I-Corps: Control and Diagnostics of Electronically Commutated Motor Systems

电子换向电机(ECM)广泛应用于暖通空调(HVAC)系统、制冷和制冷机组等领域。现有系统中ECM的常规控制和诊断方法是手动完成的，需要中断这些单元的正常运行。这增加了ECM的维护、控制和诊断的相关成本和时间。该提案要求支持将为电子换向电机(ECM)的控制和诊断开发的无线数据采集系统商业化，该系统可以通过改进电机参数来节省能源和成本。拟议的技术提供了几个好处，包括节省成本和能源，并消除了对ECM的手动控制和定期维护的需要。拟议的技术将通过无线接入ECM参数来收集所需的机器性能参数，从而大大便利数百万暖通空调系统、制冷和冷却设备中的这些设备的维护。该技术的创新之处在于将蓝牙通信与新颖的天线实现引入ECM中，从而使无线通信能够克服这一挑战。这是通过设计和实现新颖和模块化的射频(RF)接口电路来实现的，该接口电路由电机外壳中ECM的现有电力电子控制电路供电，而不会影响其性能。该新型射频电路可以与现有的ECM系统接口，也可以在制造过程中集成。通过使用倒数频率计数器的方法，提高了通信的准确性。这项技术使传统的ECM成为一种“智能”的ECM，并使它们能够与搭载Android或iOS软件平台的智能手机进行无线通信。拟议的技术拥有潜在的客户群体，包括暖通空调系统、制冷和冷却设备的原始设备制造商(OEM)、服务提供商、分销商以及工业、商业自动化和控制提供商。这笔资金将帮助i-Corps项目团队进一步探索领域，以扩大客户基础，并准确地确定集团中的潜在客户，以拥有正确的商业模式和计划执行。

Electronically commutated motors (ECMs) are used widespread in several applications including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, cooling and refrigeration units. The conventional way of control and diagnostics of ECMs in existing systems have been done manually and require interruption of regular operation of these units. This increases the associated cost and time for maintenance, control and diagnostics of ECMs. This proposal requests support to commercialize a wireless data acquisition system that has been developed for control and diagnostics of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) that can lead to energy and cost savings with improved electric machine parameters. The proposed technology provides several benefits including cost and energy savings, and eliminates the need for the manual control and periodic maintenance of ECMs. The proposed technology will facilitate significantly the maintenance of these units in millions of HVAC systems, refrigeration and cooling units by providing wireless access to ECM parameters for collection of the required machine performance parameters. The innovation in the proposed technology introduces Bluetooth communication with novel antenna implementation into ECMs while they are in an enclosure and enables wireless communication to overcome this challenge. This is done with the design and implementation of novel and modular radio frequency (RF) interface circuit which is powered from the existing power electronics control circuitry of ECM in motor housing without impeding upon its performance. The novel RF circuit can be interfaced with the existing ECM systems or integrated during the manufacturing process. The accuracy of the communication is enhanced by using the reciprocal frequency counter method. This technology makes conventional ECM a "smart" ECM and gives them wireless communication capability with smart phones which have android or IOS software platforms. The proposed technology has potential customer groups including OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), service providers, distributors, and industrial, commercial automation and control providers for HVAC systems, refrigeration and cooling units. The funding will help the I-Corps project team to explore the areas further to expand the customer base and identify accurately the potential customers in the groups to have the right business model and plan execution.