Method for operating a power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle
A method for operating a power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle, the power supply unit having an electric generator having a stator having a stator winding and a rotor having a rotor winding, as well as a field current controller assigned to the rotor winding for selecting the setpoint of the current flowing through the rotor winding; the electric generator being set into rotation without a current being specified by the rotor winding, thereby generating a starting voltage; at least one component of the power supply unit or of the vehicle electrical system being energized by the starting voltage.
1. A method for operating a power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle, the power supply unit including an electric generator, the method comprising:
generating a starting voltage by setting the electric generator into rotation without a current being specified by a rotor winding, the electric generator having a stator having a stator winding and a rotor having the rotor winding;
selecting, via a field current controller assigned to the rotor winding, a setpoint of a current flowing through the rotor winding;
energizing, by the starting voltage, at least one component of the power supply unit or of the vehicle electrical system; and
connecting the power supply unit, which is initially disconnected from the vehicle electrical system, to the vehicle electrical system when the starting voltage exceeds a lower threshold value.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of the starting voltage is adjusted by at least one of setting a speed of the electrical machine, appropriately controlling the rectifier, and appropriately controlling the field current controller.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein as a component of the power supply unit or of the vehicle electrical system, at least one of the field current controller, the rotor winding, a rectifier, a power consumer, and at least one DC link capacitor is supplied with starting voltage.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented upon initial start-up of the power supply unit.
5. A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:
a program code arrangement having program code for operating a power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle, the power supply unit including an electric generator, by performing the following:
generating a starting voltage by setting the electric generator into rotation without a current being specified by a rotor winding, the electric generator having a stator having a stator winding and a rotor having the rotor winding;
selecting, via a field current controller assigned to the rotor winding, a setpoint of a current flowing through the rotor winding;
energizing, by the starting voltage, at least one component of the power supply unit or of the vehicle electrical system; and
connecting the power supply unit, which is initially disconnected from the vehicle electrical system, to the vehicle electrical system when the starting voltage exceeds a lower threshold value.
6. A processing unit, comprising:
a processing arrangement configured for operating a power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle, the power supply unit including an electric generator, by performing the following:
generating a starting voltage by setting the electric generator into rotation without a current being specified by a rotor winding, the electric generator having a stator having a stator winding and a rotor having the rotor winding;
selecting, via a field current controller assigned to the rotor winding, a setpoint of a current flowing through the rotor winding;
energizing, by the starting voltage, at least one component of the power supply unit or of the vehicle electrical system; and
connecting the power supply unit, which is initially disconnected from the vehicle electrical system, to the vehicle electrical system when the starting voltage exceeds a lower threshold value.
7. A power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle, comprising:
an electric generator including a stator having a stator winding and a rotor having a rotor winding;
a field current controller assigned to the rotor winding for selecting a setpoint of the current flowing through the rotor winding; and
a processing unit configured for operating a power supply unit for an electrical system of a motor vehicle, the power supply unit including an electric generator, by performing the following:
generating a starting voltage by setting the electric generator into rotation without a current being specified by the rotor winding;
selecting, via the field current controller assigned to the rotor winding, the setpoint of the current flowing through the rotor winding;
energizing, by the starting voltage, at least one component of the power supply unit or of the vehicle electrical system; and
connecting the power supply unit, which is initially disconnected from the vehicle electrical system, to the vehicle electrical system when the starting voltage exceeds a lower threshold value.
8. The power supply unit of claim 7 , further comprising:
a rectifier having rectifier elements for rectifying phase voltages generated by the electric generator.
9. The power supply unit of claim 7 , wherein the rotor includes at least one permanent magnet.
10. The power supply unit of claim 7 , further comprising:
a switching element to disconnect the power supply unit from the remainder of the vehicle electrical system.
11. The power supply unit of claim 7 , wherein the level of the starting voltage is adjusted by at least one of setting a speed of the electrical machine, appropriately controlling the rectifier, and appropriately controlling the field current controller.