JP2009159798A - Dc/dc converter, dc/dc converter apparatus, vehicle, fuel cell system, and method of driving dc/dc converters - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an output voltage deviated from a voltage based on duty from being output from a DC/DC converter. <P>SOLUTION: Even when target voltages have an identical value, centering on a basic duty based on a target on time, duties before and after driving of upper-arm switching elements or lower-arm switching elements with this basic duty are respectively set to (basic duty+α) and (basic duty-α). Driving signals of the basic duty and the prior and posterior duties are supplied to the upper-arm switching elements or the lower-arm switching elements to drive (turn on) the upper-arm switching elements or the lower-arm switching elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a DC / DC converter and a DC / DC converter device that step up and / or step down a DC voltage, a driving method of the DC / DC converter, and a vehicle or a fuel cell system in which the DC / DC converter device is mounted.

  Conventionally, DC / DC converter devices, which are switching power supplies using switching elements such as MOSFETs or IGBTs, have been widely used.

  For example, as one form of a vehicle using a motor as a travel drive source, a vehicle (herein referred to as an electric vehicle) in which a DC / DC converter device for stepping up / down a DC voltage is interposed between a power storage device and an inverter drive motor. Has been proposed. In this electric vehicle, when the motor is driven, the voltage of the power storage device is boosted by the DC / DC converter device and applied to the inverter, and during regeneration of the motor, the regenerative voltage generated in the inverter is stepped down by the DC / DC converter device. The battery is charged by being applied to the power storage device side.

  Further, as another form of vehicle using a motor as a travel drive source, a DC / DC converter device that directly connects a fuel cell and an inverter drive motor and steps up / down a DC voltage between the connection point and the power storage device is provided. There has also been proposed a vehicle (herein referred to as a fuel cell vehicle) in which a fuel cell is used as a main power supply device and a power storage device is a sub power supply device that assists the main power supply device.

  In this fuel cell vehicle, when the motor is driven, the voltage of the fuel cell and the voltage of the power storage device boosted by the DC / DC converter device are combined and applied to the inverter, and when the motor is regenerated, the regenerative voltage generated in the inverter is applied. The voltage is stepped down by the DC / DC converter device, applied to the power storage device side, and charged. In addition, when there is a surplus in the generated power of the fuel cell, it is stepped down and applied to the power storage device side for charging or the like.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses an AC power supply, a diode bridge connected to the AC power supply, an inverter connected to the diode bridge, an electric motor driven by the inverter, and a step-up / down circuit connected to the inverter. And a secondary battery connected to the step-up / down circuit. In this charge / discharge control device, when the current flowing from the AC power supply to the inverter via the diode bridge is cut off, the secondary battery is connected to the step-up / down circuit and the inverter during the power running operation of the motor. All the electric power necessary for driving the electric motor is supplied to the electric motor. On the other hand, all the regenerative electric power is charged in the secondary battery during the regenerative operation of the electric motor. In this case, in the step-up / step-down circuit, the step-up switching element and the step-down switching element are alternately turned on / off across the dead time regardless of the power running operation and the regenerative operation of the electric motor. The flowing current is always continuously operated, so that it is not necessary to detect the discontinuous state of the current and to determine the power running / regeneration.

International Publication No. WO02 / 093730 Pamphlet

  By the way, in the DC / DC converter including the above-described step-up / step-down circuit, a driving signal having a predetermined duty is supplied to the switching element to drive the switching element to perform a step-up operation and / or a step-down operation. In this case, the duty is PWM controlled so that the output voltage of the DC / DC converter becomes a target voltage (target value of the output voltage).

  However, when adjusting the output voltage by changing the duty according to the target voltage (hereinafter also referred to as the target duty), the output voltage does not change linearly with respect to the change in the duty. An output voltage deviating from the voltage corresponding to the duty may be output from the DC / DC converter. No countermeasure is proposed in Patent Document 1 for suppressing such voltage fluctuation of the output voltage.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and a DC / DC converter, a DC / DC converter device, and a DC / DC converter that prevent an output voltage deviating from a voltage corresponding to a duty is output. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle and a fuel cell system to which a DC converter device is applied, and a driving method of the DC / DC converter.

The DC / DC converter according to the present invention is
Having at least one switching element;
The switching element is driven at each on-time corresponding to a predetermined target duty and a duty before and after the target duty, which is varied around the target duty (claim 1).

Further, the driving method of the DC / DC converter according to the present invention is as follows:
At least one switching element is driven in each on-time corresponding to a predetermined target duty and a duty before and after the target duty, which is varied around the target duty (claim 16). .

  Conventionally, the switching element is turned on according to the target on-time by the drive signal having the target duty corresponding to the target on-time (the on-time of the switching element corresponding to the target voltage). When the output voltage deviated from the output voltage is output from the DC / DC converter, such voltage fluctuation cannot be suppressed.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, the conventional technique of driving the switching element only with the target duty corresponding to the target on-time is reviewed, and even if the target voltage is the same voltage value, the target corresponding to the target on-time is The duty before and after driving the switching element with the target duty is set to a duty that is intentionally shifted from the target duty (on time is intentionally varied), and the target duty and the duty The switching element is driven with a varied duty.

  Thereby, voltage fluctuation of the output voltage is suppressed, and it is possible to reliably prevent the output voltage deviating from the voltage corresponding to the duty from being output from the DC / DC converter.

  Here, the front duty and the rear duty are different from each other, and the switching element is driven repeatedly in the order of the front duty, the target duty, and the rear duty. Thereby, the on-time corresponding to the preceding and following duty with respect to the target on-time A corresponding to the target duty becomes the on-time B and C shifted by a predetermined value with respect to the target on-time A, and as a result, Since the switching element is driven in the order of, for example, A, B, C, A, B, C,..., Voltage fluctuation of the output voltage can be efficiently suppressed.

  Further, the preceding duty and the following duty are different from each other, and the respective on-states corresponding to the respective duties are set with the target duty set before and after the preceding duty and before and after the following duty, respectively. The switching element may be driven with time (claim 3). Thus, with respect to the target on-time A, if the on-time of one of the preceding and following duties is B and the on-time of the other duty is C, the switching element can be, for example,..., A, B, A , C, A, B,... In this order, the voltage fluctuation can be efficiently suppressed even in this case.

  The invention can be applied to a DC / DC converter including the DC / DC converter and a control unit that drives the switching element. In this case, the control unit sets the target duty. The duty before and after is set to a duty varied around the target duty, and the switching element is driven at each on-time corresponding to the target duty and the varied duty. ). By setting the target duty and the front and rear duty in the control unit, and driving the switching element using these duties, the above-described effects can be easily obtained also in the DC / DC converter device. It is done.

  In the above invention, the DC / DC converter is disposed between a power storage device as a first power device and a fuel cell as a second power device that drives an inverter-driven motor that generates a regenerative voltage. The DC / DC converter can step up the voltage of the power storage device and apply the boosted voltage to the inverter, and reduce the regenerative voltage generated in the inverter and apply it to the power storage device during regeneration of the motor. The present invention can be applied to a vehicle (fuel cell vehicle) having such a DC / DC converter device, the power storage device, the inverter-driven travel motor, and the fuel cell. 13).

  In the above invention, the DC / DC converter device is a vehicle (an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a storage device) connected to an inverter-driven travel motor that generates a regenerative voltage and a power storage device. (Claim 14).

  Furthermore, the invention can be applied to a fuel cell system in which a fuel cell connected to a load and a power storage device are connected to the DC / DC converter device, respectively (claim 15).

  According to the vehicle and the fuel cell system, since the voltage fluctuation of the output voltage is suppressed by the DC / DC converter device, the voltage fluctuation to the fuel cell or the like connected to the output voltage side (high voltage side) is reduced. The influence can be avoided reliably.

  The DC / DC converter includes a multi-phase arm in which a plurality of phase arms including an upper arm switching element and a lower arm switching element are connected in parallel between the first power device and the second power device. The control unit alternately turns on the plurality of phase arms and turns on the phase arm, and turns on one of the upper arm switching element or the lower arm switching element constituting the phase arm. It is turned on or alternately turned on (Claim 5).

  Accordingly, different phase arms are not turned on at the same time, and further, the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element constituting each phase arm are not turned on at the same time. Only the switching element can be turned on, and the step-up operation or the step-down operation can be reliably performed even in the DC / DC converter configured by the multiphase arm.

