Vehicle comprising a vehicle system controller for controlling energy flows within the vehicle

• US 10,106,144 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Askerdal, Mikael, Åsbogard, Mattias
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/106,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/00 Converter types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/20 Energy converters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev

Abstract

A vehicle system controller is configured to determine a current buffer ratio for a first energy buffer based on a current buffer energy level for the first energy buffer and a predetermined buffer range for the first energy buffer, and determine if the current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer should be increased using energy provided by a power converter, the determination being based on the current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer and a cost for generating energy from energy stored in a second energy buffer using the power converter.

Claims

1. A vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a first energy buffer, the first energy buffer having a buffer energy level that can Increase or decrease based on the operation of the vehicle;

a second energy buffer, the second energy buffer having a buffer energy level that can increase or decrease based on the operation of the vehicle;

a power converter operationally connected to the first and the second energy buffer, and

a vehicle system controller, the vehicle system controller being configured to;

determine a current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer based on a current buffer energy level for the first energy buffer and a predetermined buffer range for the first energy buffer, and

determine If the current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer should be increased using energy provided by the power converter from energy stored In the second energy buffer, the determination being based on the current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer and a cost for generating energy from energy stored in the second energy buffer using the power converter.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cost for generating energy from energy stored in the second energy buffer using the power converter Is based on an efficiency of the power converter and a valuation of the energy stored In the second energy buffer.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein determining If the current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer should be increased is further based on a comparison between a current valuation of energy stored In the first energy buffer and the cost for generating energy from energy stored In the second energy buffer using the power converter.

4. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power converter comprises at least one of a generator comprised with the vehicle and a combination of an engine and the generator comprised with the vehicle.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the engine is a combustion engine.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the combustion engine is comprised with a driveline for propelling the vehicle.

7. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first buffer comprises at least one of a battery, a capacitor, a heat storage device such as a passenger compartment, or a flywheel.

8. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second buffer comprises at least one of a battery and a fuel tank.

9. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the power converter comprises an air conditioning unit (110) and the first buffer Is a passenger compartment.

10. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein determining If the current buffer ratio for the first energy buffer should be Increased is further based on topographic Information relating to the present and future operation of the vehicle.

11. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the power converter Is an electrically powered air conditioning unit, the first buffer being an enclosed passenger compartment having an Inside temperature at least partly adjusted during operation of the air conditioning unit, and the second buffer being an electrical energy storage such as a battery.

12. A computer readable medium storing a program for implementing power distribution management in a vehicle system controller comprised with a vehicle as claimed in claim 1.