Method and system for hybrid energy management control

• US 7,900,726 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Maiorana, Mario V. Jr., Lo, Chihsiung, Frisch, Damon R., Koch, Brian J., Stephens, George T., Kidston, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/411,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.265, 180/65.275, 180/65.29, 903/907, 903/930, 701/48
• US Class Current: 180/65.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A charging system for a hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, an electric motor generator coupled to the internal combustion engine and operable to be driven as a generator to produce a charging voltage and a battery coupled to the electric motor generator and configured to receive a charge voltage. The charging system further comprises an engine control computer coupled to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor generator and the battery. The engine control computer is configured to determine a threshold for a charging specific fuel consumption (CSFC), calculate an instantaneous CSFC; and initiate active charging of the battery if the instantaneous CSFC is less than or equal to the threshold CSFC.

Claims

1. A charging system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor generator operable to be driven as a generator to produce a charging voltage;

a battery coupled to the electric motor generator and configured to receive a charge voltage; and

an engine control computer coupled to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor generator and the battery, the engine control computer configured to;

determine a threshold for a charging specific fuel consumption (CSFC) value by;

determining a current vehicle speed; and

calculating the threshold CSFC value using a change in a state of charge and the vehicle speed;

calculate an instantaneous CSFC value; and

initiate active charging if the instantaneous CSFC value is less than or equal to the threshold CSFC.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the engine control computer is further configured to determine a change in the state of charge by:

determining a present state of charge; and

calculating the change in the state of charge by subtracting a present state of charge from a minimal state of charge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the engine control computer is further configured to charge the battery until the instantaneous CSFC value exceeds the threshold CSFC value by a predetermined amount.

4. The system of claim 1 the, wherein the engine control computer is further configured to prevent active charging if the change in the state of charge exceeds a fixed amount.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle is a parallel hybrid vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle is a serial hybrid vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle is a start-stop hybrid vehicle.

8. A charging system for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor generator operable to be driven as a generator to produce a charging voltage;

a battery coupled to the electric motor generator and configured to receive a charging voltage; and

an engine control computer coupled to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor generator and the battery, the engine control computer configured to;

determine a threshold for a charging specific fuel consumption (CSFC) value,

calculate an instantaneous CSFC value by dividing a brake specific fuel consumption value by the product of a motor generator efficiency value and a DC-to-DC converter efficiency value; and

initiate active charging if the instantaneous CSFC value is less than or equal to the threshold CSFC value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the engine control computer is further configured to determine a change in a state of charge by:

determining a present state of charge; and

calculating the change in the state of charge by subtracting a present state of charge from a minimal state of charge.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the engine control computer is further configured to charge the battery until the instantaneous CSFC value exceeds the threshold CSFC value by a predetermined amount.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the engine control computer is further configured to prevent active charging if the change in the state of charge exceeds a fixed amount.