  In addition, by turning on each of the phase arms in the order of A, B, A, C, A, B,..., The ON time in each of the phase arms varies evenly. As a result, uneven temperature distribution among the phase arms due to variations in the on-time between the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element of each phase arm is reduced.

  Further, when the control unit alternately turns on the plurality of phase arms and turns on the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element of a certain phase arm in any order, The upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element of the next phase arm can be alternately turned on in any order (Claim 6).

  Of course, the control unit turns on the lower arm switching element of the certain phase arm after turning on the upper arm switching element of the certain phase arm when the plurality of phase arms are turned on alternately. Thereafter, after the upper arm switching element of the next phase arm is turned on, the lower arm switching element of the next phase arm can be turned on.

  As a result, even if there is a variation in on-time between the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element of each phase arm, the duty is set in consideration of the variation, and based on the set duty in the order described above. By turning on each arm switching element, voltage conversion in the DC / DC converter can be performed stably.

  In addition, when the plurality of phase arms are switched and turned on, the control is facilitated by switching them on every switching period. n (n is an integer of 2 or more) may be switched on every switching cycle.

  Furthermore, when the control unit alternately turns on the upper arm switching element or the lower arm switching element constituting the phase arm, the control unit turns on alternately with a dead time interposed therebetween, and constitutes the polyphase arm. By switching on the phase arm with the dead time interposed therebetween, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element and a short circuit between the phase arms.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, it is possible to carry out by using a single step-up / step-down reactor or a phase share. That is, the midpoints of the phase arms are commonly connected to the DC / DC converter, and the reactor is inserted between the midpoints that are commonly connected and the first power device or the second power device. Even if it is arranged, the reactor is arranged by the number of phases, and one terminal of each reactor is connected to each midpoint, and the other terminal of each reactor is connected in common. Each of the other connected terminals is connected to either the first power device or the second power device (Claim 10).

  Furthermore, the control unit fixes a predetermined phase arm among the plurality of phase arms to a phase arm that is driven with an on-time corresponding to the target duty, and sets the other phase arms to the varied duty. By fixing to the phase arm that is driven with the corresponding on-time, for example, when each of the phase arms is turned on in the order of A, B, C, A, B, C,. , C can be easily fixed on the control unit side (claim 11).

  According to the present invention, even if the target voltage is the same voltage value, the target duty according to the target on-time is centered, and the duty before and after the switching element is driven by the target duty is intentionally changed from the target duty. The duty is set to be shifted (the ON time is intentionally varied), and the switching element is driven by the target duty and the varied duty.

  Thereby, voltage fluctuation of the output voltage is suppressed, and it is possible to reliably prevent the output voltage deviating from the voltage corresponding to the duty from being output from the DC / DC converter.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle or the like to which a DC / DC converter device including a DC / DC converter that performs a DC / DC converter driving method according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, this embodiment is not limited to a DC / DC converter device including a DC / DC converter in which a single-phase phase arm is arranged, but a DC / DC converter in which phase arms of two or more phases are arranged. The present invention is also applicable to a DC / DC converter device provided.

  Therefore, in the following description, a DC / DC converter device including a DC / DC converter in which a three-phase phase arm is arranged will be described first, and then a DC / DC converter in which a one-phase phase arm is arranged. A DC / DC converter apparatus including the above will be described.

  A fuel cell vehicle 20 according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 basically includes a hybrid power source device including a fuel cell 22 and a power storage device (battery) 24 as energy storage, and the hybrid. Motor 26 that is supplied with current (electric power) from a power supply device of a type through an inverter 34, a primary side 1S to which a battery 24 is connected, a fuel cell 22 and a secondary to which a motor 26 (inverter 34) is connected. DC / DC converter device {VCU (Voltage Control Unit) that performs voltage conversion with the side 2S. } 23.

  The VCU 23 includes a DC / DC converter 36 and a converter control unit 54 that drives and controls the DC / DC converter 36.

  The fuel cell 22 has, for example, a stack structure in which cells formed by sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte membrane between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode from both sides are stacked. A hydrogen tank 28 and an air compressor 30 are connected to the fuel cell 22 by piping. A generated current If generated by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen (fuel gas), which is a reaction gas, and air (oxidant gas) in the fuel cell 22 is supplied to a current sensor 32 and a diode (also referred to as a disconnect diode) 33. To the inverter 34 and / or the DC / DC converter 36.

  The inverter 34 performs DC / AC conversion and supplies the motor current Im to the motor 26, while the motor current Im after AC / DC conversion accompanying the regenerative operation is transferred from the secondary side 2 </ b> S to the primary side through the DC / DC converter 36. Supply to 1S.

  In this case, the primary voltage V1 obtained by converting the secondary voltage V2 which is the regenerative voltage or the generated voltage Vf into a low voltage by the DC / DC converter 36 is stepped down by the downverter 42 to be further reduced to a voltage such as a lamp. While being supplied to the auxiliary machine 44 as the auxiliary machine current Iau, if there is a surplus, the battery 24 is charged as the battery current Ibat.

  As the battery 24 connected to the primary side 1S, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery or a capacitor can be used. In this embodiment, a lithium ion secondary battery is used.

  The battery 24 supplies the auxiliary machine current Iau to the auxiliary machine 44 through the downverter 42 and supplies the motor current Im to the inverter 34 through the DC / DC converter 36.

  Smoothing capacitors 38 and 39 are provided on the primary side 1S and the secondary side 2S, respectively. A resistor 40 is connected to the capacitor 39 on the secondary side 2S in parallel, that is, in parallel to the fuel cell 22.

  The system including the fuel cell 22 is controlled by the FC control unit 50, the system including the inverter 34 and the motor 26 is controlled by the motor control unit 52 including the inverter driving unit, and the system including the DC / DC converter 36 is controlled by the converter including the converter driving unit. Each of the units 54 is basically controlled.

  The FC control unit 50, the motor control unit 52, and the converter control unit 54 are higher-level control units, and are controlled by an overall control unit 56 that determines the total load Lt and the like of the fuel cell 22.

  The overall control unit 56, the FC control unit 50, the motor control unit 52, and the converter control unit 54 are respectively an input / output interface such as an A / D converter and a D / A converter in addition to a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a timer, If necessary, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like is included.

  The overall control unit 56, the FC control unit 50, the motor control unit 52, and the converter control unit 54 are connected to each other through a communication line 70 such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) that is an in-vehicle LAN, and input from various switches and various sensors. Various functions are realized by sharing the output information and executing the programs stored in the ROMs by the CPUs with the input / output information from the various switches and sensors as inputs.

  Here, as various switches and various sensors for detecting the vehicle state, in addition to the current sensor 32 for detecting the generated current If, the voltage sensor 61 for detecting the primary voltage V1 (equal to the battery voltage Vbat), the primary current. A current sensor 62 for detecting I1 and a secondary voltage V2 (a voltage sensor 63 for detecting a secondary voltage I2 when the disconnect diode 33 is conductive and substantially equal to the generated voltage Vf of the fuel cell 22) are detected. There are a current sensor 64, an ignition switch 65 connected to the communication line 70, an accelerator sensor 66, a brake sensor 67, a vehicle speed sensor 68, and the like.

  The overall control unit 56 determines the fuel cell vehicle 20 determined based on the input (load request) from various switches and various sensors in addition to the state of the fuel cell 22, the state of the battery 24, the state of the motor 26, and the state of the auxiliary machine 44. From the total load requirement Lt, the fuel cell shared load amount (required output) Lf that the fuel cell 22 should bear, the battery shared load amount (required output) Lb that the battery 24 should bear, and the regenerative power source should bear The distribution (sharing) with the regenerative power distribution load amount Lr is determined while arbitrating, and a command is sent to the FC control unit 50, the motor control unit 52, and the converter control unit 54.

  The DC / DC converter 36 includes an upper arm composed of a switching element such as an IGBT between the battery 24 (first power device) and the second power device {the fuel cell 22 or the regenerative power source (inverter 34 and motor 26)}. Three phase arms {U-phase arm UA (81u, 82u) comprising switching element 81 {81u, 81v, 81w (81u to 81w)} and lower arm switching element 82 {82u, 82v, 82w (82u to 82w)} ), V-phase arm VA (81v, 82v), W-phase arm WA (81w, 82w)} are configured as a three-phase arm connected in parallel.

