Circuit arrangement for an electric drive

• US 8,487,568 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Franke, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/019,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 318/400.3, 318/400.13, 318/800, 318/801, 318/808, 318/809, 318/105, 307/64, 307/65, 307/75, 307/10.1, 307/43, 307/86, 361/82, 361/84, 361/111, 363/55, 363/98
• US Class Current: 318/400.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/493 the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A circuit arrangement is provided for supplying an electric drive, to which at least two electric energy sources can be connected. At least one of the at least two electric energy sources supplies at least intermittently the electric drive by way of at least one actuating element. At least one electric energy source can be disconnected from the electric drive by way of a switch. Furthermore, a method for operating the circuit arrangement, as well as a motor vehicle including the circuit arrangement, are provided.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for supplying an electric drive coupleable to at least two electric energy sources, the circuit arrangement comprising:

at least two inverter bridges operatively configured such that at least one of said at least two electric energy sources supply the electric drive at least intermittently by way of the at least one inverter bridge, wherein each of the at least two electric energy sources is associated with a corresponding one of the at least two inverter bridges;

a filter operatively connected in parallel with a corresponding one of the at least two electric energy sources; and

a switch operatively configured for disconnecting at least one electric energy source from the electric drive, wherein at least one of the electric energy sources that is disconnectable from the electric drive via the switch is connected in series with and has a direct voltage lower than that of another of the electric energy sources.

2. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the switch is uncontrolled and comprises a diode.

3. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a controlled switch comprising at least one of:

a transistor;

an IGBT;

an FET;

a thyristor;

a triac; and

a dynistor.

4. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive is an electric machine.

5. The circuit arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the at least two electric energy sources are arranged with the circuit arrangement in a motor vehicle.

6. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electric energy sources are arranged with the circuit arrangement in a motor vehicle.

7. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two electric energy sources comprise at least one of the following energy sources:

a fuel cell;

a battery; and

a double-layer capacitor source.

8. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two inverter bridges are each operatively configured to support three phases.

9. The circuit arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the buffer has a voltage essentially as large as a largest no-load voltage of the electric energy sources.

10. The circuit arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the buffer has a voltage essentially as large as a maximum voltage of the electric drive.

11. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer for at least one of absorbing and making available electric energy.

12. The circuit arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the buffer has a voltage essentially as large as a maximum voltage of the electric drive.

13. The circuit arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the buffer is operatively configured to absorb energy stored inductively in the electric drive and release said energy to one of the electric drive and another consumer.

14. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two series-coupled electric energy sources are activateable either individually or jointly.

15. The circuit arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the at least two series-coupled electric energy sources are activateable individually or jointly via at least one electronic switch.

16. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a changeover switch operatively configured to switch between the at least two electric energy sources.

17. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said one electric energy source is a mono-directional energy source.

18. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least two electric energy sources have at least one of different voltages and different power outputs.

19. A method for operating a circuit arrangement for supplying an electric drive to which at least two electric energy sources are coupleable, the method comprising the acts of:

supplying at least intermittently the electric drive with electric energy from at least one of the two electric energy sources via at least two inverter bridges, wherein each of the at least two electric energy sources is associated with a corresponding one of the at least inverter bridges;

reducing an electrical load on one of the at least two electrical energy sources using a filter operatively connected in parallel with the one of at least two electric energy sources; and

disconnecting at least one electric energy source from the electric drive via a switch, wherein at least one of the electric energy sources that is disconnectable from the electric drive via the switch is connected in series with and has a direct voltage lower than that of another of the electric energy sources.

20. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an electric drive;

at least two electric energy sources;

a circuit arrangement for supplying the electric drive, the electric drive being coupleable to the at least two electric energy sources;

at least two inverter bridges operatively configured such that at least one of said at least two electric energy sources supply the electric drive at least intermittently by way of the at least one inverter bridge, wherein each of the at least two electric energy sources is associated with a corresponding one of the at least two inverter bridges;

a filter operatively connected in parallel with a corresponding one of the at least two electric energy sources; and

a switch operatively configured for disconnecting at least one electric energy source from the electric drive, wherein at least one of the electric energy sources that is disconnectable from the electric drive via the switch is connected in series with and has a direct voltage lower than that of another of the electric energy sources.