Method for controlling a rotary electric machine in case of load shedding and corresponding power control module

• US 8,294,412 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Chemin, Michaël
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luo, David
• Application Number:
  US12/663,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 318/806, 318/727, 318244-252
• US Class Current: 318/806
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/067 on occurrence of a load dump control on sudden change of load H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1492 by means of controlling devices between the generator output and the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a rotary electrical machine and a control and power module for a rotary electrical machine. The rotary electrical machine includes a plurality of phase windings (9), a power circuit (12, 16) which comprises a plurality of arms each formed by a bridge of switches and which is capable of supplying an electrical network at an output voltage (Vres) equal to a nominal voltage when the bridge of switches is in a nominal mode of operation, an excitation winding (11) through which flows an excitation current (I exc) which generates a magnetic flux in a magnetic excitation circuit (10), and an electronic control circuit (7) which operates the power circuit and controls the excitation current. The method includes locking the bridge in at least one arm of the power circuit in a conductive state when the output voltage exceeds a voltage threshold higher than the nominal voltage. The nominal mode of operation of the bridge is returned to independently of the output voltage.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a rotary electrical machine connected to an electrical system in the event of a load dump, the machine comprising:

a plurality of phase windings (9);

a power circuit (12, 16) comprising a plurality of arms, each formed by a bridge of switches associated with one of the phase windings (9), the power circuit (12, 16) provided for supplying the electrical system at an output voltage (Vres) equal to a nominal voltage (Vn) when the bridge of switches is in a nominal mode of operation;

an excitation winding (11) through which flows an excitation current (I exc) producing a magnetic flux in a magnetic excitation circuit (10); and

an electronic control and regulating circuit (7) operating the power circuit (12, 16) and controlling the excitation current (I exc);

the method comprises comprising the steps of;

locking the bridge of switches in at least one of the arms of the said power circuit (12, 16) in a conductive state when the output voltage (Vres) exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold (Vs) higher than the said nominal voltage (Vn);

the nominal mode of operation of the bridge of switches is returned to independently of the said output voltage (Vres).

2. The method of controlling the rotary electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein the nominal mode of operation of the bridge of switches is returned to after a predetermined delay at least equal to a de-magnetization time (Δ

t) of the magnetic excitation circuit (10).

3. The method of controlling the rotary electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein the nominal mode of operation of the bridge of switches is returned to when the excitation current (I exc) drops below a predetermined current threshold (I s).

4. The method of controlling the rotary electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein the nominal mode of operation of the said bridge of switches is returned to after a period at least equal to a de-magnetization time (Δ

t) of the magnetic excitation circuit and when the excitation current (I exc) drops below a predetermined current threshold (I s).

5. The method of controlling a rotary electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein the power circuit (12, 16) also comprises means for storing energy (16).

6. The method of controlling a rotary electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein the electrical system is a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle.

7. A control and power module (7, 12, 16) for a rotary electrical machine connected to an electrical system, the machine having a plurality of phase windings (9) and an excitation winding (11) through which flows an excitation current (I exc) producing a magnetic flux in a magnetic excitation circuit (10), the module (7, 12, 16) comprising:

a power circuit (12, 16) comprising a plurality of arms, each formed by a bridge of switches associated with one of the phase windings (9), the power circuit (12, 16) of provided for supplying the electrical system at an output voltage (Vres) equal to a nominal voltage (Vn) when the bridge of switches is in a nominal operating mode; and

an electronic control and regulating circuit (7) operating the power circuit (12, 16) and controlling the excitation current (I exc), the electronic circuit (7) also comprising means for locking the bridge of switches in an least one of the arms of the power circuit (12, 16) in a conductive state when the output voltage (Vres) exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold higher than the nominal voltage (Vn);

the module also comprising means for returning to the nominal mode of operation of the bridge of switches independently of the output voltage (Vres).

8. The control and power module (7, 12, 16) according to claim 7, wherein the returning means act after a predetermined delay at least equal to a de-magnetization time (Δ

t) of the said magnetic excitation circuit (10).

9. The control and power module (7, 12, 16) according to claim 7, wherein the returning means act when the excitation current (I exc) drops below a predetermined current threshold (I s).

10. The control and power module (7, 12, 16) according to claim 7, wherein the returning means act after a period at least equal to the de-magnetization time (Δ

t) of the magnetic excitation circuit (10) and when the excitation current (I exc) drops below a predetermined current threshold (I s).

11. The control and power module (7, 12, 16) according to claim 7, wherein the power circuit also comprises means for storing energy (16).

12. A rotary electrical machine connected to an electrical system, the electrical machine comprising:

a plurality of phase windings (9);

an excitation winding (11) through which flows an excitation current (I exc) which produces a magnetic flux in a magnetic excitation circuit (10); and

a control and power module (7, 12, 16) comprising;

a power circuit (12, 16) comprising a plurality of arms, each formed by a bridge of switches associated with one of the phase windings (9), the power circuit (12, 16) provided for supplying the electrical system at an output voltage (Vres) equal to a nominal voltage (Vn) when the bridge of switches is in a nominal operating mode; and

an electronic control and regulating circuit (7) operating the power circuit (12, 16) and controling the excitation current (I exc), the electronic circuit (7) also comprising means for locking the bridge of switches in an least one of the arms of the power circuit (12, 16) in a conductive state when the output voltage (Vres) exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold higher than the nominal voltage (Vn);

the module also comprising means for returning to the nominal mode of operation of the bridge of switches independently of the output voltage (Vres).

13. The rotary electrical machine according to claim 12, wherein the returning means act after a predetermined delay at least equal to a de-magnetization time (Δ

t) of the magnetic excitation circuit (10).

14. The rotary electrical machine according to claim 12, wherein the returning means act after a period at least equal to the de-magnetization time (Δ

t) of the magnetic excitation circuit (10) and when the excitation current (I exc) drops below a predetermined current threshold (I s).