DOUBLE ENDED INVERTER SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE HAVING TWO ENERGY SOURCES THAT EXHIBIT DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20090033252A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Chakrabrarti, Sibaprasad, Smith, Gregory S., John, George, Welchko, Brian A., Nagashima, James M., Perisic, Milun
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33584 Bidirectional converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A double ended inverter system for an AC electric traction motor of a vehicle is disclosed. The inverter system serves as an interface between two different energy sources having different operating characteristics. The inverter system includes a first energy source having first operating characteristics associated therewith, and a first inverter subsystem coupled to the first energy source and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor. The inverter system also includes a second energy source having second operating characteristics associated therewith, wherein the first operating characteristics and the second operating characteristics are different, and a second inverter subsystem coupled to the second energy source and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor. In addition, the inverter system has a controller coupled to the first inverter subsystem and to the second inverter subsystem. The controller is configured to influence operation of the first inverter subsystem and the second inverter subsystem to manage power transfer among the first energy source, the second energy source, and the AC electric traction motor.

Claims

1. A double ended inverter system for an AC electric traction motor of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first energy source having first operating characteristics associated therewith;

a first inverter subsystem coupled to the first energy source and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor;

a second energy source having second operating characteristics associated therewith, wherein the first operating characteristics and the second operating characteristics are different;

a second inverter subsystem coupled to the second energy source and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor; and

a controller coupled to the first inverter subsystem and to the second inverter subsystem, the controller being configured to influence operation of the first inverter subsystem and the second inverter subsystem to manage power transfer among the first energy source, the second energy source, and the AC electric traction motor.

2. The double ended inverter system of claim 1, wherein:

the first energy source comprises a low temperature battery subsystem having a relatively low nominal operating temperature range; and

the second energy source comprises a high temperature battery subsystem having a relatively high nominal operating temperature range.

3. The double ended inverter system of claim 2, wherein:

the low temperature battery subsystem comprises a lead acid battery pack; and

the high temperature battery subsystem comprises a lithium ion battery pack.

4. The double ended inverter system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the low temperature battery subsystem until the high temperature battery subsystem reaches its normal operating temperature range.

5. The double ended inverter system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the high temperature battery subsystem after the high temperature battery subsystem reaches its normal operating temperature range.

6. The double ended inverter system of claim 2, wherein the high temperature battery subsystem is located within a cabin of the vehicle such that the high temperature battery subsystem is subjected to cabin heating/cooling.

7. The double ended inverter system of claim 1, wherein:

the first energy source comprises a power battery subsystem having a relatively high voltage and a relatively low amp-hours rating; and

the second energy source comprises an energy battery subsystem having a relatively low voltage and a relatively high amp-hours rating.

8. The double ended inverter system of claim 7, wherein:

the power battery subsystem comprises a lead acid battery pack; and

the energy battery subsystem comprises a lithium ion battery pack.

9. The double ended inverter system of claim 7, wherein:

the power battery subsystem comprises a nickel metal hydride battery pack; and

the energy battery subsystem comprises a lithium ion battery pack.

10. The double ended inverter system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the energy battery subsystem during continuous loading events associated with operation of the vehicle.

11. The double ended inverter system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the power battery subsystem during short duration peak power events associated with operation of the vehicle.

12. A double ended inverter system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an AC electric traction motor comprising a set of windings, where each winding in the set of windings has a first end and a second end;

a low temperature energy source having a relatively low nominal operating temperature range;

a first inverter subsystem coupled to the low temperature energy source and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor, wherein the first end of each winding in the set of windings is coupled to the first inverter subsystem;

a high temperature energy source having a relatively high nominal operating temperature range; and

a second inverter subsystem coupled to the high temperature energy source and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor, wherein the second end of each winding in the set of windings is coupled to the second inverter subsystem.

13. The double ended inverter system of claim 12, wherein the AC electric traction motor comprises a three phase motor.

14. The double ended inverter system of claim 12, further comprising a controller coupled to the first inverter subsystem and to the second inverter subsystem, the controller being configured to influence operation of the first inverter subsystem and the second inverter subsystem to manage power transfer among the low temperature energy source, the high temperature energy source, and the AC electric traction motor.

15. The double ended inverter system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the low temperature energy source until the high temperature energy source reaches its normal operating temperature range.

16. The double ended inverter system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the high temperature energy source after the high temperature energy source reaches its normal operating temperature range.

17. A double ended inverter system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an AC electric traction motor comprising a set of windings, where each winding in the set of windings has a first end and a second end;

a power battery subsystem having a relatively high voltage and a relatively low amp-hours rating;

a first inverter subsystem coupled to the power battery subsystem and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor, wherein the first end of each winding in the set of windings is coupled to the first inverter subsystem;

an energy battery subsystem having a relatively medium-to-high voltage and a relatively high amp-hours rating; and

a second inverter subsystem coupled to the energy battery subsystem and configured to drive the AC electric traction motor, wherein the second end of each winding in the set of windings is coupled to the second inverter subsystem.

18. The double ended inverter system of claim 17, wherein the AC electric traction motor comprises a three phase motor.

19. The double ended inverter system of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the energy battery subsystem during continuous loading events associated with operation of the vehicle.

20. The double ended inverter system of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to drive the AC electric traction motor primarily with the power battery subsystem during short duration peak power events associated with operation of the vehicle.