AC Machine Winding Control for Hybrid Catalyst Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for providing electrical power to an electrically heatable catalyst device in hybrid vehicles require high electrical currents, leading to increased cost, weight, and installation space, as well as additional complexity in controlling the electrical voltage and current.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that utilize a second switch device to connect the windings of an AC electric machine to the heating resistance of the catalyst device, allowing for electrical heating using either the electric battery or the AC electric machine coupled to the internal combustion engine, thereby eliminating the need for additional DC/DC converters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a DC/DC converter is added to supply electrical power to the heating resistance of the catalyst device, then the electrical power supply capability is improved, but the device complexity, cost, weight, and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the windings of the AC electric machine serve multiple functions: they function both as electromagnetic windings for motor operation and as heating elements for the catalyst device. By connecting the windings directly to the heating resistance through the second switch device, the system eliminates the need for a separate DC/DC converter, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining power supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the electrical heating function with the existing AC electric machine components. The windings that normally generate electromagnetic force are also used to generate heat for the catalyst, merging two functions into a single integrated system rather than adding separate components.
2Power
If high electrical currents are supplied to the heating resistance, then the heating capability is improved, but the cost, weight, and installation space of the electrical system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The AC electric machine's own windings are used to provide the heating function. The system serves itself by utilizing its existing components (windings, converter, switch devices) to generate the required heat, eliminating the need for additional heavy-duty power supply components that would be required if a separate high-power DC/DC converter were used.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If additional components are added to control electrical voltage and current for the catalyst heating, then the heating control precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing converter and switch devices that control the AC electric machine are made to serve dual purposes: controlling motor operation and controlling heating power. The control unit adjusts the switching of these existing components to regulate both the motor's electromagnetic operation and the heating resistance's thermal output, eliminating the need for separate control circuits.
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 solution provides an efficient electrical power supply for the catalyst device without significantly increasing cost, weight, or installation space, while also simplifying the electrical system by using existing components to achieve DC/DC conversion.
Implementation Method 1
a heating resistance (R) in an exhaust passage (4) of the internal combustion engine (3)... supply electrical power for the heating resistance (R)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a control device (10) for controlling components of a drivetrain system (1) of a vehicle, comprising a first switch device (20) for connecting/disconnecting an electric battery (B) with a DC electrical system (6); a converter (30) for enabling electric current to flow from the system (6) to each one of windings (W1-W3) of a multi-phase AC electric machine (2), for driving the machine (2), and enabling electric current to flow from each one of the windings (W1-W3) to the system (6), for recovering electric energy from the machine (2), respectively; a clutch (40) for coupling/decoupling the machine (2) with an internal combustion engine (3). The control device (10) provides a first operation mode, in which the first switch device (20) connects the battery (B) to the system (6), the converter (30) causes current to flow from the system (6) to each one of the windings (W1-W3), and the clutch (40) couples the machine (2) with the engine (3), and/or a second operation mode, in which the engine (3) is running, the clutch (40) couples the engine (3) with the machine (2), the converter (30) causes current to flow from each one of the windings (W1-W3) to the system (6), and the first switch device (20) connects the system (6) to the battery (B). According to the invention, the components further comprise a second switch device (50) for connecting/disconnecting at least one of the windings (W1-W3) of the machine (2) with a heating resistance (R) of a catalyst device (5) of the engine (3), wherein the control device (10) further provides a third operation mode, in which the clutch (40) decouples the machine (2) from the engine (3), the first switch device (20) connects the battery (B) to the system (6), the converter (30) causes current to flow from the system (6) to the at least one winding (W1-W3) and the second switch device (50) connects the respective winding (W1-W3) to the resistance (R), and/or a fourth operation mode, in which the engine (3) is running, the clutch (40) couples the engine (3) with the machine (2), the converter (30) causes current to flow from each of the windings (W1-W3) via the second switch device (50) to the resistance (R) and the second switch device (50) connects the respective winding (W1-W3) to the resistance (R). Further, a controlling method and a drivetrain system (1) are proposed.