Week-6 Challenge: EV Drivetrain

a) AC to DC converter which is called "Rectifier" - It converts AC into Unipolar DC current.

b) DC to AC converter which is called "Inverter" - It converts DC into AC of desired voltage and frequency.

c) DC to DC converter which is called "Chopper" - It converts High voltage DC to low voltage DC (Step down) or Low voltage DC to High voltage DC (Step up)

d) AC to AC converter which is called "Cycloconverter" - It converts the AC of the desired frequency and desired voltage magnitude from the AC supply.

Author's perspective on Induction Vs DC Brushless motor:

Author Wally Rippel in his blog explained the working principle of both the Induction and DC Brushless motor. Though Induction motors are old technology and he explained it's significant advantages over the DC brushless motor in pure EV's, at the same he also explained the DC brushless motor significance in Hybrid and Plug-in HEV and it's dominantly used in the current market. Induction motors though lastly found in General Motor EV1, the author suggested that the Induction motor along with DC Brushless motor will be widely used side by side as per Vehicle requirement.

Conclusion:

Though DC Brushless continues to dominate the current market with its presence in all the EV and HEV, Induction motors will not become obsolete because as mentioned Induction motors have its unique application and significance when compared to the DC Brushless. So he concluded that both the DC Brushless and Induction motor applications will grow side by side as per the EV characteristics.

Working Principle of DC Brushless Motor:

1. The Stator is made of thin and stacked laminations. The stator interacts with the current flowing within its windings to produce a torque interaction between the stator and the rotor.

2. The Rotor here includes 2 or more permanent magnets that generate DC magnetic field. As the rotor rotates it is important that the magnitude and the polarity of the stator current be continuously varied so that torque remains constant and also achieving the efficiency.

3. For the functioning of DC brushless motor it is mandatory to have an inverter without which it cannot function.