METHOD AND INVERTER WITH THERMAL MANAGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MACHINE

摘要

A temperature estimation module estimates each junction temperature of a corresponding semiconductor device, among a plurality of semiconductor devices, for each phase of an inverter. The temperature estimation module or the data processing system determines a hottest device with a highest junction temperature among the semiconductor devices. A thermal adjustment module or data processing system determines if the highest junction temperature parameter is less than maximum junction temperature parameter for the respective semiconductor device or deciding whether or not to adjust a duty cycle of the semiconductor devices.

主权项

1. A method for operating an inverter to control an electric machine, the method comprising:
determining a fundamental frequency of one or more inverter phases based on a torque command to control the torque, speed or direction of the electric machine; establishing an initial reference output current based on the torque command; estimating each junction temperature of a corresponding semiconductor device, among a plurality of semiconductor devices, for each phase of an inverter; determining a hottest device with a highest junction temperature among the semiconductor devices in the inverter; and determining if the highest junction temperature parameter is less than maximum junction temperature parameter for the respective semiconductor device for deciding whether or not to adjust a duty cycle of the semiconductor devices.