Electric Vehicle Control Apparatus Voltage Boosting via Shared Converter Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face inefficiencies when moving to maintenance areas without overhead power lines, as the low voltage of their control batteries insufficiently powers the main motor, and existing solutions like boosting choppers require additional components, increasing size and cost.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle control apparatus that uses a converter with diodes and switching devices to boost the battery voltage, sharing semiconductor devices with the AC/DC converter, allowing the VVVF inverter to supply sufficient power to the main motor without a dedicated boosting chopper, thereby minimizing component count and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a boosting chopper is added to boost battery voltage for the VVVF inverter, then the voltage level is sufficient for motor operation, but the device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the boosting chopper circuit with the existing AC/DC converter by sharing semiconductor devices (diodes and switching devices) and magnetic components (reactors). The boosting chopper uses the same diodes and switching devices that are already present in the AC/DC converter configuration, eliminating the need for separate boosting components and reducing overall device complexity while achieving the required voltage boost for motor operation
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor devices and magnetic components in the system are designed to serve multiple functions: the diodes and switching devices function both in the AC/DC conversion process and in the voltage boosting operation, while the reactor serves both as a filtering component for the converter and as the inductive element for the boosting chopper. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count while maintaining both AC/DC conversion and voltage boosting capabilities
2Power
If a dedicated boosting chopper is added, then voltage boosting capability is achieved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the boosting chopper circuit with the AC/DC converter by utilizing shared semiconductor devices and magnetic components. The same diodes, switching devices, and reactor are used for both AC/DC conversion and voltage boosting functions, thereby eliminating the need for separate boosting chopper components and reducing the overall device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The boosting chopper functionality is nested within the existing AC/DC converter structure. The circuit topology is designed such that the boosting operation is achieved by reconfiguring and utilizing the existing converter components, effectively nesting the voltage boosting function within the converter framework rather than adding external boosting hardware
3Power
If additional boosting components are added, then voltage boosting is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the boosting chopper with the AC/DC converter by sharing semiconductor devices (diodes and switching devices) and magnetic components (reactors). This merging approach eliminates the need to manufacture and procure separate boosting chopper components, thereby reducing material costs, assembly costs, and overall manufacturing complexity while achieving the required voltage boosting capability
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
Enables efficient movement of electric vehicles without overhead lines by boosting the battery voltage to sufficient levels for the main motor, reducing component count, cost, and heat generation, while preventing battery deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
a converter 20 having a diode and a switching device which convert an AC voltage or a DC voltage supplied from an input side into a DC voltage
Implementation Method 2
a boosting chopper circuit composed of the diode and the switching device which the converter has, so as to boost a voltage of the battery
Implementation Method 3
an inverter 13 which converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage and supplies the AC voltage to a main motor 14
Implementation Method 4
supply the AC voltage to a main motor 14 to drive the electric vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an electric vehicle control apparatus is provided with a converter having a diode and a switching device which convert an AC voltage or a DC voltage supplied from an input side into a DC voltage, whose output side is connected to a main motor through an inverter, a battery connected to the converter through a reactor, to provide a power source for the main motor, and a boosting chopper circuit composed the diode and the switching device which the converter has, so as to boost a voltage of the battery.