Providing a vehicle with electric energy using induction and a rectifier
The invention relates to an arrangement for providing a vehicle, in particular a track bound
vehicle and/or a road automobile, with electric energy, wherein the arrangement
comprises a receiving device adapted to receive an alternating electromagnetic field and
to produce an alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction (i.e. magnetic
induction which is caused by an electromagnetic field and the induction produces electric
energy). The receiving device comprises at least one inductance which is formed by an
electrically conducting material for producing one phase of the alternating electric current
by the electromagnetic induction. The at least one inductance and optionally at least one
further electrical element (in particular a capacitance), which is connected (in particular in
series) to the inductance in order to produce one phase of the alternating electric current,
comprise(s) a resonance frequency at which the phase of the alternating electric current is
produced if an alternating electromagnetic field of corresponding frequency is received by
the receiving device. The inductance is connected to a rectifier for rectifying the
alternating electric current and thereby producing a direct electric current. As a skilled
person will know, the resonance frequency at which the phase of the alternating electric
current is produced may vary depending on the inductive coupling between the receiving
device and the device which generates the electromagnetic field.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for transferring energy to a vehicle, wherein
the system comprises the arrangement, and relates to a vehicle comprising the
arrangement. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the arrangement
and to a method of operating a vehicle by means of a receiving device which receives an
alternating electromagnetic field and produces an alternating electric current by magnetic
induction.
WO 201 0/031 595 A2 discloses an arrangement for providing a vehicle, in particular a
track bound vehicle, with electric energy, wherein the arrangement comprises a receiving
device adapted to receive an alternating electromagnetic field and to produce an
alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction. The receiving device comprises a
plurality of windings and/or coils of electrically conducting material, wherein each winding
or coil is adapted to produce a separate phase of the alternating electric current.
The present invention can be applied to any land vehicle (including, but not preferably,
any vehicle which is only temporarily on land), in particular track bound vehicles, such as
rail vehicles (e.g. trams), but also to road automobiles, such as individual (private)
passenger cars or public transport vehicles (e.g. busses, including trolleybuses which are
also track bound vehicles). Preferably, the primary side conductor arrangement which
produces the alternating electromagnetic field is integrated in the track or road of the
vehicle so that the electric lines of the primary side conductor arrangement extend in a
plane which is nearly parallel to the surface of the road or track on which the vehicle may
travel. As also described by WO 2010/031 595 A2, the receiving device can be located at
the underside of a vehicle and may be covered by a ferromagnetic body, such as a body
in the shape of a slab or plate. A suitable material is ferrite. The body bundles and
redirects the field lines of the magnetic field and therefore reduces the field intensity
above the body to nearly zero. However, other configurations, locations and/or
orientations of the primary side conductor arrangement are possible. For example, the
primary side conductor arrangement may be located sideways of the vehicle.
In any case, the gap between the primary side conductor arrangement and the at least
one inductance of the receiving device should be as small as possible, since the efficiency
of the wireless energy transfer between primary and secondary side is smaller for larger
gaps. For the same reason, the voltage which is induced in the at least one inductance
depends on the size of the gap. One way to handle the varying voltage on the secondary
side of the system is to supply the electric energy to power consumers only, which are
voltage-tolerant, i.e. can be operated in a wide range of voltages. One example, to which
the present invention can be applied, is the traction system of a rail vehicle which
comprises a direct current intermediate circuit connected to the receiving device and
which further comprises at least one inverter which inverts the direct current to an
alternating current for operating at least one traction motor of the vehicle. The inverter can
be controlled to compensate for voltage fluctuations in the direct current intermediate
circuit.
However, there are other electric systems or devices in vehicles which cannot tolerate the
varying voltage. A further possibility of providing the energy to the vehicle and using it is
therefore to control the size of the gap between primary and secondary side inductances
in order to keep the voltage fluctuations within a small range of voltages.
WO 2009/074207 A2 describes a system for contactless energy transmission to a part of
the system, in particular a movably arranged part of the system, and a method, where a
stationarily installed primary conductor is provided to which one or several secondary coils
enclosed by said part are inductively coupled. The secondary coils are connected in
series with one or several capacitors such that the resonance frequency of the thus
formed series resonant circuit is essentially equal to the frequency of an alternating
current injected into the primary conductor, wherein the voltage occurring at the series
resonant circuit is fed to a rectifier, on the output side of which a switch is provided which
can be actuated as a short-circuiter, the current not passing through the switch being fed
to a smoothing capacitor via a free-wheeling diode and the voltage occurring at the
smoothing capacitor being made available to a user.