  Diodes 83u to 83w and 84u to 84w are connected in the opposite direction to the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w, respectively.

  When the voltage is converted between the primary voltage V1 and the secondary voltage V2 by the DC / DC converter 36, one reactor 90 for releasing and storing energy is provided for each phase arm (U phase). Arms UA, V-phase arms VA, W-phase arms WA) are inserted between the battery 24 and the midpoint (each midpoint commonly connected).

  The upper arm switching elements 81 (81u to 81w) are turned on by gate drive signals (drive voltages) UH, VH, and WH (high levels thereof) output from the converter control unit 54, and the lower arm switching elements 82 ( 82u to 82w) are turned on by gate drive signals (drive voltages) UL, VL, and WL (high levels thereof), respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the converter control unit 54 generates a drive signal UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL, a basic duty determination unit 100, a drive duty setting unit 102, and each input process. Units 104 a to 104 c and an output processing unit 106. The basic duty determination unit 100 includes a subtraction unit 108, a PID processing unit 110, a division unit 112, and an addition unit 114. The drive duty setting unit 102 includes a phase rotation processing unit 116, a PWM calculation processing unit 118, and a data storage unit 120. Consists of

  The input processing unit 104a outputs a target value (target voltage) of the secondary voltage V2 that is a command from the overall control unit 56 (see FIG. 1) to the subtraction unit 108, and the input processing unit 104b is operated by the voltage sensor 61. The detected primary voltage V1 is AD-converted, and the AD-converted primary voltage V1 (a digital value thereof) is output to the divider 112. The input processor 104c detects the secondary voltage detected by the voltage sensor 63. The voltage V <b> 2 is AD converted, and the secondary voltage V <b> 2 (digital value thereof) after AD conversion is output to the subtracting unit 108.

  The subtracting unit 108 calculates a deviation between the target voltage and the primary voltage V1 and outputs the deviation to the PID processing unit 110. The PID processing unit 110 calculates a feedback term (F / B term) of a duty (basic duty or target duty) corresponding to the target voltage by PID control using the deviation, and adds the calculated F / B term Output to the unit 114. The division unit 112 outputs a value obtained by dividing the primary voltage V1 by the target voltage to the addition unit 114 as a feedforward term (F / F term) of the basic duty. The adding unit 114 outputs the sum of the F / B term and the F / F term to the PWM calculation processing unit 118 as the basic duty.

  The phase rotation processing unit 116 receives the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL from the converter control unit 54 to the arm switching elements 81 (81u to 81w) and 82 (82u to 82w) in rotation switching described later. The output order is determined, and the determined output order is output to the PWM calculation processing unit 118. The PWM calculation processing unit 118 calculates each duty of each drive signal UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL from the basic duty based on the output order, and each arm switching according to the calculated duty The digital data of the on-time of the elements 81 (81u to 81w) and 82 (82u to 82w) (the high level time of the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL) is calculated and output to the data storage unit 120 To do. The data storage unit 120 is a memory that stores the on-time digital data and the output order in association with each other.

  The output processing unit 106 generates drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL based on the digital data stored in the data storage unit 120, and generates the generated drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL and WL are supplied to the arm switching elements 81 (81u to 81w) and 82 (82u to 82w) at a predetermined timing (for example, after measuring a predetermined time by a timer).

  By the way, the primary voltage V1, typically the open circuit voltage OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) of the battery 24 when no load is connected is as shown on the fuel cell output characteristics (current voltage characteristics) 91 of FIG. In addition, the power generation voltage Vf of the fuel cell 22 is set to a voltage higher than the minimum voltage Vfmin. In FIG. 3, OCV≈V1.

  The secondary voltage V2 is set equal to the power generation voltage Vf of the fuel cell 22 when the fuel cell 22 (see FIG. 1) is generating power.

  However, when the power generation voltage Vf of the fuel cell 22 becomes equal to the voltage Vbat (= V1) of the battery 24, a direct connection state indicated by a thick dashed line in FIG.

  In the direct connection state, when the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, and WH supplied to the upper arm switching element 81 (81u to 81w) is set to 100% and current flows from the secondary side 2S to the primary side 1S, When the upper arm switching element 81 (81u to 81w) is turned on and current flows through the upper arm switching element 81 (81u to 81w), while current flows from the primary side 1S to the secondary side 2S The diodes 83u to 83w are turned on, and current flows through the diodes 83u to 83w.

  When the output is high, the secondary current I2 is supplied from the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 to the inverter 34 side. } In the direct connection state (referred to as the high output direct connection state or the first direct connection state), the secondary voltage V2 becomes V2 = V1-Vd (Vd is the forward voltage drop of the diodes 83u, 83v, 83w).

  The direct connection state is used not only in the high output region but also when necessary for control. For example, when the fuel cell vehicle 20 is stopped (waiting for a signal or the like), the driving of the air compressor 30 is stopped and fuel gas supply from the hydrogen tank 28 is also stopped in order to save fuel consumption. In this case, the power generation voltage Vf (power generation current If) of the fuel cell 22 becomes zero when the residual fuel gas in the fuel cell 22 is exhausted by the discharge by the resistor 40 and the supply to the auxiliary equipment 44 such as an air conditioner. However, the supply of the auxiliary machine current Iau to the auxiliary machine 44 is continued by the battery 24.

  When the fuel cell vehicle 20 is stopped, that is, when the so-called idle stop is performed, the brake pedal operation is released, the accelerator pedal operation is performed to return the fuel cell 22 to the power generation state, and the output control of the fuel cell 22 by the VCU 23 is smoothly performed. In order to resume, the voltage on the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 is kept at the voltage of the direct connection state. In this direct connection state (referred to as an idle stop direct connection state or a second direct connection state), the load is the resistor 40, and the voltage V2 on the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 is held at V2 = V1-Vd. .

  Here, output control of the fuel cell 22 by the VCU 23 will be described.

  During power generation in which fuel gas from the hydrogen tank 28 and compressed air from the air compressor 30 are supplied, the power generation current If of the fuel cell 22 is referred to as the characteristic 91 {function F (Vf) shown in FIG. } Is determined by setting the secondary voltage V2, that is, the generated voltage Vf, through the DC / DC converter 36 by the converter control unit 54. That is, the generated current If is determined as a function F (Vf) value of the generated voltage Vf. If If = F (Vf) and the generated voltage Vf is set to Vf = Vfa = V2, for example, the generated current Ifa as a function value of the generated voltage Vfa (V2) is determined. {Ifa = F (Vfa) = F (V2)}.

  Thus, since the fuel cell 22 determines the generated current If by determining the secondary voltage V2 (generated voltage Vf), the secondary voltage V2 (generated voltage) is controlled when driving the fuel cell vehicle 20. Vf) is set to the target voltage (target value). However, in a special case where the battery 24 (first power device) is considered to be faulty, such as when the battery 24 is opened due to a disconnection fault of the wiring between the downverter 42 and the battery 24, the primary voltage V1 is The target voltage. Note that FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the converter control unit 54 when the secondary voltage V2 is the target voltage. Therefore, when the primary voltage V1 is the target voltage, the basic duty in the converter control unit 54 is shown. The structure of the determination part 100 is changed suitably.

  In the system including the fuel cell 22 such as the fuel cell vehicle 20, the VCU 23 is controlled so that the secondary voltage V2 on the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 (see FIG. 1) becomes the target voltage. 22 output (generated current If) is controlled. The above is the description of the output control of the fuel cell 22 by the VCU 23.

  Next, the basic operation of the DC / DC converter 36 that is driven and controlled by the converter control unit 54 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As described above, the overall control unit 56 is determined based on inputs (load requests) from various switches and various sensors in addition to the state of the fuel cell 22, the state of the battery 24, the state of the motor 26, and the state of the auxiliary machine 44. The fuel cell shared load amount (required output) Lf that the fuel cell 22 should bear, the battery shared load amount (required output) Lb that the battery 24 should bear, Distribution (sharing) with the regenerative power distribution load amount Lr to be borne by the power supply is determined while arbitrating, and a command is sent to the FC control unit 50, motor control unit 52, and converter control unit 54.

