Regulating module for a rotary electric machine

Abstract

The invention provides an adjustment module (13) for a rotary electric machine having an operating mode with vehicle battery disconnection, the adjustment module comprising a rotor module (14) and a stator module (15). The rotor module is arranged to generate a first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) on the basis of which a first output quantity (V_Rot) for controlling the rotor is generated, said first intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of a power supply potential reference signal (Pdc_MaxRef) and a rotational speed (W) of the rotor and being independent of a power or control torque of the electric machine. The stator module is arranged to generate a second intermediate setpoint on the basis of which a second output quantity for controlling the stator is generated, said second intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of an output voltage of the electric machine.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application particularly relates to a regulation module for a rotary electric machine of a vehicle, in particular to an operating mode in which the battery of the vehicle is disconnected from the electric machine.

[0002] The application is particularly advantageously applicable in the field of rotary electric machines, such as alternators, starter-alternators, even reversible machines or electric motors. It can be recalled that a reversible machine is a rotary electric machine that can operate in reverse, both as a generator when used as an alternator and as an electric motor, for example to start the internal combustion engine of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0003] A rotary electric machine comprises a rotor that rotates freely around an axis and a stator that is fixed. In alternator mode, when the rotor rotates, it induces a magnetic field at the stator, which it transforms into an electric current, thus powering the electrical consumers of the vehicle and charging the battery. In motor mode, the stator is electrically powered and induces a magnetic field that makes the rotor rotate, for example to start the internal combustion engine.

[0004] Conventionally, the electric machine comprises a regulation module that allows the generation of quantities for controlling the rotor and the stator in order to control the power and / or the torque delivered by the electric machine. Determining each of these control quantities depends on, on the one hand, reference parameters, which are in particular provided by the main computer of the vehicle and which indicate the desired operating level of the electric machine, and on the other hand, instantaneous operating parameters of the electric machine. The instantaneous parameters are generally the rotational speed of the rotor and the output voltage and / or current generated by the electric machine.

[0005] The regulation module thus comprises a conversion module that allows the determination of intermediate set points for controlling the stator and the rotor, based on these reference parameters and these instantaneous parameters. The intermediate set points are then transmitted to the regulation modules of the rotor and the stator, which generate the final quantities for controlling the rotor and the stator. The conversion and regulation modules each operate at their own frequency. Time delays are thus generated between the modules, which can lead to a shift between the time of measurement of the instantaneous parameters for the calculation of the intermediate set points and the time of injection of the final control quantities into the rotor and / or the stator. The values of the instantaneous parameters can no longer correspond to the operating state of the rotor and / or the stator.

[0006] Under certain conditions, in order not to wear or damage the battery of the vehicle, it is possible to disconnect the rotary electric machine and the battery. For example, when the load of the vehicle must be powered and the outside temperature is extremely low and the safety conditions of the vehicle are met, the computer of the vehicle can request the disconnection of the rotary electric machine and the battery for a given period of time in order to preserve the battery. The rotary electric machine then operates in an operating mode called batteryless.

[0007] Conventionally, the rotary electric machine is regulated in the same way regardless of whether the machine is in normal operating mode or in batteryless operating mode. The regulation module of the machine is thus not affected by the change of mode, excluding the modification of certain coefficients allowing the control of the quantities of current and voltage to be optimized.

[0008] However, in batteryless operating mode, the time delays due to the difference in operating frequency of the modules can lead to an under-voltage or over-voltage fault in the on-board electrical power delivery network of the vehicle, in particular in the case of small load draw or small load discharge, and when there is a small amount of load to be powered. The above-mentioned way of operating the rotary electric machine in batteryless operating mode is not sufficiently robust. SUMMARY

[0009] The present invention aims to avoid the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0010] To this end, one subject of the invention is a regulation module for a rotary electric machine of a vehicle, the rotary electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator. According to the invention, the regulation module has an operating mode in which said electric machine is intended to be disconnected from the battery of the vehicle. Still according to the invention, the regulation module comprises a rotor module arranged to emit a first output quantity for controlling the rotor, and a stator module arranged to emit at least one second output quantity for controlling the stator. According to the invention, in particular when the electric machine is disconnected from the battery of the vehicle, the rotor module is arranged to generate a first intermediate setpoint, on the basis of which the first output quantity is generated, said first intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of a power potential reference signal and a rotational speed of the rotor, and independently of a control power or a control torque of the electric machine. According to the invention, in particular when the electric machine is disconnected from the battery of the vehicle, the stator module is arranged to generate a second intermediate setpoint, on the basis of which the second output quantity is generated, said second intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of an output voltage of the electric machine.