A disadvantage of this secondary side arrangement is the free-wheeling diode which
increases losses during operation. Furthermore, the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 of
WO 2009/074207 A2 has the disadvantage that an electric current always flows through a
series connection of two semiconductors, namely the free-wheeling diode and one of the
diodes in the rectifier and consequently, electric losses are increased.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for providing a vehicle
with electric energy, wherein the arrangement comprises a receiving device comprising an
inductance for producing an alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction and
wherein the arrangement provides means for reducing voltage fluctuation. Compared to
known solutions, losses during operation shall be reduced. In particular, the arrangement
shall also provide means for minimizing losses which may be caused by the means for
reducing voltage fluctuations. Further objects of the invention are to provide a
corresponding system for transferring energy to a vehicle, a vehicle which comprises the
arrangement, a method of operating the vehicle and a method of manufacturing the
arrangement.
It is a basic idea of the present invention to integrate at least one switch in the rectifier. In
contrast to WO 2009/074207 A2, the switch is not provided on the output side of the
rectifier. Consequently, the additional free-wheeling diode can be omitted. The at least
one switch which is integrated in the rectifier is operated to produce a short circuit across
the inductance or across two or more of the inductances of the receiving device which is
adapted to receive the alternating electromagnetic field and to produce an alternating
electric current by electromagnetic induction. In particular, the following is proposed:
An arrangement for providing a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle and/or a road
automobile, with electric energy, wherein
• the arrangement comprises a receiving device adapted to receive an alternating
electromagnetic field and to produce an alternating electric current by electromagnetic
induction,
• the receiving device comprises at least one inductance which is formed by an
electrically conducting material for producing one phase of the alternating electric
current by the electromagnetic induction,
• the at least one inductance and optionally at least one further electrical element,
which is connected to the inductance in order to produce one phase of the alternating
electric current, comprise(s) a resonance frequency at which the phase of the
alternating electric current is produced if an alternating electromagnetic field of
corresponding frequency is received by the receiving device,
• the inductance and optionally the at least one further electrical element is/are
connected to a rectifier for rectifying the alternating electric current and thereby
producing a direct electric current,
• the rectifier comprises at least one automatically controllable switch which is or - in
case of more than one automatically controllable switch - which are arranged in such
a manner that closing the switch (i.e. switching it on) or closing a plurality of the
switches results in a short circuit across the inductance or across two or more of the
inductances, optionally including the at least one further electrical element(s),
• the arrangement comprises a control device which is adapted to control the at least
one automatically controllable switch and
• the control device is adapted to switch on (i.e. close the switch) and off (i.e. open the
switch) the at least one automatically controllable switch at a frequency which is
smaller than the resonance frequency.
Compared to the prior art mentioned above, the at least one switch is connected in
parallel to a one-way valve (in particular a diode) of the rectifier or, alternatively, the switch
is integrated in the one-way valve (for example, an IGBT or MOSFET can be used which
has an integrated diode, a so-called body-diode), wherein the respective valve of the
rectifier is adapted to conduct an electric current in one direction only, so that - if the
switch is on - an electric current can flow in the opposite direction through the valve or
can bypass the valve in the opposite direction. If the switch is connected in parallel to the
(first) one-way valve and if the rectifier comprises a bridge having two one-way valves
connected in series to each other, the switch is also connected in series to the other
(second) one-way valve.
Preferably, the arrangement produces more than one phase (e.g. three phases) of the
alternating current due to electromagnetic induction in a corresponding number of phase
lines. A plurality of phases provides for a smoother direct current on the output side of the
rectifier. Furthermore, plural phase receivers can produce higher power and stray effects
can be reduced.
In particular, the receiving device comprises a plurality of phase lines of electrically
conducting material, wherein each phase line comprises one of the inductances, each
inductance being adapted to produce one of a plurality of phases of the alternating electric
current and wherein the phase lines are connected to each other to form a star point
connection at one end of the phase line and are connected to the rectifier at the opposite
end of the phase line.
In particular, each of the opposite ends of the phase lines is connected to one of a
plurality of bridges of the rectifier, wherein each bridge comprises two one-way valves
which are connected in series to each other, wherein each valve is adapted to conduct an
electric current in one direction only and wherein at least one of the valves of each bridge
is a combined with one of the automatically controllable switches, so that - if the switch is
on - an electric current can flow in the opposite direction through the valve or can bypass
the valve in the opposite direction. The same applies to a full-bridge rectifier in case of a
single-phase receiving device.
