CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC MACHINE, A VEHICLE, AND A METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for an electric machine with a stator and a rotor, comprising a temperature detection device which is designed to detect the temperature of the stator and the temperature of the rotor, as well as a calculation device which is designed to adjust the operating point of said electric machine on the basis of a specified torque, the detected temperature of the stator, the detected temperature of the rotor, and a predefined thermal load distribution of said stator and rotor. The invention also relates to a vehicle and to a corresponding method for controlling an electric machine.

Claims

1. A control device (1) for an electric machine (2) including a stator (3) and a rotor (4), the control device comprising: a temperature detection device (5) which is configured to detect the temperature (6-1) of the stator (3) and the temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4); and including a computing device (7) which is configured to set the operating point (8) of the electric machine (2) based on a torque specification (9) and the detected temperature (6-1) of the stator (3) and the detected temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4) and a predefined distribution (10) for the thermal load of the stator (3) and the rotor (4).

2. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computing device (7) is configured to set the operating point (8) by calculating a d-axis component (11) of a current vector (13-1 to 13-3) and a q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) in a field-oriented coordinate system.

3. The control device as claimed in claim 2, including a memory (14) which is configured to store a machine-specific characteristic curve field (15) for the electric machine (2), which specifies the resulting motor current (16) and the resulting torque (17) and the resulting magnetic flux (30) in the electric machine (2) for predefined values of the d-axis component (11) and the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3).

4. The control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the computing device (7) is configured to adjust the d-axis component (11) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) with respect to the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3), and to adjust the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) in such a way that the torque predefined by the torque specification (9) is reached in the electric machine (2) if the thermal load of the rotor (4) is to be decreased with respect to the thermal load of the stator (3); wherein the computing device (7) is configured to increase the d-axis component (11) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) with respect to the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3), to decrease the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) with respect to the d-axis component (11) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3), or both when the thermal load of the rotor (4) is decreased with respect to the thermal load of the stator (3).

5. The control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the computing device (7) is configured to increase the d-axis component (11) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) and to decreased the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3), so that the resulting current vector (13-1 to 13-3) is shifted to a characteristic curve having a constant torque (17).

6. The control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the computing device (7) is configured to decrease the magnitude of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) if the thermal load of the stator (3) is to be decreased.

7. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computing device (7) is configured to calculate the operating point (8) based on an intermediate circuit voltage (18) of the control device (1), a stator frequency (19) or both.

8. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature detection device (5) is configured to calculate the temperature (6-1) of the stator (3), the temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4), or both; and wherein the temperature detection device (5) includes at least one temperature sensor (20) for detecting the temperature (6-1) of the stator (3), the temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4), or both.

9. The control device as claimed in claim 1, including a current controller (21) which is coupled to the computing device (7) and is configured to calculate control voltages (22-1 to 22-3) for the phases (23-1 to 23-3) of the electric machine (2) based on the operating point (8) set by the computing device (7).

10. A vehicle (26) including an electric machine (2) which includes a stator (3) and a rotor (4); and including a control device (1) which is coupled to the electric machine (2) and is configured to control the electric machine (2), the control device including a temperature detection device (5) which is configured to detect the temperature (6-1) of the stator (3) and the temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4); and including a computing device (7) which is configured to set the operating point (8) of the electric machine (2) based on a torque specification (9) and the detected temperature (6-1) of the stator (3) and the detected temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4) and a predefined distribution (10) for the thermal load of the stator (3) and the rotor (4).

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electric machine (2) is coupled to a drive train (24) of the vehicle (26) and is configured to drive the vehicle (26).

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 11, including an internal combustion engine (25) which is mechanically coupled to the drive train (24) and is configured to drive the vehicle (26) alone or in connection with the electric machine (2).

13. A method for controlling an electric machine (2) including a stator (3) and a rotor (4), including: detecting (S1) a temperature (6-1) of the stator (3) and a temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4); and setting (S2) an operating point (8) of the electric machine (2) based on a torque specification (9) and the detected temperature (6-1) of the stator (3) and the detected temperature (6-2) of the rotor (4) and a predefined distribution (10) for the thermal load of the stator (3) and the rotor (4).

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the setting of the operating point (8) takes place by calculating a d-axis component (11) of a current vector (13-1 to 13-3) and a q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) in a field-oriented coordinate system.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein when setting, the d-axis component (11) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) is increased with respect to the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3), and wherein the q-axis component (12) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) is decreased with respect to the d-axis component (11) of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3), if the thermal load of the rotor (4) is to be decreased with respect to the thermal load of the stator (3); and wherein when setting, the magnitude of the current vector (13-1 to 13-3) is decreased if the thermal load of the stator (3) is to be decreased.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention is described in greater detail below based on the exemplary embodiments specified in the schematic figures of the drawings. The following are shown:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one specific embodiment of a control device according to the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of one specific embodiment of a vehicle according to the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of a method according to the present invention; and

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the d-axis component and the q-axis component for illustrating the present invention.

