SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INVERTER

• US 20150249419A1
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Lee, Joon Yong, Kwon, Soon Woo, Lee, Dong Hun, Kim, Sung Do
• Application Number:
  US14/563,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20150249419A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/08 using pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/526 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53871 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/60 Controlling or determining the temperature of the motor or of the drive H02P29/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method and system for controlling an inverter for operating a motor are provided. The method includes reducing a switching frequency of the inverter for applying a load current to the motor when the motor is used for energy consumption. Reduction of the switching frequency of the inverter enhances damage prevention and durability of the inverter. In the method, an operation mode of the inverter for operating the motor is determined based on a command received from an upper-level controller. When the operation mode of the inverter is determined to be an energy consumption mode, a switching frequency of the inverter is decreased relative to the switching frequency in a general operation mode.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an inverter, the method comprising:

determining, by a first controller, an operation mode of the inverter, based on a command received from an upper-level controller; and

decreasing, by the first controller, a switching frequency of the inverter to be less than a frequency of the inverter in a general operation mode, when the operation mode of the inverter is determined to be an energy consumption mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting, by the first controller, the operation mode of the inverter into the energy consumption mode of applying a load current to the motor while maintaining the motor in a non-driven state, in response to the switching frequency of the inverter being decreased.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating, by the first controller, the inverter to output the load current to the motor until the upper-level controller receives an end signal, in response the operation mode of the inverter being converted to the energy consumption mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the first controller, whether an abnormality occurs by determining whether the motor is driven, determining whether an over-current of a certain value or greater flows in the motor, and determining whether the junction temperature of the inverter has increased to at least an over-temperature of a predetermined value in response to the inverter operating in the energy consumption mode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stopping, by the first controller, the inverter from outputting the load current, in response to an abnormality occurring in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode; and

converting, by the first controller, the operation mode of the inverter to the general operation mode, in response to an abnormality occurring in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stopping, by the first controller, the inverter from outputting the load current in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode,

wherein the operation mode of the inverter is converted to the general operation mode, in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

operating, by the first controller, the inverter to output the load current to the motor until the upper-level controller receives an end signal, in response the operation mode of the inverter being converted to the energy consumption mode.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by the first controller, whether an abnormality occurs by determining whether the motor is driven, determining whether an over-current of a certain value or greater flows in the motor, and determining whether the junction temperature of the inverter increases to an over-temperature of a certain value or greater in response to the inverter operating in the energy consumption mode.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

stopping, by the first controller, the inverter from outputting the load current, and the operation mode of the inverter is converted into the general operation mode, in response to an abnormality occurring in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

stopping, by the first controller, the inverter from outputting the load current in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode; and

converting, by the first controller, the operation mode of the inverter into the general operation mode, in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a processor or controller for controlling a inverter, the computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions that determine an operation mode of the inverter, based on a command received from an upper-level controller; and

program instructions that decrease a switching frequency of the inverter to be less than a frequency of the inverter in a general operation mode, when the operation mode of the inverter is determined to be an energy consumption mode.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 further comprising:

program instructions that convert the operation mode of the inverter into the energy consumption mode of applying a load current to the motor while maintaining the motor in a non-driven state, in response to the switching frequency of the inverter being decreased.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

program instructions that operate the inverter to output the load current to the motor until the upper-level controller receives an end signal, in response the operation mode of the inverter being converted to the energy consumption mode.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

program instructions that determine whether an abnormality occurs by determining whether the motor is driven, determining whether an over-current of a certain value or greater flows in the motor, and determining whether the junction temperature of the inverter has increased to at least an over-temperature of a predetermined value in response to the inverter operating in the energy consumption mode.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

program instructions that stop the inverter from outputting the load current;

in response to an abnormality occurring in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode; and

program instructions that convert the operation mode of the inverter to the general operation mode, in response to an abnormality occurring in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

program instructions that stop the inverter from outputting the load current in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode; and

program instructions that convert the operation mode of the inverter to the general operation mode, in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions that operate the inverter to output the load current to the motor until the upper-level controller receives an end signal, in response the operation mode of the inverter being converted to the energy consumption mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions that determine whether an abnormality occurs through determining whether the motor is driven, determining whether an over-current of a certain value or greater flows in the motor, and determining whether the junction temperature of the inverter increases to an over-temperature of a certain value or greater in response to the inverter operating in the energy consumption mode.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions that stop the inverter from outputting the load current, and the operation mode of the inverter is converted into the general operation mode, in response to an abnormality occurring in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions that stop the inverter from outputting the load current in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode; and

program instructions that convert the operation mode of the inverter into the general operation mode, in response the upper-level controller receiving the end signal in the operation of the inverter in the energy consumption mode.