JP7359604B2 - charging system - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a charging system.

In the technical field related to work vehicles, electric work vehicles that use batteries as a power source are known. The battery is charged by a charging device. Patent Document 1 discloses a charging power display system that displays the operating status of a plurality of chargers installed on the premises of a factory or the like.

JP2016-082766A

The charging device charges the battery based on the power supplied from the power source. The charging speed of the battery by the charging device depends on the capacity of the power source (breaker capacity). Therefore, when rapidly charging a battery, the power source needs to have a large capacity. Furthermore, when charging the batteries of multiple work vehicles simultaneously, a large-scale power source is required. Without a large-scale power source, it is difficult to rapidly charge the batteries of multiple work vehicles at fixed times, such as during break times.

The present disclosure aims to quickly charge the batteries of multiple work vehicles even without a large-scale power source.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a charging device that includes a power storage device that is charged by a power source and a charger capable of charging batteries of work vehicles, and monitors states of batteries of a plurality of work vehicles and states of a plurality of the charge devices. A charging system is provided, including a management device.

According to the present disclosure, batteries of multiple work vehicles can be rapidly charged even without a large-scale power source.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a charging system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the charging system and work vehicle according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing recommendation processing according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the notification device according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing charging power amount limiting processing according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a computer system according to this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The components of the embodiments described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, some components may not be used.

[Charging system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a charging system 1 according to the present embodiment. The work vehicle 2 is equipped with a battery 21 . The charging system 1 charges the battery 21 of the work vehicle 2. Battery 21 includes a secondary battery (rechargeable battery). The work vehicle 2 is an electric work vehicle that uses a battery 21 as a power source. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the work vehicle 2 is an electric forklift. Charging system 1 is installed in an industrial facility such as a factory or warehouse. A plurality of work vehicles 2 operate at an industrial facility.

As shown in FIG. 1, the charging system 1 includes a charging device 3, a management device 4, and a detector 5. Power is supplied from the power supply 6 to the charging device 3 via a cable 9 including a power supply line. The power source 6 may be a small-capacity power source such as a household power source, or a large-capacity power source such as a power source installed in an industrial facility. Further, the power supply 6 supplies power not only to the charging device 3 but also to electrical equipment present in the industrial facility. Electric power is supplied from a power plant 7 (power company) to a power source 6. The power source 6 includes an AC power source (commercial power source). Note that the power source 6 may be a private power generator or a solar power generator. Power source 6 may include a smart grid.

The charging device 3 charges the battery 21 of the work vehicle 2. A plurality of charging devices 3 are installed in an industrial facility. A connector 22 is provided on the work vehicle 2. Connector 22 is connected to plug 8 . Plug 8 is connected to charging device 3 via cable 27. Cable 27 includes a power supply line. By connecting the connector 22 and the plug 8, the charging device 3 and the battery 21 are connected. The charging device 3 can charge the battery 21 via the plug 8 and connector 22. The cable 27 also includes a communication line. Work vehicle 2 and charging device 3 can communicate via cable 27 . Note that the work vehicle 2 and the charging device 3 may communicate wirelessly.

Further, the charging device 3 and the management device 4 can communicate wirelessly. Note that the charging device 3 and the management device 4 may communicate with each other via a cable such as a communication line. Similarly, the management device 4 and the power source 6 may communicate wirelessly or via a cable. The power source 6 and the charging device 3 may communicate wirelessly or via a cable.

Management device 4 includes a computer system. The management device 4 monitors the states of the batteries 21 of the plurality of work vehicles 2 and the states of the plurality of charging devices 3.

The detector 5 monitors the usage status of the power supplied from the power supply 6 to the industrial facility.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the charging system 1 and the work vehicle 2 according to this embodiment.

The work vehicle 2 includes a battery 21 , a connector 22 , a notification device 24 , a position detection device 25 , and a control device 26 .

