MODULAR INTERCONNECTIONS OF A MOTOR AND POWER ELECTRONICS

Abstract

MODULAR INTERCONNECTIONS OF A MOTOR AND POWER ELECTRONICS The invention relates to an assembly (1) composed of a power electronics (2) comprising three-phase outputs (21) and a three-phase motor (3) comprising three-phase inputs (31), the assembly (1) comprises N three-phase outputs (21) and N three-phase inputs (31) with N>1, the three-phase inputs (31) of the three-phase motor (3) are opposite the three-phase outputs (21) of the power electronics (2), the three-phase outputs (21) and the three-phase inputs (31) are located respectively on the outer periphery of the power electronics (2) and on the outer periphery of the three-phase motor (3), the shape and perimeter of the outer periphery of the three-phase motor (3) is identical to that of the outer periphery of the power electronics (2). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: MODULAR INTERCONNECTIONS OF A MOTOR AND POWER ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of power connections.

[0002] The present invention relates to a modular connection between the outputs of a power electronics and the inputs of a three-phase motor. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Limiting carbon emissions in the aeronautical world is pushing manufacturers to turn to all-electric solutions, as carbon-free as possible. It is therefore necessary to optimize the design of these new engines so that they offer the best compactness and the greatest flexibility in the face of different environments encountered by a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, a short take-off and landing aircraft and conventional aircraft with electric or hybrid propulsion.

[0004] An aircraft nacelle offers little space and each element must be as optimized as possible to save mass, volume and efficiency.

[0005] Conventionally, the integration of a powertrain is broken down into several separate units whose transmission is done by power harnesses between power electronics and a motor. Power electronics are easily integrated into the powertrain because they are developed independently of each other and therefore tailored to the desired application. However, these power electronics have several drawbacks such as weight and size. In addition, power electronics for powers greater than 200KW require additional interfaces, further increasing the weight, size and complexity of the powertrain.High power electronics require very large gauge copper harnesses with a cross-section greater than 60mm2, for example harnesses with a gauge greater than #00 AWG (American Wire Gauge), which generates more heat loss as well as bulky connectors and harnesses.

[0006] Generally, the power transition between a power electronics and a permanent magnet synchronous machine motor is done by a single three-phase inverter. The use of a single three-phase inverter increases the cross-section of the power harnesses making up the traction chain, because a single three-phase output increases the cable cross-section and the output contact. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by making it possible to reduce the weight and size of a powertrain and more particularly between power electronics and a motor.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to an assembly composed of power electronics comprising three-phase outputs and a three-phase motor comprising three-phase inputs, characterized in that the assembly comprises N three-phase outputs and N three-phase inputs with N>1, the three-phase inputs of the three-phase motor are opposite the three-phase outputs of the power electronics, the three-phase outputs and the three-phase inputs are located respectively on the external periphery of the power electronics and on the external periphery of the three-phase motor, the shape and the perimeter of the external periphery of the three-phase motor is identical to that of the external periphery of the power electronics. The assembly allows a saving of space and weight compared to an assembly of the prior art because the assembly does not include a particularly bulky power harness.The set includes more than two three-phase outputs, thus reducing the footprint by organizing the three-phase outputs more appropriately compared to a set with only one three-phase output. Equipment upstream of the three-phase outputs, such as inverters, will also be better organized. The fact that the three-phase input and output phases are located on the external periphery makes it easy to connect or disconnect the power electronics and the motor.

[0009] Advantageously, the three-phase motor is mounted in a star configuration.

[0010] Advantageously, the three-phase motor comprises at least three three-phase inputs. The Having a motor with multiple three-phase inputs allows for better organization of equipment and also for smaller equipment, thus reducing space requirements. Having multiple three-phase inputs also allows for higher power distribution to the motor.

[0011] Advantageously, the three-phase motor comprises at least six three-phase inputs. Increasing the number of three-phase inputs thus makes it possible to reduce the size of each of the three-phase inputs and also to increase the power distributed to the motor. The motor is connected to two power channels. Each power channel is connected in parallel to three three-phase inputs of the motor. Thus, if a fault occurs on one of the two power channels, a minimum supply of power is ensured to the motor by the other power channel.