[0011] By "said first intermediate setpoint is independent of a control power or a control torque of the electric machine", it is meant that, when determining the first intermediate setpoint of the rotor, the control power or torque of the electric machine is not taken into account. The setpoint for controlling the rotor thus depends only on reference parameters and no longer on instantaneous parameters or on the load of the on-board electrical power delivery network. This makes it possible to choose the excitation current of the rotor so that the flux emitted by the rotor is sufficient to enable the electric machine to deliver the current necessary to power the on-board power delivery network of the vehicle, without having to take into account the optimization of the efficiency of the rotor. The excitation current thus remains constant overall for a given speed.

[0012] The power potential of the electric machine is in particular the maximum power that the electric machine is able to produce at a given speed, while respecting the steady-state limits of the electric machine, in particular thermal limits. This maximum power can be the maximum power that can be transmitted to the on-board power delivery network of the vehicle, in appropriate cases via a DC / DC converter, when the electric machine is disconnected from the battery. This maximum power is for example of the order of a few kW, for example equal to 2 kW.

[0013] The fact that the second intermediate setpoint of the stator depends directly on the output voltage of the electric machine allows to regulate the electric machine with the stator current setpoint instead of with an intermediate torque setpoint, as is the case conventionally in the normal operating mode with battery connection.

[0014] The invention allows to better adapt to variations of the load and to avoid a loss of synchronism at a wider range of variations. The output voltage of the electric machine is thus better regulated. This allows thus the battery-less operating mode of the rotating electric machine to become more robust.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the first intermediate setpoint can also be independent of the output voltage of the electric machine and / or of the torque generated by the electric machine.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the stator module comprises an optimization sub-module generating the second intermediate setpoint and a regulation sub-module generating the second output quantity, the optimization sub-module and the regulation sub-module having in particular the same operating frequency. This allows to improve the reactivity of the electric machine to variations of the flow it can be subjected to.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the second intermediate setpoint is determined also on the basis of a reference voltage.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the stator module is arranged to emit a second output quantity for controlling the stator and a third output quantity for controlling the stator. For example, the second output quantity allows to control a stator torque component and the third output quantity allows to control a stator flux component.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the second output quantity and the third output quantity are determined on the basis of the second intermediate setpoint.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the second output quantity is determined on the basis of a comparison between the second intermediate setpoint and a quadrature axis current of the stator.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the third output quantity is determined on the basis of a comparison between the third intermediate setpoint and a direct axis current of the stator.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the third intermediate setpoint is determined on the basis of the first intermediate setpoint and the second intermediate setpoint.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the second output quantity is determined on the basis of a comparison between the second intermediate setpoint and an output current of the electric machine.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the regulation module further comprises current measurement means allowing to measure the output current or current estimation means allowing to estimate the output current.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the third output quantity is determined on the basis of a comparison between the third intermediate setpoint and an output current of the electric machine.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the rotor module comprises an optimization submodule arranged to generate a first intermediate setpoint and a regulation submodule arranged to generate a first output quantity, the first output quantity being determined on the basis of a comparison between the first intermediate setpoint and an excitation current of the rotor.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the operating frequency of the rotor module is lower than the operating frequency of the stator module. This makes it possible to not complicate the operation of the rotor module, however without generating a time delay in the calculation of the output control setpoint, since the regulation of the electric machine is here more particularly based on the stator module.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the regulation module further comprises current measurement means allowing the excitation current of the rotor to be measured or current estimation means allowing the excitation current of the rotor to be estimated.

[0029] Another subject of the application is a rotary electric machine. This rotary electric machine can advantageously form an alternator, a starter-alternator, a reversible electric machine or an electric motor.

