Power generation control apparatus for internal combustion engine

• US 20060276937A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yamashita, Yukihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/42 by adaptive correction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1446 in response to parameters of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/45 for motor vehicles, e.g. car alternators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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

Abstract

An increment of a fuel consumption rate caused by power generation is determined from a difference in fuel consumption rate between a case of performing power generation of an alternator and a case of stopping the power generation. The increment of the fuel consumption rate is divided by a power generation amount of the alternator to determine an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount. A use-frequency of the electric consumption is determined and also a possible power generation amount and average consumption power are calculated. A target electric consumption is set based upon the use-frequency, the possible power generation amount and the average consumption power so that the charge and discharge balance of the battery becomes zero. The present electric consumption is compared with the target electric consumption to determine whether or not to perform the power generation of the alternator.

Claims

1. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine equipped with an alternator driven by the internal combustion engine, a battery charged with power generated by the alternator, and a power generation controller for controlling power generation of the alternator, the power generation control device comprising:

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator, wherein;

the power generation controller controls the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount to a target increment of the fuel consumption.

2. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the power generation controller determines whether or not to execute the power generation of the alternator by comparing the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount in the present operating condition with the target increment of the fuel consumption.

3. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption so that a balance between charge and discharge of the battery becomes zero.

4. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount in the past travel history.

5. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount and a possible power generation amount in the past travel history.

6. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount, a possible power generation amount and average consumption power in the past travel history.

7. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine which is equipped with an alternator driven by the internal combustion engine and a battery charged with power generated by the alternator comprising:

a battery detector for detecting a charging state of the battery;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator;

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount with a target increment of the fuel consumption; and

.

target value correcting means to correct the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the charging state of the battery detected by the battery detector.

8. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption in such a way as to balance charge of the battery with discharge thereof.

9. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a use-frequency for each class of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount in the past travel history.

10. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a use-frequency for each class of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount and a possible power generation amount in the past travel history.

11. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein:

the power generation controller sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a use-frequency for each class of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount, a possible power generation amount and average consumption power in the past travel history.

12. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein:

the battery detector calculates a charging rate of the battery; and

the target value correcting means corrects the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the charging rate of the battery.

13. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 12, wherein:

the target value correcting means performs feedback correction on the target increment of the fuel consumption in such a way as to reduce a deviation between the charging rate and a target charging rate of the battery.

14. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein:

the target value correcting means calculates a charging and discharging amount required for making the charging rate of the battery be equal to the target charging rate thereof and corrects a reference point of the balance between the charge and the discharge of the battery based upon the calculated charging and discharging amount for correcting the target increment of the fuel consumption.

15. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a alternator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged with power generated by the alternator;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by power generation of the alternator in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a target value calculator for calculating a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation based upon data of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation in the past travel history and a sample number thereof to calculate a target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the use-frequency; and

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the present increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount calculated by the fuel consumption calculator with the target increment of the fuel consumption, wherein;

the target value calculator changes the sample number of the data used for calculating the target increment of the fuel consumption to calculate the use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount in a new sample period in a predetermined calculation cycle.

16. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein:

the target value calculator initializes the sample number each time the sample number of the data used for calculating the target increment of the fuel consumption comes to a predetermined number to calculate the use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount in a new sample period in a predetermined calculation cycle.

17. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 16, further comprising:

memory means which stores a final value of the data each time the sample number of the data comes to the predetermined number, wherein;

the target value calculator uses the final value of a previous sample period stored in the memory means to correct the data of a present sample period in accordance with the sample number of the present sample period started after the final value of the data is stored and calculates the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the corrected data.

18. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount, a possible power generation amount and an average consumption power.

19. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, further comprising:

target value correcting means which corrects the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a charging/discharging state of the battery.

20. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the target increment of the fuel consumption in such a way as to keep a balance between charge and discharge of the battery.

21. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the sample number of the data used for calculating the target increment of the fuel consumption, in accordance with a charging/discharging state of the battery.

22. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the sample number of the data used for calculating the target increment of the fuel consumption, in accordance with a capacity of the battery.

23. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the sample number of the data used for calculating the target increment of the fuel consumption, in accordance with an average consumption power.

24. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 19, wherein:

the target value correcting means sets a correction gain for correcting the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the charging/discharging state of the battery, in accordance with the charging/discharging state of the battery.

25. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 19, wherein:

the target value correcting means sets a correction gain for correcting the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the charging/discharging state of the battery, in accordance with a capacity of the battery.

26. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 19, wherein:

the target value correcting means sets a correction gain for correcting the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the charging/discharging state of the battery, in accordance with an average consumption power.

27. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a alternator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged with power generated by the alternator;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator;

a consumption power information calculator for calculating information of consumption power in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a target value calculator for calculating a target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation in the past travel history and the information of the consumption power; and

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the present increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount calculated by the fuel consumption calculator with the target increment of the fuel consumption, the power generation control device further comprising;

future consumption power estimating means which estimates future consumption power, wherein;

the target value calculator uses the future consumption power estimated by the future consumption power estimating means and the consumption power in the past travel history as the information of the consumption power to calculate the target increment of the fuel consumption.

28. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 27, wherein:

the consumption power information calculator calculates an average consumption power in the past travel history;

the future consumption power estimating means estimates a changing amount of the future consumption power based upon a deviation between the average consumption power in the past travel history and the present consumption power and estimates a converging value of future average consumption power based upon the average consumption power in the past travel history and the estimated changing amount of the future consumption power; and

the target value calculator uses the estimated converging value of the future average consumption power estimated by the future consumption power estimating means as the information of the consumption power to calculate the target increment of the fuel consumption.

29. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 27, wherein:

the consumption power information calculator calculates an average consumption power in the past travel history;

the future consumption power estimating means estimates a change of a use state of the future electric load to estimate the changing amount of the future consumption power caused by the change of the use state of the future electric load and estimates a converging value of future average consumption power based upon the average consumption power in the past travel history and the estimated changing amount of the future consumption power; and

the target value calculator uses the estimated converging value of the future average consumption power estimated by the future consumption power estimating means as the information of the consumption power to calculate the target increment of the fuel consumption.

30. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 28, wherein:

the future consumption power estimating means gradually reduces the estimated changing amount of the future consumption power.

31. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 27, wherein:

the target value calculator includes means which corrects the estimated changing amount of the future consumption power for a period from a time when the future consumption power is estimated to a time when an actual consumption power changes.

32. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 31, wherein:

the target value calculator includes means which corrects the estimated changing amount of the future consumption power based upon a deviation between the actual consumption power and the future consumption power and a time period from the time when the future consumption power is estimated to the time when the actual consumption power changes.

33. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a alternator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged with power generated by the alternator;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a consumption power information calculator for calculating information of consumption power in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a target value calculator for calculating a target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation and the information of the consumption power in the past travel history; and

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the present increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount calculated by the fuel consumption calculator with the target increment of the fuel consumption, the power generation control device further comprising;

future consumption power estimating means which estimates future consumption power, wherein;

the target value calculator includes means which corrects the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the future consumption power estimated by the future consumption power estimating means and the consumption power in the past travel history.

34. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a alternator driven by power of the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged with power generated by the alternator;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon the increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a target value calculator for statistically processing data of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation calculated in the predetermined calculation cycle to calculate a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation for calculating a target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the use-frequency;

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the present increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount calculated by the fuel consumption calculator with the target increment of the fuel consumption, the power generation control device further comprising;

memory means which stores and holds the target increment of the fuel consumption at a time of a previous traveling, wherein;

the target value calculator determines a final target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the target increment of the fuel consumption calculated at the time of a present traveling and the target increment of the fuel consumption at the time of the previous traveling stored in the memory means until a sample period of data of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount at the time of the present traveling exceeds a predetermined period.

35. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 34, wherein:

the target value calculator determines the final target increment of the fuel consumption by a weighted average between the target increment of the fuel consumption calculated at the time of the present traveling and the target increment of the fuel consumption at the time of the previous traveling stored in the memory means.

36. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 35, wherein:

the target value calculator sets a weighting factor used for processing the weighted average based upon the sample period of the data at the time of the present traveling.

37. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 35, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the weighting factor used for processing the weighted average based upon a deviation between the target increment of the fuel consumption calculated at the time of the present traveling and the target increment of the fuel consumption at the time of the previous traveling stored in the memory means.

38. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 35, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the weighting factor used for processing the weighted average based upon one or a combination of at least two of consumption power, an operating condition, a remaining charging amount of the battery and a battery capacity at the time of the present traveling.

39. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a alternator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged with power generated by the alternator;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a target value calculator for statistically processing data of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation calculated during the operating of the internal combustion engine to calculate a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation for calculating a target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the use-frequency; and

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the present increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount calculated by the fuel consumption calculator with the target increment of the fuel consumption, the power generation control device further comprising;

memory means which stores and holds the target increment of the fuel consumption at the time of the previous traveling, wherein;

the target value calculator uses the target increment of the fuel consumption at the time of the previous traveling stored in the memory means as the target increment of the fuel consumption at the time of the present traveling until a sample period of data of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount at the time of the present traveling exceeds a predetermined period.

40. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 39, wherein:

the target value calculator sets the predetermined period based upon at least one of consumption power, an operating condition, a remaining charging amount of the battery and a battery capacity at the time of the present traveling.

41. A power generation control device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a alternator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged with power generated by the alternator;

a fuel consumption calculator for calculating an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount based upon an increment of the fuel consumption and a power generation amount by the power generation of the alternator in a predetermined calculation cycle during operating of the internal combustion engine;

a target value calculator for statistically processing data of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation calculated in the predetermined calculation cycle to calculate a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation for calculating a target increment of the fuel consumption based upon the use-frequency; and

a power generation controller for controlling the power generation of the alternator by comparing the present increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation amount calculated by the fuel consumption calculator with the target increment of the fuel consumption, the power generation control device further comprising;

condition estimating means which estimates a change of a future operating condition; and

target value correcting means which corrects the target increment of the fuel consumption when the change of the future operating condition is estimated by the condition estimating means.

42. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the target value correcting means initializes data used for calculating a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation when the change of the future operating condition is estimated by the condition estimating means to correct the target increment of the fuel consumption.

43. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the target value correcting means changes a length of a sample period of data used for calculating a use-frequency of the increment of the fuel consumption per unit power generation in accordance with the change of the future operating condition estimated by the condition estimating means to correct the target increment of the fuel consumption.

44. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the target value calculator executes a process for calculating a first target increment of the fuel consumption based upon data of a first sample period and a process for calculating a second target increment of the fuel consumption based upon data of a second sample period shorter than the first sample period, in parallel therewith; and

the condition estimating means estimates the change of the future operating condition based upon a deviation between the first and second target increments of the fuel consumption.

45. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the condition estimating means estimates the change of the future operating condition based upon information obtained from a navigation system.

46. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the target value correcting means corrects the target increment of the fuel consumption during a time period from a time when the change of the future operating condition is estimated to a time when the operating condition actually changes or the operating ends.

47. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the target value correcting means corrects the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon a time period from a time when the change of the future operating condition is estimated to a time when the operating condition actually changes, a time period from the time when the change of the future operating condition is estimated to a time when the operating ends, and a converging value of the target increment of the fuel consumption in the estimated future operating condition.

48. The power generation control device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 41, wherein:

the target value correcting means includes;

means which performs feedback correction on the target increment of the fuel consumption in such a way as to make a remaining charging amount of the battery be closer to a target remaining charging amount; and

means which prohibits or limits the feedback correction for a period of correcting the target increment of the fuel consumption based upon an estimation of the change of the future operating condition.