Power Transfer in DC Chopper Motor Drive

Under the guidance of the Electric Vehicle Demonstration Act, administered by the Department of Energy, Office of Transportation Programs, the energy efficiency of a dc chopper motor drive was investigated [1]. With the aid of a data acquisition system, data points were taken for a parametric load profile at multiple constant speed settings. The data points were used to determine motor performance when energized from a dc source; and to determine motor performance and heat loss when receiving energy from the propulsion battery through the dc controller. Power losses in the dc controller and the propulsion battery were also determined during the latter test run. The constant speed and parametric load torque performance data are converted into constant power/torque variable speed data and presented graphically.