  In step S1, when the overall control unit 56 determines (calculates) the total load request amount Lt from the power request for the motor 26, the power request for the auxiliary device 44, and the power request for the air compressor 30 that are load requests, respectively. In step S2, the overall control unit 56 determines the distribution of the fuel cell shared load amount Lf, the battery shared load amount Lb, and the regenerative power source shared load amount Lr for outputting the determined total load request amount Lt. . Here, when determining the fuel cell shared load Lf, the efficiency η of the fuel cell 22 is considered.

  Next, in step S3, the converter control unit 54 determines the power generation voltage Vf of the fuel cell 22, in this case, the secondary voltage V2, in accordance with the fuel cell shared load Lf.

  When the secondary voltage V2 is determined, in step S4, the converter control unit 54 drives and controls the DC / DC converter 36 so that the determined secondary voltage V2 is obtained.

  In this case, the converter control unit 54 drives the DC / DC converter 36 in a step-up operation, a step-down operation, or a direct connection operation according to the determined secondary voltage V2.

  In step S4, in the step-up operation in which the secondary current I2 is sourced from the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 to the inverter 34 side, the converter control unit 54 turns on the lower arm switching element 82u (from the battery current Ibat to the reactance 90). Energy is accumulated by the primary current I1 obtained by subtracting the auxiliary machine current Iau, and at the same time, the secondary current I2 is sourced from the capacitor 39 to the inverter 34. The same applies to the diodes 83u to 83w. Energy is stored in the inverter 34, and is sourced as the secondary current I2 to the inverter 34. The same applies to the following) → lower arm switching element 82v on → diode 83u to 83w conduction → lower arm switching element 82w on → diode 83u to 83w conduction → lower arm Rotate switch the DC / DC converter 36 in the switching element 82u on ... order.

  The on-duty of the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w and the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w is determined so that the output voltage V2 is maintained.

  In step S4, in the high output direct connection operation in which the secondary current I2 is sourced from the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 to the inverter 34 side, the diodes 83u to 83w are turned on, and the secondary voltage V2 is V2 = V1-Vd.

  Further, in step S4, the secondary current I2 is supplied from the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 to the auxiliary device 44 and the battery 24 of the primary side 1S (sinking is performed on the secondary side 2S). ) In step-down operation, the upper arm switching element 81u is turned on (energy is accumulated in the reactance 90 by the secondary current I2 output from the capacitor 39, and the primary current I1 is supplied from the capacitor 38 to the auxiliary device 44 and the battery 24 as required. The same applies to the following: → diodes 84u to 84w conducting (the diodes 84u to 84w conduct as flywheel diodes, discharge energy from the reactance 90, accumulate energy in the capacitor 38, and add to the auxiliary machine 44 and on demand. The primary current I1 is supplied to the battery 24. The same applies to the following. Rotation switching of the DC / DC converter 36 is performed in the order of turning on the chipping element 81v → conducting diodes 84u to 84w → oning the upper arm switching element 81w → conducting diodes 84u to 84w → oning the upper arm switching element 81u.

  When a regenerative voltage is present, the regenerative power source shared load Lr is added to the sinked secondary current during the step-down operation. The on-duty of the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w and the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w in the step-down operation is also controlled according to the determined output voltage V2.

  The secondary voltage V2 and the primary voltage V1 are the duty of each drive signal UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL set by the basic duty determination unit 100 and the drive duty setting unit 102 in the converter control unit 54 described above. (Or on-time) and switching operations of the arm switching elements 81 (81u to 81w) and 82 (82u to 82w) based on the supply of the driving signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, and WL. .

  The above is the description of the basic operation of the DC / DC converter 36 that is driven and controlled by the converter control unit 54.

  The arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w are so-called 6in1 modules fixed on a metal heat radiating plate (heat spreader) (not shown).

  Next, the rotation switching operation by the VCU 23 including the DC / DC converter 36 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 5 shows a time chart during the step-down operation of the VCU 23 (when sinking the secondary current I2), and FIG. 6 shows a time chart during the step-up operation of the VCU 23 (when the secondary current I2 is sourced).

  5 and 6, the sign of the primary current I1 flowing through the reactor 90 is a boost current flowing from the primary side 1S to the secondary side 2S (source flowing out from the secondary side 2S of the DC / DC converter 36 to the inverter 34). (Current) is positive (+), and the step-down current flowing from the secondary side 2S to the primary side 1S (sink current flowing from the fuel cell 22 or the inverter 34 to the secondary side 2S) is negative (−).

  Further, in the waveforms of the drive signals UH, UL, VH, VL, WH, WL output from the converter control unit 54, the drive signals UH, UL, VH, VL, WH, WL are supplied during the hatched periods. It shows a period during which the arm switching element (for example, the arm switching element corresponding to the drive signal UH is the upper arm switching element 81u) is actually turned on (current is flowing). That is, even if the drive signals UH, UL, VH, VL, WH, WL are supplied, current does not flow to the corresponding arm switching element unless the corresponding parallel diodes 83u to 83w and 84u to 84w are OFF. Note that.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the drive signals UH, UL, VH, VL, WH, WL output from the converter control unit 54 in both cases of the step-down operation and the step-up operation of the DC / DC converter 36. As can be understood from the waveform, the UVW phase arms UA, VA, WA (UA to WA) constituting the three-phase arm are set to drive signals UH, UL, VH, VL, WH, WL every switching cycle 2π. When the UVW phase arms UA to WA are turned on while rotating with the U phase, the V phase, the W phase, the U phase, and so on, and the UVW phase arms UA to WA are turned on, the UVW phase arms UA to UA The upper arm switching element 81 (81u to 81w) constituting the WA is turned on (see FIG. 5), or the lower arm switching that constitutes the UVW phase arms UA to WA by the drive signals UL, VL, WL. Element 82 (82u to 82w) are turned on (see FIG. 6).

  In this case, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 and FIG. 7 to be described later, the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w are used to prevent the upper and lower arm switching elements 81 and 82 from being simultaneously turned on and the voltage V2 from being short-circuited. Alternatively, a dead time dt is interposed between the drive signal UH and the drive signal UL, the drive signal VH and the drive signal VL, and the drive signal WH and the drive signal WL for alternately turning on the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w. When the phase arms UA to UW constituting the multiphase arm are switched on and turned on, the drive signal UL and the drive signal VH, the drive signal VL and the drive signal WH, and the drive signal WL And the drive signal UH are turned on with a dead time dt interposed therebetween. That is, so-called synchronous switching is performed with the dead time dt interposed therebetween.

  In FIG. 5 for explaining the step-down operation, for example, during the period in which the upper arm switching element 81u is turned on by the drive signal UH between time points t1 and t2, the secondary current I2 from the fuel cell 22 and / or the regenerative power source is supplied. Thus, energy is accumulated in the reactor 90 through the upper arm switching element 81u. During the dead time dt from the time t2 to the time t5, the drive signal UL is on (however, no current flows through the lower arm switching element 82u) and the dead time dt, the energy accumulated in the reactor 90 is the flywheel diode. Is discharged as the primary current I1 to the primary side 1S through the diodes 84u to 84w which are turned on. After time t5, the upper arm switching elements 81v, 81w, 81u,... Are turned on sequentially, and the same operation is repeated.

  In FIG. 6 for explaining the step-up operation, for example, during the period in which the lower arm switching element 82u is turned on by the drive signal UL between time points t13 and t14, energy is supplied to the reactor 90 by the primary current I1 from the battery 24. Accumulated. During the dead time dt from the time t14 to t17, the drive signal VH is ON (current does not flow through the upper arm switching element 81v) and the dead time dt, the energy accumulated in the reactor 90 is converted into a rectifier diode. It is discharged to the secondary side 2S through the diodes 83u to 83w that have been turned on. After time t17, the lower arm switching elements 82v, 82w, 82u,... Are turned on sequentially, and the same operation is repeated.

  In FIG. 7 for explaining the operation at the time of transition between the step-up operation and the step-down operation, for example, a period during which the upper arm switching element 81u is turned on by the drive signal UH between the time points t20 and t21 (shown by hatching). In the period), energy is accumulated in the reactor 90 through the upper arm switching element 81u by the secondary current I2 from the fuel cell 22 and / or the regenerative power source.

  During the period from time t21 to the time t22 when the direction of current flow is reversed (the sign is reversed from negative to positive), the energy stored in the reactor 90 is the diodes 84u to 84w that function as the turned-on flywheel diodes. To the primary side 1S.

