EV Powertrain Battery Cell Control Using Motor Phase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical electric vehicle powertrains are complex and inefficient due to decoupling of energy storage components from motor controllers, leading to high voltage and current levels, increased costs, and reduced performance, with fixed battery packs limiting operating range and causing unnecessary losses.
Innovation Solution
A scalable and manageable energy storage system that includes a motor control unit and power bank management unit, allowing each cell to determine discrete power output based on motor phase, aggregating outputs to achieve optimal overall power output, reducing complexity and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed battery pack is used in typical electric vehicle powertrains, then the system structure is simplified, but the operating range is limited and unnecessary losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple individual cells, each capable of independent operation and controlled by separate control circuits. This segmentation allows selective activation of cells based on power requirements, extending operating range while maintaining manageable system structure through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed, static battery pack configuration to a dynamic architecture where individual cells can be selectively activated and deactivated based on real-time power demands. This dynamic control enables optimization of power delivery and extends effective operating range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If energy storage components are decoupled from motor controllers in typical powertrains, then system modularity is improved, but voltage and current levels increase leading to higher costs and reduced performance
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions for energy storage components and motor control are merged into a unified system architecture. The motor controller integrates with battery cell control circuits, allowing coordinated management of power flow and reducing the need for high voltage/current isolation that typically increases system complexity and cost.
3Measurement precision
If individual cells determine discrete power output based on motor phase, then power output precision is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single motor controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls motor operation and simultaneously manages individual battery cell output. This multi-functionality achieves precise power output control based on motor phase while avoiding the need for separate dedicated control circuits for each cell, thereby managing complexity.
4Productivity
If a scalable energy storage system with individual cell control is implemented, then driving range and response speed are improved, but system complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements selective control of individual cells or subsets of cells rather than requiring full control of all cells in all operating conditions. This partial action approach achieves fast response speed when needed while reducing control complexity and manufacturing costs during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle powertrain is disclosed. The powertrain includes an electric motor electrically coupled to an energy storage system That includes a motor control unit to determine a phase of the electric motor and a plurality of cells to determine a discrete power output based, at least in part, on the determined phase of the electric motor; and generate the determined discrete power output. The energy storage system includes a power bank management unit to determine an overall power output based, at least in part, on the determined phase of the electric motor; determine a subset of the plurality of cells based, at least in part, on the overall power output; and command each cell of the subset of the plurality of cells to generate the discrete power output, the subset of the plurality of cells to collectively generate an output equal to the overall power output.