PDC,PIM and IDCM usage in Electric vehicle

[Sagar Bopche]

Hi All,
I want to know about the usage of PDC, PIM and IDCM in electric vehicle.
What are there function and how much they weigh etc
Please let me know any database or study material where I can get this information

 

[GregLocock]

The usual way of finding weights is to contact the manufacturers of said items, or buy a tear down report such as from Sandy Munro.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[Sagar Bopche]

Thanks Greg
Any help on functioning of those sub system

 

[BrianPetersen]

Explain your acronyms.

 

[Sagar Bopche]

PDC : Power distribution Centre
PIM : Inverter Module
IDCM : Integrated dual channel module

All this part used in Electric vehicle

 

[BrianPetersen]

No one has taken a crack at this, so I will.

"Power distribution centre" The battery module contains power contactors that are generally built inside the enclosure of the battery module; those are the contactors that enable battery power to the rest of the car and isolate the high-voltage power circuit in the event of a problem. There's a high-voltage cable from the battery to a distribution block/box that in turn has connections (via cables) to the drive motor inverter(s), the HVAC compressor motor, the charging module, HVAC interior heater (if equipped), and the DC-to-DC power unit that supplies power to the nominal 12-volt circuits in the car. Is that the thing you are talking about? It's just a box with a bunch of contactors in it and some control circuits ... There is no "standard" design for these, everyone has their own variations, hence the recommendation above to study Sandy Munro's teardown videos. Another good one, although the vehicle itself can now be considered somewhat outdated, the concepts and general designs still apply:

https://youtu.be/r37nqfnV9EU

"Power inverter module" ... those are either bolted directly to the drive motor, or if it is in a separate box, connected via high-voltage cables a short distance away from the drive motor. This is the box that turns DC in the battery to AC to operate the drive motor at a power level corresponding to driver demand (i.e. accelerator position), or vice-versa in case of regenerative braking. There is no "standard design" for these, either. The cost and weight and space of drive system parts like these, is a source of competitive advantage (or disadvantage) for each manufacturer, and they've all made improvements over the years. Again, see teardown videos.

"Integrated dual channel module" ... within the space of electrical components installed on a vehicle, I have no clue what this is, or might be.

There is a very strong push, due to cost and reliability pressure, to integrate and combine as many of these functions as possible. For example, nowadays, the vehicle designs widely considered to be "better" have the inverter module directly attached to the drive motor with no interconnecting cables, and perhaps that "power distribution centre" integrates the battery-charger and power inverter for HVAC and DC-to-DC interface to the 12-volt circuits into the same box so that there are fewer interconnecting cables and fewer connecting points.

 

[Sagar Bopche]

Thanks Brain for the valuable inputs