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CAN in Power Electronics

Jimit Doshi
Prodigy 170 points

Hello All,

I am considering using CAN for a networked power converter system application. This project has "n" number of power converters/inverters/renewable sources/battery management systems etc. that need to communicate and CAN seems to be a good choice.

Is there a particular higher level CAN standard in place for Power Electronics applications ? I did a basic search but couldn't come up with anything relevant.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jimit.

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 20590 points

    Hi Jimit,

     

    I don't know of a high level CAN protocol specific to power applications.  However CANopen is a widely used standard for many non automotive CAN applications including industrial, elevators, heating/cooling, etc.  CANopen has  some application specific profiles, I don't remember seeing a Power one, but it might exist.  We use CANopen often for their cabling, wiring and other specifications and implementation references which are practical and clear ways to implement CAN systems. 

     

    -- Scott

  • 0 in reply to Scott Monroe
    Prodigy 170 points

    Hi Scott,

    You are right. There doesn't seem to be a CAN application layer protocol specifically for Power Electronics/ Converters. In that case, is there any other standard communication protocol in place (apart from CAN) specifically targeted for power converters ? 

    My search shows SNMP being quite common for UPS management applications and more recently Power Line Communication gaining popularity.

    Am I missing something?

  • 0 in reply to Jimit Doshi
    TI__Mastermind 20590 points

    I don't think you are missing anything.  CAN and Ethernet are both very flexible protocols and physical layers but have some key differences.  Ethernet is point to point and generally requires switches to form a topology where as CAN is a bus and only needs to be terminated at the end.  Data rates are very different, but CAN FD is coming which will increase the data rates in CAN networks. 

     

    We have designs in UPS using both technologies, it depends on the end goals of the system architecture, features needed and cost.  Power Line Communication is very different than either of these. 

     

    In industrial interface and networking there are many different base interface technologies and then even more protocol extensions on top of those base technologies.  Within CAN and Ethernet there are at least 15 different protocol / application layers on top in both camps.  It really allows for a good trade off on what is the most important topics for the system and then putting the applicable networking and protocol support in place to get to those goals.  

     

    -- Scott