[0030] Another subject of the application can also be a regulation method for a rotary electric machine for a vehicle, the rotary electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator. According to the application, the regulation method has an operating mode in which the electric machine is intended to be disconnected from the battery of the vehicle. Still according to the application, the regulation method is implemented by means of a regulation module comprising a rotor module arranged to emit a first output quantity for controlling the rotor and a stator module arranged to emit at least one second output quantity for controlling the stator. According to the application, the regulation method comprises a step of generating a first intermediate setpoint, on the basis of which the first output quantity is generated, said first intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of a power supply potential reference signal and a rotational speed of the rotor and being independent of a control power or a control torque of the electric machine. According to the application, the regulation method comprises a step of generating a second intermediate setpoint, on the basis of which the first output quantity is generated, said second intermediate quantity being determined on the basis of an output voltage of the electric machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] The application will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative examples of the application, given with reference to the attached drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a first example of a regulation module according to the application.

[0033] Figure 2 Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a second example of a regulation module according to the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In the two figures, identical, similar or analogous elements are denoted by the same reference signs. Moreover, the examples of embodiments described below are in no way limiting. In particular, variants of the application can be envisaged which comprise only a selection of the features described below, separate from other described features.

[0035] The rotating electric machine 10, in particular for a vehicle such as a motor vehicle or a drone, converts mechanical energy into electrical energy in alternator mode and can operate in motor mode to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. This rotating electric machine 10 is for example an alternator, a starter-alternator, a reversible electric machine or an electric motor. The electric machine 10 can comprise a rotor 11, a stator 12 and electronic assemblies such as inverters or voltage converters. A housing can house the rotor 11 and the stator 12. The electronic assemblies can be mounted on the housing or remote from the housing.

[0036] The rotor 11 is a claw pole rotor, here comprising two claw poles and one coil wound on the claw pole core. For example, the electric machine comprises a commutator mounted on the rotor, comprising a commutator ring connected to the coil by a wired link and a brush holder placed so that a brush rubs against the commutator ring, allowing the electric power to be supplied to the coil of the rotor. The brush of the brush holder is electrically connected to a control module of the electronic assemblies, which allows control of the electric power supply to the rotor.

[0037] The stator 12 comprises a main body, for example formed of a stack of notched laminations, and electrical windings mounted in this main body. The electrical windings are formed of one or more phases comprising at least one electrical conductor. Each phase comprises end portions forming a phase output, which is electrically connected to a power module of the electronic assemblies, in order to allow control of the stator and rectification of the current output from the electric machine.

[0038] The electronic assemblies comprise a power stage with at least one power module allowing the reception or transmission of an electrical power signal from or to the electrical phases of the windings. The power module forms a bridge voltage rectifier for converting an AC voltage produced by the phases of the stator into a DC voltage and / or conversely for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage to be fed to the phases of the stator. The electronic assemblies also comprise a control stage with a control module allowing in particular control of the voltage of the rotor 11 and of the voltage of the stator 12, and forming an interface with an external computer of the overall control of the vehicle to which the electric machine is assigned.

[0039] The control module of the electronic assembly comprises an adjustment module 13 which allows the voltage and / or the current supplied to the rotor and to the stator to be controlled and adjusted, in particular in an operating mode of the electric machine known as batteryless. In this batteryless operating mode, the electric machine 10 is not electrically connected with a battery of the vehicle. For example, the battery is disconnected from the electric machine by a switch. In the case where the vehicle comprises a plurality of batteries, in particular a battery for a 12V power delivery network and a battery for a 48V power delivery network, the electric machine is disconnected from one of the batteries of the vehicle, in particular the 48V power delivery network.

[0040] In Figure 1 In the first embodiment example illustrated, the adjustment module 13 comprises a rotor module 14 and a stator module 15. The rotor module comprises here, non limitatively, an optimization submodule 16 and an adjustment submodule 17. Similarly, the stator module comprises here, non limitatively, an optimization submodule 18 and an adjustment submodule 19.

[0041] The optimization submodule 16 of the rotor module 14 receives as input data the speed W and the electric machine power potential reference signal P dcMaxRef. The electric machine power potential P dcMaxRef is in particular the maximum power that the electric machine is able to produce at a given speed, while respecting the steady state limits of the electric machine, in particular thermal limits. The optimization submodule 16 generates a first intermediate setpoint I RotRef based on the speed W and the electric machine power potential reference signal P dcMaxRef. The output parameters of the electric machine, i.e. parameters such as the output voltage Vdc, are not taken into account when calculating the first intermediate setpoint I RotRef. The first intermediate setpoint I RotRef is for example calculated based on a map giving the excitation current as a function of the speed W.

