Method for controlling an electric rotary machine operating as a generator and corresponding control system for reducing the voltage in the network in the event of a cutoff

Abstract

A method for controlling a multi-phase rotary electric machine is disclosed. The stator of the machine is controlled by a control bridge having a plurality of parallel mounted switching arms, with each arm comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected at a center tap connected to a phase of said rotary electric machine. The machine operates as a generator and is connected to an electrical network on board a motor vehicle. The method involves short-circuiting a phase winding of the stator when a measurement of the voltage of said network exceeds a first predetermined value, and after this, activating a switching arm, the center tap of which is connected to said at least one short-circuited phase winding, during which the intensity in the short-circuited winding is measured, if the measured intensity is positive, the high-side switch of said activated switching arm is moved to the closed position, otherwise, it is moved to the open position.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a multi-phase rotary electric machine, the stator of which is controlled by a control bridge comprising a plurality of parallel mounted switching arms, with each arm comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected together at a center tap, which is connected to a phase of said rotary electric machine, said rotary electric machine operating as a generator and being connected to an electrical network on board a motor vehicle, said method comprising: short-circuiting at least one phase winding of the stator when measurement of the voltage of said network exceeds a first predetermined value; and following the short-circuiting, activating a switching arm, the center tap of which is connected to said at least one short-circuited phase winding, during which: the intensity in the short-circuited winding is measured; if the measured intensity is positive, the high-side switch of said activated switching arm is moved to the closed position; otherwise, the high-side switch of said activated switching arm is moved to the open position.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement of the voltage of said network is obtained by filtering the voltage of said network with a predetermined time constant.

3. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation is repeated at least until the voltage measured by the voltage measurement device is less than a second predetermined value.

4. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said activation step is repeated for a predetermined time period.

5. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the phase windings of the stator are short-circuited during the short-circuiting, and wherein, following the short-circuiting, the activation is carried out for all the switching arms.

6. A control system for a multi-phase rotary electric machine operating as a generator and connected to an electrical network on board a motor vehicle by a first and a second power supply terminal, said control system comprising: a control bridge comprising a plurality of parallel mounted switching arms, with each arm comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected together at a center tap, which is connected to a phase winding of said rotary electric machine, said control bridge being capable of supplying said electrical network with voltage; a control circuit for opening or closing the switches of the control bridge; a device for measuring the voltage between the first and the second power supply terminal; wherein for at least one predetermined phase winding that is also connected to a predetermined switching arm, the control system further comprises a device for measuring the current passing through the predetermined phase winding and, when the voltage measured by the voltage measurement device exceeds a first value: the control circuit closes the low-side switch of the predetermined switching arm; the current measurement device measures the current passing through the predetermined phase; if the intensity of the measured current is positive, the control circuit closes the high-side switch of the predetermined switching arm otherwise, the control circuit opens the high-side switch of the predetermined switching arm.

7. The control system as claimed in claim 6, wherein, following a detection indicating that the voltage measured by the voltage measurement device exceeds a first predetermined value and does so in an iterative manner for a predetermined period or as long as the voltage measured by the voltage measurement device exceeds a second predetermined value: the control circuit closes the low-side switch of the predetermined switching arm; the current measurement device measures the current passing through the predetermined phase; if the intensity of the measured current is positive, the control circuit closes the high-side switch of the predetermined switching arm; otherwise, the control circuit opens the high-side switch of the predetermined switching arm.

8. The control system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising, for each phase, a device for measuring the current passing through this phase, and in that, for each phase: the control circuit closes the low-side switch of the switching arm connected to this phase by its center tap; the current measurement device measures the current passing through this phase; if the intensity of the current measured in this phase is positive, the control circuit closes the high-side switch of the switching arm connected to this phase by its center tap; otherwise, the control circuit opens the high-side switch of the switching arm connected to this phase by its center tap.

9. An electrical system comprising a control system as claimed in claim 6; and a multi-phase and coiled rotor rotary electric machine controlled by said control system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Particular features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, which is provided with reference to the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an electrical system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows, as a flow chart, a control method according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows, in the form of a graph, the relationship between the current measured in a short-circuited phase and the status of the high-side switch of the switching arm associated with this phase.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an electrical system 100 according to the invention. This electrical system is intended, for example, to be used in a motor vehicle.

