Electric Drive Battery Heating Using Motor Windings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicle battery heating systems require additional heating apparatuses, increasing cost and space, and suffer from inefficiencies such as uneven heating and low heating efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An electric drive system utilizing an inverter circuit and direct current-direct current conversion circuit to generate heat from the electric excitation synchronous motor windings and excitation winding, without adding extra heating apparatus, adjusting heating power through three-phase currents and excitation currents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a PTC resistor heating apparatus is added to heat the power battery pack, then the battery can be heated in low-temperature environments, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower battery pack temperatureVSAvoidheating apparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor windings are designed to serve dual functions: driving the motor during normal operation and generating heat during low-temperature conditions. The excitation winding and three-phase windings can independently or simultaneously provide heating, eliminating the need for separate heating apparatus while maintaining temperature control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric drive system uses its own internal components (motor windings and excitation winding) to generate heat for the power battery pack, rather than relying on external heating devices. The system's electrical energy is converted to thermal energy through resistive heating of the windings, enabling self-heating functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Temperature

If a PTC resistor heating apparatus is added to heat the power battery pack, then the battery can be heated in low-temperature environments, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower battery pack temperatureVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The motor windings are designed to serve dual functions: driving the motor during normal operation and generating heat during low-temperature conditions. The excitation winding and three-phase windings can independently or simultaneously provide heating, eliminating the need for separate heating apparatus while maintaining temperature control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating function is merged with the motor drive system by utilizing the existing motor windings and excitation winding for both propulsion and heating purposes. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate heating components, reducing overall system cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If conventional heating apparatus is used, then heating function is provided, but space is occupied and heating efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower battery pack temperatureVSAvoidheating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electric drive system uses its own internal components (motor windings and excitation winding) to generate heat for the power battery pack, rather than relying on external heating devices. The system's electrical energy is converted to thermal energy through resistive heating of the windings, enabling self-heating functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control module adjusts the heating efficiency by changing electrical parameters: controlling the duty cycle of PWM signals to the excitation winding, and adjusting the amplitude and frequency of three-phase currents to the motor windings. This enables dynamic optimization of heating power based on temperature requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Reduces costs and saves space by utilizing existing motor components for heating, improving heating efficiency and electrochemical performance of the power battery pack.

Implementation Method 1

An input end of the inverter circuit is connected to the input end of the electric drive system, and an output end of the inverter circuit is connected to three-phase windings of the electric excitation synchronous motor. The inverter circuit converts a direct current provided by the power battery back into an alternating current and provides the alternating current for the three-phase windings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInversion (DC to AC conversion):

Implementation Method 2

An input end of the direct current-direct current conversion circuit is connected to the input end of the electric drive system, and an output end of the direct current-direct current conversion circuit is connected to an excitation winding of the electric excitation synchronous motor. The direct current-direct current conversion circuit performs direct current conversion on the direct current provided by the power battery pack and provides the direct current for the excitation winding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDC-DC conversion:

Implementation Method 3

An output end of the direct current-direct current conversion circuit is connected to an excitation winding of the electric excitation synchronous motor. The direct current-direct current conversion circuit performs direct current conversion on the direct current provided by the power battery pack and provides the direct current for the excitation winding. The controller is configured to control the inverter circuit and the direct current-direct current conversion circuit, to adjust the three-phase currents output by the inverter circuit and adjust the excitation current output by the direct current-direct current conversion circuit, to enable a temperature of the power battery pack to be greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4297269B1Electric drive system, drivetrain, heating method, and electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4297269B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4297269B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4297269B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application relates to the field of electric vehicle technologies, and discloses an electric drive system, a powertrain, a heating method, and an electric vehicle. The electric drive system includes an inverter circuit, a direct current-direct current conversion circuit, and a controller. An input end of the inverter circuit is connected to an input end of the electric drive system, and an output end of the inverter circuit is connected to three-phase motor windings of an electric excitation synchronous motor. An input end of the direct current-direct current conversion circuit is connected to the input end of the electric drive system, and an output end of the direct current-direct current conversion circuit is connected to an excitation winding of the electric excitation synchronous motor. The inverter circuit converts a direct current into three-phase currents and provides the three-phase currents for the three-phase motor windings. The direct current-direct current conversion circuit performs direct current conversion on the direct current and provides the direct current for the excitation winding. The controller is configured to control the inverter circuit and the direct current-direct current conversion circuit, so that a temperature of a power battery pack is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold. In this solution, a heating apparatus does not need to be disposed when the power battery pack is heated, thereby reducing costs and saving space.