[0042] The speed W corresponds to the actual rotational speed of the rotor 11. The speed W can be estimated or measured using for example a rotational sensor.

[0043] The adjustment submodule 17 of the rotor module 14 receives as input data the first intermediate setpoint I RotRef issued by the optimization submodule 16 and the excitation current I Rot of the rotor 11. The adjustment submodule 17 comprises a comparator 17a which allows the two input data to be compared in order to determine a first error. Here, the adjustment submodule 17 also comprises a corrector 17b which allows the first error to be converted into a first output quantity V Rot for controlling the excitation current of the coils of the rotor 11.

[0044] The excitation current I Rot corresponds to the actual excitation current of the rotor 11. The excitation current I Rot can be estimated or measured using for example a current sensor.

[0045] For example, the optimization sub-module 16 and the regulation sub-module 17 of the rotor module 14 operate at the same frequency, for example 1 kHz. For example, the rotor module 14 can use pulse width modulation regulation signals (PWM).

[0046] The rotor module 14 can comprise a module (not shown) for providing thermal protection, which allows to prevent the rotor 11 from heating up.

[0047] The optimization sub-module 18 of the stator module 15 receives, by input data, the output voltage Vdc of the electric machine and a reference voltage V_dcRef. The output voltage Vdc of the electric machine corresponds to the actual voltage on the output of the electric machine 10, in particular to the output of the electronic assembly after rectification by the power module. The output voltage Vdc can be measured. The reference voltage V_dcRef corresponds to a setpoint voltage of the desired electric machine output, which is given for example by a computer of the vehicle.

[0048] Here, the optimization sub-module 18 comprises a comparator 18a which allows to compare the two input data in order to determine an intermediate error. Here, the optimization sub-module 18 further comprises a corrector 18b which allows to convert the intermediate error into a second intermediate setpoint I_qRef.

[0049] In this example, the optimization sub-module comprises a determination module 18c which receives, by input data, the second intermediate setpoint I_qRef issued by the optimization sub-module 16 and the first intermediate setpoint I_RotRef. The determination sub-module 18c generates a third intermediate setpoint I_dRef.

[0050] Here, the optimization sub-module 18 issues two different immediate setpoints.

[0051] The regulation sub-module 19 of the stator module 15 receives, by input data, the second intermediate setpoint I_qRef issued by the optimization sub-module 18, the third intermediate setpoint I_dRef, as well as the direct axis current Id and the quadrature axis current Iq of the stator 12.

[0052] The regulation sub-module 19 comprises a first comparator 19a which allows to compare the second intermediate setpoint I_qRef with the quadrature axis current Iq in order to determine a second error. Here, the regulation sub-module 19 further comprises a first corrector 19b which allows to convert the second error into a second output quantity Vq for controlling the voltage injected in the windings of the stator 12.

[0053] The regulation sub-module 19 can further comprise a second comparator 19c which allows to compare the third intermediate setpoint I_dRef with the direct axis current Id in order to determine a third error. The regulation sub-module 19 can further comprise a second corrector 19d which allows to convert the third error into a third output quantity Vd for controlling the voltage injected in the windings of the stator 12.

[0054] For example, the second output Vq allows control of the torque component of stator 12, and the third output Vd allows control of the flux component of stator 12.

[0055] The direct-axis current Id and quadrature-axis current Iq correspond to the components of the actual phase current of stator 12 in the Park vector reference frame, respectively. For example, current sensors can be used to estimate and / or measure the currents Id and Iq.

[0056] For example, the optimization submodule 18 and the regulation submodule 19 of the stator module 15 operate at the same frequency, such as 10 kHz. Here, the operating frequency of the stator module 15 is higher than the operating frequency of the rotor module 14. For example, the stator module 15 can use a pulse width modulation (PWM) regulation signal or a full-wave modulation regulation signal.

[0057] In illustrating the second embodiment Figure 2 In the example, rotor module 14 and reference Figure 1 The rotor module is the same as that of the first embodiment described in the example. Only the stator module 15 is different, and will be described below.

[0058] Here, the stator module 20 includes an optimization submodule 21 and an adjustment submodule 22.

