Optimal engine operating power management strategy for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain

• US 10,023,175 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kozarekar, Shailesh, Kuang, Ming, Supina, Joseph, Syed, Fazal, Andreae, Morgan, Freyermuth, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US13/273,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20120059565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,468 Days
• Field of Search: 701110
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 Combustion engine

Abstract

A method for managing power in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having multiple components including at least two of a group comprising an engine, a motor, a generator and a high voltage battery includes computing power losses for the individual components. An engine operating speed and torque for a given vehicle speed and total power command is determined so that total power losses for powertrain components are minimized.

Claims

1. An engine power management method for a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a generator, an electric motor, and a traction battery, the engine coupled through a planetary gearset to the generator, the electric motor, and vehicle wheels, the method comprising:

receiving a vehicle speed signal and a total power command associated with a current driver demanded power;

calculating power losses for the engine, the generator, the electric motor, the traction battery, and the planetary gearset using the vehicle speed and the total power command;

combining the power losses to obtain a total powertrain loss;

determining a target engine speed based on the total powertrain loss in response to the total power command;

adjusting engine torque to a value corresponding to the target engine speed; and

controlling rate of increase of the engine speed until the target engine speed corresponding to a changed total power command is attained.