(6) The electrical system 100 is connected to an on-board network 1 of a motor vehicle comprising at least one direct voltage source 102. The direct voltage source 102 comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal, with said negative terminal generally being connected to an electrical ground GND, such as a chassis of the motor vehicle. The direct voltage source 102 is designed to supply a direct input voltage E between these terminals.

(7) The electrical system 100 firstly comprises a multi-phase rotary electric machine 106. In the example described herein, the multi-phase rotary electric machine 106 comprises stator phases U, V, W including, in the described example, first respective ends that are connected to a neutral point N. In the described example, the electric machine 106 is a three-phase electric machine. The electric machine 106 is, for example, a synchronous electric machine coupled to a starter-alternator belt in order to drive this belt when operating as a motor and in order to be driven by the belt when operating as a generator.

(8) The electrical system 100 further comprises a control system 101 according to the invention, which system comprises: a) a control bridge 108 connected, on the one hand, to the terminals of the direct voltage source 102 and, on the other hand, to the electric machine 106 in order to supply the stator phases U, V, W of the electric machine 106 from the direct voltage source 102. The control bridge 108 thus comprises a high terminal BH.sub.OS and a low terminal BB.sub.OS that are respectively connected to the positive and negative terminals of the direct voltage source 102. The control bridge 108 is intended to receive or to supply a stator current i.sub.E from the high terminal BH.sub.OS; b) an electronic control circuit 120; c) a device 130 for measuring the voltage between the high terminal BH.sub.OS and the low terminal BB.sub.OS; d) a measurement device 140.sub.U for measuring the intensity of the current I.sub.u circulating in the stator phase U; e) a measurement device 140.sub.V for measuring the intensity of the current I.sub.v circulating in the stator phase V; and f) a measurement device 140.sub.w for measuring the intensity of the current I.sub.w circulating in the stator phase W.

(9) The control bridge 108 further comprises arms that are respectively associated with the stator phases U, V, W. Each arm comprises a high-side switch connected to the high terminal BH.sub.OS and a low-side switch connected to the low terminal BB.sub.OS. The high-side switch and the low-side switch are also connected together at a center tap (P.sub.U, P.sub.V, P.sub.W) that is connected to the associated stator phase U, V, W. Each arm is intended to be controlled so as to switch between two configurations. In the first configuration, called high-side configuration, the high-side switch is closed and the low-side switch is open, such that the input voltage E is applied to a second end of the associated stator phase U, V, W. In the second configuration, called low-side configuration, the high-side switch is open and the low-side switch is closed, such that a zero voltage is applied to the second end of the associated stator phase U, V, W. The control bridge 108 is controlled by the electronic control circuit 120 so as to switch each arm between these two configurations, so as to regulate the currents passing through the stator phases U, V, W.

(10) In the embodiment described herein, the high-side and low-side switches of the control bridge 108 are isolated gate field effect transistors, more commonly known as MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor).

(11) The device 140.sub.U for measuring the current circulating in the stator phase U of the electric machine 106 measures the current circulating from the center tap P.sub.U to the neutral point N. By convention, this current is positive when the current enters the stator phase U from the center tap P.sub.U, and is negative otherwise.

(12) Similarly, the device 140.sub.V for measuring the current circulating in the stator phase V of the electric machine 106 measures the current circulating from the center tap P.sub.V to the neutral point N. By convention, this current is positive when the current enters the stator phase V from the center tap P.sub.V, and is negative otherwise.

(13) Similarly, the device 140.sub.W for measuring the current circulating in the stator phase W of the electric machine 106 measures the current circulating from the center tap P.sub.W to the neutral point N. By convention, this current is positive when the current enters the stator phase W from the center tap P.sub.W, and is negative otherwise.

(14) The electrical system 100 further comprises a capacitor 104 connected between the terminals BH.sub.OS, BB.sub.OS of the control bridge 108. The capacitor 104 comprises, for example, one or more capacitors, for example, chemical capacitors.

(15) With reference to [FIG. 2], the main steps of a control method according to the invention implemented by the control system 101 when the rotary electric machine 106 is in its generator operating mode will now be described.

(16) Initially (step D), the rotary electric machine 106 is in generator mode.

(17) The electronic control circuit 120 alternately controls, during a step E100, the opening and the closing of the low-side and high-side switches of the control bridge 108 in an operating mode known as synchronous rectifier mode.