  During a period in which the lower arm switching element 82u is turned on by the drive signal UL between time points t22 and t23, energy is accumulated in the reactor 90 by the primary current I1 from the battery 24. In the period from time t23 to the time t24 when the direction of current flow is reversed (the sign is reversed from positive to negative), the energy accumulated in the reactor 90 is transferred to the secondary side 2S through the diodes 83u to 83w that are turned on. Released. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated. Thus, in the three-phase rotation switching according to this embodiment, the operation smoothly changes between the step-up operation and the step-down operation.

  By the way, in the above rotation switching operation, the drive signals UH, VH, and WH having the same duty as the target duty are supplied from the converter control unit 54 to the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w. Is supplied to the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w, the secondary voltage V2 does not change linearly with respect to the change in the target duty. The secondary voltage V2 that deviates from the corresponding voltage may be output from the DC / DC converter 36.

  In particular, in the step-down operation shown in FIG. 8 and the step-up operation shown in FIG. 9, such voltage fluctuation of the secondary voltage V2 becomes significant.

  Here, the voltage fluctuation of the secondary voltage with respect to the target voltage in the step-down operation of FIG. 8 and the step-up operation of FIG. 9 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  In the step-up operation of FIG. 8, the minimum on-time of each upper arm switching element 81 u to 81 w {the on-time threshold that can reliably turn on the upper arm switching elements 81 u to 81 w (operation to switch from the off state to the on state) } Is supplied to the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w, while the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w are turned on in the step-up operation of FIG. The drive signals UL, VL, WL having a duty corresponding to the ON time that is shorter than the time {threshold of the ON time during which the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w can be reliably turned ON} are supplied to the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w. In the case, each arm switching element 81u-81w, 82u-82. It is not possible to carry out the on reliably operate.

  10A to 10D show, as an example, changes in the secondary voltage V2 when the primary voltage V1 is constant and the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL is changed in the step-up operation. It is the shown graph.

    10A and 10C are graphs showing changes in the secondary voltage V2 in the boosting operation, and FIGS. 10B and 10D are graphs showing changes in the duty in the boosting operation.

  10A and 10B show the case where the secondary current I2 is relatively low, while FIGS. 10C and 10D show the case where the secondary current I2 is relatively high.

  In FIGS. 10A to 10D, the drive signals UH, VH, and WH are drive signals having the same duty, while the drive signals UL, VL, and WL are drive signals having the same duty.

  In FIGS. 10B and 10D, the duty on the vertical axis is shown with reference to the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, and WH. Therefore, in the switching operation in this embodiment, the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, and WH is shown. Is D, the duty of the drive signals UL, VL, WL is (100-D).

  10B and 10D, the duty characteristics 136 and 144 are changed linearly with the passage of time t. On the other hand, the characteristics 132 and 140 (solid line) of the secondary voltage V2 decrease substantially linearly with the change of the duty from the duty D0 (t = 0) to the duty D1 and D3 (time t40, t43). However, when the duty exceeds D1 and D3, the voltage fluctuation in which the secondary voltage V2 does not change linearly with the change in the duty, that is, the duty equation {(1−V1 / V2) in step-up operation, step-down When a voltage fluctuation that does not match V1 / V2 duty in operation} occurs and the duty exceeds D2 and D4, the direct connection state (direct connection region) of V1≈V2 is reached even though the duty is not 100%. .

  In FIGS. 10A and 10C, characteristics 134 and 142 (broken lines) indicate ideal characteristics of the secondary voltage V2 at which the voltage fluctuation does not occur, and alternate long and short dash lines 130 and 138 indicate the primary voltage V1. Yes. Moreover, the direct connection state in FIG. 10A and 10C is a direct connection state shown by the thick line of the dashed-dotted line of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cause of such voltage fluctuation is the duty {(100−D1) corresponding to the ON time that is lower than the minimum ON time of each of the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w (see FIG. 1). Even if the drive signals UL, VL, WL having a duty of ˜0 or (100−D3) ˜0} are supplied from the converter control unit 54 to the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w, the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w are turned on. The operation cannot be performed reliably, and as a result, due to the unstable switching operation of the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w in such a duty region (hereinafter also referred to as a duty region), the duty is reduced. The secondary voltage V2 can no longer be controlled linearly with respect to the change of (DC / DC converter 3 Voltage conversion becomes unstable), in that the secondary voltage V2 which deviates from the voltage corresponding to the duty is output from the DC / DC converter 36 at.

  10A to 10D, when the secondary current I2 is different (FIG. 10A and FIG. 10C), the predetermined duty D1 and D3 are set while the voltage variation patterns of the characteristics 132 and 140 are different from each other. This is common in that voltage fluctuations occur in a duty region that exceeds the duty range.

  In FIG. 10A to FIG. 11, as an example, in the step-up operation, the drive signals UL, VL, WL having a duty corresponding to the on-time lower than the minimum on-time of each of the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w are supplied to the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82u. The problem when supplying to 82w was described.

  In practice, however, in addition to the above-described problems, in the step-down operation, the drive signals UH, VH, and WH having a duty corresponding to the on-time lower than the minimum on-time of each of the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w are supplied to each upper arm switching element. The same problem occurs when supplying to 81u to 81w.

  Further, the minimum off time {the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w can be reliably turned off (operation to switch from the on state to the off state) for each of the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w. Even if the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL having a duty corresponding to the time below the threshold value of the off time} are supplied, the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w are turned off after the on time has elapsed. The operation cannot be performed reliably, and as a result, there is a problem that the voltage conversion in the DC / DC converter 36 becomes unstable.

  Furthermore, the secondary voltage V2 does not change linearly with respect to the change in the target duty due to variations in the on-time between the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w, even outside the above-described duty region. In some cases, the secondary voltage V2 deviated from the voltage corresponding to the duty is output from the DC / DC converter 36.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the converter control unit 54 operates in all duty regions including the duty region where the voltage conversion in the DC / DC converter 36 becomes unstable (duty region exceeding the duty D1, D3). Then, processing for making the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, and WH described below different from each other is performed, while processing for making the duty of the drive signals UL, VL, WL different from each other is performed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the duty setting process of the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL in the converter control unit 54 in the duty region.

  In step S <b> 10, the basic duty determination unit 100 (see FIG. 2) performs the input process from the target value (target voltage) of the secondary voltage V <b> 2 input from the overall control unit 56 via the input processing unit 104 a and the voltage sensor 61. The basic duty is calculated based on the primary voltage V1 input via the unit 104b and the secondary voltage V2 input from the voltage sensor 63 via the input processing unit 104c, and the calculated basic duty is PWM calculated. The data is output to the processing unit 118. Since the basic duty calculation method in the basic duty determination unit 100 has already been described, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the next step S11, the PWM calculation processing unit 118 calculates the output order of the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL from the phase rotation processing unit 116 and the basic duty from the basic duty determination unit 100. Using this, the duty of each drive signal UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL is calculated (set).

  FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are explanatory diagrams schematically showing the setting of the duty with respect to the three drive signals UH, VH, and WH in the step-down operation as an example of the process of step S11. Here, the drive signals UH, VH, and WH are supplied from the converter control unit 54 to the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w sequentially (continuously) in the order of the drive signal UH, the drive signal VH, and the drive signal WH. And

  In step S11, the PWM calculation processing unit 118 sets the basic duty as the duty (target duty) of the drive signal VH, and then, as shown in FIG. 13A, the drive signal UH, which is a signal before the drive signal VH. The duty is set to (basic duty-α) (α: predetermined value), and the duty of the drive signal WH, which is a signal after the drive signal VH, is set to (basic duty + α), or as shown in FIG. 13B As described above, the duty of the drive signal UH is set to (basic duty + α), and the duty of the drive signal WH is set to (basic duty−α).

  Next, in step S12, the PWM calculation processing unit 118 calculates the ON time (the high level time of the drive signals UH, VH, WH) according to the duty of each drive signal UH, VH, WH, and finally, The calculated on-time (digital data) is output to the data storage unit 120. In step S13, the data storage unit 120 stores the on-time digital data and the output order (in this case, the output order of the drive signal UH, the drive signal VH, and the drive signal WH) in association with each other.