The at least one automatically controllable switch may be combined with a valve (e.g. may
be integrated in the valve or may connected in parallel to the valve) of the rectifier,
wherein the valve is adapted to conduct an electric current in one direction only and
wherein - if the switch is on - an electric current can flow in the opposite direction through
the valve or can bypass the valve in the opposite direction, wherein the control device is
adapted to enable switching on the switch only while the size of the electric current
through the valve is zero or is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. Losses
during operation can be reduced significantly by this embodiment. This is possible since
the control device is adapted to switch the at least one automatically controllable switch at
a switching frequency which is smaller than the resonance frequency. With this switching
frequency, the at least one switch is switched on. Also the at least one switch is switched
off with this switching frequency. Since the time interval between switching on and
switching off the switch in general differs from the time interval between the switching off
and switching on the switch, and since these time intervals can be varied, different ratios
of these time intervals or duty cycles (see below) can be set.
According to a preferred embodiment, in order to enable both switching on and the
switching off the at least one switch while the size of the electric current through the
valve(s) is zero or is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the switching
frequency is an integer fraction of the resonance frequency, i.e. the resonance frequency
is an integer multiple of the switching frequency. In particular, the integer fraction can be
predefined, i.e. can be set before operation of the receiving device. This does not exclude
adapting the integer fraction to another value during operation.
In particular, the resonance frequency or an equivalent quantity can be determined during
operation. Therefore, the resonance frequency can be a precise integer multiple of the
switching frequency during operation. For example, if the resonance frequency changes,
the switching frequency is adapted correspondingly and preferably automatically. The
equivalent quantity may be the time of a period or half period of the alternating current or
alternating voltage on the input side of the rectifier, e.g. the alternating current or
alternating voltage of one or more than one phase of the receiving device. For example, a
detector which is coupled to a counter measures repeatedly when the alternating current
or alternating voltage becomes zero and a calculation device calculates the resonance
frequency. However, it is also possible that the frequency of the alternating current or
alternating voltage triggers the generation of the switching frequency in a different
manner.
The control device may comprises a controller which is adapted to control the ratio of the
time intervals while the at least one automatically controllable switch is on - and therefore
the short circuit exists - to the time intervals while the at least one automatically
controllable switch is off. Due to the timing of the switching process, the electric losses
which would be produced within the switch and valve otherwise are reduced significantly.
Furthermore, the switch produces less heat and cooling of the switch is facilitated.
In particular, the control device may be adapted to control the switching of the at least one
automatically controllable switch depending on the size(s) of the voltage and/or current on
the direct current side of the rectifier. An example will be given below.
According to a specific application of the invention, the arrangement comprises a storage
for storing electric energy which is delivered by the rectifier, wherein the rectifier is
connected to the storage and wherein the control device is adapted to control the
switching of the at least one automatically controllable switch depending on the size(s) of
the voltage and/or current which is required for charging the storage.
Furthermore, the invention includes a vehicle comprising the arrangement according to
one of the embodiments described here, wherein the rectifier is connected to a storage for
storing electric energy.
In addition, the invention comprises a method of operating a vehicle, in particular a track
bound vehicle and/or a road automobile, using electric energy, wherein
• an alternating electromagnetic field is received and is used to produce an alternating
electric current by electromagnetic induction,
• the alternating electromagnetic field is received by at least one inductance which is
formed by an electrically conducting material and which produces one phase of the
alternating electric current by the electromagnetic induction,
• the inductance and optionally at least one further electrical element, which is
connected to the inductance, produce the phase of the alternating electric current at a
resonance frequency,
• the alternating electric current is rectified by a rectifier and thereby a direct electric
current is produced,
• the rectifier is operated using at least one automatically controllable switch which is or
- in case of more than one automatically controllable switch - which are temporarily
closed so that a short circuit across the inductance or across two or more of the
inductances - optionally including the at least one further electrical element(s) - is
effected,
• the at least one automatically controllable switch is to controlled by a control device so
that the at least one automatically controllable switch is switched on and off at a
frequency which is smaller than the resonance frequency.
In particular, the alternating electric current may be produced using a plurality of phase
lines of electrically conducting material, wherein each phase line comprises one of the
inductances which produces one of a plurality of phases of the alternating electric current.
Other embodiments of the method follow from the description of the arrangement.
For example, the rectifier may comprise a valve which is used to rectify the alternating
electric current, wherein the automatically controllable switch is combined with the valve,
wherein the valve conducts - in a first operating state while the switch is off - an electric
current in one direction only and the valve or a bypass of the valve can conduct - in a
second operating state while the switch is on - an electric current in the opposite
direction, wherein switching on the switch is enabled only while the size of the electric
current through the valve is zero or is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
The ratio of the time intervals while the at least one automatically controllable switch is on
- and therefore the short circuit exists - to the time intervals while the at least one
automatically controllable switch is off may be controlled by the control device.
