Multi-Drive Stator Winding Layout for Fault-Tolerant Torque Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric motor systems face challenges in controlling torque and preventing damage due to open-circuit or short-circuit faults in the inverter or motor controller, leading to uncontrolled torque and potential damage to the controller and motor.
Innovation Solution
The motor system incorporates a plurality of drives connected to stator windings arranged along the circumference of a stator core, with each drive evenly connected to stator windings on opposite sides of the stator core, and adjacently positioned stator windings connected to different motor drivers, ensuring balanced inductance and reduced torque ripple.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive controls all stator windings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to uncontrolled torque and potential damage under fault conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the stator windings into multiple groups, with each group controlled by a separate drive. This segmentation allows independent control of different winding groups, so that when one drive fails, the other drives can continue to control their respective windings, maintaining motor operation and preventing complete system failure.
2Reliability
If multiple drives control different stator windings, then the reliability improves under fault conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drives with multiple stator winding groups into an integrated motor system where the drives work cooperatively. The control system manages multiple drives but uses unified control strategies to maintain balanced inductance and coordinated torque production, reducing the operational complexity despite having multiple drives.
3Ease of manufacture
If stator windings are unevenly distributed among drives, then the ease of manufacture improves, but the motor performance deteriorates due to unbalanced inductance and torque ripple
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different stator winding groups to different drives based on their spatial distribution around the stator core. Each drive controls windings in specific angular positions, creating a balanced inductance distribution. This local assignment ensures that each drive manages windings with similar electrical characteristics, maintaining inductance balance and reducing torque ripple.
4Ease of manufacture
If adjacently positioned stator windings are connected to the same drive, then the ease of manufacture improves, but the motor performance deteriorates due to increased torque ripple
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately creates an asymmetric connection pattern where adjacently positioned stator windings are connected to different drives rather than the same drive. This asymmetric distribution balances the inductance seen by each drive and distributes the torque production more evenly, reducing torque ripple and improving motor performance.
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
This configuration maintains balanced inductance and generates higher output torque, even under fault conditions, reducing the risk of control issues and damage to the motor system.
Implementation Method 1
A motor is a well-known electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using magnetic field linkage
Data Source
AI summary
A motor system may comprise: a plurality of drives configured to drive a plurality of stator windings; a stator assembly comprising the plurality of stator windings arranged along a circumference of a stator core, wherein each of the plurality of drives is evenly connected to one of the plurality of stator windings over the circumference of the stator core; and a rotor assembly configured to be rotatable relative to the stator assembly. Each of the plurality of drives is connected to at least one of stator windings located at one half side of the stator core among the plurality of stator windings and each of the plurality of motor drives is connected to at least one of stator windings located at another half side of the stator core among the plurality of stator windings. Each of the plurality of motor drivers comprises an inverter.