Design, Modelling and Verification of Distributed Electric Drivetrain

The electric drivetrain in a battery electric vehicle (BEVs) consists of an electric machine, an inverter, and a transmission. The drivetrain topology of available BEVs, e.g., Nissan Leaf, is centralized with a single electric drivetrain used to propel the vehicle. However, the drivetrain components can be integrated mechanically, resulting in a more compact solution. Furthermore, multiple drivetrain units can propel the vehicle resulting in a distributed drive architecture, e.g., Tesla Model S. Such drivetrains provide an additional degree of control and topology optimization leading to cheaper and more efficient solutions. To reduce the cost, the drivetrain unit in a distributed drivetrain can be standardized. However, to standardize the drivetrain, the drivetrain needs to be dimensioned such that the performance of a range of different vehicles can be satisfied. This work investigates a method for dimensioning the torque and power of an electric drivetrain that could be standardized across different passenger and light-duty vehicles. A system modeling approach is used to verify the proposed method using drive cycle simulations. The laboratory verification of such drivetrain components using a conventional dyno test bench can be expensive. Therefore, alternative methods such as power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) and mechanical-hardware-in-the-loop (MHIL) are investigated. The PHIL test method for verifying inverters can be inexpensive as it eliminates the need for rotating electric machines. In this method, the inverter is tested using a machine emulator consisting of a voltage source converter and a coupling network, e.g., inductors and transformer. The emulator is controlled so that currents and voltages at the terminals resemble a machine connected to a mechanical load. In this work, a 60-kW machine emulator is designed and experimentally verified. In the MHIL method, the real-time simulation of the system is combined with a dyno test bench. One drivetrain is implemented in the dyno test bench, while the remaining are simulated using a real-time simulator to utilize this method for distributed drivetrain systems. Including the remaining drivetrains in the real-time simulation eliminates the need for a full-scale dyno test bench, providing a less expensive method for laboratory verification. An MHIL test bench for verification of distributed drivetrain control and components is also designed and experimentally verified

Design and Development of a Remote-Control Test Bench for Remote Piloted Aircraft\u27s Brushless Motors

The present paper is focused on designing and manufacturing a remote-control test bench for RPA\u27s brushless motors. The main components of the testing bench (structural, mechanical and electric components) are presented, how they are coupled, and the operating principle. The test bench is characterized by five emergency systems, one manual and four automated emergency systems that can stop the test under different conditions to avoid damaging the motor. To validate the testing bench, a SK3-5045 660 kV electric motor was selected along with a carbon fibre reinforced composite propeller. It was experimentally demonstrated that the test bench was fully automated, there were measured the propulsion force, current intensity, voltage, but also the consumed power of a motor intended for an RPA. The test results were used to determine the motorization performance and power consumption of an RPA designed with four electric motors (quadcopter type)

Virtual prototyping of vehicular electric steering assistance system using co-simulations

Virtual prototyping is a practical necessity in vehicle system development. From desktop simulation to track testing, several simulation approaches, such as co-simulation and hardware-in-loop (HIL) simulation, are used. However, due to interfacing problems, the consistency of testing results may not be ensured. Correspondingly, inherent inaccuracies result from numerical coupling error and non-transparent HIL interface, which involves control tracking error, delay error, and attached hardware and noise effects. This work aims to resolve these problems and provide seamless virtual prototypes for vehicle and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system development.The accuracy and stability of explicit parallel co-simulation and HIL simulation are investigated. The imperfect factors propagate in the simulation tools like perturbations, yield inaccuracy, and even instability according to system dynamics. Hence, reducing perturbations (coupling problem) and improving system robustness (architecture problem) are considered.In the coupling problem, a delay compensation method relying on adaptive filters is developed for real-time simulation. A novel co-simulation coupling method on H-infinity synthesis is developed to improve accuracy for a wide frequency range and achieve low computational cost. In the architecture problem, a force(torque)-velocity coupling approach is employed. The application of a force (torque) variable to a component with considerable impedance, e.g., the steering rack (EPAS motor), yields a small loop gain as well as robust co-simulation and HIL simulation. On a given EPAS HIL system, an interface algorithm is developed for virtually shifting the impedance, thus enhancing system robustness.The theoretical findings and formulated methods are tested on generic benchmarks and implemented on a vehicle-EPAS engineering case. In addition to the acceleration of simulation speed, accuracy and robustness are also improved. Consequently, consistent testing results and extended validated ranges of virtual prototypes are obtained

Modelling and control for the oscillating water column

xxii, 219 p.Renewable energies are definitely part of the equation to limit our dependence to fossil fuels. Within this sector, ocean energies, and especially wave energy, represent a huge potential but is still a growing area. And like any new field, it is synonym to a high cost of energy production. Increasing the energy production, while keeping the costs controlled, has the leverage to drop down the cost of energy produced by wave energy converters (WECs). The main objective of this thesis is to make progress on the understanding of the effect of advanced control algorithms in the improvement of the power produced by wave energy devices. For that purpose, several control strategies are designed, compared, and assessed. To support this analysis, numerical models representing the overall energy conversion chain of WECs are developed. The Basque Country in Spain is fortunate enough to host the development and operation of two devices based on the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) principle. One is the Mutriku OWC plant, and the second is the floating buoy Marmok-A from Oceantec/IDOM, both devices were made available for sea trials. Several control algorithms were then implemented to be tested in real environments. Among them was a non-linear predictive control algorithm. Its test in real conditions represent a world first in the area of control for OWC systems, and maybe for the whole WEC sector if comparing with publicly available information. An outstanding results of the thesis is undoubtedly to move forward the predictive control algorithm from TRL3 to TRL6 after successful implementation and operation in both devices under real environmental conditions

Modelling and control for the oscillating water column

xxii, 219 p.Renewable energies are definitely part of the equation to limit our dependence to fossil fuels. Within this sector, ocean energies, and especially wave energy, represent a huge potential but is still a growing area. And like any new field, it is synonym to a high cost of energy production. Increasing the energy production, while keeping the costs controlled, has the leverage to drop down the cost of energy produced by wave energy converters (WECs). The main objective of this thesis is to make progress on the understanding of the effect of advanced control algorithms in the improvement of the power produced by wave energy devices. For that purpose, several control strategies are designed, compared, and assessed. To support this analysis, numerical models representing the overall energy conversion chain of WECs are developed. The Basque Country in Spain is fortunate enough to host the development and operation of two devices based on the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) principle. One is the Mutriku OWC plant, and the second is the floating buoy Marmok-A from Oceantec/IDOM, both devices were made available for sea trials. Several control algorithms were then implemented to be tested in real environments. Among them was a non-linear predictive control algorithm. Its test in real conditions represent a world first in the area of control for OWC systems, and maybe for the whole WEC sector if comparing with publicly available information. An outstanding results of the thesis is undoubtedly to move forward the predictive control algorithm from TRL3 to TRL6 after successful implementation and operation in both devices under real environmental conditions