 to bring the temperature of vehicle
34 to the desired temperature.
[0062] At an act A20, controller 20 may determine whether a user
desires to charge rechargeable battery 16 immediately. If so,
controller 20 might not use the price information in controlling
charger 18. Instead, controller 20 may simply enable charger
18.
[0063] At an act A22, controller 20 may use some or all of: the
price information accessed in act A10, the other information
accessed in A12, and the estimated time determined in act A18 to
optimize a cost of charging rechargeable battery 16. Optimizing the
cost may include reducing the cost of charging as compared with a
method of charging in which the price information is not
considered. Optimizing the cost may also include minimizing the
cost so that the cost is the lowest possible cost of charging
rechargeable battery 16 that can be achieved within the future
period of time associated with the price information (e.g., the
next twenty-four hours) and to meet the user's expectations.
Controller 20 may optimize the cost by controlling charger 18 to
charge rechargeable battery 16 during the intervals of the future
period of time associated with the price information having the
lowest prices relative to other intervals of the future period of
time.
[0064] In one embodiment described below, controller 20 may use a
constraint equation and a method of minimizing a linear problem to
optimize the cost. Other formulas and techniques of optimizing a
cost may alternatively be used.
[0065] At an act A24, as a result of the optimizing of the cost,
controller 20 may determine a schedule specifying when and how much
electrical energy charger 18 should use to charge rechargeable
battery 16. In one embodiment, the schedule may specify a subset of
the intervals of the future period associated with the price
information during which charger 18 should charge rechargeable
battery 16 in order to optimize cost. For example, if the future
period consists of price information for twenty-four intervals,
controller 20 may determine that charger 18 will need six of the
intervals to charge rechargeable battery 16 to the desired state of
charge and that charger 18 needs to complete the charge by the
nineteenth interval. Controller 20 may then determine (e.g., using
the method described below) which six of the eighteen intervals
occurring prior to the start of the nineteenth interval should be
used to charge rechargeable battery 16. Controller 20 may use the
price information to make this determination in one embodiment.
[0066] The schedule may also specify the amount of electrical
energy charger 18 uses to charge rechargeable battery 16. For
example, controller 20 may determine that charger 18 should use one
amount of electrical energy during some of the intervals and a
lower amount of electrical energy during others of the
intervals.
[0067] For example, someone may connect electrical vehicle 34 to
electrical power distribution system 10 (e.g., via battery charging
apparatus 14) at 6:00 PM after returning home from work and may
specify (e.g., via user interface 28) that electrical vehicle 34
(i.e., rechargeable battery 16) is to be recharged to full capacity
by 6:30 AM (i.e., a desired future point in time). Controller 20
may communicate with charger 18 to determine a current state of
charge of rechargeable battery 16. Using the current state of
charge, a capacity of rechargeable battery 16, and a rate at which
battery charging apparatus 14 can receive electrical energy from
electrical power distribution system 10 (e.g., 1.4 kW for a 120
Volt/15 Amp line) controller 20 may determine that charging
rechargeable battery 16 will be cheapest between 10:00 PM and 4:00
a.m.
[0068] In one embodiment, controller 20 may use the time estimate
determined in act A18 in developing the schedule. In some
configurations, the aggregate power drawn by the combination of
charger 18 and climate system 36 may exceed a rate at which
electrical power distribution system 10 may deliver electrical
energy to battery charging apparatus 14 and climate system 36,
potentially tripping a circuit breaker. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, controller 20 may determine the charging schedule so
that charger 18 and climate system 36 are not simultaneously
enabled. In one embodiment, controller 20 may develop the schedule
so that climate system 36 brings a temperature of vehicle 34 to a
desired temperature just before a future time specified by the
user, anticipating that the user may use vehicle 34 at the future
time. Accordingly, the schedule may indicate that charger 18
completes charging prior to a time when climate system 36 is
enabled.
[0069] In one embodiment, controller 20 may determine the charging
schedule so that charger 18 charges at a reduced amount of
electrical energy so that the aggregate power drawn by charger 18
and climate system 36 does not exceed the rate at which electrical
power distribution system 10 may deliver electrical energy to
battery charging apparatus 14 and climate system 36. In this
embodiment, charger 18 and climate system 36 may both be
operational simultaneously.
[0070] If controller 20 previously determined at act A20 that
charger 18 should immediately begin charging rechargeable battery
16, the schedule determined at act A24 may simply indicate that
charger 18 should start charging immediately.
[0071] At an act A26, controller 20 may control charger 18
according to the schedule determined by controller 20. Controlling
charger 18 may include enabling charger 18, disabling charger 18,
and/or adjusting an amount of electrical energy which charger 18
uses to charge rechargeable battery 16 when charger 18 is enabled.
