Arrangement for electric power conversion and dual electric drive

A system, comprising:

• an arrangement, wherein the arrangement comprises:
• first and second power converters respectively comprising at least three legs;
• first and second electric motors respectively including at least three open-end stator windings, wherein each of the at least three open-end stator windings respectively having first and second ends;
• first and second power switches, wherein
• the first ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor are respectively connected to the at least three legs of the first power converter,
• the first ends of the open-end stator windings of the second electric motor are respectively connected to the at least three legs of the second power converter,
• the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor are connected together, wherein the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor have a same electric potential,
• the second ends of the stator windings of the second electric motor are connected together, wherein the second ends of the stator windings of the second electric motor have a same electric potential,
• the first power switch is configured to selectively disconnect one end of the second ends of the stator windings of the first electric motor from all other ends of the second ends of the stator windings of the first electric motor and establish at most two distinct electric potentials, and
• the second power switch is configured to selectively disconnect one end of the second ends of the stator windings of the second electric motor from all other end of the second ends of the stator windings of the second electric motor and establish at most two further distinct electric potentials, wherein the system further comprises:
• a power grid interface connected to the first and second electric motors of the arrangement;
• an energy storage interface connected to the first and second power converters of the arrangement;
• and
• an energy storage connected to the energy storage interface.

A method of operating an arrangement for electric power conversion and dual electric drive, wherein the arrangement includes:

• first and second power converters respectively having at least three legs,
• first and second electric motors respectively including at least three open-end stator windings, wherein each of the at least three open-end stator windings respectively having first and second ends,
• first and second power switches, wherein
• the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor are connected together and the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor have a same electric potential, and
• the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the second electric motor are connected together, and the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the second electric motor have a same electric potential,
• the method comprising:
• respectively connecting the first ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor to the three legs of the first power converter;
• respectively connecting the first ends of the open-end stator windings of the second electric motor to the three legs of the second power converter;
• selectively disconnecting, using the first power switch, one end of the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor from all other ends of the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the first electric motor and establishing two distinct electric potentials;
• and
• selectively disconnecting, using the second power switch, one end of the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the second electric motor from all other ends of the second ends of the open-end stator windings of the second electric motor and establishing two distinct electric potentials.