(18) At the same time, during a step E200, the voltage measurement device 130 measures the voltage V* between the high BH.sub.OS and the low BH.sub.OS terminals and sends this measured voltage to the control circuit 120. The voltage V* is obtained, for example, by filtering the voltage between the high BH.sub.OS and the low BH.sub.OS terminals in order to avoid any current ripples resulting from the rectification, and in order to avoid the false detection of load losses.

(19) During a step E300, the measured voltage V* is compared to a first predetermined value VS1, for example, of 58 V, by the control circuit 120.

(20) If the measured voltage V* is below the first predetermined value VS1, no load loss is detected, and the control system repeats the parallel steps E100 and E200.

(21) If the measured voltage V* is above the first predetermined value VS1, an overvoltage on the on-board network 1, which is due, for example, to the disconnection of the direct voltage source 102, is detected and the electronic control circuit 120, during a step E400, short-circuits the stator phases U, V and W of the rotary electric machine 106.

(22) The short-circuit is implemented by commanding the closure of all the low-side switches of the switching arms of the control bridge 108. In other words, all the switching arms of the control bridge 108 are in their low configuration.

(23) Then, during a step E500, the measurement device 140.sub.U measures the current I.sub.u circulating in the stator phase U.

(24) During a step E600, the measured current I.sub.u is compared to the zero value by the control circuit 120.

(25) If the current I.sub.u is positive, during a step E800, the electronic control circuit commands the closure of the high-side switch and the opening of the low-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase U.

(26) Otherwise, (I.sub.u is negative or zero), during a step E700, the electronic control circuit commands the opening of the high-side switch and the closing of the low-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase U.

(27) At the same time as steps E500, E600, E700, E800, the method, in the embodiment described herein, carries out steps E510, E610, E710, E810, E910.

(28) During step E510, the measurement device 140.sub.V measures the current I.sub.V circulating in the stator phase V.

(29) During step E610, the measured current I.sub.V is compared to the zero value by the control circuit 120.

(30) If the current I.sub.V is positive, during step E810, the electronic control circuit commands the closure of the high-side switch and the opening of the low-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase V.

(31) Otherwise, (I.sub.V is negative or zero), during step E710, the electronic control circuit commands the opening of the high-side switch and the closure of the low-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase V.

(32) At the same time as steps E500, E600, E700, E800 and E510, E610, E710, E810, the method, in the embodiment described herein, carries out steps E520, E620, E720, E820, E920.

(33) During step E520, the measurement device 140.sub.W measures the current I.sub.W circulating in the stator phase W.

(34) During step E620, the measured current I.sub.W is compared to the zero value by the control circuit 120.

(35) If the current I.sub.W is positive, during step E820, the electronic control circuit commands the closure of the high-side switch and the opening of the low-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase W.

(36) Otherwise, (I.sub.W is negative or zero), during step E720, the electronic control circuit commands the opening of the high-side switch and the closing of the low-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase W.

(37) After steps E700, E710, E720 or steps E800, E810, E820, the voltage measurement device 130 measures, during a step E900, the voltage V* between the high BH.sub.OS and the low BH.sub.OS terminals and sends this measured voltage to the control circuit 120.

(38) During a step E1000, the measured voltage V* is compared to a second predetermined value VS2, for example, of 54 V, by the control circuit 120.

(39) If the measured voltage V* is above the second predetermined value VS2, the control system repeats the parallel steps E500-E800, E510-E810, E520-E820 and E900.

(40) If the measured voltage V* is below the second predetermined value VS2, the control method stops (step F).

(41) FIG. 3 shows a graph of the evolution of the current I.sub.u measured in the winding of the phase U and specifies the period during which the high-side switch of the switching arm associated with the stator phase U is closed.

(42) In the preceding embodiment of the control method according to the invention, steps E500-E800, E510-E810, E520-E820 and E900 are carried out periodically, as long as the measured voltage V* is above the second predetermined value VS2. In an alternative embodiment, steps E500-E800, E510-E810, E520-E820 and E900 are carried out periodically during a predetermined time interval DT, for example, of 40 ms.

(43) In the preceding embodiment of the control method according to the invention, steps E500-E800, E510-E810, E520-E820 are carried out at the same time for all the phases of the stator. As an alternative embodiment, only steps E500-E800 are carried out. In other words, in this alternative embodiment, only the intensity of the current I.sub.u measured in the winding of the phase U is taken into account by the control method.

(44) Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures, and alternative embodiments could be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention.

(45) For example, in the previously described embodiments, the transistors are all MOSFET transistors. As an alternative embodiment, these transistors can be Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs).