BLDC drive control of electric water pump for automotive application

This paper presents the BLDC drive design of water pump system for automotive application. Electric water pumps offer several advantages. Among them, the efficiency is the main reason for electric water pumps. Conventional mechanical water pump is directly connected by the engine belt. For this reason, regardless of coolant circulation, the conventional mechanical water pump is always operated. The way which the mechanical water pump is replaced by electric water pump could reduce energy consumption. Besides, electric vehicle (EV) do not have the internal combustion engine. Therefore, the EV needs a electric water pump for cooling traction motor and inverter. The electric water pump concept is not new and already introduced. However, the papers mainly introduced overall pump system. This paper deals primarily with the design aspects of the BLDC drive for the water pump. The drive requires sustain temperatures of over 110 [°C]. Rated power is 350 [W] and input voltage is 13.5 [V].