Method and apparatus for detecting phase current imbalance in a power generator
First Claim
1. A method for determining a malfunction condition of a diode within a rectifier circuit in an electric drive system, the electric drive system including a prime mover disposed to provide an output and a power generator with a rotating portion coupled with the output of the prime mover, and an output winding disposed to provide a generator output to the rectifier circuit, the method comprising:
- receiving a set of diagnostic values associated with the output winding of the power generator, the set of diagnostic values including a first phase current value, a second phase current value, and a third phase current value;
comparing the first phase current value, the second phase current value, and the third phase current value; and
setting a diagnostic flag indicating that at least one of the diodes of the rectifier circuit has failed when the ratio of first phase current value to the second phase current value or ratio of the first phase current value to the third phase current value exceeds a threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller (500) in an electric drive system is used to determine whether a phase current imbalance in the output winding of a power generator (204) exists. During operation, the controller (500) receives a set of power generator diagnostic values corresponding to the phase currents output by the power generator (204). Next, the controller (500) determines a set of expected operating phase current values. The controller (500) then compares the obtained diagnostic values to one or more corresponding expected operating values. If the difference is greater than a threshold, the controller (500) provides an appropriate fault indication indicative of a phase current imbalance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a malfunction condition of a diode within a rectifier circuit in an electric drive system, the electric drive system including a prime mover disposed to provide an output and a power generator with a rotating portion coupled with the output of the prime mover, and an output winding disposed to provide a generator output to the rectifier circuit, the method comprising:
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receiving a set of diagnostic values associated with the output winding of the power generator, the set of diagnostic values including a first phase current value, a second phase current value, and a third phase current value; comparing the first phase current value, the second phase current value, and the third phase current value; and setting a diagnostic flag indicating that at least one of the diodes of the rectifier circuit has failed when the ratio of first phase current value to the second phase current value or ratio of the first phase current value to the third phase current value exceeds a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A controller disposed to monitor the imbalance of phase current supplied at the output of a power generator in an electric drive system including an engine, the power generator, and a rectifier circuit, the power generator including a rotating portion coupled with the output of the engine, and an output winding coupled to the rectifier circuit and disposed to provide a first phase current, a second phase current and a third phase current, the controller comprising:
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an input receiving portion configured to receive a first value corresponding to the first phase current, a second value corresponding to the second phase current and a third value corresponding to the third phase current; a logic portion configured to compare the first value, the second value and the third value; and an indicator portion configured to set a diagnostic flag when the ratio of first value to the second value or ratio of the first value to the third value exceeds a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A power circuit configured to perform diagnostic monitoring of phase current supplied at the output of a power generator in an electric drive system including an engine, the power generator including a rotating portion coupled with the output of the engine, and an output winding disposed to provide a first phase current, a second phase current and a third phase current:
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a rectifier circuit coupled to the output of the generator; and a controller configured to receive a first value corresponding to the first phase current, a second value corresponding to the second phase current, and a third value corresponding to the third phase current, the controller being further configured to compare the first value, the second value and the third value, and to set a diagnostic flag indicating a phase current imbalance condition based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification