JP2009011091A - Power system for multi-drive motor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power system for multi-drive motor, which drives a multi-drive motor so as to improve energy efficiency more than a conventional electric motor. <P>SOLUTION: This power system is equipped with: an accumulator 11 which accumulates electric energy inputted from a specified primary power source, etc.; a driver 12 which supplies element motors M1-M4 with inputted electric energy, according to the control signal generated by a controller 12, and also receives the regenerative power from the element motors M1-M4 and accumulates it in the accumulator 11; an opening/closing switch 13 which switches connection between the accumulator 11 and the driver 12, and a controller 14 which controls switching of the opening/closing switch 13, according to its drive state, etc. and also controls the driver 12 and controls each element motor M1-M4 of the multi-drive motor either integrally or independently. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply system for a multi-drive motor that drives a multi-drive motor including a plurality of element motors.

  In recent years, environmental problems have attracted attention, and in particular in connection with the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the field in which electric motors are desired instead of internal combustion engines is gradually expanding. In particular, in the automobile field, electric cars and hybrid cars have already begun to be put on the market. In addition, the development of elemental technologies related to power sources such as fuel cells and ultracapacitors is rapidly progressing.

  Here, it is well known that a motor and a generator are structurally similar and can be converted between electric energy and kinetic energy. A rechargeable battery is used in a mobile phone, a portable personal computer, and the like, and can be used to store electric power obtained by using a motor as a generator. From the viewpoint of energy saving, it has already been performed to regenerate energy by using a motor as a regenerative brake during deceleration.

  Although the electric motor is beginning to be used in this way, when an electric motor is added or switched, higher energy efficiency is required from the viewpoint of "environmental problem", "energy saving", and the like. In order to promote practical application, it is natural that economic efficiency is one of the important factors. Therefore, when using an electric motor etc., these must be considered.

  However, an electric motor used for an automobile, a machine tool, or the like is selected from the viewpoint of maximum speed, maximum torque, and the like according to required specifications. Further, in the electric motor, generally, high energy conversion efficiency can be obtained in a region different from the operation region in which the maximum speed and the maximum torque are generated. Therefore, in the electric motor selected from the viewpoint of the maximum speed and the maximum torque as described above, the energy conversion efficiency is generally lowered in a normal operation for a long time.

  For example, in the case of an automobile, a large torque is required during acceleration, but a large torque is not required during normal driving. It is common to spend a long time in normal driving. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing torque and rotational speed required for driving the automobile. In FIG. 3, the torque is expressed as an absolute value, and the torque required during normal driving is generally much lower than that at the start as shown in the figure, and the performance guaranteed by the specifications is what is called over-spec. It has become.

  On the other hand, there is known a multi-drive motor that is composed of a plurality of element motors and can be driven as a single motor by operating them integrally (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The multi-drive motor configured as described above can realize high speed and high torque by the element motors operating in cooperation.

  One of the features of the multi-drive motor is that it is possible to select an elemental motor with priority given to the efficient speed and torque areas and to adjust the maximum speed and maximum torque by the number of motors. This is a breakthrough in pursuing efficiency. In addition, the size of the opening can be set almost freely during the design, and the range of use has been greatly expanded.

  Conventionally, there is a hybrid vehicle equipped with a gasoline engine and an electric motor as a technology aiming at efficient energy use by using a plurality of prime movers and adjusting their outputs well. The hybrid system for automobiles can realize the following four characteristic functions, and enables efficient traveling by combining and supplementing different types of power sources.

  First, in order to reduce energy loss, it is possible to realize an idling stop function that detects and automatically stops idling. This is a secondary effect of configuring a system that monitors and controls the output of each power source, but is important as a countermeasure to environmental problems.

  Secondly, it is possible to realize a regenerative brake function for recovering, as electric energy, energy that has conventionally been heat during deceleration or the like. This function utilizes the fact that the electric motor also works as a generator.

