Motor Shaft Voltage Suppression via Capacitance Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inverters using PWM methods create shaft voltage differences in motor bearings, leading to electrolytic corrosion, which conventional methods struggle to effectively suppress due to issues with electrical continuity, insulation, and electrostatic capacitance balance.

Innovation Solution

A motor design with a stator, rotor, conductive brackets, and a lead wire conductive member that adjusts electrostatic capacitance between the shaft and stator core to maintain balanced electrical potentials, reducing shaft voltage and preventing electrolytic corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical insulation is maintained between inner ring and outer ring of bearing, then electrolytic corrosion is suppressed, but shaft voltage increases due to unbalanced electrostatic capacitance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing reliabilityVSAvoidshaft voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrical parameters (electrostatic capacitance) of the bearing system by introducing a conductive member or dielectric layer with specific capacitance values. This parameter adjustment balances the electrical potentials between inner and outer rings, reducing shaft voltage while maintaining electrical insulation to prevent electrolytic corrosion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If shaft voltage is reduced by electrically shorting stator core to metal bracket, then electrolytic corrosion is suppressed, but electrostatic capacitance cannot be adjusted and shaft voltage rises with certain magnet materials and rotor structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaft voltageVSAvoidelectrostatic capacitance adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism for electrostatic capacitance through the conductive member or dielectric layer. Unlike fixed electrical shorting, this structure allows the capacitance to be adjusted according to different magnet materials and rotor structures, providing adaptability while suppressing shaft voltage and electrolytic corrosion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If electrostatic capacitance is increased to suppress electrolytic corrosion, then bearing protection is improved, but balance of electrostatic capacitance is difficult to maintain under high electric potential and varying environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing protectionVSAvoidelectrostatic capacitance balance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a feedback mechanism where the conductive member or dielectric layer with controlled capacitance responds to changes in electrical potential and environmental conditions. The structured capacitance design provides stability by maintaining balanced electrical potentials even under varying conditions, preventing electrolytic corrosion while ensuring reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The motor effectively suppresses electrolytic corrosion in bearings by maintaining balanced electrical potentials and reducing shaft voltage, preventing dielectric breakdown and noise issues, even under varying environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

electrostatic capacitance A formed between the shaft and an outermost surface to be the farthest outer periphery from the axial center of the rotary body; electrostatic capacitance B formed between the stator core and the conductive member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic capacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

maintain balanced electrical potentials, reducing shaft voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical potential balancing: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

If the shaft voltage reaches a breakdown voltage of an oil film present in the bearing, a micro electric current flows inside the bearing. This flow of the micro electric current causes electrolytic corrosion in the bearing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric breakdown: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP2736153B1Motor and electric apparatus equipped with the motor
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2736153B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2736153B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2736153B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motor of the invention comprises a stator, a rotor, a pair of bearings, a pair of brackets and a conductive member. The stator has a winding, and a stator core on which the winding is wound. The rotor has a rotary body including a permanent magnet disposed in a circumferential direction and confronting the stator, and a shaft penetrating through an axial center of the rotary body and fixed to the rotary body. The pair of bearings supports the shaft. The pair of brackets has electrical conductivity, and fixes the bearings. The conductive member electrically connects the pair of brackets. There is a relation of 0.50A ≤ B ≤ 3.08A at a measuring frequency of 10 kHz, where A denotes an electrostatic capacitance formed between the shaft and an outermost surface of the rotary body at a farthest outer periphery from the axial center, and B denotes an electrostatic capacitance formed between the stator core and the conductive member.