If the schedule includes enabling climate system 36, act A26 may
also include controller 20 controlling climate system 36.
[0072] In some configurations, controller 20 may receive updates to
previously received price information during the period associated
with previously received price information. These updates may
replace the previously received price information. For example, an
update may indicate a new price or prices for three of the
intervals of the period. An operator of electrical power
distribution system 10 may use the updates to quickly increase a
price due to an event affecting the operator's ability to supply
electrical energy. For example, if a major transmission line is
disabled, the operator may quickly and substantially raise the
price for intervals of the period as a way of discouraging
consumption of electrical energy during a time when the operator's
ability to supply the electrical energy is hampered by the disabled
transmission line.
[0073] If controller 20 receives a price update, controller 20 may
repeat one or more of the acts of FIG. 4 in response to receiving
the price update. For example, controller may access the updated
price at act A10, may repeat the optimization of the charging cost
at act A22, may revise the charging schedule at act A24, and may
execute the revised charging schedule at act A26.
[0074] One embodiment of a method of minimizing a cost of charging
is described below. Other formulas and techniques for optimizing a
cost may alternatively be used in other embodiments.
[0075] One embodiment of a method using a constraint equation and a
method of minimizing a linear problem to optimize charging cost is
described below. Controller 20 may use this method to optimize a
charging cost. Other methods and/or techniques for optimizing a
charging cost may alternatively be used by controller 20 in other
embodiments.
[0076] Optimizing the cost of charging rechargeable battery 16 may
be formulated as the following linear programming problem:
minimize
Z=c.sub.ip.sub.i(2.4a) (Equation 1)
subject to the constraint:
A.sub.n,mp.sub.n.ltoreq.b.sub.m(2.4a) (Equation 2)
[0077] The objective function can be written as:
Z = i = 1 24 c i p i .DELTA. t ( Equation 3 ) ##EQU00001##
where Z is the cost of electricity consumed over a 24-hour period,
c.sub.i is the cost of electricity in hour i in $/kWh, p.sub.i is
the average power delivered to charger 18 in hour i in kW, and
.DELTA.t is one hour.
[0078] Regarding the constraint equation, b.sub.m is a the maximum
power that can be drawn from a connection to electrical power
distribution system 10 (e.g., 1.4 kW for a 120 Volt/15 Amp
connection), A.sub.n,m is diagonal matrix of 1's, and p.sub.n is
the average power delivered to charger 18 in hour n in kW.
[0079] In some cases, there may be only one constraint equation
that constrains rechargeable battery 16 to reach a desired state of
charge (SOC) (e.g., 50% charged, 75% charged, 100% charged, etc.)
at a user-specified time. The constraint matrix becomes a (1,24)
matrix. The constraint equation may be written as follows:
S O C initial + 1 cap bat i = 1 n p i .DELTA. t = S O C end (
Equation 4 ) ##EQU00002##
or rearranged:
i = 1 n p i .DELTA. t = ( S O C end - S O C initial ) cap bat (
Equation 5 ) ##EQU00003##
where cap.sub.bat is the capacity of rechargeable battery 16,
SOC.sub.initial is the initial state of charge of rechargeable
battery 16 (e.g., 10%), and SOC.sub.end is the desired SOC (e.g.,
100%).
[0080] There are the following bounds on the decision variable
0.ltoreq.p.sub.i.ltoreq.p.sub.max (Equation 6)
where p.sub.max is the maximum charging power that can be drawn
from a connection to electrical power distribution system 10 (e.g.,
1.4 kW for a 120V/15 A supply) and cap.sub.bat is the rated energy
capacity of rechargeable battery 16 in kWh.
[0081] From a computational point of view, it may be practical to
non-dimensionalize the optimization problem. The following
non-dimensional variables may be defined:
p * = p p max ( Equation 7 ) c * = c c max ( Equation 8 ) .DELTA. t
* = .DELTA. t .DELTA. t 0 ( Equation 9 ) ##EQU00004##
[0082] Accordingly, the non-dimensional objective function can be
re-written as:
Z * = Z c max p max .DELTA. t 0 = i = 1 24 a i p i * ( Equation 10
) ##EQU00005##
[0083] with the non-dimensionalized cost coefficient
a.sub.i=.DELTA.t*c.sub.i* (Equation 11)
[0084] and the non-dimensionalized constraint equation may be
rewritten as:
i = 1 n p i * = ( S O C end - S O C initial ) cap bat p max .DELTA.
t * .DELTA. t 0 ( Equation 12 ) ##EQU00006##
[0085] with the bounds on the non-dimensional variables
0.ltoreq.p.sub.i*.ltoreq.1 (Equation 13)
[0086] Many different techniques may be used to solve the linear
optimization problem including the technique described in Chapter
10 of the book "Numerical Recipes, The Art of Scientific
Computing," Cambridge University Press, 1988, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0087] According to this technique, the following arrays and
variables are assigned: [0088] M: number of constraint equations.
