Inductive power transfer for roadways

摘要

An inductive power transfer system 10 includes at least one drive unit 50 coupled to at least one drive coil 40 disposed along a roadway 20 for generating a magnetic field extending upwardly from the roadway. At least one vehicle 30 includes a corresponding pickup coil 60 coupled to a power conditioning circuit 80 for receiving the extending magnetic field to provide power to the vehicle. The drive unit excites, for example at resonance, the drive coil at a fundamental frequency of at least 30kHz. The drive coil is substantially devoid of ferromagnetic components for providing a path for the extending magnetic field. The drive unit may employ a balanced class-E amplifier for exciting the drive coil at the fundamental frequency. The drive unit may employ one or more Silicon Carbide semiconductor devices for switching the currents provided to the corresponding drive coils. A passive and/or active suppression arrangement may be provided for suppressing harmonic magnetic field components generated by the system at multiples of the fundamental frequency. A magnetic shield may be provided adjacent to the pickup coil.