Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain based on predictive effects upon an electrical energy storage device

• US 8,091,667 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• 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: Zettel, Andrew M., Heap, Anthony H.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/422,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.265, 180/65.285, 180/65.29, 903/906, 903/907, 701/22
• US Class Current: 180/65.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electrical energy storage device and electric machines. A method for operating the powertrain to control the electric machines is effective to attain a predetermined state of life profile for the electric energy storage device.

Claims

1. Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain including an electrical energy storage device adapted for exchanging electrical energy with a hybrid vehicular powertrain including first and second electric machines, each machine operable to impart torque to a two-mode, compound-split electro-mechanical transmission having four fixed gear ratios and two continuously variable operating modes, comprising:

establishing an array of values for current of the electrical energy storage device;

for each value of the array, pre-calculating a possible change in state of life for the energy storage device, wherein the possible change in the state of life is determined from corresponding values of an integration of electrical current, a depth of discharge of the energy storage device, and, an operating temperature factor of the electrical energy storage device; and

operating the electric machines to varying degrees of control at a subsequent time-step corresponding to the pre-calculated possible changes in the state of life.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein operating the electric machines to varying degrees of control at a subsequent time-step corresponding to the pre-calculated possible changes in the state of life comprises operating the electric machines to effect a predetermined state of life profile.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein operating the electric machines to effect a predetermined state of life profile comprises limiting allowable electric machine currents corresponding to one of the pre-calculated possible changes in the state of life and the predetermined state of life profile.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein operating the electric machines to effect a predetermined state of life profile comprises establishing electric machine currents corresponding to one of the pre-calculated possible changes in the state of life and predetermined the state of life profile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the depth of discharge of the electrical energy storage device is determined from the value for current of the electrical energy storage device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating temperature factor of the electrical energy storage device is determined from the value for current of the electrical energy storage device and temperature of the electrical energy storage device.

7. Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain including an electrical energy storage device adapted for exchanging electrical energy with a hybrid vehicular powertrain including first and second electric machines, each machine operable to impart torque to a two-mode, compound-split electro-mechanical transmission having four fixed gear ratios and two continuously variable operating modes, comprising:

providing an array of potential currents for the electrical energy storage device during periods of vehicle activity;

for each potential current, pre-calculating a possible effect upon electrical energy storage device state of life comprising pre-calculating changes in the state of life corresponding to a plurality of factors affected by electrical energy storage device current, wherein said plurality of factors affected by electrical energy storage device current comprises a factor corresponding to current integration over time; and

operating the electric machines to varying degrees of control corresponding to the possible effects upon electrical energy storage device state of life.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein operating the electric machines to varying degrees of control corresponding to one of to the possible effects upon electrical energy storage device state of life comprises operating the electric machines to effect a predetermined state of life profile.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein operating the electric machines to effect a predetermined state of life profile comprises limiting allowable electric machine currents corresponding to the possible effects upon electrical energy storage device state of life and the predetermined state of life profile.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein operating the electric machines to effect a predetermined state of life profile comprises establishing electric machine currents corresponding to the possible effects upon electrical energy storage device state of life and the predetermined state of life profile.

11. Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain including an electrical energy storage device adapted for exchanging electrical energy with a hybrid vehicular powertrain including first and second electric machines, each machine operable to impart torque to a two-mode, compound-split electro-mechanical transmission having four fixed gear ratios and two continuously variable operating modes, comprising:

providing an array of potential currents for the electrical energy storage device during periods of vehicle activity;

for each potential current, pre-calculating a possible effect upon electrical energy storage device state of life comprising pre-calculating possible changes in the state of life corresponding to a plurality of factors affected by electrical energy storage device current, wherein said plurality of factors affected by electrical energy storage device current comprises a factor corresponding to current integration over time, a factor corresponding to depth of discharge of the electrical energy storage device and a factor corresponding to temperature of the electrical energy storage device; and

operating the electric machines to a selected one of the potential currents of the array corresponding to one of the pre-calculated possible effects upon electrical energy storage device state of life.