Traction Network Selective Isolation for Short Circuit Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrically driven transportation vehicles face reliability issues in maintaining traction force generation due to short circuits in drive units or distribution paths, leading to total system failure and rapid vehicle stoppage, especially in autonomously driving vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A traction power supply system with selective electrical isolation of the affected region, using precise short-circuit detection and controlled disconnection of only the faulty drive unit or distribution path, allowing the remaining operational areas to continue generating traction force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a short circuit is detected in a drive unit or distribution path, then the faulty region should be isolated to maintain safety, but this causes total system failure and rapid vehicle stoppage
Solution Approach 1:
The traction power supply system is divided into multiple independent drive units (first drive unit, second drive unit) with separate distribution paths. When a short circuit is detected in one drive unit or its distribution path, only that specific segment is isolated from the voltage source, while other segments continue to operate. This segmentation allows the system to maintain partial functionality and avoid total failure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire traction power supply system is disconnected upon short circuit detection, then safety is ensured, but the vehicle cannot reach safe location
Solution Approach 1:
The faulty drive unit or distribution path is extracted and isolated from the rest of the system using electrical isolating elements. This selective removal of the harmful component allows the remaining healthy parts of the system to continue operating, enabling the vehicle to reach a safe location before complete system shutdown occurs.
3Reliability
If redundant drive units are used to maintain traction force, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple drive units are designed with identical functional capabilities, each able to independently generate the full required traction force. This universality allows any drive unit to compensate for the failure of another, maintaining system reliability without requiring complex specialized configurations for each unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a traction power supply system of an electrically-driven transportation vehicle in response to a short circuit, wherein the traction power supply system includes a voltage source and at least two electric drive units connected to the voltage source via respective electrical distribution paths, and wherein at least one electrical isolating element for selective isolation of the voltage source is arranged in the distribution path of each drive unit, wherein, in response to a short circuit in the traction power supply system being detected, the method includes detecting in which distribution path and/or in which drive unit the short circuit is present; operating the traction power supply system in a ready-to-drive state, wherein only that drive unit in which or in the distribution path of which the short circuit is present is isolated from the voltage source.