In particular, the control device may control the switching of the at least one automatically
controllable switch depending on the size(s) of the voltage and/or current at the direct
current side of the rectifier.
Electric energy may be delivered by the rectifier to an energy storage of the vehicle and
the control device may control the switching of the at least one automatically controllable
switch depending on the size(s) of the voltage and/or current which is required for
charging the storage.
The invention includes a method of manufacturing a vehicle, in particular a track bound
vehicle and/or a road automobile, comprising the following steps:
• providing a receiving device adapted to receive an alternating electromagnetic field
and to produce an alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction,
• providing for the receiving device at least one inductance which is formed by an
electrically conducting material for producing one phase of the alternating electric
current by the electromagnetic induction,
• adapting the at least one inductance and optionally at least one further electrical
element, which is connected to the inductance in order to produce one phase of the
alternating electric current, to operate at a resonance frequency at which the phase of
the alternating electric current is produced if an alternating electromagnetic field of
corresponding frequency is received by the receiving device,
• connecting the inductance and optionally the at least one further electrical element to
a rectifier for rectifying the alternating electric current and thereby producing a direct
electric current,
• arranging at least one automatically controllable switch of the rectifier in such a
manner that closing the switch or closing a plurality of the switches results in a short
circuit across the inductance or across two or more of the inductances, optionally
including the at least one further electrical element(s),
• providing a control device and adapting the control device so that it is able to control
the at least one automatically controllable switch and
• adapting the control device so that it is able to switch on and off the at least one
automatically controllable switch at a frequency which is smaller than the resonance
frequency.
Examples of the invention will be described with reference to the attached figures in the
following:
Fig. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a receiving device which is connected to a rectifier,
wherein the direct current side of the rectifier is connected to a load, for example
to a traction converter via a direct current intermediate circuit,
Fig. 2 shows a modified rectifier having two bridges only,
Fig. 3 shows a circuit diagram of an arrangement similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1,
wherein measurement devices for measuring the phase currents of the receiving
device and for measuring the voltage of the direct current intermediate circuit are
shown,
Fig. 4 shows a circuit diagram of an arrangement similar to the arrangement of Fig. 3,
wherein each bridge of the rectifier only comprises one switch,
Fig. 5 shows a circuit diagram of a control loop for controlling the switching processes
of the switches which are integrated in the rectifier, for example the rectifier of
Fig. , Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 and
Fig. 6 shows a diagram of quantities as functions of time, with the alternating current
produced by a receiving device connected to a rectifier, such as the rectifier
shown in Fig. 4, in the upper third of the diagram, with the direct voltage at the
output of the rectifier in the middle third of the diagram and with a triangle-signal
and a step function indicating the switching state of the switches in the lower third
of the diagram.
The receiving device 1 for receiving an electromagnetic field shown in Fig. 1 comprises
three phase lines 2a, 2b, 2c which are connected on one side to a common star point 5.
The other side of each phase line 2a, 2b, 2c is connected to a respective bridge of a
rectifier 10. Each phase line 2a, 2b, 2c comprises an inductance 3a, 3b, 3c which is
connected in series to a capacitance 4a, 4b, 4c in order to compensate for the stray
inductances which are caused by the inductances 3a, 3b, 3c. Each of the inductances 3
and each of the compensating capacitances 2 can be realized either by a single element
(such as an inductor or a capacitor) or by a combination of elements (such as a series
connection and/or for a parallel connection of inductors or capacitors). It is also possible
that a first part of the inductance 3 of the phase line 2 is connected to a second part of the
inductance 3 via a first part or the only part of the capacitance 4.
During operation of the receiving device 1, the incident electromagnetic field induces an
electric voltage in the inductances 3a, 3b, 3c, so that there is a voltage across each phase
line 2a, 2b, 2c between the star point 5 at one end and the connection to the bridges 11 of
the rectifier 10 at the other end. If a load 17 is connected to the direct current side of the
rectifier 10 and if the load is operated, a corresponding alternating current flows through
the phase lines 2a, 2b, 2c which is rectified by the rectifier 10 and is provided to the load
17 as a direct current through the connecting lines 18a, 18b. The currents through the
phase lines 2a, 2b, 2c can be measured as indicated by the measuring devices 36a, 36b,
36c shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 (e.g. using Rogowski-coils).
The inductances 3a, 3b, 3c of the receiving device 1 are preferably arranged in such a
manner that the incident electromagnetic field produces electric alternating currents in the
phase line 2a, 2b, 2c at a phase shift of 120°, as it is typically the case for a three-phase
alternating current.
