Abstract: A method for controlling a modular multi-level converter including a multiplicity of modules having at least one energy storage unit and a plurality of controllable switches. The modular multi-level converter is controlled by pulse-width-modulated control signals. A respective control signal is generated on the basis of a respective carrier signal having a phase shift relative to the respective module, and on the basis of at least one reference signal. As a result of a comparison, based on a size comparison, of a signal profile of the respective carrier signal with the at least one reference signal, a connection time of the at least one energy storage unit of the respective module to a load current is triggered. The signal profile of the respective carrier signal is modified by at least one change within three degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A method for a safety concept for an AC battery, in which the AC battery includes a central controller, a plurality of battery modules which respectively have a power board with a plurality of switching states, a plurality of contactors, a plurality of current sensors, a fault loop and a high-speed bus and is connected to a traction machine. The central controller has a hardware-programmable processor unit with at least one microprocessor core on which a control program is configured to control the battery modules, the plurality of contactors and the fault loop. A state machine is implemented by the control program. The battery modules are connected, starting from the central controller, via the high-speed bus and the fault loop. If an abort fault occurs, the AC battery is changed to a safe operating state. The safe state is achieved at least by emergency disconnection of the central controller.

Abstract: A method for state-of-charge monitoring of an AC battery, in which the battery includes a central controller having a scheduler, measuring sensors and at least two battery modules. The at least two battery modules each have at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which connect the respective battery module in series or in parallel or in bypass with another battery module. The battery is controlled by the central controller, and a respective switching state of the at least two battery modules is preset by the scheduler. The state-of-charge monitoring is implemented by a control program within the scheduler. During operation of the battery, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored by virtue of a respective current flow at a respective energy storage element being determined using continued evaluation of measured values of preset battery parameters which are detected by measuring sensors.

Abstract: A method for AC-charging an intelligent battery pack, which is connected to a charging column and has at least two battery modules, which each comprise at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which interconnect the respective battery module in series or in parallel with another battery module. The battery pack is connected for charging with alternating current provided by the charging column by a charging circuit, which includes a filter and a rectifier. According to the method, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored. In accordance with a continued evaluation of the states of the respective energy storage elements, a terminal voltage of the battery pack is adjusted by way of dynamic actuation of the power semiconductor switches to a voltage provided by the rectifier.

Abstract: A method for switching control of a multi-level converter. The multi-level converter has a plurality of modules. A total switching state is formed from respective module switching states of the plurality of modules by the switching control. A current state of charge of all energy stores of the multi-level converter is provided continuously to the switching control. The switching control is divided into an offline part and an online part, wherein, in the offline part, a plurality of offline switching tables is calculated by way of optimizers in a continuous sequence and, for calculation of a respective offline switching table of the plurality of offline switching tables, a respective cost function is minimized according to at least one predefined offline optimization criterion for evaluating the total switching state. In the online part, an online switching table is selected from the plurality of offline switching tables in a continuous sequence.

Abstract: A method controls switching states of a multi-level converter with multiple modules. Each module has: terminals on a first and second side; controllable switches; and an energy store in series with a first switch in a first connection between the terminals. A second switch is arranged in a connection between the terminals. The control of the switching states is divided into a real-time and offline part. In the real-time part, for each time step: a voltage level is allocated to a voltage requirement; a total switching state is determined in a first switching table for the voltage level; and the total switching state is passed on as a control signal to the switches. In the offline part: a second switching table is calculated, resulting in accordance with a minimization of a cost function.

Abstract: A method for configuring a battery for operation of at least two N-phase electric machines, in which a battery includes a plurality of energy modules, and the energy modules each have at least one energy cell and at least two power switches. A respective N-phase electric machine is assigned a respective group of the plurality of energy modules, and the assignment is carried out in accordance with an estimation of a respective energy consumption of the respective N-phase electric machines on the basis of a respective load of the respective N-phase electric machines which load is to be assumed.

Abstract: A method for state-of-charge monitoring of an AC battery, in which the battery includes a central controller having a scheduler, measuring sensors and at least two battery modules. The at least two battery modules each have at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which connect the respective battery module in series or in parallel or in bypass with another battery module. The battery is controlled by the central controller, and a respective switching state of the at least two battery modules is preset by the scheduler. The state-of-charge monitoring is implemented by a control program within the scheduler. During operation of the battery, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored by virtue of a respective current flow at a respective energy storage element being determined using continued evaluation of measured values of preset battery parameters which are detected by measuring sensors.

Abstract: A method for a safety concept for an AC battery, in which the AC battery includes a central controller, a plurality of battery modules which respectively have a power board with a plurality of switching states, a plurality of contactors, a plurality of current sensors, a fault loop and a high-speed bus and is connected to a traction machine. The central controller has a hardware-programmable processor unit with at least one microprocessor core on which a control program is configured to control the battery modules, the plurality of contactors and the fault loop. A state machine is implemented by the control program. The battery modules are connected, starting from the central controller, via the high-speed bus and the fault loop. If an abort fault occurs, the AC battery is changed to a safe operating state. The safe state is achieved at least by emergency disconnection of the central controller.

Abstract: A method for switching control of a multi-level converter. The multi-level converter has a plurality of modules. A total switching state is formed from respective module switching states of the plurality of modules by the switching control. A current state of charge of all energy stores of the multi-level converter is provided continuously to the switching control. The switching control is divided into an offline part and an online part, wherein, in the offline part, a plurality of offline switching tables is calculated by way of optimizers in a continuous sequence and, for calculation of a respective offline switching table of the plurality of offline switching tables, a respective cost function is minimized according to at least one predefined offline optimization criterion for evaluating the total switching state. In the online part, an online switching table is selected from the plurality of offline switching tables in a continuous sequence.