  Third, it is possible to realize a motor assist function that causes the gasoline engine to emphasize the electric motor during acceleration. If this emphasizing operation cannot be realized, the two prime movers may even oppose each other, and efficient traveling cannot be realized.

  Fourth, there are control functions for efficient driving, such as driving mainly with an electric motor when the gasoline engine is running at low efficiency, and storing excess electrical energy by generating electricity when the gasoline engine is running at high efficiency. It is feasible. This gives rise to the benefits of combining different types of prime movers.

  Of these, the first and fourth functions are irrelevant in a system using an electric motor. The second function is not limited to the hybrid system for automobiles and can be generally applied. The third emphasis operation or synchronous control is essential in the multi-drive motor, and it can be determined that this function has been realized when the multi-drive motor is used.

  Here, the hybrid system is roughly classified into a series hybrid system and a parallel hybrid system. In the series hybrid system, an engine drives an electric motor, and a motor drives a vehicle by generated electric power. In the parallel hybrid system, both the engine and the motor drive the wheels.

  The series hybrid system has a simpler structure and higher regenerative function efficiency, but the engine output is once converted into electrical energy, so energy loss due to the conversion is inevitable. On the other hand, the parallel hybrid system can transmit energy more efficiently from the engine to the wheels, but the emphasis operation of the engine and motor and high-efficiency operation control are complicated and difficult.

  Some hybrid vehicles that have been put to practical use use an intermediate system that combines the features of both. For example, in the THS (Toyota Hybrid System) used in the Prius, the generator is also rotated while driving the wheels directly with the output of the engine via the power split mechanism.

A multi-drive motor is not a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor, but is similar to a parallel hybrid system when all element motors are used as drive sources. However, since the element motor can also be used as a generator, focusing on the components, it is similar to the series hybrid system.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-156673

  However, in the conventional motor power supply system, as described above, since the electric motor is selected from the viewpoint of the maximum specification of the device to be used, there is a problem that the energy conversion efficiency or the energy use efficiency is low in a normal operation for a long time. Had.

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply system for a multi-drive motor capable of driving the multi-drive motor so that the energy use efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional electric motor.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configurations.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power storage unit that stores electrical energy, a controller that generates a control signal capable of controlling each element motor of a multi-drive motor including a plurality of element motors integrally or independently, and an external In response to a control signal generated by the controller, the motor current is supplied to the element motor to be driven, and the regenerative power from the element motor to be regenerated is stored in the power storage unit. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the power supply system for a multi-drive motor according to the first aspect, regenerative power from the element motor is accumulated in the power storage unit via the driver.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the multi-drive motor power supply system according to the first or second aspect, an open / close switch that connects the output of the power storage unit and the first input terminal of the driver so as to be openable and closable. The controller generates a signal for controlling the opening / closing of the open / close switch, outputs the signal to the open / close switch to open / close the open / close switch, and power from an external temporary power supply is supplied to the second input terminal of the driver. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a power storage unit that stores electrical energy, and a controller that generates a control signal capable of controlling each element motor of a multi-drive motor including a plurality of element motors integrally or independently; A driver that receives electric power from an external temporary power supply and causes a motor current to flow to the driving element motor in accordance with a control signal generated by the controller and accumulates regenerative power from the regenerating element motor in the power storage unit. Thus, it is possible to realize a multi-drive motor power supply system capable of driving the multi-drive motor so that the energy use efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional electric motor.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the regenerative power from the element motor is accumulated in the power storage unit via the driver, so that the circuit configuration such as control can be simplified. it can.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or claim 2, the controller includes an open / close switch that connects the output of the power storage unit and the first input terminal of the driver so as to be openable and closable. Since a signal for controlling opening / closing of the open / close switch is generated and output to the open / close switch to open / close the open / close switch, power from the external temporary power supply is supplied to the second input terminal of the driver. The maximum power supply specifications can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing examples.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a power supply system for a multi-drive motor according to the present invention. The power supply system 1 for the multi-drive motor stores the electrical energy input from a predetermined primary power source or the like, supplies the input electrical energy to the element motors M1 to M4, and outputs from the element motors M1 to M4. A driver 12 to which regenerative power is input, an open / close switch 13 for performing open / close connection between the power storage unit 11 and the driver 12, a controller 14 for controlling the open / close of the open / close switch 13 and controlling the driver 12 according to a driving state, etc. .