The rectifier 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises three bridges 11a, 11b, 11c. Each of the
bridges 11 comprises a series connection of two diodes 14a, 15a; 14b, 15b; 14c, 15c.
These diodes 14, 15 allow for an electric current from the bottom side shown in Fig. 1 to
the topside shown in Fig. 1 so that the electric potential in the current line 18b is higher
than in the current line 18a. A smoothing capacitor 16 is connected between the direct
current lines 18a, 18b. The smoothing capacitor 16 is connected to the output side of the
rectifier, i.e. to the output side of the three bridges 11, and is not a part of the rectifier 10.
Each bridge 11 is connected at one end to the first direct current line 18a and at the other
end to the second direct current line 18b.
In the specific embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each diode 14, 15 is connected in parallel to a
switch 12, 13 so that the switch 12, 13 allows for an electric current bypassing the diode
14, 15 while the switch is on.
During operation of the receiving device 1 and the rectifier 10, the switches 12, 13 may be
switched on and off repeatedly in order to increase or decrease the direct current on the
output side of the rectifier 10 compared to the normal operation of the rectifier 10. "Normal
operation" means that none of the switches 12, 13 is operated. In particular, the switches
12, 13 are operated in such a manner that either the first switches 12a, 12b, 12c or the
second switches 13a, 13b, 13c of the bridges 11 are on at the same time. For example,
starting at a first operating state while all switches 12, 13 are off, the first switches 12a,
12b, 12c are switched on and are switched off after a certain time interval and then, after
a second time interval, the second switches 13a, 13b, 13c are switched on and are
switched off after a third time interval. After a fourth time interval the first switches 12a,
12b, 12c are switched on again for the first time interval and so on. For this operation, a
duty cycle d can be defined which is the ratio of the sum of the first and third time intervals
(while either the switches 12 or the switches 13 are on) to the sum of the second and
fourth time intervals (while all switches 12, 13 are off). The voltage on the output side of
the rectifier 10 is:
UA = 1/(1 - d) * UE
wherein UA is the direct voltage on the output side of the rectifier 10 across the smoothing
capacitor 16 and UE is the root mean square (RMS) of the three-phase alternating voltage
at the connection between the receiving device 1 and the rectifier 10.
In particular, not only related to the circuit diagrams of Fig. 1 to Fig. 5, the switching
frequency of the switches 12, 13 is smaller than the frequency of the alternating current
produced by the phase lines or phase line of the receiving device. Therefore, it is possible
and preferred to switch the switches 12 or 13 on only while the current through the valve
(e.g. the diode 14, 15) is zero or is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
Therefore, losses caused by switching the switches 12, 13 under load can be avoided or
reduced. For detecting whether the current through the valves are zero or smaller than a
predetermined threshold value, the measurement devices 36 mentioned in connection
with Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 can be used.
Fig. 2 shows a modified rectifier having two bridges 2 1a, 2 1b only. Again, each bridge 2 1
comprises a series connection of two valves (diodes 34a, 35a; 34b, 35b) and there is a
switch 32a, 33a; 32b, 33b in parallel to each valve 34, 35, thereby bypassing the valve
while the switch 32, 33 is on.
The phase lines 22a, 22b shown in Fig. 2 may be phase lines of a two-phase alternating
current or may be connection lines to a receiver which produces only one phase of an
alternating current while an electromagnetic field is incident.
Same reference numerals in the different figures refer to the same or functionally same
elements. Therefore, 18a, 18b in Fig. 2 denote direct current lines at the output side of the
rectifier.
As shown in Fig. 4, one set of the switches (namely the switches 13 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3)
can be omitted. This is based on the finding that only set of switches (e.g. either the
switches 12 or the switches 13 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) are required to produce a short circuit
across the phase lines 2 in order to vary across the inductance 3 and, therefore, to vary
the direct voltage on the output side of the rectifier. The same applies to the modified
construction of the rectifier shown in Fig. 2 or to any other rectifier. In case of Fig. 2, the
switches 32a, 32b can be omitted and the switches 33a, 33b can be switched on and off
repeatedly and, preferably, at the same time in order to produce a short circuit across the
connection line 22a, 22b or the phase lines 22a, 22b, respectively.
