METHOD FOR ESTIMATING ENGINE POWER IN A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE POWERTRAIN
First Claim
1. A method for estimating power of an engine in a powertrain for a hybrid electric vehicle to determine desired driving torque at vehicle traction wheels, the powertrain having a motor, a generator and gearing that drivably couples the engine, the motor and the generator, the method comprising the steps of:
- computing a current motor torque in repetitive time samples;
computing a current generator torque in repetitive time samples;
computing a desired traction wheel torque as a function of the current motor torque and the current generator torque at a given instant in a repetitive time sampling; and
computing estimated engine power as a function of the generator torque and the motor torque computed at an earlier instant in the time sampling whereby engine power accuracy is improved during operation of the powertrain with transient changes in the desired traction wheel torque.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for estimating engine power output for an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain that includes an electric motor and an electric generator. Selected powertrain variables, including electric motor torque and electric generator torque, are used in determining desired vehicle traction wheel torque and an estimated engine power. A calibrated delay in calculating estimated engine power following a time sampling of the values for motor torque and generator torque avoid inertial effects.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for estimating power of an engine in a powertrain for a hybrid electric vehicle to determine desired driving torque at vehicle traction wheels, the powertrain having a motor, a generator and gearing that drivably couples the engine, the motor and the generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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computing a current motor torque in repetitive time samples;
computing a current generator torque in repetitive time samples;
computing a desired traction wheel torque as a function of the current motor torque and the current generator torque at a given instant in a repetitive time sampling; and
computing estimated engine power as a function of the generator torque and the motor torque computed at an earlier instant in the time sampling whereby engine power accuracy is improved during operation of the powertrain with transient changes in the desired traction wheel torque. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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2. A method for estimating power of an engine in a powertrain for a hybrid electric vehicle, the powertrain having a motor, a generator and gearing that drivably couples the engine, the motor and the generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining generator torque;
determining inertia torque of the generator and an element of the gearing to which the generator is coupled;
measuring engine speed;
calculating engine torque as a function of the generator torque and the generator inertia torque; and
calculating engine power as a function of the engine torque and the engine speed.
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7. A method for estimating power in a powertrain for a hybrid electric vehicle to determine desired driving torque at vehicle traction wheels;
- the powertrain having a motor, a generator and gearing drivably coupling the engine, the motor and the generator to effect a divided power flow path from the engine to the vehicle traction wheels; and
an electronic processor for controlling engine, generator and motor functions including powertrain data storage registers for storing, during successive control loops, repetitive time sampled data representing instantaneous engine speed, generator torque and motor torque;
the method comprising the steps of;
computing and storing in the registers a desired traction wheel torque in successive control loops;
a desired traction wheel torque during a given control loop being a function of driver torque command and motor and generator torque values stored in the registers during a control loop preceding a current control loop; and
computing engine power during a current control loop as a function of a delayed desired traction wheel torque value based upon the values of the motor torque and generator torque determined in a previous control loop whereby current computed engine power deviations due to transient powertrain operating conditions are reduced. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- the powertrain having a motor, a generator and gearing drivably coupling the engine, the motor and the generator to effect a divided power flow path from the engine to the vehicle traction wheels; and
Specification