[0012] Advantageously, the motor and the power electronics are cylinders with a circular section.

[0013] Advantageously, the connections between the three-phase outputs of the power electronics and the three-phase inputs of the three-phase motor are protected by a protective casing. The protective casing makes it possible to protect the connections between the motor and power electronics from shocks or to protect a user from the risk of electrocution.

[0014] Advantageously, the power electronics are composed of inverters connected to the three-phase outputs.

[0015] Advantageously, the three-phase outputs are composed of output phases and the three-phase inputs are composed of input phases, the connection between the input phases and the output phases is made by a filter card for each three-phase output and input. A filter card makes it possible to act as a shock absorber against overvoltages between the power electronics and the motor.

[0016] Advantageously, the connection between the input phases and the output phases is made by a static switching card for each three-phase output and input.

[0017] Advantageously, the connections between the input phases and the output phases are composed of bus bar, bus bar fuse, guillotine fuse or shunt for each three-phase output and input. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

[0019] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention composed of power electronics and a three-phase motor.

[0020] [Fig.2] is a front view of power electronics according to the invention.

[0021] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of [Fig.3].

[0022] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a three-phase motor according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.5] is an enlarged view of the connection between the power electronics and the three-phase motor.

[0024] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the connection between the power electronics and the three-phase motor established by an electronic card.

[0025] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of the connection between the power electronics and the three-phase motor established by an electronic card protected by a protective box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

[0027] [Fig.l] shows an assembly 1 composed of a three-phase motor 3 coupled to power electronics 2. The motor 3 and the power electronics 2 are cylinders with a circular section having the same diameter. Thus the power electronics 2 and the motor 3 are coupled via a plurality of bolted connections 5 located at the interface and on the periphery of the motor 3 and the power electronics 2. The bolted connections 5 are present over the entire periphery of the interface between the motor 3 and the power electronics 2. In another embodiment, the motor 3 and the power electronics 2 can be clipped.

[0028] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the power electronics 2 comprises six three-phase outputs 21 located at the external periphery of the power electronics 2. The six three-phase outputs 21 are equally distributed around the periphery of the power electronics 2 so that the three-phase outputs 21 are oriented relative to each other at an angle of 60° relative to an axis E of the power electronics 2. The three-phase outputs 21 are fixed to the power electronics 2 at the periphery thereof. The three-phase outputs 21 can be fixed for example using screws. The power electronics 2 allows the distribution of high power, for example a power of between 400kW and 1MW.

[0029] Each three-phase output 21 comprises three output phases 211. The output phases 211 are cylindrical connectors projecting from a first base surface 25 of the three-phase output 21. The three output phases 211 of each three-phase output 21 are positioned on the same line and on the external periphery of the power electronics 2. Separators 213 are present between the three output phases 211 which are flat plates and projecting from the first base surface 25. Each three-phase output 21 is connected to an inverter (not shown) of the power electronics 2 via three first bus bars 26. Each inverter makes it possible to transform a direct current into an alternating current. The power electronics is composed of six inverters.

[0030] In order to create redundancy in the power chain, the inverters are connected to two power channels. Each power channel is connected to three inverters connected in parallel, allowing for better continuity of power distribution. Each power channel provides half of the total electrical power. Thus, in the event of a complete loss of one power channel, a minimum supply of power by the other channel is ensured. These two channels are completely independent of each other so that a failure on one of the two channels does not cause a failure on the other channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the power electronics is composed of six inverters. Each power channel thus provides electrical power of between 200kW and 500kW.

[0031] With reference to [Fig. 4], the motor 3 is cylindrical in shape and circular in section, and has six three-phase inputs 31 (not shown in this figure). The six three-phase inputs 31 are equally distributed around the periphery of the motor 3 so that each three-phase input 31 is spaced from the next by an angle of 60° relative to an axis M of the motor 3. The three-phase inputs 31 are fixed on the periphery of the motor 3. The motor 3 may be a permanent magnet asynchronous motor. The motor 3 may be a very high-power motor, for example a motor with a power between 400kW and 1MW. Motor 3 is star-connected.