  In step S14, the output processing unit 106 generates drive signals UH, VH, and WH based on the digital data stored in the data storage unit 120, and generates the generated drive signals UH, VH, and WH at a predetermined timing. {For example, after measuring a processing period (3 × 2π) that is three times the switching period 2π by a timer} is supplied to the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w.

  When the drive signals UH, VH, and WH (for example, the drive signals shown in FIG. 13A) with the duty set in this way are supplied to the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w, the U-phase arm UA (upper arm switching element 81u) The characteristics 150, 152, 154 (see FIG. 14A) of the secondary voltage V2 for each of the V-phase arm VA (upper arm switching element 81v) and the W-phase arm WA (upper arm switching element 81w) are duty characteristics 151, 153. 155 (see FIG. 14B), voltage fluctuations occur. The DC / DC converter 36 (see FIG. 1) combining these characteristics 150, 152, and 154 has a secondary voltage V2 as a whole. As shown schematically in FIG. 14C, the characteristic 156 is obtained by leveling the unevenness of the voltage fluctuation of each characteristic 150, 152, 154. Generally a characteristic that decreases linearly with changes in the Yuti properties 157 (see FIG. 14D).

  In FIGS. 13A and 13B, as an example, the case where the process of step S11 of FIG. 12 is performed on the drive signals UH, VH, and WH is described. However, in this embodiment, as described above, the switching cycle is performed. During the period of 2π, the drive signal UH and the drive signal UL, the drive signal VH and the drive signal VL, and the drive signal WH and the drive signal WL are generated, respectively. Therefore, when the duty with respect to the drive signals UH, VH, and WH is set to (basic duty-α), basic duty, and (basic duty + α), the PWM calculation processing unit 118 performs the setting of the set drive signals UH, VH, and WH. Corresponding to the duty, the duty of the drive signals UL, VL, WL is also set. In this case, the duty of the drive signals UL, VL, WL is {100− (basic duty−α)}, (100−basic duty), and {100− (basic duty + α)}, respectively. Further, when the duty for the drive signals UH, VH, and WH is set to (basic duty + α), basic duty, and (basic duty−α), the duty of the drive signals UL, VL, WL is {100− (Basic duty + α)}, (100−basic duty), {100− (basic duty−α)}.

  That is, during the step-down operation, the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 16 are repeatedly supplied to the arm switching elements 81u-81w, 82u-82w for driving, In the step-up operation, the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL shown in FIG. 17 or 18 are repeatedly supplied to the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w for driving.

  19A to 19C are graphs showing changes in the secondary voltage V2 when the target voltage of the secondary voltage V2 is actually changed over time and brought close to the primary voltage V1, and FIG. It is a typical graph for demonstrating the graph of FIG. 19C.

  19A to 19C, the graphs on the left side show the case where the processing of FIG. 12 is not applied in the duty region (the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL shown in the time chart of FIG. 8 are armed). The graph on the right side shows the case where the processing of FIG. 12 is applied in the duty region (the drive signals UH, VH, based on FIGS. 13A to 18), when the switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w are supplied. WH, UL, VL, and WL are supplied to the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w). 19A shows a case where the secondary current I2 (= I2A) is relatively low, and FIG. 19B shows a case where the secondary current I2 (= I2B) is higher than I2A (I2A <I2B). Indicates a case where the secondary current I2 (= I2C) is relatively high (I2A <I2B <I2C). Further, FIG. 20 is a graph schematically showing the graphs on the left side of FIGS. 19A to 19C.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 20, in the duty region, the processing of FIG. 12 is not applied, and the drive signals UH, VH, and WH having the same duty are repeatedly supplied to the upper arm switching elements 81 u to 81 w, When the driving signals UL, VL, WL having the same duty are repeatedly supplied to the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w, the one-dot chain line 198 indicating the primary voltage V1 by changing the characteristic 196 of the target voltage of the secondary voltage V2 over time. When the value approaches, the characteristic 194 of the secondary voltage V2 varies with respect to the change in the characteristic 196.

  That is, as shown in the left graphs of FIGS. 19A to 19C, the processing of FIG. 12 is not actually applied in the duty region, and the drive signals UH, VH, and WH having the same duty are applied to the upper arm switching element 81u. -81w is repeatedly supplied. On the other hand, when the drive signals UL, VL, WL having the same duty are repeatedly supplied to the lower arm switching elements 82u-82w, the target voltage characteristics 174, 182 and 190 are changed over time. When approaching the alternate long and short dash lines 176, 184, and 192 indicating the primary voltage V1, the characteristics 160, 164, and 168 of the secondary voltage V2 vary with respect to changes in the characteristics 174, 182, and 190.

  On the other hand, as shown in the graphs on the right side of FIGS. 19A to 19C, in the duty region, the processing of FIG. 12 is applied to drive the drive signals UH, VH, and WH having different duties to the upper arm switching element 81u. If the drive signals UL, VL, WL having different duties are repeatedly supplied to the lower arm switching elements 82u-82w, the target voltage characteristics 170, 178, 186 are changed with time to 1 When approaching the alternate long and short dash lines 172, 180, and 188 indicating the secondary voltage V1, voltage fluctuations in the secondary voltage V2 characteristics 158, 162, and 166 with respect to changes in the characteristics 170, 178, and 186 are reliably suppressed. .

  Accordingly, the processing of FIG. 12 is performed on the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL in all duty regions including the duty region where the voltage conversion in the DC / DC converter 36 becomes unstable. As a result, the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w can be reliably turned on, and the voltage conversion can be performed stably.

  In the above description, the converter control unit 54 performs the process of FIG. 12 on the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL in all duty regions including the duty region. Is unstable voltage conversion by the DC / DC converter 36 in a duty region other than the duty region (duty region in which the on time exceeds the minimum on time or the off time exceeds the minimum on time). Is not particularly problematic, the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w are driven only for the duty region based on the process of FIG. 12, while in the duty region other than the duty region, The upper arm switching elements 81u to 81 with drive signals UH, VH, WH having the same basic duty. It drives the drive signal UL for the same basic duty each other, VL, may drive the lower arm switching element 82u~82w at WL.

  In this case, for example, when it is determined in step S11 in FIG. 12 whether or not the basic duty is a duty in the duty region, and it is determined that the basic duty is a duty in the duty region. On the other hand, when the basic duty is determined not to be a duty within the duty region (a duty other than the duty region), the arm switching elements 81u to 81w are operated with the basic duty. , 82u to 82w are driven.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, even if the target voltage has the same voltage value in all duty regions including the duty region, the target on-time (the arm switching element 81u corresponding to the target voltage). The duty before and after the driving (on) of the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w by the basic duty is centered on the basic duty (target duty) according to the on-time of .about.81w and 82u to 82w). The duty is intentionally shifted from the duty by α (the ON time is intentionally varied), and the arm is set by the basic duty and the front and rear duty {(basic duty + α), (basic duty−α)}. The switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w are driven (turned on). It is.

  Thereby, the voltage fluctuation of the output voltage (for example, secondary voltage V2) of the DC / DC converter 36 is suppressed, and the on / off operation of the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w is surely performed. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the output voltage deviated from the voltage corresponding to the duty (for example, the target value of the secondary voltage V2) from being output from the DC / DC converter 36. Therefore, in this embodiment, the on-time or off-time of the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w is less than the minimum on-time or the minimum off-time. It is preferable.

  Further, even if there is a variation in the minimum on time and the minimum off time between the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w, the duty is set in consideration of the variation, and each arm switching element is set based on the set duty. By turning on or off 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w, voltage conversion in the DC / DC converter 36 can be performed stably.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the fluctuation of the secondary voltage V2 in the duty region in the vicinity of the direct connection state (V1≈V2) shown by the thick dashed line in FIG. 3 can be reliably suppressed. As described above, in the vicinity of the direct connection state, the secondary current I2 by the battery current Ibat from the battery 24 converted by the DC / DC converter 36 is added to the generated current If and supplied to the motor 26 as the motor current Im. In this region, the generated current If greatly changes with a slight change in the generated voltage Vf. Therefore, the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL is intentionally varied to cause the secondary voltage V2 to vary. This embodiment can be suitably applied to the supply of the motor current Im in the vicinity of the direct connection state where more stable and accurate voltage conversion is required for the DC / DC converter 36. .