  Here, in FIG. 1, the multi-drive motor can be servo controlled by the above configuration because the element motors move depending on each other element motor. Hereinafter, a case where the power supply system for a multi-drive motor is applied to an automobile will be described as an example.

  The power storage unit 11 is connected to the driver 12 in addition to the primary power source, and also stores regenerative power input via the driver 12. Here, the primary power source is, for example, a fuel cell. However, when the multi-drive motor power supply system is used in a device that can be connected to a commercial power supply, the multi-drive motor power supply system has a built-in power supply circuit that performs voltage adjustment, DC conversion, smoothing, etc. The power supply and this power supply circuit may be used as a temporary power supply. In addition, said regenerative electric power says the electric power from the element motor M1-M4 of at least 1 electric power generation state.

  The driver 12 performs a servo control operation and a regenerative operation in accordance with the control signal output from the controller 14. Here, in the servo control operation, a drive current is output to the corresponding element motors M1 to M4 according to a control signal designating a target position, a target speed, a target torque, and the like. The operation of the driver in servo control is well known, and further description is omitted.

  In the regenerative operation, for example, a predetermined characteristic regenerative operation signal is output from the controller 14 as a control signal for the target element motors M1 to M4, and the regenerative operation signal is set from the element motors M1 to M4 of the control signal set. The driver 12 operates so that the regenerative power is supplied to the power storage unit 11. For example, the regenerative operation signal for controlling the driver 12 so that the connection path between the driver 12 and the temporary power supply is electrically opened, that is, turned off, and the outputs from the target element motors M1 to M4 flow into the power storage unit 11 is 14 may be further output to the driver 12.

  The open / close switch 13 is composed of, for example, an electromagnetic switch, a transistor, and the like, and is opened / closed in response to a power control signal output from the controller 14, and can additionally supply power from the power storage unit 11 to the driver 12. As a result, when a large torque is required at the time of starting or the like, in other words, at the time of a heavy load, it becomes possible to additionally supply power that is insufficient with only power from the primary power source. As a result, it is possible to reduce the specification of the maximum power supply capacity required for the primary power source.

  The controller 14 receives an operation signal from an external operation panel (not shown) and position information from an element motor such as the element motor M1, and the controller 14 realizes the operation of the multi-drive motor according to the operation signal. At the same time, possible regeneration is performed according to the operating state. For this purpose, the controller 14 controls the driver 12 and the open / close switch 13 based on the operation signal and the position information.

  Specifically, for example, when a start instruction signal is input as an operation signal, the controller 14 outputs a power control signal for switching the open / close switch 13 to a connected state to the open / close switch 13, for example, all the element motors M1. A control signal is output to the driver 12 so as to output the motor current to .about.M4. The control signal at this time may specify, for example, a target position, a target speed, a target torque, etc. for the element motor M1, and a target torque for the other element motors M2 to M4.

  The control signal is also controlled using the above-described regenerative operation signal so that some predetermined element motors M1 to M4 are diverted to power generation when, for example, a steady operation is detected based on position information. May be. The number of diverted motors may be determined based on the time series of torque and position information required for steady operation, and the diversion order may be determined in advance. The control signal may also be a signal that controls all the element motors M1 to M4 to be used for power generation in a braking state, for example.

