Using AC induction motor as a generator in a utility vehicle

摘要

A power generation device for a utility vehicle having a battery source capable of storing electrical energy and selectively outputting electrical energy and selectively receiving electrical energy, a logic/driver module operably coupled to the battery source and capable of outputting power to a drive system of the utility vehicle, an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force in response to a control input from the logic/driver module, and an AC induction motor operably coupled to the internal combustion engine via a coupler and electrically coupled to the logic/driver module. The AC induction motor is capable of operating as a generator in response to the mechanical driving force of the internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to the logic/driver module, and further is capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from the logic/driver module.

主权项

1. A power generation system for a utility vehicle, said power generation device comprising:
a battery source capable of storing electrical energy, said battery source selectively outputting electrical energy and selectively receiving electrical energy; a logic/driver module operably coupled to said battery source, said logic/driver module capable of outputting electrical energy to a motive drive system of the utility vehicle; an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force, said internal combustion engine being responsive to a control input from said logic/driver module; and an AC induction motor operably coupled to said internal combustion engine via a coupler and electrically coupled to said logic/driver module, said AC induction motor being capable of operating as a generator in response to said mechanical driving force of said internal combustion engine, thereby generating and outputting electrical energy to said logic/driver module and at least one voltage drawing component of the vehicle, said logic/driver module being operable to control operation of said AC induction motor such that a voltage of said electrical energy generated and output by said AC induction motor is regulated and maintained within a predetermined voltage range irrespective of a varying revolutions per unit of time of said internal combustion engine, thereby preventing damage to said at least one voltage drawing component due to overvoltage.