[0049] In all figures, identical or functionally identical elements and devices have been provided with the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one specific embodiment of a control device 1 according to the present invention. Furthermore, FIG. 1 depicts an electric machine 2 which includes a stator 3 and a rotor 4.

[0051] The control device 1 of FIG. 1 includes a temperature detection device 5 which is coupled to the electric machine 2 in order to detect the temperature 6-1 of the stator 3 and the temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4 and to route them to a computing device 7.

[0052] The computing device 7 calculates an operating point 8 for the electric machine 2, which is used for controlling the electric machine 2. The computing device 7 calculates the operating point 8 based on the temperature 6-1 of the stator 3 and the temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4, and based on a torque specification 9 and a predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4.

[0053] The predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4 may qualitatively specify that, for example, the stator 3 is to be more strongly thermally loaded than the rotor 4, or vice versa. Alternatively, the predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4 may also quantitatively specify a specific distribution ratio or a range for a distribution ratio.

[0054] The computing device 7 may calculate the operating point 8, for example, in that it calculates a d-axis component 11 of a current vector 13-1 to 13-3 and a q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 in a field-oriented coordinate system. The field-oriented coordinate system is fixed with respect to the rotor 4 and thus rotates with it.

[0055] The present invention makes use of the fact that a shifting of the operating point 8 toward a d-axis component 11 of the stator current having a greater magnitude results in a reduction of the effective overall field in the rotor 4 and thus in a reduction of the rotor loss. This results in the magnitude of the overall current increasing and the losses in the stator 3 likewise increasing. However, due to the normally better cooling connection of the stator 3, the warming of the stator 3 may be controlled better than the warming of the rotor 4. These relationships are explained in greater detail in connection with FIG. 4.

[0056] FIG. 1 does not depict those components of an electric machine control device which do not require explanation and which may be assumed to be obvious. Thus, for example, FIG. 1 does not show the current controller and the inverter which generate the control voltages for the electric machine based on the specification of the computing device 7.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of one specific embodiment of a vehicle 26 according to the present invention including an electric machine 2, an internal combustion engine 25, and including a control device 1 according to the present invention. The control device 1 is not depicted separately; rather, the components of the control device 1 are depicted.

[0058] The electric machine 2 and the internal combustion engine 25 are each coupled to a drive train 24 of the vehicle 26, via which the vehicle 26 is driven.

[0059] The control device 1 of FIG. 2 differs from the control device 1 of FIG. 1 in such a way that a temperature sensor 20 is provided, which is attached to the stator 3 of the electric machine 2 and provides the temperature of the stator 6-1 to the temperature detection device 5. The temperature detection device 5 is designed to calculate the temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4 in a model-based manner from the temperature 6-1 of the stator 3, and to provide the two temperatures 6-1, 6-2 to the computing device 7. Alternatively, a second temperature sensor may be provided, which detects the temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4 and provides it to the temperature detection device 5.

[0060] Furthermore, a memory 14 is provided, in which a characteristic curve field 15, in particular a machine-specific characteristic curve field 15, is stored for the electric machine 2 and is provided to the computing device 7. The characteristic curve field 15 is described in greater detail in FIG. 4.

[0061] The characteristic curve field 15 specifies the resulting torque 17 for predefined values of the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3. In one specific embodiment, the characteristic curve field 15 may also specify the resulting motor current 16 and/or the resulting magnetic flux 30 in the electric machine 2. Thus, for example, for a predefined torque 17, the corresponding current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may be derived from the characteristic curve field. The d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may be selected in such a way that a distribution of the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 results which corresponds to the predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4.

[0062] In particular, for example, a d-axis component 11 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may be determined, which is increased with respect to the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3, in order to decrease the thermal load of the rotor 4 with respect to the thermal load of the stator 3. If the thermal load of the stator 3 is also to be decreased, the magnitude of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may be decreased.

[0063] Generally, the computing device 7 may be designed, based on the characteristic curve field 15, to change the d-axis component 11 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 with respect to the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3, and to adjust the q-axis component 12 correspondingly, so that the torque predefined by the torque specification 9 is reached in the electric machine 2. The computing device 7 may, for example, increase the d-axis component 11 and decrease the q-axis component 12, or vice versa. The specific adjustment is a function of the characteristic curve field 15 of the particular electric machine 2.

[0064] In FIG. 2, the computing device 7 is designed to calculate the operating point 8, i.e., the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3, based on the temperature of the stator 6-1 and the temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4, as well as the torque specification 9, the predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4, an intermediate circuit voltage 18 of an intermediate circuit of the control device 1 (not depicted), and a stator frequency 19 which specifies the frequency of the control voltage of the stator 3.

[0065] The d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 calculated by the computing device 7 are conveyed to a current controller 21, which generates control voltages 22-1 to 22-3 for the phases 23-1 to 23-3 of the stator 3 in such a way that the desired currents are reached in the q-axis and the d-axis.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of a method according to the present invention for controlling an electric machine 2 including a stator 3 and a rotor 4.

