Controllers, devices, and methods for performing power quality control using direct current fast charging devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975619-B2
Application number	US-202318120462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2023
Priority date	Jul 29, 2021
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controller units, direct current fast charging (DCFC) units, and methods. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller unit includes a controller and a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the controller to determine status of a power electronics module (PEM) of a direct current fast charging (DCFC) unit, and instruct the PEM to control power quality of a three-phase alternating current (AC) grid power signal in response to the determined status being available.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller unit comprising:
a controller; and
a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the controller to:
determine status of a power electronics module (PEM) of a direct current fast charging (DCFC) unit coupled to a power distribution system;
instruct the PEM to control power quality of a three-phase alternating current (AC) grid power signal in response to the determined status being available; and
receive three-phase current values from a non-linear load sharing a three-phase grid power signal with the DCFC unit and causing voltage and current distortions in the power distribution system and the DCFC unit in response to the instruction to control power quality.

2. The controller unit of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the controller to:
terminate instructing the PEM to control power quality in response to the determined status being unavailable.

3. The controller unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the controller to:
determine that a power quality control condition does not exist; and
terminate instructing the PEM to control power quality in response to the determination that the power quality control condition does not exist.

4. The controller unit of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the controller to:
receive three-phase grid current values and voltage values from current sensors and voltage sensors disposed within the DCFC unit in response to the instruction to control power quality.

5. The controller unit of claim 4 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the controller to:
generate control signals in response to the received three-phase grid current values, the received three-phase grid voltage values, and the received three-phase grid current values; and
send the generated control signals to an AC to DC converter.

6. The controller unit of claim 5 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the controller to:
calculate harmonic reference values of the received three-phase current values; and
generate rectifier three-phase voltage reference values in response to the calculated harmonic reference values and the received three-phase grid current values.

7. The controller unit of claim 4 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the controller to:
receive three-phase grid voltage values from sensors disposed within the DCFC unit;
convert the received three-phase current values and the received three-phase grid current values from a synchronous reference frame to a rotating reference frame in response to the received three-phase grid voltage values; and
convert the generated rectifier three-phase voltage reference values from the rotating reference frame to the synchronous reference frame.

8. A direct current fast charging (DCFC) unit comprising:
a power electronics module (PEM);
a first controller;
a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the first controller to:
determine status of the PEM; and
instruct the PEM to control power quality of a three-phase alternating current (AC) grid power signal in response to the determined status being available; and
a communication device configured to receive three-phase current values from a non-linear load sharing a three-phase grid power signal with the DCFC unit and causing voltage and current distortions in a power distribution system coupled to the DCFC unit and the DCFC unit.

9. The DCFC unit of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the controller to:
terminate instructing the PEM to control power quality in response to the determined status being unavailable.

10. The DCFC unit of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the first controller to:
determine that a power quality control condition does not exist; and
terminate instructing the PEM to control power quality in response to the determination that the power quality control condition does not exist.

11. The DCFC unit of claim 8 , further comprising:
current sensors configured to receive three-phase grid current values; and
voltage sensors configured to receive three-phase grid voltage values.

12. The DCFC unit of claim 11 , wherein the PEM further includes:
a second controller;
an AC-DC converter; and
a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the second controller to:
generate control signals in response to the received three-phase current values, the received three-phase grid voltage values, and the received three-phase grid current values; and
send the generated control signals to the AC to DC converter.

13. The DCFC unit of claim 12 , wherein the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the PEM are further configured to cause the second controller to:
calculate harmonic reference values of the received three-phase current values; and
generate rectifier three-phase voltage reference values in response to the calculated harmonic reference values and the received three-phase grid current value.

14. The DCFC unit of claim 13 , further comprising:
three-phase grid voltage sensors configured to sense three-phase grid voltage values; and wherein the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the PEM are further configured to cause the second controller to:
convert the received three-phase current values from a synchronous reference frame to a rotating reference frame, before calculating the harmonic reference values in response to the received three-phase grid voltage values;
convert the received three-phase grid current values from the rotating reference frame to the synchronous reference frame, before generating rectifier three-phase voltage reference values in response to the received three-phase grid voltage values; and
convert the generated rectifier three-phase voltage reference values from the rotating reference frame to the synchronous reference frame.

15. A method comprising:
determining status of a power electronics module (PEM) of a direct current fast charging (DCFC) unit coupled to a power distribution system;
instructing the PEM to control power quality of a three-phase alternating current (AC) signal in response to the determined status being available; and
receiving three-phase current values from a non-linear load sharing a three-phase grid power signal with the DCFC unit and causing voltage and current distortions in the power distribution system and the DCFC unit in response to the instruction to control power quality.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
terminating instructing the PEM to control power quality in response to the determined status being unavailable.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining that a power quality control condition does not exist; and
terminating instructing the PEM to control power quality in response to the determination that the power quality control condition does not exist.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving three-phase grid current values from current sensors disposed within the DCFC unit in response to the instruction to control power quality; and
receiving three-phase grid voltage values from volta

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Liu Yang
• Schulz Steven
• Li Ming

Classifications

• H02J2105/37

  exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/96

  in response to battery voltage · CPC title

• H02J7/94 Primary

  in response to battery current · CPC title

• B60L53/11 Primary

  DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4 · CPC title