Hybrid power system and its controlling method

• US 8,424,623 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Original Assignee: BYD Company Limited
• Inventors: Tang, Xiaohua
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US12/494,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20090321161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.25, 180/65.265, 180/65.28, 180/65.285
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 10/11 Stepped gearings
• 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 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• 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: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1061 Output power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid power system includes an engine, a clutch, a transmission, a motor and an energy storage device. The motor is connected to the energy storage device and the engine is connected to the input shaft of the transmission by the clutch. The output shaft of the transmission is operatively coupled with the output shaft of the motor to provide a coupled power output.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a hybrid power system, the hybrid power system including an engine, a clutch, a transmission coupled to the engine, an electric motor, and an energy storage device coupled to the motor, the method comprising the steps of:

setting a work mode based on a current vehicle velocity and a storage level of the energy storage device, wherein the work mode is set as an electric-only power mode or a parallel mode;

if the work mode is set to the electric-only power mode, then assigning a power level such that an output power of the motor is based on the power demanded, and wherein the output power of the engine is 0; and

if the work mode is set to the parallel mode, then assigning a power level such that an output power of the engine and an output power of the motor are both assigned based on a rotational speed of the engine.

2. The method of the claim 1, wherein in the parallel mode, the step of assigning power includes:

configuring a demand power based on a maximum output power of the hybrid power system and a current depth of the accelerator pedal;

configuring an optimal output power of the engine based on a rotational speed of the engine;

controlling an output power of the engine to be the optimal output power; and

controlling the output power of the motor to be the difference of the demand power and the optimal output power of the engine.

3. The method of the claim 2, wherein the step of configuring the optimal output power of the engine includes the steps of:

checking a rotational speed of the engine; and

determining an optimal output power that corresponds to the rotational speed according to a rotational speed-power contrast table of the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of setting the work mode comprises the steps of:

determining if the work mode is set for a first time;

if the work mode is being set for a first time, then set the work mode to the electric-only mode;

if the work mode is not being set for a first time, then compare a current vehicle velocity with a predetermined vehicle velocity;

if the current vehicle velocity is less than the predetermined vehicle velocity, then the work mode is set to the electric-only mode; and

if current vehicle velocity is equal to or greater than the predetermined vehicle velocity, then the work mode is set to the electric-only mode or the parallel mode according to a storage value (SOC) of the energy storage device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined vehicle velocity is about 45 km/h.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined vehicle velocity is a velocity when the engine works in a lowest rotational speed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein SOC1 is about 10%.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein SOC2 is about 60%.

9. The method of claim 8, including a process of adapting the output power of the motor by the communication of the engine controller and the motor controller, comprising the steps of:

the engine controller sending the signal of the output power of the engine to the motor controller;

after receiving the signal, the motor controller adapting the output power of the motor according to a whole vehicle power demand.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the energy storage device has a discharge lower limit (SOC1) and an upper charge limit (SOC2), wherein 0%<

SOC1<

SOC2<

100%;

if the current vehicle velocity is greater than the predetermined vehicle velocity, then;

the work mode is set to the parallel mode if SOC≦

SOC1;

the work mode is set to the electric-only mode if SOC≧

SOC2; and

the work mode is set to a previously set mode if SOC1<

SOC<

SOC2.

11. The method of the claim 10, wherein configuring the engine to the optimal output power comprises the steps of:

determining a rotational speed of the engine; and

determining an optimal output power that corresponds to the rotational speed according to a rotational speed-power contrast table of the engine.

12. The method of claim 1, including a shifting process comprising the steps of:

decreasing an input power of the engine and increasing an output power of the motor so that a sum of the output power of the engine and the motor remains unchanged;

disengaging the clutch and shifting a transmission to a new gear level when the output power of the engine is reduced to 0;

after shifting the transmission, adjusting the rotational speed of the engine based on the new gear level, and engaging the clutch; and

after engaging the clutch, configuring an output power of the engine to an optimal output power corresponding to a rotational speed of the engine.