Control device for voltage converter, vehicle equipped with the same, and control method for voltage converter

1. A control device for a voltage converter capable of a voltage conversion between a power storage device and a load device,

said voltage converter comprising:

a first switching element and a second switching element connected in series between an electric power line for said load device and a ground line;

a first rectifying element and a second rectifying element connected in parallel with said first switching element and said second switching element respectively, with a forward direction being defined as a direction from said ground line toward said electric power line; and

a reactor provided on a path connecting a connection node of said first switching element and said second switching element, and a positive terminal of said power storage device, and

said control device comprising:

a current command calculation unit configured to calculate a current command value of a current flowing through said reactor by performing feedback control of a voltage between said electric power line and said ground line;

a selection unit configured to select one of said first switching element and said second switching element in accordance with said current command value; and

a drive command generation unit configured to generate a drive command for the switching element selected by said selection unit; wherein

said selection unit selects said second switching element when said current command value represents a direction from said power storage device toward said load device, and selects said first switching element when said current command value represents a direction from said load device toward said power storage device.

2. The control device for a voltage converter according to claim 1 , wherein

said voltage converter has a first mode and a second mode as operation modes,

in said first mode, a voltage conversion is performed by driving the switching element selected by said selection unit,

in said second mode, a voltage conversion is performed by driving both said first switching element and said second switching element,

said voltage converter further comprises a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between said electric power line and said ground line,

said control device further comprises a reference value calculation unit configured to calculate a current range in which said first mode is executed, based on the voltage detected by said voltage detector, and

said selection unit causes said first mode to be executed when said current command value falls in said current range, and causes said second mode to be executed when said current command value falls out of said current range.

3. The control device for a voltage converter according to claim 2 , wherein

said voltage converter further comprises a current detector configured to detect a reactor current flowing through said reactor,

said control device further comprises:

a current control unit configured to perform feedback control based on a comparison between said current command value and said reactor current; and

a gain calculation unit configured to be capable of making a feedback gain variable of said current control unit in accordance with said current command value, and

when said first mode is executed, said gain calculation unit makes said feedback gain larger relative to when said second mode is executed.

4. The control device for a voltage converter according to claim 2 , wherein

said control device further comprises an intermittent drive control unit configured to reduce a drive number representing the number of times said first switching element and said second switching element are driven per unit time, in accordance with said current command value, when said first mode is executed.

5. The control device for a voltage converter according to claim 4 , wherein

when said first mode is executed, said intermittent drive control unit sets an ON period of said first switching element and said second switching element longer relative to when said drive number is not reduced, and sets said drive number per unit time so that an average value of said reactor current along a time axis is equal to said current command value.

6. The control device for a voltage converter according to claim 4 , wherein

when said first mode is executed, said intermittent drive control unit performs control so that a carrier frequency for controlling switching of said first switching element and said second switching element is reduced.

7. The control device for a voltage converter according to claim 2 , wherein

said control device further comprises a load calculation unit configured to detect a load variation of said load device, and

when said load variation falls out of a reference range, said selection unit causes said second mode to be executed regardless of said current command value.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a power storage device;

a rotating electric machine for generating a drive force to propel said vehicle;

an inverter for driving said rotating electric machine;

a voltage converter configured to be capable of a voltage conversion between said power storage device and said inverter; and

a control device for controlling said voltage converter,

said voltage converter comprising:

a first switching element and a second switching element connected in series between an electric power line for said inverter and a ground line;

a first rectifying element and a second rectifying element connected in parallel with said first switching element and said second switching element, respectively, with a forward direction being defined as a direction from said ground line toward said electric power line; and

a reactor provided on a path connecting a connection node of said first switching element and said second switching element and a positive terminal of said power storage device, and

said control device comprising:

a current command calculation unit configured to calculate a current command value of a current flowing through said reactor by performing feedback control of a voltage between said electric power line and said ground line;

a selection unit configured to select one of said first switching element and said second switching element in accordance with said current command value; and

a drive command generation unit configured to generate a drive command for the switching element selected by said selection unit; wherein

said selection unit selects said second switching element when said current command value represents a direction from said power storage device toward said inverter, and selects said first switching element when said current command value represents a direction from said inverter toward said power storage device.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein

said voltage converter has a first mode and a second mode as operation modes,

in said first mode, a voltage conversion is performed by driving the switching element selected by said selection unit,

in said second mode, a voltage conversion is performed by driving both said first switching element and said second switching element,

said voltage converter further comprises a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between said electric power line and said ground line,

said control device further comprises a reference value calculation unit configured to calculate a current range in which said first mode is executed, based on the voltage detected by said voltage detector, and

said selection unit causes said first mode to be executed when said current command value falls in said current range, and causes said second mode to be executed when said current command value falls out of said current range.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein

said voltage converter further comprises a current detector configured to detect a reactor current flowing through said reactor,

said control device further comprises:

a current control unit configured to perform feedback control based on a comparison between said current command value and said reactor current; and

a gain calculation unit configured to be capable of making a feedback gain variable of said current control unit in accordance with said current command value, and

when said first mode is executed, said gain calculation unit makes said feedback gain larger relative to when said second mode is executed.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein

said control device further comprises an intermittent drive control unit configured to reduce a drive number representing the number of times said first switching element and said second switching element are driven per unit time, in accordance with said current command value, when said first mode is executed.

12. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein

said control device further comprises a load calculation unit configured to detect a load variation of said inverter, and

when said load variation falls out of a reference range, said selection unit causes said second mode to be executed regardless of said current command value.

13. A control method for a voltage converter capable of a voltage conversion between a power storage device and a load device,

said voltage converter comprising:

a first switching element and a second switching element connected in series between an electric power line for said load device and a ground line;

a first rectifying element and a second rectifying element connected in parallel with said first switching element and said second switching element, respectively, with a forward direction being defined as a direction from said ground line toward said electric power line; and

a reactor provided on a path connecting a connection node of said first switching element and said second switching element and a positive terminal of said power storage device, and

said control method comprising the steps of:

calculating a current command value of a current flowing through said reactor by performing feedback control of a voltage between said electric power line and said ground line;

selecting one of said first switching element and said second switching element in accordance with said current command value; and

generating a drive command for the switching element selected by said selecting step;

wherein

said second switching element is selected when said current command value represents a direction from said power storage device toward said load device, and said first switching element is selected when said current command value represents a direction from said load device toward said power storage device.