As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, a series connection of two further capacitances 42, 43 can
be connected at their opposite ends to the direct current lines 18a, 18b. Furthermore, a
connection point in between the capacitances 42, 43 can be connected to ground
potential as indicated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. In addition or alternatively, a measuring device
4 1 can be connected between the direct current lines 18a, 18b. In particular, the
measuring device 4 1 can be adapted to measure the voltage between the lines 18a, 18b
and, preferably, also the current through at least one of the lines 18a, 18b. The
measurement values delivered by the measuring device 4 1 can be used to control the
operation of the load (e.g. the load 17 of Fig. 1 or another load, such as an energy storage
for storing electrical energy) and/or can be used to control the operation of the switches of
the rectifier. In particular, based on the measuring values of the measuring device 4 1, the
duty cycle of the switches can be set so that a closed loop control is realized. Therefore,
for examples, the direct voltage between the direct current lines 18a, 18b can be
controlled to be constant. Alternatively, the voltage and/or current on the output side of the
rectifier can be controlled to comply with other requirements of the load or loads.
An example of a control loop for controlling the operation of the switches of a rectifier,
such as the rectifier 10 shown in Fig. 1, will be explained with reference to Fig. 5. As
mentioned above, the alternating currents through the phase lines of the receiving device
are measured, in particular continuously or quasi-continuously. In case of a three-phase
receiving device as an example (a corresponding control loop can be realized for any
other number of phase lines of the receiving device) the three phase currents of the threephase
alternating current are denoted by la, lb, Ic. These phase currents are input to a
first calculating device 51a, 5 1b, 51c for calculating separately for each phase the root
mean square (RMS) of the phase currents. The RMS is output to an adding device 52 for
adding the values and outputting the resulting sum to a subtracting device 53 which
subtracts the sum from a set value Iset. This set value Iset is produced according to the
requirements of the control. For example, the set value may be produced based on the
measurement of the direct voltage on the output side of the rectifier as mentioned above.
The difference which is output by the subtracting device 53 is input to a controller 54,
which may be a Pl-controller (a proportional-integral-controller). The output value of the
controller 54 is input to a comparator 56 which compares the output with a triangle-signal
produced by a triangle-producing device 55. The frequency of the triangle-signal is equal
to the switching frequency which is an integer fraction of the resonance frequency, i.e. the
resonance frequency is an integer multiple of the switching frequency.
In particular, the input which is received by the comparator 56 from the controller 54 may
be the duty cycle d mentioned above. The resulting output of the comparator 56 is a stepfunction
having two different functional values, namely 1 and 0, which corresponds to the
duty cycle. This step-function is fed to individual driving devices 59a, 59b, 59c for driving,
for example, the switches 12 and 13 of Fig. 1 or the switches 12 of Fig. 4. In case of
having two sets of switches 12, 13, the driving devices 59 are combined with an alternator
for driving alternatingly the switches 12 and 13, i.e. the switches 12 are switched on and
off before the switches 13 are switched on and off and vice versa.
The output of the comparator 56 is input to a first input D of the driving devices 59 and,
preferably, there is a second input value which is input to a second input Q of the driving
devices 59, in order to switch the switches on only if the current through the respective
valve is zero or is smaller than a predetermined threshold value Ilim. This threshold value
Ilim is input to a set of second comparators 58a, 58b. 58c and the measured alternating
currents of the phase lines (i.e. the phase currents la, lb, Ic) are also input to the second
comparators 58 for each phase separately. The second comparators 58 compare the
present value of the alternating current with the threshold value Ilim and output an enable
signal to the respective assigned driving device 59 only if the phase current is smaller
than the threshold value Ilim or is smaller or equal to the threshold value Ilim.
Fig. 6 shows an example of different quantities as functions of time during operation of an
arrangement comprising a receiving device (such as the receiving device shown in Fig. 1)
connected to the rectifier shown in Fig. 4. The rectifier of Fig. 4 is chosen for simplicity
only. Similar behaviour of the direct voltage on the output side of the rectifier can be
achieved with the rectifiers shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 and with modified control of the
switches corresponding to the fact that there are two switches in each branch of the
rectifier.
The horizontal axis of the diagram corresponds to the normalised time, i.e. the quotient of
the time t and the period tau_AR of the cycle of switching on or switching off the switches
12. In the upper third of the diagram, the vertical axis corresponds to the alternating
current of the receiving device. A horizontal double arrow illustrates the period tau_RES of
the alternating current which fluctuates with the resonance frequency f_RES. In the
example, the peak values of the current are in the range of -20 A and 20 A. In the middle
third of the diagram, the vertical axis corresponds to the direct voltage of the rectifier. In
the example, the values of the voltage vary between 60 V and 70 V. In the lower third of
the diagram, the vertical axis corresponds to the voltage of the respective signal and of
the threshold value. In the example, the threshold value is 0.4 V and is indicated by a
horizontal line at this level. A horizontal double arrow illustrates the period tau_AR of the
cycle of switching off the switches 12.
