Adaptive winding system and control method for electric machines

• US 20080116759A1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panchien Lin
• Original Assignee: Panchien Lin
• Inventors: LIN, Panchien
• Granted Patent: US 7,977,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/184
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/20 for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/09 Machines characterised by the presence of elements which are subject to variation, e.g. adjustable bearings, reconfigurable windings, variable pitch ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/28 Layout of windings or of connections between windings windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/188 wherein the motor windings are switched from series to parallel or vice versa to control speed or torque

Abstract

An adaptive winding configurations and control method is disclosed for the electromagnetic poles of electric machines, including motors and generators. Motors utilizing the inventive adaptive winding configuration and control method are able to dynamically adjust their operating characteristics to maintain a constant rated power over a large operating speed range with high efficiency. Generators employing the inventive adaptive winding configuration and control method are able to dynamically adjust their operating characteristics in response to a variable driving force to achieve maximum power conversion efficiency. These generators are also able to dynamically change their output voltage and current (thus charging speed) when charging batteries depending on the charged state of the battery, and on the expected duration of the input power.

Claims

1. An electric machine with an adaptive winding network comprising:

a plurality of winding elements electrically connected to form a winding array, the winding array having one or more parallel winding units each having one or more series-connected winding elements;

wherein

the configuration of the winding array is dynamically adjustable by means of power switches or relays allowing for the optimization of the performance of the electric machine responsive to the changing operating condition.

2. The electric machine of claim 1 wherein the total number of series winding elements in each of the parallel winding units is equal.

3. The electric machine of claim 1 wherein the total number of series winding elements in each of the parallel winding units is not equal.

4. The electric machine of claim 1 wherein the number of winding elements in each parallel winding unit is equal to the number of parallel winding units energized.

5. The electric machine of claim 1 wherein the winding elements are in the stator of the electric machine.

6. The electric machine of claim 5 wherein the rotor is a permanent magnet rotor.

7. The electric machine of claim 1 wherein the winding elements are in the rotor of the electric machine.

8. The electric machine of claim 7 wherein the stator is a permanent magnet stator.

9. An electric motor with an adaptive winding network comprising:

a plurality of winding elements electrically connected to form a winding array, the winding array having one or more parallel winding units each having one or more identical series-connected winding elements energizable by a power source;

wherein

the winding array is configurable to form a winding array with a small number of parallel winding units with a small number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric motor to work at high speed and low output torque condition with high efficiency;

the winding array is further configurable with a large number of parallel winding units and with a large and identical number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric motor to work at low speed and high output torque condition with high efficiency; and

the winding array is further configurable with a large number of parallel winding units with a small number of series winding elements in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric motor to work at very low speed and very high output torque condition with high efficiency.

10. A method of adaptive winding control of an electric motor for constant rated power output operation, the method comprising:

configuring the winding array with a small number of parallel winding units with a small and identical number of winding elements connected in series in each parallel winding units to allow the electric machine to work at high speed and low output torque condition with high efficiency;

configuring the winding array with a larger number of parallel winding units with a large and identical number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric motor to work at lower speed and higher output torque condition with high efficiency, while maintaining the rated power of the motor equal to that of the original winding configurations;

wherein the number N of winding elements n₀ in each parallel winding unit and the number of parallel winding units M energized satisfying the condition N=M; and

configuring the winding array with a smaller number of parallel winding units with a smaller and identical number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric motor to work at higher speed and lower output torque condition with high efficiency, while maintaining the rated power of the motor equal to that of the original winding configurations;

wherein the number N of winding elements n₀ in each parallel winding unit and the number of parallel winding units M energized satisfying the condition N=M.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

configuring the adaptive winding network to form a winding array with a large number of parallel winding units and a small number of winding elements connected in series in each parallel winding unit to provide large output torque at low speed to facilitate the rapid acceleration of the load within the full operating speed range of the motor, or to operate the motor at high load conditions at high speed with high efficiency.

12. An electric generator with an adaptive winding network comprising:

a plurality of winding elements electrically connected to form a winding array, the winding array having one or more parallel winding units each having one or more series-connected winding elements to allow for the operation of the electric generator over wide input speed and torque range.

13. A method of adaptive winding control of the electric generator comprising:

configuring the winding array to form a winding array with a small number of parallel winding units and with a small number of series-connect winding elements in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to work at high speed and low input torque condition with high efficiency;

configuring the winding array with a small number of parallel winding units and with a large number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to work at high speed and high input torque condition with high efficiency;

configuring the winding array with a large number of parallel winding units and with a large number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to work at low speed and high input torque condition with high efficiency; and

configuring the winding array with a very large number of parallel winding units and with a small number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to work at very low speed and very high input torque condition with high efficiency.

14. An electric generator with an adaptive winding network comprising:

a plurality of winding elements electrically connected to form a winding array, the winding array having one or more parallel winding units each having one or more series-connected winding elements machine to allow for the operation of the electric generator to generate wide range of output current and voltage.

15. A method of adaptive winding control of an electric generator comprising:

configuring the winding array to form a winding array with a small number of parallel winding units and with a small number of series-connect winding elements in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to provide a low current and low voltage output;

configuring the winding array with a small number of parallel winding units and with a large number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to provide a low current and high voltage output;

configuring the winding array with a large number of parallel winding units and with a large number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to provide a high current and high voltage output; and

configuring the winding array with a very large number of parallel winding units and with a small number of winding elements connected in series in each of the parallel winding units to allow the electric generator to provide a very high current but low voltage output.