HYBRID DIESEL-ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN SMOKE LIMIT AVOIDANCE

• US 20130325228A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Whitney, Christopher E., Scavone, Luca, Heap, Anthony H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/432 Diesel Engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command. The controller is in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, and configured to receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal. In response to the driver torque request, the controller is further configured to command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque, and command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle powertrain having an electric motor in power-flow communication with a diesel engine, the method comprising:

receiving a driver torque request;

smoothing the driver torque request;

commanding the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque; and

commanding the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the smoothed driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising optimizing the torque commanded of the diesel engine and of the electric motor such that the torque commanded of the diesel engine is less than an efficiency limit torque when the torque commanded of the electric motor is less than a maximum torque limit;

and

wherein the efficiency limit torque is less than the smoke limit torque by a predetermined amount.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the torque commanded of the diesel engine is greater than the efficiency limit torque and less than the smoke limit torque when the torque commanded of the electric motor is equal to a maximum torque limit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver torque request is provided via the actuation of an accelerator pedal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the smoke limit torque is a function of available air flow to the diesel engine.

6. A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain comprising:

a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor, the diesel engine and electric motor each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command;

a controller in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, the controller configured to;

receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal;

command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque;

command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.

7. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to smooth the driver torque request prior to commanding the command the electric motor to generate an output torque.

8. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to optimize the torque commanded of the diesel engine and of the electric motor such that the torque commanded of the diesel engine is less than an efficiency limit torque when the torque commanded of the electric motor is less than a maximum torque limit;

and

wherein the efficiency limit torque is less than the smoke limit torque by a predetermined amount.

9. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 8, wherein the torque commanded of the diesel engine is greater than the efficiency limit torque and less than the smoke limit torque when the torque commanded of the electric motor is equal to a maximum torque limit.

10. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6, wherein the smoke limit torque is a function of available air flow to the diesel engine.

11. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 6, wherein the controller includes a hybrid control module in communication with the electric motor;

and an engine control module in communication with the diesel engine.

12. A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain comprising:

a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor, the diesel engine and electric motor each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command;

a controller in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, the controller configured to;

receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal;

smooth the driver torque request;

command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than an efficiency limit torque, the efficiency limit being lower than a smoke limit torque by a predetermined amount;

command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the smoothed driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.

13. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 12, wherein the smoke limit torque is a function of available air flow to the diesel engine.

14. The hybrid diesel-electric powertrain of claim 12, wherein the controller includes a hybrid control module in communication with the electric motor;

and an engine control module in communication with the diesel engine.