IP Library Granted Patent US 9,048,766
Granted Patent B2
US 9,048,766 · App. 13/937,309 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a synchronous electric machine

Inventors: Milun Perisic (Cypress, CA); Silva Hiti (Redondo Beach, CA); Constantin C. Stancu (Anaheim, CA); Peter J. Savagian (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
H02P6/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,048,766
App. No.
13/937,309
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Controlling a synchronous electric machine includes determining a rotor field current of a wound rotor of the synchronous electric machine and determining a time-rate change in field flux linkage. A rotor field voltage is determined based upon the time-rate change in the field flux linkage, and a rotor field resistance is determined based upon the rotor field voltage and the rotor field current. A rotor temperature is determined based upon the rotor field resistance. Operation of the synchronous electric machine is controlled responsive to a torque command and the rotor temperature.

Claims (129)

1. Method for controlling a synchronous electric machine, comprising:

determining rotor field current of a wound rotor of the synchronous electric machine;

determining a time-rate change in a field flux linkage;

determining a rotor field voltage based upon the time-rate change in the field flux linkage;

determining a rotor field resistance based upon the rotor field voltage and the rotor field current;

determining a rotor temperature based upon the rotor field resistance; and

controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine responsive to a torque command and the rotor temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine comprises controlling torque output of the synchronous electric machine responsive to the torque command when the rotor temperature is less than a threshold rotor temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine comprises:

derating a maximum torque output from the synchronous electric machine when the rotor temperature is greater than a threshold rotor temperature; and

controlling torque output of the synchronous electric machine responsive to the torque command and the derated maximum torque output when the rotor temperature is greater than the threshold rotor temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotor field voltage is determined in accordance with the following relationship:

V

f

=

V

cmd

-

V

cable

-

V

brush

-

V

switch

-

Ψ

f

t

wherein V cmd is the commanded voltage,

 V cable is the electrical cable voltage,

 V brush is the electric motor brush voltage,

 V switch is the average switch voltage,

 ψ f is the field flux linkage, and

Ψ

f

t

is the time-rate change in the field flux linkage.

5. Method for controlling a synchronous electric machine, comprising:

determining rotor field current of a wound rotor of the synchronous electric machine;

determining a time-rate change in a field flux linkage;

determining a rotor field voltage based upon the time-rate change in the field flux linkage;

determining a rotor temperature based upon the rotor field voltage and the rotor field current; and

controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine responsive to the rotor temperature.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine comprises controlling torque output of the synchronous electric machine when the rotor temperature is less than a threshold rotor temperature.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine further comprises:

derating a maximum torque output from the synchronous electric machine when the rotor temperature is greater than the threshold rotor temperature; and

controlling torque output of the synchronous electric machine responsive to the derated maximum torque output.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the rotor field voltage is determined in accordance with the following relationship:

V

f

=

V

cmd

-

V

cable

-

V

brush

-

V

switch

-

Ψ

f

t

wherein V cmd is the commanded voltage,

 V cable is the electrical cable voltage,

 V brush is the electric motor brush voltage,

 V switch is the average switch voltage,

 ψ f is the field flux linkage, and

Ψ

f

t

is the time-rate change in the field flux linkage.

9. Method for controlling a wound rotor synchronous electric machine, comprising:

monitoring a rotor field current of the wound rotor;

estimating a time-rate change in a field flux linkage;

determining a rotor field voltage based upon the time-rate change in the field flux linkage;

determining a rotor field resistance based upon the rotor field voltage and the rotor field current;

determining a rotor temperature based upon the rotor field resistance; and

controlling operation of the wound rotor synchronous electric machine responsive to the rotor temperature and a torque command.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein estimating the time-rate change in the field flux linkage is based upon monitored values of stator and rotor currents at two successive sampling times.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine comprises controlling torque output of the synchronous electric machine when the rotor temperature is less than a threshold rotor temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling operation of the synchronous electric machine further comprises:

derating a maximum torque output from the synchronous electric machine when the rotor temperature is greater than the threshold rotor temperature, and

controlling torque output of the synchronous electric machine responsive to the torque command and the derated maximum torque output.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rotor field voltage is determined in accordance with the following relationship:

V

f

=

V

cmd

-

V

cable

-

V

brush

-

V

switch

-

Ψ

f

t

wherein V cmd is the commanded voltage,

 V cable is the electrical cable voltage,

 V brush is the electric motor brush voltage,

 V switch is the average switch voltage,

 ψ f is the field flux linkage, and

Ψ

f

t

is the time-rate change in the field flux linkage.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034189/0065 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033135/0336 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2013
From: PERISIC, MILUN; HITI, SILVA; STANCU, CONSTANTIN C.; SAVAGIAN, PETER H
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 030756/0583 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150015178A1 · Jan 15, 2015