Electric Machine Winding Sector Switching for Adjustable Performance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity in manufacturing electric machines that cover a wide range of operational performances is high due to the need for various mechanical and electrical components to achieve different performance levels.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the activation and deactivation of specific subsets of winding sectors in an electric machine's stator and rotor, using AC drive signals, allows for adjusting the operational performance by associating winding sectors to a first or second sub-set, facilitated by a control unit, thereby reducing complexity by using the same mechanical and electrical components for different performance categories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different mechanical and electrical components are used to achieve different operational performances, then the bandwidth of operational performances is covered, but the complexity in manufacturing electric machines increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stator windings are segmented into multiple winding sectors that can be independently activated or deactivated. This segmentation allows the same physical stator to produce different operational performances by controlling different subsets of winding sectors, thereby covering a bandwidth of performances without requiring multiple different stator components.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational performance of the electric machine is made dynamically adjustable through software control that can activate or deactivate specific winding sectors based on the desired performance level. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same hardware to adapt to different performance requirements without physical modification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple variants of stators and rotors are produced to cover different operational performances, then the product range is expanded, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal stator design with multiple winding sectors can serve multiple performance requirements. By controlling different combinations of winding sectors, the same stator variant can produce electric machines with different operational performances, eliminating the need to manufacture multiple stator variants for different performance levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational performance is adjusted by changing the electrical parameters (which winding sectors are activated) rather than changing the physical parameters (stator or rotor variants). This allows the same mechanical and electrical components to produce different performance levels through software-controlled parameter changes.
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
Enables the production of electric machines with varying operational performances without increasing complexity, allowing for on-demand performance adjustments and compliance with market or emission restrictions, while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
triggering an AC drive signal for a second sub-set of winding sectors such that the rotor is rotated using the winding sectors of the second sub-set
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustment of operational performance of an electric machine (e.g., using a computerized tool) is enabled. For example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium can comprise executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: deactivating a first sub-set of winding sectors, wherein the first sub-set of the winding sectors comprises at least one winding sector, and triggering an AC drive signal for a second sub-set of the winding sectors such that a rotor is rotated using the winding sectors of the second sub-set, wherein an electric machine comprises a stator and the rotor, wherein the stator comprises a set of N phase windings, wherein each N phase winding, of the set of N phase windings, forms p poles around a circumference of the stator, and wherein each p pole, of the p poles, is formed by the at least one winding sector.