Field

The invention relates to an electric machine, an electric machine system and a method for an electric machine.

Background

A normal commissioning process of a drive-motor package follows well-known steps at the installation site. First, a drive, which comprises a controller, is connected to mains and to an electric motor. Second, the motor rating plate information is manually typed to be used by the drive. Third, the ID- run (Identification-run) is done for the motor before making a mechanical connection between load and the motor. Finally, the motor is mechanically connected with the load. A similar process applies to a generator or electric machines in general.

These steps are cumbersome and slow down commissioning of the electric machine significantly. There is also a possibility to human or machine made error. Hence, there is a need to improve the commissioning and/or control of the electric machine.

Brief description

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the commissioning of an electric machine.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric machine as specified in claim 1.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric machine system in claim 6.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data transmission method for an electric machine system method in claim 15. The invention has advantages. The time for commissioning can be shortened and possibilities for human and/or machine made errors may be reduced.

List of drawings

Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an example of an electric machine;

Figure 2 illustrates an example of an electric machine system; Figure 3 illustrates an example of filtering in the electric machine; and

Figure 4 illustrates of an example of a flow chart of a method for the electric machine system.

Description of embodiments The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specification may refer to "an" embodiment in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words "comprising" and "including" should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may also contain features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned.

It should be noted that while Figures illustrate various embodiments, they are simplified diagrams that only show some structures and/or functional entities. The connections shown in the Figures may refer to logical or physical connections. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the described apparatus may also comprise other functions and structures than those described in Figures and text. It should be appreciated that details of some functions, structures, and the data transfer used for operation and/or controlling are irrelevant to the actual invention. Therefore, they need not be discussed in more detail here.

Figure 1 illustrates an example of an electric machine 100 which comprises a memory component 102 which receives data about the electric machine 100 prior to its use, the data including operational data about the electric machine 100. The electric machine 100 may comprise an electric motor, which converts electric energy to mechanical movement, or an electric generator, which converts mechanical movement to electric energy. The electric motor may be used as the electric generator and vice versa. The use of the electric machine 100, in turn, refers to a state where the electric machine 100 is connected with an actual load 202 (see Figure 2). The load 202 may be a fan, a pump, a compressor, a hoist or the like.

That the electric machine 100 is in the state prior to its use refers to a manufacturing phase, a testing phase or a maintenance phase, i.e. the state or condition of the electric machine 100 is not yet believed to be technically ready to or suitable for the actual or real use. The actual use or the real use may also be considered to be the state of an actual operation or a readiness for the actual operation of the electric machine 100 when it is mechanically connected to the actual load 202 in a location of the use. The state of an actual operation or a readiness for the actual operation i.e. the use of the electric machine 100 may also refer to the time prior to a commissioning or a recommissioning.

ID run information is measured in the factory or at a testing site before the real use of the electric machine 100. The data of the ID run is stored in the memory component 102 which enhances a plug-and-play functionality when the electric machine 100 is at the location of the real use and the commissioning or recommissioning is performed.

The memory component 102 may comprise a memory card which may be loaded with the operational data. The operational data may comprise to rating plate information or the like. Also other kind of data than the operational data may be stored in the memory component 102. In an embodiment, the data may be stored to the memory component 102 when it is attached within or on the electric machine 100 with electric connection with the electric circuitry of the electric machine 100. In an embodiment, the data may be stored in the memory component 102 through electric conductors 104' providing electric power to the electric machine 100 prior to the use. In an embodiment, the electric conductors 104' may refer to an electric connector is on the surface of the electric machine 100 (not shown in Figure 1). In an embodiment, the electric conductors 104' may refer to an electric cable having the electric machine 100 at one end and an electric connector at another end (shown in Figure 1).

In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may be repeatedly removable from and insertable to the electric machine 100. In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may be integrated within or on the electric machine 100 such that it is not removable after it is attached to the electric machine 100 in the manufacturing phase.

