Multiple inverter hybrid drive system
A powertrain for a vehicle includes and electric machine and a plurality of inverters. The electric machine may include a stator defining a plurality of stator teeth separated by slots that are configured to accept windings. The plurality of inverters may each be configured to exclusively drive a current in some but not all of the windings within slots such that some of the plurality of stator teeth within a sector of the stator are configured to be energized by only one of the inverters.
1. A vehicle powertrain comprising:
an electric machine including a stator defining teeth separated by slots configured to accept windings; and
four inverters each configured to exclusively drive current in some but not all of the windings such that the inverters respectively induce a field in some of the teeth located in a different one of four distinct sectors of the stator.
2. The powertrain of claim 1 further comprising a traction battery coupled with the inverters such that the inverters operate at a terminal voltage of the traction battery.
3. A vehicle powertrain comprising:
an electric machine having a stator that includes windings; and
four inverters each configured to exclusively drive current in some but not all of the windings such that each of the inverters induces a field in teeth of the stator located in one of four distinct sectors of the stator.
4. The powertrain of claim 3 further comprising a traction battery coupled with the inverters such that the inverters operate at a terminal voltage of the traction battery.
5. The powertrain of claim 4 further comprising a generator and a generator inverter such that the generator provides power to the battery at the terminal voltage.
6. The powertrain of claim 3 , wherein the stator is a laminate core stator.
7. A method for a stator having sectors comprising:
a first inverter inducing a first field in stator teeth of a first of the sectors;
a second inverter inducing a second field in stator teeth of a second of the sectors;
a third inverter inducing a third field in stator teeth of a third of the sectors; and
a fourth inverter inducing a fourth field in stator teeth of a fourth of the sectors.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the stator is divided into the sectors by two planes that are 90 degrees apart, and are coincident with a central axis.