Powertrain Control Device Ripple Current Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In powertrain systems with electric motors and generators, excessive ripple currents generated by inverters can flow into batteries, leading to potential overheating and inefficiencies, especially when both systems operate simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A control device is implemented to monitor and manage the charging rate and ripple currents, preventing the startup of the internal combustion engine for electric power generation if the ripple current exceeds a threshold, and stopping it if the ripple current becomes excessive during operation, thereby reducing the overall ripple current flowing into the battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the internal combustion engine is started for electric power generation to charge the battery, then the battery charging rate is improved, but the ripple current flowing into the battery becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the ripple current generated by the motor inverter and uses this feedback to make real-time decisions about whether to start or stop the generator inverter, preventing excessive ripple current from flowing into the battery
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that manages the interaction between the motor inverter and generator inverter, coordinating their operations to prevent harmful ripple current effects on the battery
2Adaptability or versatility
If both the motor inverter and generator inverter operate simultaneously, then the system can provide both propulsion and power generation, but the combined ripple currents become excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation state of the generator inverter based on real-time ripple current conditions, transitioning between active and inactive states to maintain system flexibility while preventing harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The control device uses feedback from ripple current monitoring to dynamically control the generator inverter operation, enabling the system to adapt its configuration to prevent excessive combined ripple currents
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 approach effectively reduces excessive ripple currents flowing into the battery, minimizing heat generation and improving system efficiency by controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine based on battery charging rates and ripple current thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
a motor inverter connected in parallel to the battery, and configured to convert direct current electric power of the battery into alternating current electric power and supply the alternating current electric power to the electric motor
Implementation Method 2
a generator inverter connected in parallel to the battery, and configured to convert alternating current electric power generated by the electric generator into direct current electric power and supply the direct current electric power to the battery
Implementation Method 3
an electric generator configured to generate an electric power using a power of the internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 4
an electric motor configured to drive a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A powertrain system includes an electric motor for driving a vehicle; a battery; an internal combustion engine; an electric generator; a motor inverter connected in parallel to the battery, and converting DC electric power of the battery into AC electric power and supplying it to the electric motor; a generator inverter connected in parallel to the battery, and converting AC electric power generated by the electric generator into DC electric power and supplying it to the battery; and a control device. The control device is configured, where a charging rate of the battery is not greater than a first threshold value, and a ripple current that is generated in association with an operation of the motor inverter and flows into the battery is not less than a second threshold value, not to start up the internal combustion engine for electric power generation using the electric generator.