In an embodiment, the data may be stored in the memory component 102 when it is removed from the electric machine 100 and has no electric connection with the electric machine 100.

In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may be such as or similar to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory. In an embodiment, the memory component 102 comprises the memory card such as or similar to a Securite Digital (SD) card. In an embodiment, the data may be stored in the memory card when it is removed from the memory component 102 and has no electric connection with the electric machine 100. For the electric machine 100 to be usable, the memory card with the necessary data is inserted in or connected with the memory component 102.

Figure 2 illustrates an example where the memory component 102 outputs the stored data through operational electric power conductors 104 when the electric machine 100 is in use. The electric power conductors 104 may the same as or different from the electric power conductors 104'. Because the electric machine 100 is in use it is connected with the load 202 and thus in an actual operational condition. The operational electric power conductors 104 provide the electric power from the electric power source 200 in the use of the electric machine 100. In more detail, the memory component 102 outputs the data in an automatic manner in response to a reception of electric power to the electric machine 100 in a similar manner to a plug-and-play functionality. The electric power source 200 receives the data output by the memory component 102. That the data output is performed automatically in response to the reception of the electric power refers to a plug-and-play (PnP) functionality or the like. The memory component 102 works with the electric power source 200 right after they are electrically connected via the electric power conductors 104 and electric power is available.

The memory component 102 is electrically connected to an electric circuit 106 of the electric machine 100 for electric operation. The data, which is output by the memory component 102, is used for control of the electric machine 100 in the actual operation. In this manner, human errors in typing can be avoided. Also, no ID run is required at the location of the real use of the electric machine 100, but instead the electric machine 100 can be started immediately after all mechanical and electrical connections have been finished. Because the data from the memory component 102 is the only information which is used, there is no need to make prior art data comparison operations which are time consuming and potentially confusing.

In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may be in connection with the electric circuit 106 of the electric machine 100. In an embodiment, the electric circuit 106 may be connectable with the operational electric power conductors 104. In an embodiment, the electric circuit 106 may be a part of the operational electric power conductors 104. The memory component 102 may receive electric power for its operation simultaneously with the electric machine 100 in response to the connection with the electric power.

In an embodiment, the electric machine 100 may comprise at least one sensor 108, 110 each of which may output usage data relating to at least one property of the electric machine 100 in said use. The at least one sensor 108, 110 may measure the property. In an embodiment, the usage data may be output through the operational electric power conductors 104 to the controller 204. This may be performed without storing it in the memory component 102. In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may receive and store the usage data. In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may store the usage data if the usage data cannot be output through the operational electric power conductors 104. The measured property may be at least one of the following: rotation speed, temperature (of motor, bearing, and/or coil), magnetic flux (of stator), vibration (of machine, rotor, and/or stator). In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may control the supplied electric power on the basis of the usage data from the at least one sensor 108, 110.

Associated with the real operation of the electric machine 100, the sensors 108, 110 may be used to report, to the electric power source 200 via the electric power conductors 104, at least one of the following data: range of rotation speed of the electric machine 100, electrical power, voltage, current, identification information about one or more sensors 108, 110, motor status, temperature(s), field strength, vibrations etc. That the data is transmitted through the electric power conductors 104 allows reduction in sensor cabling between the electric machine 100 and the power source 200.

In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may receive the usage data from the at least one sensor 108, 110 through electric channel which connects the electric component 102 and the sensors 108, 110 directly to each other (not shown in Figure 2). In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may receive the usage data from the at least one sensor 108, 110 through the electric power conductors 106 and store the usage data (shown in Figure 2). The saved usage data may be sent further later or read later during maintenance, for example.

Using the electric power conductors 104 between the power source 200 and electric machine 100 for communication allows fast commissioning which, in turn, lowers the labor during commissioning.

In an embodiment an example of which is illustrated in Figure 3, the electric circuit 106 of the electric machine 100 may comprise an electrical filtering arrangement 112 which may separate the usage data from the electric power flow in the operational electric power conductors 104 for the memory component 102. The filtering arrangement 112 improves the signal-noise-ratio of the data transfer, for example.