Notification device 24 outputs notification data. The notification device 24 may be a display device that outputs display data, an audio output device that outputs audio data, or a light emitting device that outputs predetermined colored light. As the display device, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display is exemplified. Note that the notification device 24 does not need to be provided in the work vehicle 2. The notification device 24 may be a smartphone or a tablet computer.

The position detection device 25 detects the position of the work vehicle 2. As the position detection device 25, a GNSS sensor that detects the position of the work vehicle 2 using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is exemplified. GNSS refers to Global Navigation Satellite System. An example of a global navigation satellite system is GPS (Global Positioning System).

Control device 26 includes a computer system. The control device 26 controls the battery 21 and the notification device 24.

Charging device 3 includes a charger 31 , a power storage device 32 , a converter 33 , and a control device 34 .

The charger 31 can charge the battery 21 of the work vehicle 2. The charger 31 can charge the battery 21 of the work vehicle 2 at a first charging speed or a second charging speed faster than the first charging speed. The charger 31 has a voltage adjustment function and a rectification function for charging the battery 21.

In the following description, charging at the first charging rate will be referred to as normal charging, and charging at the second charging rate will be referred to as rapid charging.

The power storage device 32 stores power supplied from the power source 6 . Power storage device 32 includes a secondary battery (rechargeable battery). The power storage device 32 is charged by the power source 6 . When the connector 22 and the plug 8 are not connected, that is, when the battery 21 is not charged, the power storage device 32 is charged by the power source 6.

Converter 33 converts AC power supplied from power source 6 into DC power. Power storage device 32 stores DC power from converter 33 .

Control device 34 includes a computer system. Control device 34 controls charger 31, power storage device 32, and converter 33.

The management device 4 includes a work vehicle data acquisition section 41, a charging device data acquisition section 42, a processing section 43, a notification data output section 44, a target power amount acquisition section 45, a total power usage amount acquisition section 46, It has a charging power amount output section 47 and a storage section 48.

[Recommendation processing]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing recommendation processing by the charging system 1 according to the present embodiment. Recommendation processing refers to selecting the most suitable charging device for charging the working vehicle 2 based on the position data of the working vehicle 2 that requires charging when there are multiple working vehicles 2 and multiple charging devices 3 in an industrial facility. This refers to the process of providing location data in step 3.

The management device 4 notifies the notification device 24 of the location data of the charging device 3 most suitable for charging the work vehicle 2 based on the charging request from the work vehicle 2 and the position data of the work vehicle 2 . Furthermore, based on the charging request from the work vehicle 2 and the position data of the work vehicle 2, the management device 4 collects location data of other work vehicles 2 that can be used after the work vehicle 2 that requested charging starts charging. Notification is made to the notification device 24.

The work vehicle data acquisition unit 41 acquires work vehicle data regarding the work vehicle 2 from each of the plurality of work vehicles 2 at regular intervals (step S101).

The work vehicle data includes the state of the battery 21 and the position of the work vehicle 2. The state of the battery 21 includes the remaining capacity [%] of the battery 21 and the average power consumption [kW] of the battery 21. The position of the work vehicle 2 is detected by a position detection device 25. An identification number (ID) is attached to each of the plurality of work vehicles 2. Further, each of the plurality of batteries 21 is assigned an identification number (ID). Therefore, the work vehicle data acquisition unit 41 can distinguish between the plurality of work vehicles 2 and the plurality of batteries 21.

The charging device data acquisition unit 42 acquires charging device data regarding the charging device 3 from each of the plurality of charging devices 3 at regular intervals (step S102).

The charging device data includes the state of the power storage device 32. The state of the power condenser 32 includes the power storage state indicating whether the power condenser 32 is storing or discharging power, and the remaining capacity [%] of the power condenser 32. An identification number (ID) is assigned to each of the plurality of charging devices 3. Therefore, the charging device data acquisition unit 42 can distinguish between the plurality of charging devices 3 (power storage devices 32).

Based on the state of the battery 21 acquired in step S101, the processing unit 43 calculates the remaining operating time Ta indicating the time from the current time until the capacity [%] of the battery 21 becomes zero (step S103).

