METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A VEHICLE ELECTRIC STORAGE SYSTEM

• US 20060097575A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Song, Jing, Phillips, Anthony, Tamor, Michael, Xu, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,791,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/242 for electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method and system for controlling a vehicle having an electric powertrain and an electric energy storage system. The electric energy storage system includes a capacitor, DC/DC converter, and a battery. The electric energy storage system is controlled to maximize use of the capacitor relative to use of the battery.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operation of a vehicle having an electric powertrain and an electric energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the electric powertrain, the ESS including a capacitor, a battery, and a DC/DC converter, the method comprising:

controlling the DC/DC converter to maximize capacitor usage relative to battery usage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the DC/DC converter to prevent discharging of the battery until after the capacitor has been discharged to a discharge threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the DC/DC converter to prevent charging of the battery until after the capacitor has been charged to a charge threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling power flow between the electric powertrain and the ESS by controlling only the DC/DC converter and the electric powertrain.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating an ESS power demand for the ESS and a driving power demand, wherein the method further comprises controlling the electric powertrain based on the driving power demand and ESS power demand.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the calculated ESS power demand is based on both capacitor state of charge (SOC) and battery state of charge (SOC).

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the ESS power demand is positive to indicate charging the ESS, wherein the electric powertrain is controlled to provide power to the ESS that is equal to the positive ESS power demand for charging the ESS.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising calculating the positive ESS power demand if one or both of the capacitor SOC and battery SOC is less than a predefined SOC low limit.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the ESS power demand is negative to indicate discharging the ESS, wherein the electric powertrain is controlled to receive power from the ESS that is equal to the negative ESS power demand for discharging the ESS.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising calculating the negative ESS power demand if one or both of the capacitor SOC and battery SOC is greater than a predefined SOC high limit.

11. A method for configuring a vehicle having an electric energy storage system (ESS) in communication with an electric powertrain, the method comprising:

configuring the ESS with a capacitor, a battery, and a DC/DC converter; and

configuring a vehicle system controller to control the electric powertrain and the DC/DC converter, thereby controlling power flow between the ESS and the electric powertrain such that capacitor usage is maximized relative to battery usage.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the DC/DC converter comprises preventing discharging of the battery until after the capacitor has been discharged to a discharge threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the DC/DC converter comprises preventing charging of the battery until after the capacitor has been charged to a charge threshold.

14. A system for use with an electric powertrain of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an electric energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the electric powertrain and including a capacitor, a battery, and a DC/DC converter; and

a controller for controlling power flow between the ESS and the electric powertrain by controlling the electric powertrain and DC/DC converter such that capacitor usage is maximized relative to battery usage.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the controller controls the DC/DC converter to prevent discharging of the battery until after the capacitor has been discharged to a discharge threshold.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the controller controls the DC/DC converter to prevent charging of the battery until after the capacitor has been charged to a charge threshold.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the controller calculates an ESS power demand for the ESS and controls power flow between the ESS and the electric powertrain based on the driving power demand and ESS power demand.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the calculated ESS power demand is based on both capacitor state of charge (SOC) and battery state of charge (SOC).

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller calculates the ESS power demand to be positive such that power flows from the electric powertrain to the ESS for charging the ESS if one or both of the capacitor SOC and battery SOC is less than a predefined SOC low limit, wherein the electric powertrain is controlled to provide power for charging the ESS that is equal to the positive ESS power demand.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the controller calculates the ESS power demand to be negative such that power flows from the ESS to the electric powertrain for discharging the ESS if one or both of the capacitor SOC and battery SOC is greater than a predefined SOC high limit, wherein the electric powertrain is controlled to receive power for discharging the ESS that is equal to the negative ESS power demand.