  The servo control for designating the target position, target speed, target torque and the like for the element motor M1 is not limited to the control that is performed based only on the latest position information, but uses position information over the past several steps. It may be a thing. Thereby, target values such as the target position, target speed, target torque and the like can be determined with high accuracy, which is preferable.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a comparative example of the number of operating motors in an apparatus driven by one motor, where (a) relates to the present invention and (b) relates to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, when a multi-drive motor is used, the maximum number of element motors can be used when a large torque is required, for example, at the start, and the number of element motors for driving is reduced when a large torque is not required. Thus, element motors that are no longer necessary for driving can be used for regeneration, and all element motors can be used for regeneration in a braking state. By using all the element motors for regeneration, the braking ability can be improved, which is preferable.

  In this embodiment, the number of element motors is about four. However, as the number of element motors increases, the number of element motors can be changed in stages between power generation and regeneration, resulting in a more continuous output. Transition and large regenerative braking can be obtained. Here, element motors that are easily available and inexpensive can be used, and increasing the number of element motors does not cause a large economic disadvantage to a multi-drive motor.

  When a conventional motor drive power supply is used, the electric motor selected from the viewpoint of the maximum specification is to be driven in a normal operation state for a long time, so that energy utilization efficiency is generally lowered. However, according to the present invention, since the number of element motors used for driving or regeneration can be changed by the configuration as described above, it is possible to further improve the energy utilization efficiency. In addition, it is possible to further improve the energy utilization efficiency by selecting an element motor with high energy utilization efficiency in the normal operation state for the multi-drive motor and adjusting the number of element motors to satisfy the maximum specification. Here, the multi-drive motor is a motor that can simultaneously realize characteristics such as high speed, high torque, low backlash and large capacity, and can easily form a large opening, and is used in the fields of automobiles, transfer robots, etc. Is particularly expected. The scope of application of the multi-drive motor can be greatly expanded by the present invention.

  The controller 14 may be configured as, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a built-in program. Further, the controller 14 receives an operation signal related to an operation or the like from an external operation means such as a touch panel (not shown), and functions as a man-machine interface that processes the input operation signal. The control signal is based on the operation signal. It may be generated so as to control the element motors M1 to M4, and predetermined information regarding the operation state or the like may be output to the operation means and displayed.

  Therefore, the switching control processing of the opening / closing switch 13 and the processing of the position information input from the element motor can improve the versatility of the power supply system for a multi-drive motor according to the present invention if it is realized as a code by software. It is possible and preferable. In addition, as an algorithm for switching between driving and power generation or regeneration, a known method that has been put into practical use in a hybrid vehicle or the like can be diverted.

  By configuring as described above, the maximum speed and the maximum torque can be achieved by driving all the element motors, and when the necessary torque can be achieved only with some of the element motors, other element motors can generate or regenerate. By diverting it to, it becomes possible to increase the energy utilization efficiency and thus contribute to environmental problems, energy savings and other problems.

1 is a block configuration diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a power supply system for a multi-drive motor according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the comparative example about the operation number of the motor in the apparatus driven with one motor, (a) is related with this invention, (b) is related with a prior art. It is a schematic diagram which shows the torque and rotational speed which are required for the driving | operation of a motor vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power supply system for multi-drive motors 11 Power storage unit 12 Driver 13 Open / close switch 14 Controller M1-M4 Element motor

Claims (3)

A power storage unit for storing electrical energy;
A controller that generates a control signal capable of controlling each element motor of a multi-drive motor including a plurality of element motors integrally or independently;
A driver that receives electric power from an external temporary power supply, causes a motor current to flow through the element motor to be driven in accordance with a control signal generated by the controller, and accumulates regenerative electric power from the element motor to be regenerated in the power storage unit; A power supply system for a multi-drive motor, comprising:   The power supply system for a multi-drive motor according to claim 1, wherein regenerative power from the element motor is accumulated in the power storage unit via the driver.   An open / close switch that connects the output of the power storage unit and the first input terminal of the driver so as to be openable / closable, and the controller generates a signal for controlling the open / close of the open / close switch and outputs the signal to the open / close switch; 3. The power supply system for a multi-drive motor according to claim 1, wherein the switch is opened and closed, and electric power from an external temporary power supply is supplied to the second input terminal of the driver.

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