The filtering techniques, per se, are known by the person skilled in the art. In general, the waveform of the signal usage data is different from the electric power flow in the operational electric power conductors 104 which enables the separation by the filtering.

In an embodiment, the electrical filtering arrangement 112 may perform analog and/or digital filtering. The analog filtering may be based on analog modulation, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the analog filtering may be based on analog multiplexing, for example. The digital filtering may be based on digital modulation. The digital filtering may be based on coding, for example.

The analog modulation may be based on amplitude modulation, phase shift modulation, frequency modulation, or the like for example. The analog filtering may be based on frequency division multiplexing and/or time division multiplexing, for example. The digital modulation may be based on amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, or the like for example.

In an embodiment, the memory component 102 may output said data in response to the electric power received by the electric machine 100 which is temporarily lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to the electric power required for operation of the memory component 102. In this manner, there is a possibility to transmit the data from the memory component 100 to the electric power source 200, in a lowered noise level, within a few millisecond long pauses of operational power in at least one of the phases. A user may be informed that the memory component 102 may outputs or is outputting the data. The user may be informed through a user interface such as a screen, indication lamp, and/or an electroacoustic transduces that the output has started, is going on and/or has ended.

The moment when the electric power received by the electric machine

100 is temporarily lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 may be before starting the electric machine in the actual use for the first time. That may be performed at a location of the actual use of the electric machine 100. In such a case, the manufacturer has delivered, after purchase or exchange of the rights, the electric machine 100 to the location of the actual use which may have been addressed by the holder or owner of the electric machine 100.

Figure 2 also illustrates an electric machine system. The electric power source 200, which comprises or is connected with the operational electric power conductors 104 for providing electrical power to the electric machine 100, controls the electric machine 100 in said use of the electric machine 100 on the basis of said data received from the memory component 102. The data from the memory component 102 requires no verification in the electric power source 200. However, the data from the memory component 102 may be checked by an error detection algorithm. If an error is detected, a user may be informed about it and the start of the electric machine 100 may be inhibited. Additionally, the data from the memory component 102 may be corrected by an error correction algorithm. If the error can be corrected, the start of the electric machine 100 may be allowed. The power source 200 may have no operational data and/or any other data about the electric machine 100 prior to the reception of the data from the memory component 102. This may apply to the first start of the electric machine 100, for example. If the power source 200 has operational data and/or some other data about the electric machine 100 prior to the reception of the data from the memory component 102, the data may be ignored or deleted. This may apply to starts after maintenance of the electric machine 100, for example.

In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may restrict the control of the electric machine 100 to said data from the memory component 100. The restriction may be performed such that if the power source 200 has operational data and/or some other data about the electric machine 100 prior to the reception of the data from the memory component 102, the data is ignored or deleted. In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may provide temporarily the electric machine 100 with electric power lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to the electric power required for operation of the memory component 102 for data transfer. The memory component 102 may transmit the data to the electric power source 200 during the temporary period of the electric power lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to the electric power required for operation of the memory component 102. In a similar manner, the sensors 108, 110 may transmit the usage data during the temporary period of the electric power lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to the electric power required for operation of the memory component 102.

In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may provide temporarily the electric machine 100 with electric power associated with a first start of the electric machine 100, the electric power being lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to the electric power required for operation of the memory component 102.

In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may provide the electric machine 100 with periods of the electric power lower than the electric power required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to the electric power required for operation of the memory component 102, a duration of the periods being equal to or less than 10 ms. Each period may last one to a few milliseconds, for example.

In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may provide temporarily the electric machine 100 with voltage in one phase of the three phase system lower than voltage required for operation of the electric machine 100 but higher than or equal to voltage required for operation of the memory component 102.

