Active electrical power flow control system for optimization of power delivery in electric hybrid vehicles

• US 8,080,971 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northern Illinois University
• Original Assignee: Northern Illinois University
• Inventors: Bose, Anima B., Zinger, Donald S., Yu, ZhiHong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/137,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 429/13, 429/408
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• 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 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0025 Transfer function weighting factor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A power flow control system including an integrated circuit having a mechanism for determining an amount of energy storage required for power source devices and a mechanism for controlling power flow delivery between the power source devices. A power flow control system also including more than one power source device in electrical connection with the power flow control system. An efficient hybrid vehicle, including the power flow control system integrated in the hybrid vehicle, and more than one power source device in electrical connection with the power flow control system and operatively connected to the hybrid vehicle. A method of controlling power flow in a vehicle, including the steps of determining the amount of energy storage required for power source devices, and controlling power flow delivery between the power source devices. Power flow control systems and methods of using for fuel cell and battery combinations and battery and super-capacitor combinations.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power flow in a vehicle, including the steps of:

determining the amount of energy storage required for power source devices; and

controlling power flow delivery between the power source devices by determining power requirements of the vehicle;

based on a battery state, determining a required power command from a fuel cell by using a performance index;

creating a feedback gain sequence to feedback information about the battery state to the power command for the fuel cell;

creating a feedforward gain sequence to include information from an optimal control sequence into the fuel cell power command;

dividing remaining power between the fuel cell and a super-capacitor.