SYSTEM FOR USE IN CONTROLLING MOTOR TORQUE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME

• US 20130015800A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ramamurthy, Shyam Sunder, Thomas, Cecilia Maria, Whalen, Richard Francis Jr., Booth, Alistair Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/434
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/45 for motor vehicles, e.g. car alternators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2205/03 Power loop, i.e. comparison of the motor power with a power reference
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/026 the fault being a power fluctuation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/032 Preventing damage to the motor, e.g. setting individual current limits for different drive conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A method of assembling an electric drive system includes providing a power conversion assembly and coupling an electric power source and a motor to the power conversion assembly. The method also includes coupling a computing device that includes a processor and a memory device operatively coupled to the processor to the power conversion assembly. The method further includes configuring the computing device to record at least one measurement related to a speed of the motor. The method also includes configuring the computing device to calculate a power output limit of the power conversion assembly and limit the power output of the power conversion assembly by limiting torque induced by the motor as a function of the speed of the motor.

Claims

1. A method of assembling an electric drive system, said method comprising:

providing a power conversion assembly;

coupling an electric power source and a motor to the power conversion assembly;

coupling a computing device that includes a processor and a memory device operatively to the processor to the power conversion assembly; and

configuring the computing device to;

record at least one measurement related to a speed of the motor;

calculate a power output limit of the power conversion assembly; and

limit a power output of the power conversion assembly by limiting the torque induced by the motor as a function of the speed of the motor.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising configuring the computing device to record at least one measurement related to:

a power output transmitted by the power conversion assembly; and

a capacity of the electric power source.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein configuring the computing device to record at least one measurement comprises configuring the computing device to record values representative of at least one of a battery terminal voltage, a current capacity rating of the electric drive system, and an impedance of the electric drive system.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein coupling an electric power source and a motor to the power conversion assembly comprises coupling a direct current (DC) battery system and an alternating current (AC) motor to an inverter.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein configuring the computing device to calculate a power output limit comprises configuring the computing device to estimate a power output of the power conversion assembly as a function of estimated motor terminal voltages and measured winding currents.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein configuring the computing device to limit a power output comprises configuring the computing device to transmit an inverter power limit signal from the computing device to the power conversion assembly.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein configuring the computing device to limit the power output further comprises configuring the computing device to limit transmission of electric power from the power conversion assembly to the motor.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein configuring the computing device to limit transmission of electric power comprises configuring the computing device to facilitate transmission of electric power from the power conversion assembly to the motor to facilitate maintaining a predetermined motor speed.

9. A motor control system for an electric drive system that includes a motor operatively coupled to a power conversion assembly and to an electric power source, said system comprising:

a memory device configured to store a plurality of operational measurements of at least one of the electric power source, the power conversion assembly, and the motor, wherein each operational measurement is associated with power transfer from the electric power source to the motor via the power conversion assembly; and

a processor coupled in communication with said memory device, said processor programmed to;

calculate a power output limit of the power conversion assembly; and

limit power output of the power converter by limiting the torque induced by the motor as a function of a speed of the motor.

10. A motor control system according to claim 9, wherein said processor is programmed to receive at least one measurement related to:

a power output transmitted by the power conversion assembly;

a capacity of the electric power source; and

a speed of the motor.

11. A motor control system according to claim 10, wherein said processor is further programmed to receive measurements representative of at least one of a battery terminal voltage, a current capacity rating of the electric drive system, and an impedance of the electric drive system.

12. A motor control system according to claim 9, wherein said processor is further programmed to estimate a power output of the power conversion assembly as a function of estimated motor terminal voltages and measured winding terminals.

13. A motor control system according to claim 9, wherein said processor is further programmed to transmit an inverter power limit signal to the power conversion assembly.

14. A motor control system according to claim 9, wherein said processor is further programmed to:

record at least one measurement related to;

a power output transmitted by the power conversion assembly; and

a capacity of the electric power source;

limit a torque induced by the motor by limiting the power output of the power conversion assembly as a function of a speed of the motor; and

limit transmission of electric power from the power conversion assembly to the motor.

15. An electric drive system comprising:

a power conversion assembly;

an electric power source and a motor coupled to said power conversion assembly;

a computing device comprising a processor and a memory device operatively coupled to said processor, said computing device operatively coupled to said power conversion assembly and configured to;

record at least one measurement related to a speed of said motor;

calculate a power output limit of said power conversion assembly; and

limit a power output by said power converter by limiting the torque induced by said motor as a function of the speed of said motor.

16. An electric drive system in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

said power conversion assembly comprises an inverter;

said electric power source comprises a direct current (DC) battery system; and

said motor comprises an alternating current (AC) motor.

17. An electric drive system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to receive measurements representative of at least one of a battery terminal voltage, a current capacity rating of the electric drive system, and an impedance of said electric drive system.

18. An electric drive system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to estimate a power output of said power conversion assembly as a function of estimated motor terminal voltages and measured winding terminals.

19. An electric drive system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to transmit an inverter power limit signal to said power conversion assembly.

20. An electric drive system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to:

record at least one measurement related to;

a power output transmitted by said power conversion assembly; and

a capacity of said electric power source;

limit a torque induced by said motor by limiting the power output of said power conversion assembly as a function of a speed of said motor; and

limit transmission of electric power from said power conversion assembly to said motor.