In these manners, there is a possibility to transmit the data from the memory component 100 to the electric power source 200 and/or to check, in a lowered noise level, the electric machine status within a few millisecond long pauses of operational power in at least one of the phases.

In an embodiment, the electric power source 200 may comprise a controller 204, which may save said data received from the memory component 102 and control the electric output of the electric power source 200 on the basis of said data. The data from the memory component 102 requires no verification in the controller 204.

The data from the memory component 102 may have or the memory component 102 may include redundancy to the data for an error correction. The controller 204 may check the data from the memory component 102 on the basis an error detection algorithm. If the controller 204 detects an error in the data, the controller 204 may inform a user about it using a visual or an audio signal. The visual signal may be observable on the screen and the audio signal may come from the electroacoustic transducer or the like. The controller 204 may inhibit the start of the electric machine 100 when an error is detected in the data from the memory component 102. It is also possible that the controller 204 corrects the data from the memory component 102 with an error correction algorithm. When the error is corrected, the controller 204 may allow the start of the electric machine 100.

The data from the memory component 102 may have or the memory component 102 may include authentication information to the data for an authentication check. The controller 204 may then check authentication of the data from the memory component 102 on the basis an authentication algorithm. Thus, the data itself may not be verified or compared to a reference but the data from the memory component 102 may be authentication checked which increases the reliability of the data.

In an embodiment, an electric circuit 206 of the electric machine source 200 comprises an electric filter 206 which is connected to the electric power conductors 104 and the controller 204. The electric filter 206 may separate the data about the electric machine 100 from the electric power flow in the operational electric power conductors 104 for the controller 204. The electric power flow may comprise the operational power for the electric machine 100 and noise, for example. The electric filter 206 improves signal-noise-ratio in the data transfer.

Novel features in the method may be listed as follows:

1. Both power supply to the electric machine 100 and communication between the electric machine 100 and the electric power source 200 may be performed utilizing electric power conductors 104 (i.e. mains connection cables),

2. possibility to check the status of the electric machine 100 at each start and/or during the use of the electric machine.

With the communication setup described above, it is possible to communicate following information, for example:

- rating plate data stored into the IoT hardware of the electric machine 100 which allows a real universal plug and play functionality,

- ID run information measured and set on the factory which enhances the plug and play functionality, and

- status information based on sensors of the electric machine 100.

In more details, when at least some of the above mentioned communication features are incorporated into the communication, it allows an easier commissioning by skipping time consuming and unnecessary steps used in a typical commissioning of an electric machine. It also allows the electric machine 100 to inform its true status to the power source 200 to i.e. change switching frequency according to motor temperature and, if flux information is provided by the sensors 108, 110, allow the power source 200 to optimize the control on the basis of the information.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of the data transmission method. In step 400, data, stored in the memory component 102 prior to use of the electric machine 200 and including operational data about the electric machine 100, is output in an automatic manner in response to reception of electric power to the electric machine (100) from a memory component 102, which is within or on an electric machine 100, through operational electric power conductors 104, which provide the electric power in said use. In step 402, the electric machine 100 in said use is controlled by an electric power source 200, which is connected with the operational electric power conductors 104 for providing electrical power to the electric machine 100, on the basis of said data from the memory component 102.

The method shown in Figure 4 may be implemented as a logic circuit solution or computer program. The computer program may be stored on a computer program distribution means for the distribution thereof. The computer program distribution means is readable by the memory component 102, and it encodes the computer program commands for the automatic output of the data.

The computer program may be distributed using a distribution medium which may be any medium readable by the memory component 102. The medium may be a program storage medium, a memory, a software distribution package, or a compressed software package. In some cases, the distribution may be performed using at least one of the following: a near field communication signal, a short distance signal, and a telecommunications signal.

Benefits of this solution are a simpler installation and reduction in work hours needed to spend in doing the cabling, data typing, and data comparison. The business benefits can be listed as a faster and easier commissioning through communication between the power source 200 and the electric machine 100 via the electric power conductors 106.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the example embodiments described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.