The processing unit 43 can calculate the remaining operating time Ta based on the current remaining capacity of the battery 21 and the average power consumption of the battery 21. The remaining operating time Ta indicates the available operating time of the work vehicle 2 from the current time.

The processing unit 43 calculates the remaining power storage time Tb indicating the time from the current time until the power storage of the power storage device 32 is completed, based on the state of the power storage device 32 acquired in step S102 (step S104).

The processing unit 43 determines whether there is a vehicle 2A that requires charging, indicating a work vehicle 2 that requires charging, based on the remaining operating time Ta calculated in step S103 (step S105).

If the remaining operating time Ta is less than or equal to a predetermined first threshold, the processing unit 43 determines that there is a vehicle 2A that requires charging. That is, when the processing unit 43 determines that the work vehicle 2 has a short available operating time, the processing unit 43 determines that the work vehicle 2 is the vehicle 2A that requires charging.

In step S105, if it is determined that the vehicle 2A requiring charging exists (step S105: Yes), the processing unit 43 calculates a recommended charging start time tr indicating the time at which the vehicle 2A requiring charging should start charging (step S106). ).

The processing unit 43 can calculate the recommended charging start time tr based on the remaining operating time Ta of the battery 21 calculated in step S103 and the average power consumption of the battery 21 acquired in step S101. The recommended charging start time tr indicates the time point when the capacity [%] of the battery 21 is expected to become zero.

Based on the remaining power storage time Tb calculated in step S104, the processing unit 43 selects a recommended charging device 3A that indicates the charging device 3 having the power storage device 32 for which power storage is completed earliest or the charging device 3 that has already completed power storage. Calculate (step S107).

The processing unit 43 calculates the recommended alternative vehicle 2B indicating the work vehicle 2 that can be used at the recommended charging start time tr based on the remaining operating time Ta of the battery 21 calculated in step S103 (step S108).

The processing unit 43 determines that the recommended alternative vehicle 2B exists when the remaining operating time Ta is equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold. That is, when the processing unit 43 determines that the available operating time of the work vehicle 2 is sufficient, the processing unit 43 determines the work vehicle 2 as the recommended alternative vehicle 2B.

The notification data output unit 44 outputs location data indicating the location of the recommended charging device 3A calculated in step S107 (step S109).

The location of each of the plurality of charging devices 3 in the industrial facility is known data and is registered in the storage unit 48. The notification data output unit 44 can output location data of the recommended charging device 3A.

In the present embodiment, the processing unit 43 stores the location of the work vehicle 2 acquired in step S101, the location of the charging device 3 registered in the storage unit 48, and the location of the industrial facility registered in advance in the storage unit 48. A first route R1 from the vehicle 2A requiring charging to the recommended charging device 3A is calculated based on the layout diagram. The notification data output unit 44 outputs the first route R1 as location data.

The notification data output unit 44 outputs location data indicating the location of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B calculated in step S108 (step S110).

In this embodiment, the processing unit 43 selects the recommended alternative vehicle from the recommended charging device 3A based on the location of the recommended charging device 3A, the position of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B acquired in step S101, and the layout diagram of the industrial facility. A second route R2 up to 2B is calculated. The notification data output unit 44 outputs the second route R2 as location data.

The notification data output unit 44 transmits the location data of the recommended charging device 3A including the first route R1 and the location data of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B including the second route R2 to the notification device 24.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the notification device 24 according to this embodiment. Notification device 24 includes a display device. As shown in FIG. 4, the notification device 24 displays a first route R1 from the vehicle requiring charging 2A to the recommended charging device 3A. The notification device 24 displays a second route R2 from the recommended charging device 3A to the recommended alternative vehicle 2B.

The worker driving the vehicle 2A that requires charging drives the vehicle 2A that requires charging while referring to the first route R1 displayed on the notification device 24 so that the vehicle 2A reaches the recommended charging device 3A by the recommended charging start time tr. drive.

The processing unit 43 can calculate the first route R1 so as to connect the shortest distance between the vehicle 2A that requires charging and the recommended charging device 3A. Note that in the industrial facility, there is a possibility that there is a restricted area RA in which travel of the work vehicle 2 is restricted based on, for example, the work situation or time at the industrial facility. If the restricted area RA exists, the processing unit 43 can calculate the first route R1 so as to avoid the restricted area RA.

After arriving at the recommended charging device 3A, the worker driving the vehicle 2A that requires charging connects the vehicle 2A that requires charging and the recommended charging device 3A, and charges the battery 21 of the vehicle 2A that requires charging. After charging of the battery 21 of the vehicle 2A that requires charging is started, the worker moves to the recommended alternative vehicle 2B while referring to the second route R2 displayed on the notification device 24. The worker can board the recommended alternative vehicle 2B and start work.

[Charging power amount limitation processing]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing charging power amount limiting processing by the charging system 1 according to the present embodiment. The charging power amount limiting process is a process of limiting the charging power amount that the charging device 3 uses to charge the battery 21 .

The management device 4 acquires the total power consumption of the industrial facility from the detector 5. The management device 4 also acquires a target amount of power indicating the amount of power that can be used by the industrial facility. The total amount of electricity used is the amount of electricity actually used in the industrial facility. The target power amount is, for example, the maximum amount of power that can be used by an industrial facility, as determined by a contract with an electric power company. Therefore, the surplus power amount indicating the amount of power that can be used by the charging device 3 is the difference between the target power amount and the total power usage (margin power amount=target power amount−total power usage). The management device 4 determines the amount of charging power so that the amount of charging power used by the charging device 3 to charge the battery 21 does not exceed the margin power amount. The target power amount is a constant value. The total power consumption is a variable value that fluctuates based on the operating status of electrical equipment in the industrial facility. Therefore, the surplus power amount is a variable value. The management device 4 changes the charging power amount so that the charging power amount does not exceed the allowance power amount.

The target power amount obtaining unit 45 obtains the target power amount and the set time (step S201).

The target power amount is determined, for example, by a contract with an electric power company. In this embodiment, the target power amount is changed depending on the set time. As an example, the target power amount becomes large during the night, and the target power amount becomes small during the day. The relationship between the target power amount and the set time is determined in the contract with the electric power company. The target power amount acquisition unit 45 acquires a predetermined target power amount and set time. The target power amount and set time may be registered in the storage unit 48, or may be input by an operator by operating an input device (not shown).

The total power usage acquisition unit 46 acquires the total power usage from the detector 5 (step S202).

When a certain charging device 3 among the plurality of charging devices 3 existing in the industrial facility starts charging the battery 21, the control device 34 of the charging device 3 manages a charging start signal indicating that charging of the battery 21 has started. Output to device 4. The processing unit 43 acquires the charging start signal output from the charging device 3 (step S203).

The processing unit 43 determines whether the current time is within the set time (step S204).

If it is determined in step S204 that the set time is not within the set time (step S204: No), the process returns to step S202.

In step S204, if it is determined that it is within the set time (step S204: Yes), the processing unit 43 calculates the surplus power amount based on the total power usage and the target power amount (step S205).

As described above, the surplus power amount is the difference between the target power amount and the total power usage (margin power amount=target power amount−total power usage).

The charging power amount output unit 47 determines the charging power amount based on the surplus power amount calculated in step S205 (step S206).

The charging power amount refers to the power amount that the charging device 3 actually uses to charge the battery 21 . The charging power amount output unit 47 determines the charging power amount so that the charging power amount does not exceed the allowance power amount.

The charging power amount output unit 47 outputs the charging power amount determined in step S205 to the charging device 3 (step S207).

The control device 34 of the charging device 3 acquires the charging power amount output from the charging power amount output section 47. The control device 34 charges the battery 21 based on the amount of charging power.

