DC Bus Voltage Control via Feedforward Torque Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle dc bus voltage control systems face challenges in maintaining stability and response time, particularly during transient voltage drops due to high load demands, which can lead to motor controller failures and limited torque generation capabilities, and require efficient energy recovery during regenerative braking.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that includes a feed forward module and a PI control module to generate torque parameters based on power demand, usage coefficients, and voltage levels, ensuring efficient energy management and voltage regulation by synchronizing torque control loops and using voltage-square error feedback for dynamic load changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If traditional voltage control methods are used, then the system is simple to implement, but the response time is slow and voltage stability deteriorates during transient drops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidcontroller complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The feed forward module calculates and applies torque parameters in advance based on power demand signals before voltage deviations occur. By anticipating load changes and pre-adjusting generator torque, the system achieves faster response without waiting for voltage errors to develop, thus improving response time while maintaining manageable complexity through structured prediction algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller is divided into distinct functional modules: a feed forward module for predictive control and a PI control module for reactive correction. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific control tasks, with the feed forward module handling transient response and the PI module ensuring steady-state accuracy, thereby achieving fast response time while keeping overall system complexity organized and manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If generator torque is increased to maintain voltage during high load demand, then voltage stability improves, but motor torque generation capability deteriorates due to energy depletion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidmotor torque generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The PI control module continuously monitors dc bus voltage and adjusts generator torque based on voltage error feedback. This closed-loop feedback ensures voltage stability by automatically increasing generator output when voltage drops, while the proportional-integral control algorithm optimizes the torque adjustment to maintain overall system power balance and prevent motor torque degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically adjusts generator torque parameters based on real-time voltage conditions and power demand. By changing torque magnitude and timing parameters adaptively, the system maintains voltage stability during transient drops while optimizing power distribution to preserve motor torque generation capability, achieving both voltage reliability and power availability through parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If energy is dissipated across crow bar resistor during regenerative braking, then voltage overload is prevented, but energy recovery efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage overload protectionVSAvoidenergy recovery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The controller implements a dual-mode energy management strategy: during regenerative braking, it first attempts to recover energy by directing it back to the dc bus through the generator, and only when voltage thresholds indicate overload risk does it discard excess energy through the crow bar resistor. This selective discarding and recovering approach maximizes energy recovery efficiency while maintaining voltage overload protection, achieving both energy conservation and system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3213958B1DC bus voltage control
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 DEERE & CO
  • EP3213958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3213958B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3213958B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a method and controller for controlling a vehicle dc bus voltage. The method includes generating a parameter. The parameter is based on a reference dc bus voltage squared. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the parameter and a detected dc bus voltage. The method may also include generating another parameter (S705) based on a power demand associated with at least one of a motoring mode operation and a generating mode operation of a. traction motor associated with the vehicle (S710). The power demand is indicated in a message received via a. dedicated high speed data bus. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the another parameter (S715).