Method for operating an electronically commutated motor, and motor for carrying out a method such as this

US7554279B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Jens Löffler · St. Georgen, DE
• Arnold Kuner · St. Georgen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 1, 2007
• Grant date: Jun 30, 2009
• Expiry date: Jun 1, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02P6/34
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An electronically commutated motor (ECM 20) has terminals (56, 62) for connection to a DC power source (63). It has a permanent-magnet rotor (22), also a first and a second series circuit (40, 50) in each of which a stator winding strand (30, 32) is connected in series with a controllable semiconductor switch (34, 44), which two series circuits are connected in parallel to form a parallel circuit (52). In addition to the strand-connected switches (34, 44) typically found in an ECM, in a supply lead to said parallel circuit (52), a third controllable semiconductor switch (60) controls energy supply from the DC power source (63). In order to increase motor efficiency and minimize the size of any motor capacitor required, special switching steps are performed so that electromagnetic energy, remaining in the winding(s) after shutoff of power application, is converted into motor torque, instead of being dissipated as heat.