[Computer system]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a computer system 1000 according to this embodiment. The management device 4 described above includes a computer system 1000. The computer system 1000 includes a processor 1001 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main memory 1002 including a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), It has a storage 1003 and an interface 1004 including an input/output circuit. The functions of the management device 4 described above are stored in the storage 1003 as a computer program. The processor 1001 reads the computer program from the storage 1003, expands it into the main memory 1002, and executes the above-described processing according to the computer program. Note that the computer program may be distributed to the computer system 1000 via a network.

The computer program manages the state of the work vehicle 2 having the battery 21 and the state of the charging device 3 having the power storage 32 charged by the power source 6 and the charger 31 capable of charging the battery 21 according to the embodiment described above. can do.

[effect]
As explained above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of charging devices 3 each having a power storage device 32 are provided in an industrial facility. When the battery 21 is not being charged, the power condenser 32 is charged with power by the power source 6 . Since the power condenser 32 is charged with power by the power source 6 during the period when the battery 21 is not being charged, the power condenser 32 can sufficiently store power even if the power source 6 has a small capacity. When quickly charging the battery 21 , the charging device 3 can quickly charge the battery 21 using the power stored in the power storage device 32 . In quickly charging the battery 21, the power from the power source 6 is not used, but the power output from the power storage device 32 is used. Therefore, even if the industrial facility does not have a large-scale power source 6, the charging system 1 can quickly charge the batteries 21 of the plurality of work vehicles 2.

Furthermore, the management device 4 monitors the states of the plurality of work vehicles 2 and the states of the plurality of charging devices 3 operating in the industrial facility. Therefore, the battery 21 of the work vehicle 2 can be appropriately charged using at least one of the plurality of charging devices 3.

The management device 4 can monitor the remaining operating time Ta, which indicates the time until the capacity of the battery 21 reaches zero, based on the remaining capacity of the battery 21 and the average power consumption of the battery 21. Furthermore, the management device 4 can manage the remaining power storage time Tb indicating the time until the power storage of the power storage device 32 ends, based on the power storage state of the power storage device 32 and the remaining capacity of the power storage device 32 .

The management device 4 can manage the presence or absence of the vehicle 2A that requires charging based on the remaining operating time Ta. Furthermore, the management device 4 can manage the presence or absence of the recommended charging device 3A based on the remaining power storage time Tb.

The management device 4 outputs location data indicating the location of the recommended charging device 3A to the notification device 24. Thereby, the worker driving the vehicle 2A that requires charging can move the vehicle 2A that requires charging to the recommended charging device 3A while referring to the location of the recommended charging device 3A displayed on the notification device 24.

The management device 4 can manage the presence or absence of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B that can be used at the recommended charging start time tr based on the remaining operating time Ta of the battery 21 and the average power consumption of the battery 21.

The management device 4 outputs location data indicating the location of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B to the notification device 24. As a result, after starting charging the battery 21 of the vehicle 2A that requires charging using the recommended charging device 3A, the operator can move to the recommended alternative vehicle 2B while referring to the location of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B displayed on the notification device 24. Can be moved. The worker can start work using the recommended alternative vehicle 2B. Since the idle time of workers is reduced, the decline in work efficiency of industrial facilities is suppressed. Moreover, by outputting the location data of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B, the worker can move to the recommended alternative vehicle 2B without getting lost in the industrial facility.

The management device 4 can manage the surplus power amount indicating the amount of power that can be used by the charging device 3 based on the target power amount and the total amount of power used. The management device 4 determines the amount of charging power so that the amount of charging power used by the charging device 3 to charge the battery 21 does not exceed the margin power amount. This prevents the total amount of power used by the industrial facility from exceeding the target amount of power.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the first route R1 is displayed on the notification device 24 as the location data of the recommended charging device 3A. The first route R1 may not be displayed on the notification device 24. For example, a mark (symbol) indicating the location of the recommended charging device 3A may be displayed on the notification device 24. Moreover, when the notification device 24 indicates a voice output device, the location data of the recommended charging device 3A may be outputted by voice. The same applies to the location data of the recommended alternative vehicle 2B.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, we decided that the work vehicle 2 is a forklift. The components described in the above embodiments are applicable to a work vehicle that uses a battery as a drive source. For example, the work vehicle 2 may be a wheel loader using a battery as a driving source, a hydraulic excavator, or a dump truck.

