Multi-Phase Machine Power System Redundant Control Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-phase electrical machines with more than three phases lack fault-tolerance in control hardware, leading to system shutdowns upon control or voltage modulation hardware failures, and existing redundancy solutions require additional hardware and custom designs.
Innovation Solution
A power system with an n-phase electrical machine featuring N power modules, a primary control unit, and a redundant control unit, where the redundant unit takes over in case of primary unit failure, ensuring continued operation with reduced hardware and cost, and utilizing a status detector to switch control sources seamlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-phase electrical machine is used, then energy conversion optimization is improved, but fault tolerance of control hardware deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A redundant control unit is provided in advance alongside the primary control unit. When the primary control unit fails, the redundant control unit can immediately take over control of the power modules, ensuring continuous operation of the multi-phase electrical machine without system shutdown
Solution Approach 2:
The redundant control unit is designed as a copy of the primary control unit, with identical control algorithms and hardware architecture. This allows the redundant unit to seamlessly assume control functions when the primary unit fails, maintaining system reliability
2Reliability
If redundant control units are added, then fault tolerance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing a completely new redundant system, the patent uses a copy of the primary control unit as the redundant unit. This copying approach reduces design complexity while maintaining identical functional capabilities for fault tolerance
Solution Approach 2:
The primary and redundant control units share the same hardware architecture and control algorithms. This merging of design principles allows both units to be implemented with the same component set, reducing overall device complexity while providing redundancy
Data Source
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AI summary
A power system (1) comprising: an n-phase electrical machine (M), where n>3, N power modules, where N≤n, each power module comprising a plurality of power electronic switches, each power module being configured to power a respective subset of unique phases of the n phases, a primary control unit (7a) configured to control all of the N power modules in normal operation of the primary control unit (7a), and a redundant control unit (7b) configured to control all of the N power modules only in case the primary control unit (7a) is subjected to a fault.