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Hello,

I am designing a hybrid vehicle drive system, which needs to use a brushless DC motor/generator (generator to charge battery, battery to apply electricity to motor).

The hybrid drive train consists of a fixed axle, which is connected by sprocket gears to the motor/generator, the axle is hand turned to demonstrate internal combustion engine torque (which is used to spin the unit as a generator).
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However, I am not sure on how to switch between operation as a generator and as a motor...this may be very simple but I am getting confused.

My thoughts are, when the battery is connected by a single path to the motor/generator, the battery will drive the unit as a motor, regardless of the torque applied to the axle by hand turning, therefore not working as a generator and charging the battery?

So my question is, how can I switch between the operations? and is this achievable?

Thank you in advance.

Conceptually, if you are applying torque to the motor in the same direction as the velocity, you are motoring. If you are applying torque in the opposite direction from the velocity, you are generating. The basic theory is that simple.

Now, you must have electronic hardware and logic/software capable of implementing this. You must understand how to apply torque to the brushless motor in the direction you want based on the rotor angle. This is significantly trickier than for a brushed motor.

The fact that you are asking such a basic question means that you really need to get some good basic background in motor & drive theory before you progress much. You have a long (but not insurmountable) learning curve ahead of you.

Good luck!

Curt Wilson
Delta Tau Data Systems