1... Charging system, 2... Work vehicle, 2A... Vehicle requiring charging, 2B... Recommended alternative vehicle, 3... Charging device, 3A... Recommended charging device, 4... Management device, 5... Detector, 6... Power supply, 7... Power generation Place, 8... Plug, 9... Cable, 21... Battery, 22... Connector, 24... Notification device, 25... Position detection device, 26... Control device, 27... Cable, 31... Charger, 32... Condenser, 33... Conversion device, 34...control device, 41...work vehicle data acquisition section, 42...charging device data acquisition section, 43...processing section, 44...notification data output section, 45...target power amount acquisition section, 46...total power usage amount acquisition section, 47...charging power amount output section, 48...storage section.

Claims (9)

A power storage device that is charged by a power source when the battery of a work vehicle is not being charged ; and a charger that quickly charges the battery using power stored in the power storage device without using power from the power source. a charging device having;
a management device that monitors the states of the batteries of the plurality of work vehicles and the states of the plurality of charging devices ,
The management device notifies a notification device of the work vehicle of location data of a charging device most suitable for charging the work vehicle, based on a charging request from the work vehicle and position data of the work vehicle.
charging system. The management device includes:
a work vehicle data acquisition unit that acquires work vehicle data related to the work vehicle;
a charging device data acquisition unit that acquires charging device data related to the charging device;
a processing unit that processes the work vehicle data and the charging device data,
The work vehicle data includes the remaining capacity of the battery and the average power consumption of the battery,
The charging device data includes a power storage state indicating whether the power storage device is storing power or discharging power, and a remaining capacity of the power storage device,
The processing unit includes:
Based on the remaining capacity of the battery and the average power consumption, calculating the remaining operating time indicating the time until the capacity of the battery becomes zero,
Calculating the remaining power storage time indicating the time until the end of power storage in the power storage device based on the power storage state of the power storage device and the remaining capacity;
The charging system according to claim 1. The processing unit includes:
Determining whether there is a vehicle requiring charging that indicates the work vehicle requiring charging based on the remaining operating time;
Based on the remaining power storage time, calculate a recommended charging device that indicates the charging device having the power storage device whose power storage is completed earliest or the charging device whose power storage has already been completed;
The charging system according to claim 2. The management device includes:
comprising a notification data output unit that outputs location data indicating the location of the recommended charging device;
The charging system according to claim 3. The work vehicle data includes the position of the work vehicle,
The processing unit calculates a first route from the vehicle requiring charging to the recommended charging device,
The notification data output unit outputs the first route as the location data.
The charging system according to claim 4. The processing unit includes:
Based on the remaining operating time and the average power consumption, calculating a recommended charging start time indicating a time at which the vehicle requiring charging should start charging;
calculating a recommended alternative vehicle indicating a work vehicle that can be used at the recommended charging start time based on the remaining operating time;
The charging system according to claim 4 or claim 5. The notification data output unit outputs location data indicating the location of the recommended alternative vehicle.
The charging system according to claim 6. The processing unit calculates a second route from the recommended charging device to the recommended alternative vehicle,
The notification data output unit outputs the second route as the location data.
The charging system according to claim 7. The work vehicle and the charging device operate in an industrial facility,
The management device includes:
a target power amount acquisition unit that acquires a target power amount indicating a maximum value of power amount that can be used by the industrial facility;
a total power usage acquisition unit that acquires a total power usage amount indicating the amount of power used in the industrial facility;
a processing unit that calculates a surplus power amount indicating an amount of power that can be used by the charging device based on the target power amount and the total amount of power used;
a charging power amount determination unit that determines a charging power amount indicating the power amount that the charging device uses to charge the battery;
The charging power amount determination unit determines the charging power amount so that the charging power amount does not exceed the surplus power amount.
The charging system according to claim 1.

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