As shown in the upper third of Fig. 6, the alternating current on the input side of the
rectifier oscillates with the resonance frequency. For example as described in connection
with Fig. 5 above, a triangle-signal (lower third of the diagram in Fig. 6, fluctuating
between the peak values 0 V and 1 V) is compared with a threshold value and triggers the
switching of the switches 12 of the rectifier. When the triangle-signal falls down below the
threshold value (in the example: 0.4 V), the switches 12 are switched on as indicated by
the step function in the lower third of the diagram in Fig. 6 stepping up from - 1 V to 1 V.
When the triangle-signal reaches again the threshold value these switches 12 are
switched off again as indicated by the step function stepping down from 1 V to 0 V.
At the points in time when the switches 12 are switched on, the phase lines of the
receiving device are shorted. Therefore, the peak value of the alternating current shown in
the upper third of the diagram raises during the following periods. In addition, the direct
voltage shown in the middle third of the diagram declines. The decline is stopped by
switching off the switches 12 again. Afterwards, while the switches 12 are off, the direct
voltage raises.
Patent Claims
1. An arrangement for providing a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle and/or a
road automobile, with electric energy, wherein
• the arrangement comprises a receiving device (1) adapted to receive an
alternating electromagnetic field and to produce an alternating electric current by
electromagnetic induction,
• the receiving device ( 1 ) comprises at least one inductance (3) which is formed by
an electrically conducting material for producing one phase of the alternating
electric current by the electromagnetic induction,
• the at least one inductance (3) and optionally at least one further electrical element
(4), which is connected to the inductance (3) in order to produce one phase of the
alternating electric current, comprise(s) a resonance frequency at which the phase
of the alternating electric current is produced if an alternating electromagnetic field
of corresponding frequency is received by the receiving device ( 1 ) ,
• the inductance (3) and optionally the at least one further electrical element (4)
is/are connected to a rectifier (10) for rectifying the alternating electric current and
thereby producing a direct electric current,
• the rectifier (10) comprises at least one automatically controllable switch (12, 13)
which is or - in case of more than one automatically controllable switch (12, 13) -
which are arranged in such a manner that closing the switch ( 12, 13) or closing a
plurality of the switches results in a short circuit across the inductance (3) or
across two or more of the inductances (3), optionally including the at least one
further electrical element(s) (4),
• the arrangement comprises a control device which is adapted to control the at
least one automatically controllable switch (12, 13) and
• the control device is adapted to switch on and off the at least one automatically
controllable switch (12, 13) at a frequency which is smaller than the resonance
frequency.
2. The arrangement of the preceding claim, wherein the receiving device (1) comprises a
plurality of phase lines (2a, 2b, 2c) of electrically conducting material, wherein each
phase line (2a, 2b, 2c) comprises one of the inductances (3), each inductance (3)
being adapted to produce one of a plurality of phases of the alternating electric current
and wherein the phase lines (2a, 2b, 2c) are connected to each other to form a star
point connection at one end of the phase line (2a, 2b, 2c) and are connected to the
rectifier (10) at the opposite end of the phase line (2a, 2b, 2c).
3. The arrangement of the preceding claim, wherein each of the opposite ends of the
phase lines (2a, 2b, 2c) is connected to one of a plurality of bridges of the rectifier
(10), wherein each bridge comprises two one-way valves (14, 15) which are
connected in series to each other, wherein each valve (14, 15) is adapted to conduct
an electric current in one direction only and wherein at least one of the valves of each
bridge is a combined with one of the automatically controllable switches ( 12, 13), so
that - if the switch ( 12, 13) is on - an electric current can flow in the opposite direction
through the valve (14, 15) or can bypass the valve ( 14, 15) in the opposite direction.
4. The arrangement of one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one
automatically controllable switch (12, 13) is combined with a valve (14, 15) of the
rectifier (10), wherein the valve (14, 15) is adapted to conduct an electric current in
one direction only and wherein - if the switch (12, 13) is on - an electric current can
flow in the opposite direction through the valve or can bypass the valve (14, 15) in the
opposite direction, wherein the control device is adapted to enable switching on the
switch ( 12, 13) only while the size of the electric current through the valve ( 14, 15) is
zero or is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
5. The arrangement of one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device comprises
a controller which is adapted to control the ratio of the time intervals while the at least
one automatically controllable switch ( 12, 13) is on - and therefore the short circuit
exists - to the time intervals while the at least one automatically controllable switch
( 12, 13) is off.