  Further, in the context of the fuel cell vehicle 20, the effect of this embodiment will be further described. If the power generation current If is continuously supplied only from the fuel cell 22 in the vicinity of the direct connection state, a slight change in voltage will be prevented. If the current fluctuates greatly and the amount of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell 22 is increased or decreased in response to the current variation, the fuel consumption of the fuel cell vehicle 20 is deteriorated, the output of the fuel cell 22 is reduced, and the life is shortened. . Further, when only a drive signal having the same duty is supplied to the DC / DC converter 36 in the vicinity of the direct connection state, the above-described unstable voltage conversion (voltage fluctuation) of the DC / DC converter 36 occurs. Even under such unstable voltage conversion conditions, the DC / DC converter 36 needs to adjust the input / output of power from the battery 24 in response to the voltage fluctuation or the current fluctuation (power fluctuation). As a result, there is a possibility that loss due to the adjustment in the DC / DC converter 36 may occur and fuel consumption of the fuel cell vehicle 20 may be further deteriorated.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as described above, the duty of the drive signals UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL is intentionally varied to reliably suppress the fluctuation of the secondary voltage V2, Since the voltage conversion in the DC / DC converter 36 can be performed more stably, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of loss in the DC / DC converter 36 in the vicinity of the direct connection state and the deterioration of the fuel consumption of the fuel cell vehicle 20. Become.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the converter control unit 54 repeatedly sets the respective duties in the order of the previous duty, the basic duty, and the subsequent duty, the previous duty and the subsequent duty are different from each other, That is, (basic duty + α) is set to the previous duty and (basic duty−α) is set to the subsequent duty, or (basic duty−α) is set to the previous duty. , (Basic duty + α) may be set to the subsequent duty. Thus, the on-time corresponding to the preceding and following duty with respect to the target on-time A corresponding to the basic duty becomes the on-time B and C shifted by a time corresponding to α with respect to the target on-time A, As a result, the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w are turned on in the order of, for example,..., A, B, C, A, B, C,. be able to.

  Further, when the converter control unit 54 repeatedly sets each duty in the order of the previous duty, the basic duty, and the subsequent duty, for the basic duty to be repeated, the (basic duty + α) is set to the duty before and after the basic duty, respectively. May be set to one duty, and (basic duty α) may be set to the other duty. Thus, assuming that one on time is B and the other on time is C with respect to the target on time A, each of the arm switching elements 81u to 81w, 82u to 82w is, for example, A, B, A, C , A, B,... Are turned on in this order, so that even in this case, voltage fluctuation of the secondary voltage V2 can be efficiently suppressed.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the converter control unit 54 turns on the phase arms UA to WA of the DC / DC converter 36 including the three-phase arms, as described with reference to FIGS. The UVW phase arms UA to WA constituting the arm are alternately turned on, and when the alternate turn on is performed, a certain phase arm, for example, the upper arm switching element 81u of the U phase arm UA is turned on (see FIGS. 5 to 7). After that, the lower arm switching element 82u of the U-phase arm UA is turned on (see FIG. 7), and then the upper arm switching element 81v of the V-phase arm VA which is the next phase is turned on (see FIGS. 5 to 7). ), The switching timing is rotated so that the lower arm switching element 82v is turned on in the order of the V-phase arm VA (see FIG. 7).

  That is, in the rotation switching in which the three-phase arm is rotated by switching from the U-phase ON to the V-phase ON to the W-phase ON to the U-phase ON, only one upper arm switching element 81 or the lower arm switching element 82 is turned ON at a time. Therefore, when the upper arm switching element 81 and the lower arm switching element 82 are arranged on the heat sink, an overlapping portion of the heat dissipation path (a portion where the surface area of the heat sink overlaps) is generated. This improves heat dissipation. As a result, the 6in1 module can be reduced in size and weight.

  Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the upper arm switching element 81 (81u to 81w) and the lower arm switching element 82 (82u to 82w) are not simultaneously turned on, and different phase arms UA to WA are simultaneously turned on. Therefore, at most one arm switching element (switching element) is always turned on. Therefore, it has excellent heat dissipation (heat dissipation design is easy).

  In this embodiment, the phase arms UA to WA are switched on and turned on. However, when the phase arms UA to WA are switched on, the upper arm switching elements 81 (81u, 81v) constituting the phase arms UA to WA are switched on. , 81w) or the lower arm switching element 82 (any one of 82u, 82v, 82w) is controlled to turn on.

  Further, by turning on each of the phase arms UA to WA in the above-described order of A, B, A, C, A, B,..., The ON time in each of the phase arms UA to WA varies evenly. . As a result, each phase arm UA to WA is caused by variations in the minimum on-time and the minimum off-time between the upper arm switching element 81 (81u, 81v, 81w) and the lower arm switching element 82 (82u, 82v, 82w). Uneven temperature distribution among the phase arms UA to WA is reduced.

  When the phase arms UA to WA constituting the multiphase arm are alternately turned on, the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w and the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w of a certain phase are alternately turned on regardless of the order. Thereafter, the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w and the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w of the next phase arm can be alternately turned on regardless of the order. Further, when the phase arms UA to WA are turned on alternately, the control is facilitated by performing control so that the phase arms UA to WA are alternately turned on every switching cycle 2π. Control may be made so that the phase arms UA to WA are alternately turned on every two switching cycles of 4π or more.

  As a result, even if there is a variation in the minimum on-time and the minimum off-time between the upper arm switching elements 81u to 81w and the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w, the duty is set in consideration of the variation, and the setting is performed in the order described above. The DC / DC converter 36 can stably perform voltage conversion by turning on the arm switching elements 81u to 81w and 82u to 82w based on the duty.

  Further, the upper arm switching element 81 and / or the lower arm switching elements 82u to 82w may be turned on a plurality of times during one switching period 2π.

  Furthermore, the converter control unit 54 fixes a predetermined phase arm among the phase arms UA to WA to a phase arm that is driven with an on-time corresponding to the basic duty, and the other phase arm has the duty that is varied. It is also possible to fix to a phase arm that is driven with an on-time corresponding to {basic duty + α) and (basic duty−α)} as the front and rear duty. Thus, for example, when each of the phase arms UA to WA is turned on in the above-described order, A, B, C, A, B, C,. It can be easily fixed on the part 54 side.

  Note that this embodiment can be applied not to the three-phase DC / DC converter 36 but to the fuel cell vehicle 20A as a one-phase DC / DC converter 36A as shown in FIG. This embodiment can be applied not only to one phase but also to a plurality of phases of two or more phases.

  In the case of the one-phase DC / DC converter 36A, the converter control unit 54 replaces the processing in step S11 in FIG. 12 with respect to one phase as shown in step S15 in FIG. One duty is set to (basic duty + α) and the other duty is set to (basic duty-α) with respect to the duty before and after the basic duty, or one duty is set to (basic duty) −α) and the other duty is set to (basic duty + α).

  FIG. 23A shows a time chart of the drive signal UH or UL when the process of step S15 is not performed (when there is no variation in duty), and FIGS. 23B and 23C show the case where the process of step S15 is performed (the duty cycle). A time chart of the drive signal UH or UL when there is a variation) is shown.

  In the time chart of the drive signal UH or UL shown in FIG. 23A, when the duty of the drive signal UH or UL is within the range of the duty region in the vicinity of the direct connection state, the drive signal UH or UL having the same duty is armed. When supplied to the switching elements 81u and 82u, a voltage fluctuation of the secondary voltage V2 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10C occurs.

  On the other hand, in the time chart of the drive signal UH or UL shown in FIG. 23B, for the duty of the drive signal UH or UL, a certain duty is set as the basic duty, and the duty before the basic duty is (basic duty + α). And the duty after the basic duty is set to (basic duty−α), or, as shown in FIG. 23C, a certain duty is set to the basic duty, and the duty before the basic duty is set to ( In the same manner as in the case of the three-phase DC / DC converter 36, the voltage fluctuation of the secondary voltage V2 can be reduced by setting the basic duty−α) and setting the duty after the basic duty to (basic duty + α). It can be surely suppressed.

  In this embodiment, the present invention can be applied not to the fuel cell vehicles 20 and 20A but to a battery-driven vehicle (electric vehicle) 21 as shown in FIG. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called parallel or series-parallel hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine, a battery, and a motor.