[0067] The method provides for the detection S1 of the temperature 6-1 of the stator 3 and the temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4 of the electric machine 2. An operating point 8 of the electric machine 2 is set, based on the detected temperature 6-1 of the stator 3 and the detected temperature 6-2 of the rotor 4, as well as a torque specification 9 and a predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4.

[0068] In one specific embodiment, the setting of the operating point 8 takes place by calculating a d-axis component 11 of a current vector 13-1 to 13-3 and a q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 in a field-oriented coordinate system. In particular, in one specific embodiment, for example, the d-axis component 11 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 and the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may be shifted relative to one another or adjusted in terms of magnitude, so that the predefined distribution 10 for the thermal load of the stator 3 and the rotor 4 results.

[0069] For this purpose, a characteristic curve field 15 may be provided which specifies the resulting torque 17 for predefined values of the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3. In one embodiment, the characteristic curve field 15 may also specify the resulting motor current 16 and/or the resulting magnetic flux 30 in the electric machine 2.

[0070] For example, the d-axis component 11 may be increased with respect to the q-axis component 12 if the thermal load of the rotor 4 is to be decreased with respect to the thermal load of the stator 3. Alternatively, the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may also be decreased with respect to the d-axis component 11 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 in the characteristic curve field 15.

[0071] In one specific embodiment, the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 may be adjusted in such a way that the resulting current vector 13-1 to 13-3 in the characteristic curve field 15 is shifted to a characteristic curve having a constant torque 17.

[0072] In one specific embodiment, when setting, the magnitude of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 in the characteristic curve field 15 may be decreased if the thermal load of the stator 3 is to be decreased.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 for illustrating the present invention.

[0074] The abscissa axis of the diagram shows the d-axis component 11 of the stator current for currents from 0 A to −300 A. The ordinate axis of the diagram shows the q-axis component 12 of the stator current for currents from 0 A to 300 A. In the diagram, the lines of equal motor current 16 are plotted in an arc shape starting at the origin of the diagram. Furthermore, lines having an equal torque 17 are plotted in the diagram, which run starting at a −300 A d-axis component 11, slightly increasing up to a 0 A d-axis component 11. Finally, in the diagram, ellipse-shaped lines are depicted for the magnetic flux 30, which have their origin on the abscissa axis at approximately −220 A.

[0075] In FIG. 4, three current vectors 13-1 to 13-3 are plotted, the ends of which are each on the line for a torque of 200 Nm. The first current vector 13-1 has a d-axis component 11 of approximately −50 A and a q-axis component 12 of approximately 150 A. The second current vector 13-2 has a d-axis component 11 of approximately −150 A and a q-axis component 12 of approximately 125 A. The third current vector 13-3 has a d-axis component 11 of approximately −220 A and a q-axis component 12 of approximately 110 A.

[0076] The three current vectors 13-1 to 13-3 illustrate how a shift of the d-axis component 11 and the q-axis component 12 may be carried out at a constant torque 17. Thus, it is possible for a particular torque specification 9 to provide different current vectors 13-1 to 13-3 and thus to influence the distribution of the loss power between the stator 3 and the rotor 4.

[0077] For the predefined torque of 200 Nm, the current vector 13-1 constitutes the minimum-current operating point 8 for the base speed region. The current vector 13-2 constitutes the minimum-current operating point 8 for the field weakening mode. The current vector 13-3 constitutes an operating point 8 in which the d-axis component 11 was increased and the q-axis component 12 was decreased, so that the loss power is increased in the stator 3 and decreased in the rotor 4.

[0078] At the operating point 8 which corresponds to the third current vector 13-3, the total magnitude, i.e., the length, of the current vector 13-3 is greater than that of the other current vectors 13-1 and 13-2.

[0079] However, in electric machines, the rotor 4 is normally the limiting component, since it is the first to reach the maximum permissible temperature. As a result, the availability of the electric machine 2 may be increased if the heat introduction into the rotor 4 is decreased, even if the heat introduction into the stator is thereby increased.

[0080] It shall be understood that the diagram of FIG. 4 serves only as an example for explaining the present invention. In other specific embodiments, as already depicted above, based on the characteristic curve field 15, the d-axis component 11 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3 may be changed with respect to the q-axis component 12 of the current vector 13-1 to 13-3, and the q-axis component 12 may be correspondingly adjusted. For example, the d-axis component 11 may be increased and the q-axis component 12 may be decreased, or vice versa. The specific adjustment is a function of the particular electric machine 2 and the corresponding characteristic curve field 15.

[0081] Although the present invention has been described above based on preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but rather may be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, the present invention may be changed or modified in manifold ways without departing from the core of the present invention.

[0082] For example, in each exemplary embodiment which has been depicted within the scope of this patent application, the characteristic curve field 15 may be replaced by corresponding calculations.

[0083] Thus, instead of the memory 14, the formulas corresponding to the particular electric machine 2 may be stored in computing device 7, which enable a calculation of the respective operating point 8.