Abstract: A method controls switching states of a multi-level converter with multiple modules. Each module has: terminals on a first and second side; controllable switches; and an energy store in series with a first switch in a first connection between the terminals. A second switch is arranged in a connection between the terminals. The control of the switching states is divided into a real-time and offline part. In the real-time part, for each time step: a voltage level is allocated to a voltage requirement; a total switching state is determined in a first switching table for the voltage level; and the total switching state is passed on as a control signal to the switches. In the offline part: a second switching table is calculated, resulting in accordance with a minimization of a cost function.

Abstract: A method for DC-charging an intelligent battery pack, which is connected to a charging column and has at least two battery modules. Each battery module includes at least two power semiconductor switches and at least one energy storage element. The battery pack is connected for charging by way of a connection circuit. A state of each individual energy storage element is monitored, wherein, in accordance with a continued evaluation of the states of the respective energy storage elements, a respective series and/or parallel interconnection of the respective battery modules among one another within the battery pack is configured dynamically by way of actuation of the power semiconductor switches.

Abstract: A vehicle having an energy storage element including a drive inverter and a charging unit. The energy storage element further includes a first control apparatus, modules, an interconnection apparatus, and two first poles, the drive inverter is connected to said two first poles. Each modules of said modules has an energy storage unit. The interconnection apparatus has connections between the modules and first switches provided on the connections in order to allow different interconnections of the modules and different voltages at the first poles based on a state at the first switches. Different interconnections of the modules allow at least two interconnections from the group of interconnections. The first control apparatus is configured to actuate the interconnection apparatus based on a voltage setpoint value in order to influence the different voltages at the two first poles based on the voltage setpoint value.

Abstract: An energy storage element for providing a voltage has a first control apparatus and modules, which modules each have an energy storage unit, a connection unit and a module control apparatus. The connection units are connected between two associated modules and have first switches and which connection units are designed to enable, on the basis of the state of the first switches, at least two connections from the group of connections including parallel connection of two modules, serial connection of two modules, bridging of at least one of the two modules which first control apparatus and which module control apparatus are together designed to make it possible to change the control of the associated connection unit during use of the energy storage element in order to reconfigure the energy storage element. The first control apparatus is designed to control the module control apparatuses.

Abstract: A method is provided for an energy transmission between at least two energy stores (914, 924) in a respective zero system of at least two n-phase electric machines (912, 922), in which one respective n-phase electric machine (912, 922) has a field winding that is brought together at a star point. The respective field winding is provided with n-windings corresponding to respective n-phases and has a neutral point (902), a respective energy store (914, 924) is assigned, and an electric connection is established in terms of circuitry between windings of corresponding phases, or between the neutral points (902) of the respective field windings of the at least two n-phase electric machines (912, 922) and a respective identical pole of the energy stores (914, 924). Thus, an energy transmission between the at least two energy stores (914, 924) that have a different charge state is carried out.

Abstract: A method for improving the modulation index using an intelligent battery pack, in which method a battery pack includes a plurality of freely interconnectable energy modules. An energy module has at least one energy cell and at least two switches, and in which method series or parallel interconnection of a respective energy module with at least one adjacent energy module of the battery pack is implemented by a controller. A terminal voltage of the battery pack, which terminal voltage results from the respective interconnection, is adjusted in accordance with a respectively prespecified load demand on at least one N-phase electrical machine. The terminal voltage is connected as an input voltage to at least one multi-stage inverter, and an N-phase alternating current for supplying a respective N-phase electrical machine is formed by the at least one multi-stage inverter on the basis of a level of the input voltage.

Abstract: A method for improving the modulation index using an intelligent battery pack, in which method a battery pack includes a plurality of freely interconnectable energy modules. An energy module has at least one energy cell and at least two switches, and in which method series or parallel interconnection of a respective energy module with at least one adjacent energy module of the battery pack is implemented by a controller. A terminal voltage of the battery pack, which terminal voltage results from the respective interconnection, is adjusted in accordance with a respectively prespecified load demand on at least one N-phase electrical machine. The terminal voltage is connected as an input voltage to at least one multi-stage inverter, and an N-phase alternating current for supplying a respective N-phase electrical machine is formed by the at least one multi-stage inverter on the basis of a level of the input voltage.

Abstract: A method for AC-charging an intelligent battery pack, which is connected to a charging column and has at least two battery modules, which each comprise at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which interconnect the respective battery module in series or in parallel with another battery module. The battery pack is connected for charging with alternating current provided by the charging column by a charging circuit, which includes a filter and a rectifier. According to the method, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored. In accordance with a continued evaluation of the states of the respective energy storage elements, a terminal voltage of the battery pack is adjusted by way of dynamic actuation of the power semiconductor switches to a voltage provided by the rectifier.

Abstract: A method for configuring a battery for operation of at least two N-phase electric machines, in which a battery includes a plurality of energy modules, and the energy modules each have at least one energy cell and at least two power switches. A respective N-phase electric machine is assigned a respective group of the plurality of energy modules, and the assignment is carried out in accordance with an estimation of a respective energy consumption of the respective N-phase electric machines on the basis of a respective load of the respective N-phase electric machines which load is to be assumed.

Abstract: A vehicle having an energy storage element including a drive inverter and a charging unit. The energy storage element further includes a first control apparatus, modules, an interconnection apparatus, and two first poles, to which first poles the drive inverter is connected. The modules each have an energy storage unit. The interconnection apparatus has connections between the modules and first switches provided on the connections, in order to allow different interconnections of the modules and different voltages at the first poles on the basis of the state at the first switches. Different interconnections of the modules allow at least two interconnections from the group of interconnections. The first control apparatus is configured to actuate the interconnection apparatus on the basis of a voltage setpoint value in order to influence the voltage at the first poles on the basis of the voltage setpoint value.