High-Voltage Bus Discharge via Redundant Controller and Inertial Sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrified vehicles require an efficient discharge path for high-voltage electric power, but existing systems lack a reliable mechanism to ensure discharge capability, especially when the primary discharge controller is incapable or faulty.
Innovation Solution
An electrical system with a high-voltage DC power source, a first and second discharge controller, and a communication link between them, along with a sensor to monitor vehicle inertia, which allows the second controller to take over and discharge the high-voltage bus if the first controller is unable to do so, ensuring continuous power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single primary discharge controller is used to manage high-voltage bus discharge, then the system structure is simple, but the reliability is insufficient when the controller fails or is incapable of discharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational status of the second controller from standby to active, and transitions the high-voltage bus from charged to discharged state, ensuring reliable discharge under varying conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The second controller is pre-configured as a backup discharge controller that can immediately take over if the primary controller fails, providing beforehand protection against controller failure
2Reliability
If additional protection hardware is added to ensure discharge capability, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The second controller serves dual purposes: it monitors vehicle inertia via the sensor and acts as a backup discharge controller, eliminating the need for separate protection hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing controller and sensor resources to provide backup discharge capability and monitoring functions, rather than adding external protection devices
3Reliability
If the system continuously monitors controller capability and vehicle inertia, then the response to discharge requests is reliable, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second controller monitors communication from the first controller and vehicle inertia at periodic intervals rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable discharge response
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from communication links and sensor inputs to trigger discharge actions only when necessary, avoiding continuous operation and reducing energy use
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical system for a vehicle includes a high-voltage DC power source electrically connected to a high-voltage bus, a first controller disposed to control electric power flow between the high-voltage bus and a first actuator, and a second controller disposed to control electric power flow between the high-voltage bus and a second actuator. A communication link is disposed to effect communication between the first controller and the second controller. An inertial sensor communicates with the second controller. The second controller includes an instruction set to monitor and determine a request to discharge the high-voltage bus based upon communication from the sensor. Upon determining that the first controller is incapable of discharging the high-voltage bus, the second actuator is controlled to discharge the high-voltage bus.