Reversible PWM Rectifier and Motor Coil Heating for Cold Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy conversion devices for electric vehicles face challenges in efficiently heating lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures, leading to increased costs and prolonged charging times due to the mismatch between charging and heating processes.
Innovation Solution
An energy conversion device incorporating a reversible pulse-width modulation (PWM) rectifier and a motor coil with multiple winding units, which forms multiple heating circuits to efficiently heat a cooling liquid that then heats the battery, thereby reducing the need for additional heating devices and lowering costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a PTC heater or electric heating wire heater is used to heat the battery at low temperature, then the battery can be heated to a predetermined temperature, but the charging time becomes excessively long because heating and charging processes cannot be performed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function and charging function into a single energy conversion device. The motor coil serves dual purposes: it can generate heat through resistive heating when needed, and it can function as part of the charging circuit to accept electrical energy. This merging allows the battery to be heated and charged simultaneously, eliminating the sequential process that caused excessive charging time.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy conversion device is designed with multi-functionality, where the motor coil and associated circuitry can operate in multiple modes. The same components that enable motor operation can also provide heating functionality and participate in the charging process. This universal design allows the system to perform heating, charging, or both concurrently, resolving the time loss issue.
2Productivity
If additional power battery heating devices are added to enable simultaneous heating and charging, then heating and charging can be performed concurrently, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves simultaneous heating and charging without adding separate dedicated heating devices by making the existing energy conversion components multi-functional. The motor coil and reversible PWM rectifier are designed to handle both heating and charging operations, eliminating the need for additional specialized equipment and keeping the system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy conversion device serves itself by using its own components for dual purposes. The motor coil generates heat as a byproduct or controlled function during normal operation, and the same circuitry that manages power conversion for motor control also manages the charging process. This self-service approach avoids the need for separate heating systems.
3Productivity
If additional power battery heating devices are added to enable simultaneous heating and charging, then heating and charging can be performed concurrently, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By designing the energy conversion device with universal components that can perform both heating and charging functions, the patent eliminates the need to manufacture and install separate dedicated heating devices. The motor coil and PWM rectifier serve multiple purposes, reducing overall system cost while enabling concurrent heating and charging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heating function into the existing charging infrastructure. Instead of adding separate heating equipment, the system combines these functions in the energy conversion device, reducing material costs, installation costs, and maintenance costs while achieving the goal of simultaneous heating and charging.
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 solution enables faster and more efficient battery heating, reducing charging times and costs by utilizing the energy conversion device's heating circuits to directly heat the battery through a heated cooling liquid, while maintaining efficient motor operation without torque output.
Implementation Method 1
the external power supply, the reversible PWM rectifier, and the winding units in the motor coil form at least two sets of heating circuits... so that a current outputted from the external power supply flows through at least two sets of winding units of the motor coil to generate heat
Data Source
AI summary
An energy conversion device is provided. The energy conversion device includes a reversible pulse-width modulation (PWM) rectifier (102) and a motor coil (103). The motor coil (103) includes L sets of winding units, and each set of winding unit is connected with the reversible PWM rectifier (102), where L≥2 and is a positive integer. At least two sets of heating circuits of a to-be-heated device are formed by an external power supply (100), the reversible PWM rectifier (102), and the winding units in the motor coil (103). The energy conversion device controls the reversible PWM rectifier (102) according to a control signal, so that a current outputted from the external power supply (100) flows through at least two sets of winding units in the motor coil (103) to generate heat.