[0032] Referring to [Fig.5], each three-phase input 31 has three input phases 311. The input phases 311 are cylindrical connectors projecting from a second base surface 35 of the three-phase input 31. The three input phases 311 of each three-phase input 31 are positioned on the same line. Each three-phase output 21 is opposite a three-phase input 31. Each output phase 211 is connected to an input phase 311 by a second bus bar 4.

[0033] With reference to [Fig. 6], three output phases 211 can be connected to three input phases 311 via an electronic card 6. The electronic card 6 comprises three input pins 61 each connected to an output phase 211 of the power electronics 2 via a first cable 611. The electronic card 6 also comprises three output pins 62 each connected to an input phase 311 of the motor 3 via a second cable 621.

[0034] With reference to [Fig.7], the electronic card 6 and the cables 611, 621 are protected by a protective box 7.

[0035] In another embodiment, three output phases 211 and three input phases 311 are connected via a filtering card making it possible to act as a shock absorber against overvoltages between the power electronics 2 and the motor 3.

[0036] In another embodiment, three output phases 211 and three input phases 311 are connected via a static switching card or SSPC card (Solid State Power Controllers), high power SSPC cards are used in power distribution systems to enable fast and controlled protection against electrical faults. In addition, an SSPC card allows the closing or opening of each phase 211,311 to be controlled in order to isolate or protect against overcurrents.

[0037] In other embodiments, the connection between an input phase 311 and an output phase 211 can be made using a bus bar fuse, a guillotine fuse (or pyro-switch) depending on the desired protections. The connection between an input phase 311 and an output phase 211 can also be made using a shunt in order to control the current in each phase 211, 311 and thus prevent an internal fault in the motor 3 and not a fault in the power electronics 2.

[0038] Referring to [Fig. 1], a connection between three output phases 211 and three input phases 311 is protected by a protective casing 11. The protective casing 11 completely covers the output phases 211 and input 311 so that they are no longer visible when the protective casing 11 is mounted. The protective casing 11 also makes it possible to connect a three-phase output 21 with a three-phase input 31. The protective casing 11 is fixed to the three-phase output 21 and to the three-phase input 31 by example by screws. There are six protective casings 11 for the six outputs 21 and the six three-phase inputs 31. The bolted connections 5 are located between the protective casings 11, the assembly is composed of one to six bolted connections 5.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly (1) composed of power electronics (2) comprising three-phase outputs (21) and a three-phase motor (3) comprising three-phase inputs (31) characterized in that the assembly (1) comprises N three-phase outputs (21) and N three-phase inputs (31) with N>1, the three-phase inputs (31) of the three-phase motor (3) are opposite the three-phase outputs (21) of the power electronics (2), the three-phase outputs (21) and the three-phase inputs (31) are located respectively on the outer periphery of the power electronics (2) and on the outer periphery of the three-phase motor (3), the shape and the perimeter of the outer periphery of the three-phase motor (3) is identical to that of the outer periphery of the power electronics (2).

2. Assembly according to the preceding claim characterized in that the three-phase motor (3) is mounted in a star.

3. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-phase motor (3) comprises at least three three-phase inputs (31).

4. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-phase motor (3) comprises at least six three-phase inputs (31).

5. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor (3) and the power electronics (2) are cylinders with a circular section.

6. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections between the three-phase outputs (21) of the power electronics (2) and the three-phase inputs (31) of the three-phase motor (3) are protected by a protective casing (11).

7. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power electronics (2) is composed of inverters connected to the three-phase outputs (21).

8. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the three-phase outputs (21) are composed of output phases (211) and the three-phase inputs (31) are composed of input phases (311), the connection between the input phases (311) and the output phases (211) is made by a filter card for each three-phase output (21) and input (31).

9. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connection between the input phases (311) and the output phases (211) is made by a static switching card for each three-phase output (21) and input (31).

10. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the connections between the input phases (311) and the output phases (211) are composed of bus bar, bus bar fuse, guillotine fuse or shunt for each three-phase output (21) and input (31).

Images