Here M=1; [0089] N: number of decision variables: Here assume first
24 decision variables to represent the 24 hourly problem space. The
time variable may be reduces, of course, for example to 15 minutes
rather than an hour. In this example, N=24. [0090] NP=N+1; [0091]
MP=M+2; [0092] A: the constraint matrix. it also contains the
objective function. The size of the constraint matrix is (M+2,
N+1); [0093] A(1,n+1 . . . NP)=coefficient of objective function
[0094] A(2,n+1 . . . NP)=constraint coefficient. This may be the
resting time (the time that rechargeable battery 16 is connected to
electrical power distribution system 10 and is available for
charging). In one example, the following non-dimensionalized
variables may be used:
TABLE-US-00001 [0094] TABLE A Non-dimensionalized variables
Non-dimensionalize C* = C/Cmax dt* = dt/dt0 define Cmax = $1 1 $
dt0 = 1 hour 1 hour dt 1 hour dt* 1 Pmax 1.4 kW Cap 14 kWh
[0095] Then, the following power rates and resting time of the
vehicle may be used. The values in the time column represent
intervals of a time period. Resting time is time during which
rechargeable battery 16 may be charged. In Table B, a "1" indicates
that rechargeable battery 16 may be charged during the interval and
a "0" indicates that rechargeable battery 16 may not be charged
during the interval. In one embodiment, intervals 7:00 through
12:00 may be outside of the resting time because a user may have
specified 7:00 as a desired time of charge completion. Accordingly,
controller 20 may determine a schedule so that charging does not
take place during the intervals from 7:00 through 12:00.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE B Rates and TOU rate and resting time.
Electric Time Rates[$/kWh] Non-dimensionalized rate (C*) Resting
time 13:00 0.0772 0.0772 0 14:00 0.0772 0.0772 0 15:00 0.0772
0.0772 0 16:00 0.0772 0.0772 1 17:00 0.0772 0.0772 1 18:00 0.0772
0.0772 1 19:00 0.0452 0.0452 1 20:00 0.0452 0.0452 1 21:00 0.0452
0.0452 1 22:00 0.0452 0.0452 1 23:00 0.0358 0.0358 1 0:00 0.0358
0.0358 1 1:00 0.0358 0.0358 1 2:00 0.0358 0.0358 1 3:00 0.0358
0.0358 1 4:00 0.0358 0.0358 1 5:00 0.0358 0.0358 1 6:00 0.0358
0.0358 1 7:00 0.0452 0.0452 0 8:00 0.0452 0.0452 0 9:00 0.0452
0.0452 0 10:00 0.0452 0.0452 0 11:00 0.0452 0.0452 0 12:00 0.0772
0.0772 0
So that: [0096] A(1, . . . )=(0, 0.0772, 0.0772, 0.0772, 0.0772,
0.0772, 0.0772, 0.0452, . . . 0.0772); [0097] A(2, . . . )=(10, 0,
0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
0); and [0098] cap/pmax/dt*/dt0=14 kWh/1.4 kW/1 h/1=10.
[0099] Referring to FIG. 5A, results of the optimization example
described above in relation to Tables A and B are illustrated. FIG.
5A illustrates price information associated with electrical energy
provided by electrical power distribution system 10. Note that the
prices are lower during nighttime hours.
[0100] Referring to FIG. 5B, a resting time associated with the
example described above in relation to Tables A and B is
illustrated. Note that according to the resting time, rechargeable
battery 16 is available for charging between the hours of 15:00 and
7:00.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 5C, a charging schedule associated with
the example described above in relation to Tables A and B is
illustrated. Note that the schedule indicates that the most cost
effective time to charge rechargeable battery 16 is between 20:00
and 7:00.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 5D, a modified version of the charging
schedule of FIG. 5C is illustrated. The charging schedule of FIG.
5C has been modified to allow time for climate system 36 to bring
vehicle 34 to a desired temperature prior to 7:00. According to the
modified charging schedule, the most cost effective time to charge
rechargeable battery 16 in view of the need to bring vehicle 34 to
the desired temperature is between 19:00 and 6:00.
[0103] Referring to FIG. 5E, a schedule associated with climate
system 36 is illustrated. According to the schedule, controller 20
should enable climate system 36 starting at 6:00 and disable
climate system 36 at 7:00 to bring vehicle 34 to the desired
temperature by 7:00.
[0104] In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention
have been described in language more or less specific as to
structural and methodical features. It is to be understood,
however, that the entire invention is not limited to the specific
features and/or embodiments shown and/or described, since the
disclosed embodiments comprise forms of putting the invention into
effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or
modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims
appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of
equivalents.
* * * * *