  Furthermore, the motor 26 is not limited to the vehicle. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a motor for raising and lowering an elevator.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 25, the inverter 34 is replaced with a single-phase load 35, the motor controller 52 is replaced with a load controller 53, the ignition switch 65 is replaced with a power switch 65a, and various sensors 66a. , 67a, 68a can be applied to the fuel cell system 20B. The overall control unit 56 controls the VCU 23 through the converter control unit 54, and as a result, controls the load current IL.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 26, a DC / DC converter 36B that uses three reactors 90u, 90v, and 90w in which the reactors 90u, 90v, and 90w are connected to the midpoints of the UVW phase arms UA to UW, respectively, is also used. You can also.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the DC / DC converter 36 is configured by a series circuit of an upper arm switching element 81u and a diode 84u, and the DC / DC converter device 23 performs only the above-described step-down operation. The DC converter 36 is configured by a series circuit of a diode 83u and a lower arm switching element 82u, and the DC / DC converter device 23 can also be applied to the fuel cell vehicle 20 that performs only the boosting operation described above.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various configurations can be adopted based on the content described in this specification.

1 is a circuit diagram of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the converter control part of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the current-voltage characteristic of a fuel cell. It is a flowchart of the basic control of the DC / DC converter apparatus mounted in the fuel cell vehicle. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage fall operation | movement of a DC / DC converter apparatus. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage rise operation of a DC / DC converter apparatus. It is a time chart which shows the transition of the step-up / step-down operation of the DC / DC converter device. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage fall operation | movement of a DC / DC converter apparatus. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage rise operation of a DC / DC converter apparatus. 10A and 10C are graphs showing changes in the secondary voltage in the boosting operation, and FIGS. 10B and 10D are graphs showing changes in the duty in the boosting operation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the minimum on time and the minimum off time in an arm switching element. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a setting process of a duty of a drive signal in the converter control unit of FIG. 1. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams schematically illustrating setting of the duty of the drive signal in the step-down operation. 14A is a graph showing changes in the secondary voltage of each phase arm after the duty is set, and FIG. 14B is a graph showing changes in the duty corresponding to the target voltage of the secondary voltage in FIG. 14A. FIG. 14D is a graph showing changes in the secondary voltage of the entire DC / DC converter, and FIG. 14D is a graph showing changes in the duty corresponding to the target voltage of the secondary voltage in FIG. 14C. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage fall operation | movement of a DC / DC converter apparatus. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage fall operation | movement of a DC / DC converter apparatus. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage rise operation of a DC / DC converter apparatus. It is a time chart used for operation | movement description of the pressure | voltage rise operation of a DC / DC converter apparatus. 19A to 19C are graphs showing changes in the secondary voltage V2 with respect to changes in the target voltage. It is a typical graph for demonstrating the graph of FIG. 19A-FIG. 19C. 1 is a circuit diagram of a fuel cell vehicle including a one-phase DC / DC converter device. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process of the duty of the drive signal in the converter control part in the DC / DC converter apparatus of FIG. 23A is a time chart of the drive signal when the duty setting process of FIG. 22 is not performed, and FIGS. 23B and 23C are the time of the drive signal when the duty setting process of FIG. 22 is performed. It is a chart. It is a circuit diagram of a battery drive vehicle. It is a circuit diagram of a fuel cell system. It is a circuit diagram of the fuel cell vehicle carrying the DC / DC converter apparatus which has three reactors.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Fuel cell vehicle 22 ... Fuel cell 23 ... DC / DC converter unit (VCU)
24 ... Power storage device (battery) 26 ... Motor 34 ... Inverter 36 ... DC / DC converter 54 ... Converter control unit 81 (81u-81w) ... Upper arm switching element 82 (82u-82w) ... Lower arm switching elements 83u, 83v, 83w, 84u, 84v, 84w ... Diode 90, 90u, 90v, 90w ... Reactor 91 ... Fuel cell output characteristics (current-voltage characteristics)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Basic duty determination part 102 ... Drive duty setting part 108 ... Subtraction part 110 ... PID processing part 112 ... Dividing part 114 ... Addition part 116 ... Phase rotation processing part 118 ... PWM calculation processing part 120 ... Data storage part UA ... U phase Arm VA ... V-phase arm WA ... W-phase arm UH, UL, VH, VL, WH, WL ... Drive signal

Claims (16)

Having at least one switching element;
The DC / DC converter, wherein the switching element is driven at each on-time corresponding to a predetermined target duty and a duty before and after the target duty, which is varied around the target duty. The DC / DC converter according to claim 1, wherein
The previous duty and the subsequent duty are different from each other,
The DC / DC converter, wherein the switching element is driven repeatedly in the order of the preceding duty, the target duty, and the following duty. The DC / DC converter according to claim 1, wherein
The previous duty and the subsequent duty are different from each other,
The DC / DC converter, wherein the switching element is driven at each on-time corresponding to each duty, with the front and rear of the previous duty and the front and back of the subsequent duty as the target duty, respectively. The DC / DC converter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and a control unit that drives the switching element,
The control unit sets the target duty, sets the front and rear duty to a duty that varies around the target duty, and at each on-time corresponding to the target duty and the varied duty. A DC / DC converter device characterized by driving a switching element. The DC / DC converter device according to claim 4,
The DC / DC converter has a multiphase arm in which a plurality of phase arms composed of an upper arm switching element and a lower arm switching element are connected in parallel between a first power device and a second power device,
Whether the control unit alternately turns on the plurality of phase arms and turns on one of the upper arm switching element or the lower arm switching element constituting the phase arm when turning on the phase arm. A DC / DC converter device characterized by being turned on alternately. The DC / DC converter apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
When the control unit alternately turns on the plurality of phase arms, the control unit alternately turns on the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element of a certain phase arm in any order. The DC / DC converter device, wherein the upper arm switching element and the lower arm switching element of the phase arm are alternately turned on regardless of the order. The DC / DC converter device according to claim 6, wherein
The control unit turns on the lower arm switching element of the certain phase arm after turning on the upper arm switching element of the certain phase arm when the plurality of the phase arms are turned on alternately. The DC / DC converter device characterized by turning on the lower arm switching element of the next phase arm after turning on the upper arm switching element of the next phase arm. The DC / DC converter device according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
A DC / DC converter device characterized in that when the plurality of phase arms are switched on and switched on, the phase arms are switched on every switching cycle. In the DC / DC converter device according to any one of claims 5 to 8,
When the upper arm switching element or the lower arm switching element constituting the phase arm is alternately turned on, the control unit alternately turns on the dead time and the phase arm constituting the polyphase arm. The DC / DC converter device is characterized in that it is turned on with alternating dead time. In the DC / DC converter device according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
In the DC / DC converter,
The midpoints of the respective phase arms are commonly connected, and a reactor is inserted between each of the midpoints connected in common and the first power device or the second power device, or the reactor is The number of phases is arranged, one terminal of each reactor is connected to each middle point, the other terminal of each reactor is connected in common, and the other terminal connected in common is the first terminal. A DC / DC converter device, wherein the DC / DC converter device is connected to either one of the first power device and the second power device. The DC / DC converter apparatus of any one of Claims 5-10,
The control unit fixes a predetermined phase arm among the plurality of phase arms to a phase arm that is driven with an on-time corresponding to the target duty, and turns on another phase arm corresponding to the dispersed duty. A DC / DC converter device characterized by being fixed to a phase arm driven by time. The DC / DC converter device according to any one of claims 4 to 11,
The DC / DC converter is disposed between a power storage device as a first power device and a fuel cell as a second power device that drives an inverter-driven motor that generates a regenerative voltage,
The DC / DC converter boosts the voltage of the power storage device and applies the boosted voltage to the inverter, and reduces the regenerative voltage generated in the inverter and applies it to the power storage device during regeneration of the motor. DC / DC converter device.   13. A vehicle comprising the DC / DC converter device according to claim 12, the power storage device, the inverter-driven travel motor, and the fuel cell.   12. A vehicle comprising: the DC / DC converter device according to claim 4; an inverter-driven travel motor that generates a regenerative voltage; and a power storage device.   A fuel cell system, wherein a fuel cell connected to a load and a power storage device are connected to the DC / DC converter device according to any one of claims 4 to 11. At least one switching element is driven in each on-time corresponding to a predetermined target duty and a duty before and after the target duty, which is varied around the target duty. Driving method.

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