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Current-excited motors
The brushless, separately excited synchronous motor requires no rare earth permanent
magnets, and offers an alternative power source for electric vehicle traction drives
A wide range of motor
topologies can be used as
exclusive drive motors in electric
vehicles. At present, the most
popular are permanent magnet
and induction motors. However,
for several reasons, the separately
excited synchronous motor (also
known as a current-excited or
electrically excited motor) is also
a very promising technology for
future traction drives. Indeed, the
presence of a coil in the rotor offers
several key advantages.
First, the motor does not contain
any rare earth permanent magnets.
The price of rare earth materials
has been very unstable over the
past few years, with permanent
magnets frequently representing
a considerable share of
manufacturing costs. In addition,
rare earth extraction often has
environmental consequences
around the mining area.
Second, as a short burst of high
current can be fed into the rotor,
a higher peak torque density can
be achieved. The peak torque is
practically only limited by the power
electronics that feed the stator and
rotor coils of the motor.
Charting the power and torque curves of the Brusa brushless separately excited
synchronous motor for a phase current of 450A rms and a battery voltage of 400V
158 // July 2014 // Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International
Third, rotor current regulation
provides a very high power
factor, enabling excellent inverter
utilization. In other words, the
separately excited motor delivers
the highest output power for
a given inverter current and
battery voltage.
Fourth, appropriate rotor
excitation regulation produces
an outstanding power curve.
In fact, the current-excited
motor delivers an almost
constant power output
above the corner speed.
To conclude, the
separately excited motor is
highly efficient at low torque.
Correct selection of the rotor
current also means efficiency
can be optimized for low
power operating points,
which are used most during
conventional drive cycles.
In spite of its advantages, the
system architecture of a current-
excited motor is more complex
compared with other popular
motors. In fact, it requires a power The Brusa brushless separately excited synchronous motor SSM1-6.17.10-B01
transfer system to feed the rotor
coil with the appropriate current.
To achieve this, carbon brushes combined with slip rings are usually for small production volumes.
employed. However, these elements Current efforts are therefore
are prone to wear and produce being directed toward reducing
large amounts of dust inside the manufacturing costs. For high
motor. Fortunately, it is possible production volumes, especially
to solve this issue by designing given the absence of permanent
a rotating transformer to transfer magnets, this topology could
power to the rotor coil without the become really affordable. In
need for contacts. addition, this motor requires fewer
Swiss company Brusa Elektronik raw materials thanks to its high
AG has developed and tested a torque density. Furthermore,
brushless current-excited motor optimized inverter utilization allows
whose power is transferred without a reduction in power electronics
contacts to the rotor coil through requirements and, consequently,
a rotating transformer, resulting their cost.
in practically no wear and no
dust formation. As mentioned, FREE READER INQUIRY SERVICE
the challenging system architecture To learn more about Brusa Elektronik
AG, visit: www.ukipme.com/info/ev
of the current-excited motor
INQUIRY NO. 507
consequently results in higher costs