6. The arrangement of one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device is
adapted to control the switching of the at least one automatically controllable switch
( 12, 13) depending on the size(s) of the voltage and/or current at the direct current
side of the rectifier (10).
7. The arrangement of the preceding claim, wherein the arrangement comprises a
storage for storing electric energy which is delivered by the rectifier (10), wherein the
rectifier (10) is connected to the storage and wherein the control device is adapted to
control the switching of the at least one automatically controllable switch (12, 13)
depending on the size(s) of the voltage and/or current which is required for charging
the storage.
8. A vehicle comprising the arrangement of one of the preceding claims, wherein the
rectifier (10) is connected to a storage for storing electric energy.
9. A method of operating a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle and/or a road
automobile, using electric energy, wherein
• an alternating electromagnetic field is received and is used to produce an
alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction,
• the alternating electromagnetic field is received by at least one inductance (3)
which is formed by an electrically conducting material and which produces one
phase of the alternating electric current by the electromagnetic induction,
• the inductance (3) and optionally at least one further electrical element (4), which
is connected to the inductance (3), produce the phase of the alternating electric
current at a resonance frequency,
• the alternating electric current is rectified by a rectifier (10) and thereby a direct
electric current is produced,
• the rectifier (10) is operated using at least one automatically controllable switch
( 12, 13) which is or - in case of more than one automatically controllable switch
( 12, 13) - which are temporarily closed so that a short circuit across the inductance
(3) or across two or more of the inductances (3) - optionally including the at least
one further electrical element(s) (4) - is effected,
• the at least one automatically controllable switch (12, 13) is to controlled by a
control device so that the at least one automatically controllable switch (12, 13) is
switched on and off at a frequency which is smaller than the resonance frequency.
10. The method of the preceding claim, wherein the alternating electric current is
produced using a plurality of phase lines (2a, 2b, 2c) of electrically conducting
material, wherein each phase line (2a, 2b, 2c) comprises one of the inductances (3)
which produces one of a plurality of phases of the alternating electric current.
11. The method of one the preceding claims, wherein the rectifier (10) comprises a valve
(14, 15) which is used to rectify the alternating electric current, wherein the
automatically controllable switch (12, 13) is combined with the valve (14, 15), wherein
the valve (14, 15) conducts - in a first operating state while the switch (12, 13) is off -
an electric current in one direction only and the valve or a bypass of the valve (14, 15)
can conduct - in a second operating state while the switch ( 12, 13) is on - an electric
current in the opposite direction, wherein switching on the switch ( 12, 13) is enabled
only while the size of the electric current through the valve (14, 15) is zero or is smaller
than a predetermined threshold value.
12. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the time intervals
while the at least one automatically controllable switch ( 12, 13) is on - and therefore
the short circuit exists - to the time intervals while the at least one automatically
controllable switch (12, 13) is off is controlled by the control device.
13. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device controls the
switching of the at least one automatically controllable switch ( 12, 13) depending on
the size(s) of the voltage and/or current at the direct current side of the rectifier (10).
14. The method of the preceding claim, wherein electric energy is delivered by the rectifier
(10) to an energy storage of the vehicle and wherein the control device controls the
switching of the at least one automatically controllable switch ( 12, 13) depending on
the size(s) of the voltage and/or current which is required for charging the storage.
15. A method of manufacturing a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle and/or a road
automobile, comprising the following steps:
• providing a receiving device (1) adapted to receive an alternating electromagnetic
field and to produce an alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction,
• providing for the receiving device ( 1 ) at least one inductance (3) which is formed
by an electrically conducting material for producing one phase of the alternating
electric current by the electromagnetic induction,
• adapting the at least one inductance (3) and optionally at least one further
electrical element (4), which is connected to the inductance (3) in order to produce
one phase of the alternating electric current, to operate at a resonance frequency
at which the phase of the alternating electric current is produced if an alternating
electromagnetic field of corresponding frequency is received by the receiving
device ( 1 ) ,
• connecting the inductance (3) and optionally the at least one further electrical
element to a rectifier (10) for rectifying the alternating electric current and thereby
producing a direct electric current,
• arranging at least one automatically controllable switch ( 12, 13) of the rectifier ( 10)
in such a manner that closing the switch (12, 13) or closing a plurality of the
switches (12, 13) results in a short circuit across the inductance (3) or across two
or more of the inductances (3), optionally including the at least one further
electrical element(s) (4),
• providing a control device and adapting the control device so that it is able to
control the at least one automatically controllable switch ( 12, 13) and
• adapting the control device so that it is able to switch on and off the at least one
automatically controllable switch (12, 13) at a frequency which is smaller than the
resonance frequency.