Motor drive architecture with active snubber

• US 8,076,882 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX), Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX), Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Dooley, Kevin A., Rozman, Gregory I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luo, David S
• Application Number:
  US11/964,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 318/400.25, 318/400.24, 318/400.01
• US Class Current: 318/400.25
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/344 Active dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/024 controlled by supply frequency

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling a system comprising at least one electric motor. The motor drive circuit includes a reconfigurable active snubber. Under given resonance conditions, the active snubber is configured to use a resistive element to dissipate electrical transients across the commutation circuit.

Claims

1. An active electrical protection apparatus for damping electrical transients in a control circuit of an electrical machine having phase windings driven using a commutation circuit and powered through a power supply line, the apparatus comprising:

a power dissipating circuit arranged in parallel with said commutation circuit and configured to dissipate power on the power supply line, the power dissipating circuit having a resistive element and a first switch configured to switchably connect said resistive element to the power supply line;

a resonance detector configured to evaluate a frequency of a current on the power supply line, detect a resonance condition on said power supply line based on the evaluated frequency and provide a resonance signal representative of the resonance condition; and

a controller configured to receive the resonance signal and command said first switch at least as a function of said resonance signal.

2. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transient suppression circuit arranged in series with said power dissipating circuit and with said commutation circuit, said transient suppression circuit having a feedback diode device arranged inversely relative to a drive current of said commutation circuit and a second switch for switchably connecting said feedback diode device, said controller being further for commanding said second switch as a function of said resonance signal, no more than one of said resistive element and said feedback diode device being switched in at a time.

3. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first switch and said second switch each comprises a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET).

4. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a current transducer for measuring the current at said power supply line and for providing a current signal, said current signal to be provided to said resonance detector for detecting said resonance condition.

5. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a position sensor for sensing a position of said electrical machine and for providing a position signal, said resonance detector receiving said position signal in time for evaluating an operation frequency of said machine for use in detecting said resonance condition.

6. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a voltage transducer for measuring a voltage at said commutation circuit and for providing a voltage signal, said voltage signal to be provided to said controller for commanding said first switch as a function of said voltage signal and said resonance signal.

7. An active electrical protection apparatus for damping electrical transients in an electrical machine having phase windings driven using a commutation circuit and powered through a power supply connecting line, the apparatus comprising:

a power dissipating device arranged in parallel with said commutation circuit, and having a resistive element configured to dissipate power on the power supply connecting line when the electrical transients on the power supply connecting line are damped;

a transient suppression device arranged in series with said power dissipating circuit and with said commutation circuit, and having a feedback diode device arranged inversely relative to a drive current of said commutation circuit;

a switching device configured to switchably connect said power dissipating device to the power supply connecting line and to switchably connect said transient suppression device;

a resonance detector configured to evaluate a frequency of a current on the power supply line, detect a resonance condition on said power supply line based on the evaluated frequency and provide a resonance signal representative of the resonance condition; and

a switch controller configured to receive the resonance signal and command said switching device at least as a function of said resonance signal.

8. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said switching device comprises a first switch connected in series with said power dissipating device for switching it in and out, and a second switch connected in series with said transient suppression device for switching it in and out.

9. The active electrical protection apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a voltage transducer for measuring a voltage at said commutation circuit and for providing a voltage signal, said voltage signal to be provided to said switch controller for commanding said switching device as a function of said voltage signal and said resonance signal.

10. A method for damping electrical transients in an electrical machine having phase windings driven using a commutation circuit, the machine further having a resistive element arranged in parallel with said commutation circuit wherein the resistive element is configured to dissipate power when electrical transients are damped and a feedback diode device arranged in series with said power dissipating circuit and with said commutation circuit, and arranged inversely relative to a drive current of said commutation circuit, the method comprising:

evaluating a resonance condition based on at least one of a frequency of a current on a power supply line and an operation frequency of said electrical machine;

switching said feedback diode device in and out as a function of said resonance condition;

measuring a voltage across said commutation circuit;

comparing a value of said voltage to a limit voltage value to detect a voltage transient which determines a voltage condition; and

switching said resistive element in and out as a function of said resonance condition and said voltage condition.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said feedback diode device is switched in when a value of said current on the power supply line is below a predetermined value.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said resistive element is switched in when a value of said current on the power supply line is above said predetermined value and said value of said voltage signal is above said limit voltage value.

13. A method for damping electrical transients in an electrical machine having phase windings driven using a commutation circuit, the electrical machine further having a resistive element arranged in parallel with said commutation circuit, the resistive element for dissipating power when electrical transients on a power supply line are damped, the method comprising:

evaluating a frequency of a current on the power supply line of said electrical machine;

detecting a resonance condition on said power supply line based on the evaluated frequency; and

switching said resistive element in to damp electrical transients on the power supply line and out at least as a function of said electrical resonance condition.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said resonance condition is also based on an operation frequency of said electrical machine.