A Multi-Motor Architecture for Electric Vehicles

This paper proposes an architecture for EVs with three or more electric motors and highlights when adding more motors does not impact the battery state of charge (SOC). The proposed control algorithm optimizes the use of the motors onboard to keep them running in their most efficient regions. Simulation results along with a comparison with other current motors used in EVs is presented in this paper, and further discussion on the results is presented. With this architecture, the powertrain would see a combined efficiency map that incorporates the best operating points of the motors. Therefore, the proposed architecture will allow the EV to operate with a higher range for a given battery capacity

Proposal of Wireless Charging Method and Architecture to Increase Range in Electric Vehicles

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Electric vehicles (EVs) face a major issue before becoming the norm of society, that is, their lack of range when it comes to long trips. Fast charging stations are a good step forward to help make it simpler for EVs, but it is still not as convenient when compared to vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Plenty of infrastructure changes have been proposed in the literature attempting to tackle this issue, but they typically tend to be either an expensive solution or a difficult practical implementation. This dissertation presents two solutions to help increase the range of EVs: a novel wireless charging method and a multi-motor architecture for EVs. The first proposed solution involves the ability for EVs to charge while en route from another vehicle, which will be referred to from here on as vehicle-to-vehicle recharging (VVR). The aim of this system is to bring an innovative way for EVs to charge their battery without getting off route on a highway. The electric vehicle can request such a service from a designated charger vehicle on demand and receive electric power wirelessly while en route. The vehicles that provide energy (charger vehicles) through wireless power transfer (WPT) only need to be semi-autonomous in order to ``engage'' or ``disengage'' during a trip. Also, a novel method for wireless power transfer will be presented, where the emitter (TX) or receiver (RX) pads can change angles to improve the efficiency of power transmission. This type of WPT system would be suitable for the VVR system presented in this dissertation, along with other applications. The second solution presented here will be an architecture for EVs with three or more different electric motors to help prolong the state of charge (SOC) of the battery. The key here is to use motors with different high efficiency regions. The proposed control algorithm optimizes the use of the motors on-board to keep them running in their most efficient regions. With this architecture, the powertrain would see a combined efficiency map that incorporates the best operating points of the motors. Therefore, the proposed architecture will allow the EV to operate with a higher range for a given battery capacity. The state-of-the-art is divided into four subsections relevant to the proposed solutions and where most of the innovations to reduce the burden of charging EVs can be found: (1) infrastructure changes, (2) device level innovations, (3) autonomous vehicles, and (4) electric vehicle architectures. The infrastructure changes highlight some of the proposed systems that aim to help EVs become a convenient solution to the public. Device level innovations covers some of the literature on technology that addresses EVs in terms of WPT. The autonomous vehicle subsection covers the importance of such technology in terms of safety and reliability, that could be implemented on the VVR system. Finally, the EV architectures covers the current typologies used in EVs. Furthermore, modeling, analysis, and simulation is presented to validate the feasibility of the proposed VVR system, the WPT system, and the multi-motor architecture for EVs

Design of a Highly Efficient Microinverter

This paper proposes a grid-tied single-phase photovoltaic (PV) microinverter consisting of five-level four-switch (5L-4S) DC-AC converter fed by an isolated fly-back DC-DC converter. The microinverter utilizes a split-coil inductor to produce five levels of pulse width modulation (PWM) compared to the three levels of PWM using conventional four-switch topologies. These implementations reduce losses by up to 39% compared to a conventional topology. The results show that the proposed design improves performance throughout the switching frequency spectra with various loads. The theoretical expectations are validated with simulation and experimental results

Power Electronics Solutions for Uninterrupted Power Supply and Grid-Tie Inverters

This thesis proposes two new topologies for Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), and a grid-tie microinverter. The first topic will discuss an on-line transformerless UPS system based on the integrated power electronics converters that is able to control the input power factor, charge the battery, and guarantee backup operation of the system. The main advantages of the proposed UPS are active power factor correction (PFC) without the need of a complex control scheme, and integrated functions of the battery charger circuit and PFC with only three power switches. Operation modes of the system and the PWM strategy is presented in detail. The second topic discussed is of a proposed circuitry for a single-phase back-to-back converter for UPS applications. The main advantages of this topology is higher number of levels at the rectifier side, less number of power switches, and no need for a boost inductor at the input side of the converter. The last topic discussed is of a proposed patent pending microinverter. This topic was a project funded by the National Science Foundation, and its aim was to help commercialize the research. This project proposes a solution for a solar inverter called Delta Microinverter that allows easier and faster installation as well as power conversion with higher efficiency. Delta Microinverters innovation is found in its patent-pending shape and in its patent-pending circuitry, i.e., electronics mounted inside of the Delta Microinverter. The Delta Microinverters shape has a housing configured for rapid mounting using a single fastener and its power electronics configuration offers an optimized relationship between the number of levels and number of power switches