EC Motor Assembly with Dual Voltage Input for Solar Grid Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronically commutated (EC) permanent magnet-excited DC motors face inefficiencies and increased component complexity when operated with photovoltaic voltage from solar cell generators, as they require additional DC/DC converters to adapt varying solar voltages to the motor's DC link voltage.
Innovation Solution
The EC motor is designed with a controllable power supply unit that can connect directly to both a solar cell generator and a grid voltage, using an MPP regulator to adjust the DC link voltage and combine currents from both sources, ensuring efficient operation with optional grid support during low photovoltaic conditions, and integrating the power supply unit, MPP regulator, and commutation electronics into a compact circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a DC/DC converter is added to adapt photovoltaic voltage to DC link voltage, then the motor can operate with solar energy, but the component complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DC link is designed to accept multiple voltage sources (photovoltaic generator and grid voltage) through separate voltage inputs, allowing the motor to operate with different energy sources without requiring additional conversion components for each source
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the photovoltaic voltage input and grid voltage input into a common DC link, merging two separate power supply paths into a single unified system that shares common components
2Adaptability or versatility
If a DC/DC converter is added to adapt photovoltaic voltage, then the motor can operate with solar energy, but the efficiency of solar energy conversion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DC/DC converter from the photovoltaic power supply path, eliminating this intermediate conversion stage that causes energy losses. The photovoltaic generator connects directly to the DC link, allowing voltage adaptation to be handled by the motor control system instead
3Reliability
If the DC link voltage is fixed, then the motor operates stably, but it cannot adapt to varying photovoltaic voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adaptation where the DC link voltage can vary depending on the available power source. The control system dynamically adjusts the operating voltage to match the photovoltaic generator's output when operating from solar energy, while maintaining stable operation when powered from the grid
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances efficiency and reduces component complexity by allowing the EC motor to operate effectively with solar or grid power, maintaining constant speed and optimizing energy use from solar sources while ensuring motor operation even at low photovoltaic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
solar cell generators with a photovoltaic voltage
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an EC motor assembly (1) having an electronically commutated, permanent magnet-excited DC motor (M) with an upstream commutation electronic unit (2) that is supplied with a DC link voltage (UZK) via a DC link (8). The DC link (8) can be connected directly to a solar cell generator (12) via a first voltage input (10) on one hand, and on the other, to a grid voltage (UM) via a controllable power supply unit (14) and a second voltage input (16). The DC link voltage (UZK) is variably specified based on a respective available photovoltaic voltage (UPV) of the solar cell generator (12). The power supply unit (14) can be regulated with respect to the output voltage thereof to adapt to the respective DC link voltage (UZK).