[0059] The optimization submodule 21 receives the motor's output voltage Vdc and reference voltage V_dcRef via input data. The output voltage Vdc and reference voltage V_dcRef are the same as in the first embodiment. Here, the optimization submodule 21 includes a comparator 21a, which allows comparison of the two input data to determine a first error. The optimization submodule 21 also includes a corrector 21b, which allows the first error to be converted into a second intermediate setpoint I_dcRef.

[0060] The adjustment submodule 22 receives the second intermediate setpoint I_dcRef and the stator 12 output current Idc from the optimization submodule 21 via input data. The adjustment submodule 22 includes a comparator 22a, which allows comparison of the two input data to determine a second error. Here, the adjustment submodule 22 also includes a corrector 22b, which allows the second error to be converted into a second output quantity Vq and a third output quantity Vd. The second output quantity Vq and the third output quantity Vd are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0061] The output current Idc corresponds to the actual output current of motor 10, specifically the output of the electronic components after rectification by the power module. For example, a current sensor can be used to estimate or measure the output current Idc.

[0062] For example, the optimization sub-module 21 and the regulation sub-module 22 of the stator module 15 operate at the same frequency, for example 10 kHz. For example, the stator module 15 can use a pulse width modulation regulation signal (PWM) or a full wave modulation regulation signal.

[0063] The application is particularly suitable for the field of alternator or reversible machine regulation systems, but it can equally be applied to any type of rotating electrical machine.

[0064] Of course, the above description has been provided merely by way of example and is not limiting of the field of the application, which is not restricted to the various elements described, if these are replaced by any other equivalent elements, without departing from the field of the application.

Claims

1. A regulation module for a rotary electric machine of a vehicle, the rotary electric machine (10) comprising a rotor (11) and a stator (12) and the regulation module (13) having an operating mode wherein said electric machine is intended to be disconnected from a battery of the vehicle, the regulation module (13) comprising a rotor module (14) arranged to issue a first output quantity (V_Rot) for controlling the rotor (12) and a stator module (15, 20) arranged to issue at least one second output quantity (Vd, Vq) for controlling the stator (12), said regulation module being characterized in that: - the rotor module (14) is arranged to generate a first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) on the basis of which a first output quantity (V_Rot) is generated, said first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) being determined on the basis of a power potential reference signal (Pdc_MaxRef) and a rotational speed (W) of the rotor, and being independent of a control power or a control torque of the electric machine, wherein - the power potential of said electric machine is the maximum power that said electric machine is able to produce at a given speed while satisfying the steady state limits of said electric machine, - the stator module (15, 20) is arranged to generate a second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef, I_dcRef) on the basis of which the second output quantity (Vd, Vq) is generated, said second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef, I_dcRef) being determined on the basis of an output voltage (Vdc) of the electric machine.

2. The adjustment module according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - said stator module (15, 20) comprises an optimization submodule (18, 21) generating said second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef, I_dcRef) and a regulation submodule (19, 22) generating the second output quantity (Vd, Vq), the optimization submodule and the regulation submodule having the same operating frequency.

3. The adjustment module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, - said second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef, I_dcRef) is determined also on the basis of a reference output voltage (V_dcRef).

4. The adjustment module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - said stator module (15, 20) is arranged to issue a second output quantity (Vq) for controlling the stator and a third output quantity (Vd) for controlling the stator.

5. The adjustment module of claim 4, wherein, - said second output quantity (Vq) and third output quantity (Vd) are determined on the basis of the second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef, I_dcRef).

6. The conditioning module of claim 4, wherein, - said second output quantity (Vq) is determined on the basis of a comparison between said second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef) and a quadrature axis current (I_q) of the stator.

7. The conditioning module of claim 4, wherein, - said third output quantity (Vd) is determined on the basis of a comparison between a third intermediate setpoint (I_dRef) and a direct axis current (I_d) of the stator.

8. The adjustment module of claim 7, wherein, - said third intermediate setpoint (I_dRef) is determined on the basis of said first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) and second intermediate setpoint (I_qRef).

9. The adjustment module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - said rotor module (14) comprises an optimization submodule (16) arranged to generate said first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) and a regulation submodule (17) arranged to generate said first output quantity (V_Rot), the first output quantity (V_Rot) being determined on the basis of a comparison between the first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) and an excitation current (I_Rot) of the rotor.

10. A rotary electric machine comprising a regulation module (13) according to any of the preceding claims.

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