HYBRID INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND AIR MOTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100086414A1
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AB Volvo
• Original Assignee: MACK Trucks Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Tai, Chun
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/435 Supercharger or turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/34 characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 21/00 Engines characterised by air-storage chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/00 Engines characterised by provision for charging or scavenging not provided for in groups F02B25/00, F02B27/00 or F02B33/00 - F02B39/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0418 the intake air cooler having a bypass or multiple flow paths within the heat exchanger to vary the effective heat transfer surface
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/04 using engine as brake
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 : Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/05 : High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/23 : Layout, e.g. schematics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system is provided and includes at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and a reservoir connected to the chamber through at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve. The system further comprises a computer configured to calculate air compressor efficiency during an air compressor mode of operation and select an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air compressor efficiency and/or a computer configured to calculate air motor efficiency during an air motor mode of operation and select an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air motor efficiency.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and a reservoir connected to the chamber through at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, comprising:

in an air compressor mode of operation, calculating air compressor efficiency according to the following equation;

2. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 1, comprising, in an air motor mode of operation, calculating air motor efficiency according to the following equation:

3. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 2, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in an air motor mode to deliver energy.

4. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 3, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in air compressor mode to absorb kinetic energy.

5. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 4, comprising selectively delivering energy and absorbing kinetic energy while operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in an internal combustion engine mode.

6. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 5, comprising simultaneously operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in the compressor mode and in the internal combustion engine mode.

7. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 6, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in the internal combustion engine mode without also operating in the compressor mode.

8. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 5, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in an internal combustion engine mode including directing gases exiting the exhaust valves to at least one of an engine exhaust and the reservoir.

9. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 4, wherein kinetic energy is absorbed by compressing air in the chamber with the drivable member and storing it in the reservoir.

10. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 1, comprising selectively operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in at least one of the air compressor mode, an air motor mode, and an internal combustion engine mode.

11. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 10, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in the air compressor mode and in the internal combustion engine mode simultaneously.

12. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 10, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in the air compressor mode during a transition from the internal combustion engine mode to the air motor mode.

13. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprises (a) an air inlet line including, upstream of the at least one intake valve, a charge air cooler and an air inlet line valve, (b) an internal combustion engine mode exhaust line comprising an internal combustion engine mode exhaust line valve downstream of the at least one exhaust valve, (c) a compressed air line comprising a compressed air line valve downstream of the at least one exhaust valve and upstream of the reservoir, and (d) an air motor mode exhaust line comprising an air motor mode exhaust valve downstream of the at least one intake valve and the air inlet line valve, the method comprising transitioning from operation in the air motor mode to operation in the internal combustion engine mode by performing the steps of:

a) partially opening the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line valve;

b) partially closing the air motor exhaust line valve;

c) partially closing the compressed air line valve;

d) completely opening the air inlet line valve after performing steps a), b), and c); and

e) changing an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence from an air motor timing sequence to an internal combustion engine timing sequence.

14. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 13, comprising a turbocharger compressor upstream of the charge air cooler and a bypass line for bypassing the turbocharger compressor and the charge air cooler, the bypass line comprising a bypass valve, comprising, no later than when performing step d), at least partially opening the air inlet line valve and completely closing the bypass valve.

15. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the air inlet line comprises a compressor of a turbocharger upstream of the air inlet line valve and the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line comprises a turbine of the turbocharger downstream of the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line, the method comprising partially opening the air inlet line valve substantially simultaneously with partially opening the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line valve, and completely closing the compressed air line valve when a first of a speed of the turbocharger reaches a predetermined turbocharger speed level as a result of partially opening the air inlet line valve substantially simultaneously with partially opening the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line valve, pressure in the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line falls to a predetermined internal combustion engine mode exhaust line pressure, and pressure in the reservoir drops to a predetermined reservoir pressure level.

16. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 13, comprising operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system in the air compressor mode during a transition from the internal combustion engine mode to the air motor mode.

17. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the chamber of the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system chamber comprises a plurality of cylinders and the drivable member comprises a piston in each cylinder, and comprising operating at least one of the plurality of cylinders in the internal combustion engine mode while simultaneously operating at least one of the plurality of cylinders in the air motor mode.

18. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chamber is a cylinder and the drivable member is a piston in the cylinder.

19. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 18, comprising drawing air from the reservoir into the cylinder during a first downward stroke of the piston, injecting fuel into the cylinder, and combusting the injected fuel to urge the piston downward during a second downward stroke of the piston.

20. A method for operating a hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and a reservoir connected to the chamber through the exhaust valve, comprising:

in an air motor mode of operation, calculating air motor efficiency according to the following equation;

21. A method for controlling a transition from air motor operation to internal combustion operation in a hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system, the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising (a) a chamber including at least one intake valve, at least one outlet valve, and a drivable member, (b) an air inlet line including, upstream of the at least one intake valve, an air inlet line valve, (c) an internal combustion engine mode exhaust line comprising an internal combustion engine mode exhaust line valve downstream of the at least one exhaust valve, (d) a compressed air line comprising a compressed air line valve downstream of the at least one exhaust valve and upstream of a reservoir, and (e) an air motor mode exhaust line comprising an air motor mode exhaust valve downstream of the at least one intake valve and the air inlet line valve, the method comprising transitioning from operation in the air motor mode to operation in the internal combustion engine mode by performing, in order, the steps of:

a) partially opening the internal combustion engine mode exhaust line valve;

b) partially closing the air motor exhaust line valve;

c) partially closing the compressed air line valve; and

d) completely opening the air inlet line valve after performing steps a), b), and c);

e) changing an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence from an air motor timing sequence to an internal combustion engine timing sequence.

22. A method for operating a hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and a reservoir connected to the chamber through at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, comprising:

in an air compressor mode of operation, calculating air compressor efficiency (η

AC); and

selecting an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air compressor efficiency so that

23. The method for operating the hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 22, comprising, in an air motor mode of operation, calculating air motor efficiency (η

AM), and selecting an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air motor efficiency so that

24. A method for operating a hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and a reservoir connected to the chamber through the exhaust valve, comprising:

in an air motor mode of operation, calculating air motor efficiency (η

AM); and

selecting an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air motor efficiency so that

25. A hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising:

at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve;

a reservoir connected to the chamber through at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; and

a computer configured to calculate air compressor efficiency (η

AC) during an air compressor mode of operation and select an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air compressor efficiency so that

26. The hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the computer is configured to calculate air motor efficiency (η

AM) during an air motor mode of operation and select an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air motor efficiency so that

27. A hybrid internal combustion engine and air motor system comprising:

at least one chamber having a drivable member and at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve;

a reservoir connected to the chamber through at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; and

a computer configured to calculate air motor efficiency (η

AM) during an air motor mode of operation and select an intake and exhaust valve opening and closing timing sequence for maximizing air motor efficiency so that