Engine-generator control method and series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system using the same

• US 9,150,111 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agency For Defense Development (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: Agency For Defense Development (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Jeong, Soonkyu, Jang, Myeongeon, Han, Kyuhong, Yeo, Seungtai
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US14/458,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20150258977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/26 Military
• 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 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/248 Current for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

An engine-generator control method and a series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system using the control method are provided. The series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system includes a drive motor connected to an axle via a speed reducer, a Motor Control Unit (MCU) configured to control the drive motor, an engine-generator configured to generate electric power, a Generator Control Unit (GCU) configured to control the engine-generator, a high voltage battery, a Battery Management System (BMS) configured to manage the high voltage battery, and a Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) configured to control the MCU, the GCU, and the BMS.

Claims

1. An engine-generator control method for controlling an engine-generator to supply power to a series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system having a battery and a drive motor, comprising:

(a) detecting an acceleration pedal displacement signal and a brake pedal displacement signal, and calculating a requested power that is total power of the drive motor requested by a driver;

(b) assuming power values of the engine-generator at equidistant intervals from minimum power to maximum power of the engine-generator;

(c) calculating a power value of the battery required to satisfy total power of the drive motor requested by the driver, using the assumed power values of the engine-generator and the requested power;

(d) calculating an efficiency value of the engine-generator using an efficiency map of the engine-generator, and calculating an efficiency value of the battery using an efficiency map of the battery as a function of the battery power and a measured State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery;

(e) calculating system efficiencies of the combat maneuvering system, for every assumed power value of the engine-generator at the equidistant intervals, using the efficiency of the engine-generator and the efficiency of the battery; and

(f) selecting an assumed power of the engine-generator, obtained for a highest system efficiency, and controlling the engine-generator at the selected assumed power.

2. The engine-generator control method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the engine-generator is controlled at the assumed power of the engine-generator selected by performing (a) to (f), if a velocity of the combat maneuvering system is less than or equal to a preset velocity reference value, and a displacement of the brake pedal is equal to or greater than a preset first displacement reference value, turning off the engine-generator, and again performing (a) to (f);

when the engine-generator is controlled at the assumed power of the engine-generator selected by performing (a) to (f), if the displacement of the brake pedal is less than or equal to a preset second displacement reference value and a gear of the combat maneuvering system is in a forward-drive position or in a backward-drive position, and if the selected assumed power of the engine-generator is less than or equal to a preset power reference value, turning on the engine-generator, and again performing (a) to (f).

3. The engine-generator control method of claim 2, wherein the velocity reference value is set to 1 kph, the first displacement reference value is set to 5%, the second displacement reference value is set to 3%, and the power reference value is set to 45 kW.

4. The engine-generator control method of claim 2, wherein when a rotational speed of the drive motor corresponding to the velocity of the combat maneuvering system requested by the driver is N_m[rpm], and a requested torque of the driver is T_req[Nm], the requested power value P_req[kw] is calculated by the following Equation (1):

5. The engine-generator control method of claim 4, wherein the battery power P_bat using the assumed power P_gen of the engine-generator and the requested power P_req is calculated by the following Equation (2):

P_bat=P_req−

P_gen 

 

(2).

6. The engine-generator control method of claim 4, wherein when the efficiency value of the engine-generator is η

_gen and the efficiency of the battery is η

_bat, the system efficiency η

_sys is calculated by the following Equation (3);

η

_sys=η

_gen×

η

_bat 

 

(3).

7. A Series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system, comprising:

a drive motor connected to an axle via a reduction gear;

a Motor Control Unit (MCU) configured to control the drive motor;

an engine-generator configured to generate electric power;

a Generator Control Unit (GCU) configured to control the engine-generator;

a high voltage battery;

a Battery Management System (BMS) configured to manage the high voltage battery; and

a Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) configured to control the MCU, the GCU, and the BMS,

wherein the HCU is configured to;

detect an accelerator pedal displacement signal and a brake pedal displacement signal, and calculate a requested power that is total power of the drive motor requested by a driver,

assume power values of the engine-generator at equidistant intervals from minimum power to maximum power of the engine-generator,

calculate a power value of the battery required to satisfy total power of the drive motor requested by the driver, using the assumed power values of the engine-generator and the requested power,

calculate an efficiency of the engine-generator using an efficiency map of the engine-generator, and calculate an efficiency of the battery using an efficiency map of the battery as a function of the battery power and a measured State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery,

calculate system efficiencies of the combat maneuvering system, for every assumed power value of the engine-generator at, the equidistant intervals, using the efficiency of the engine-generator and the efficiency of the battery, and

select an assumed power of the engine-generator, obtained for a highest system efficiency, and control the engine-generator at the selected assumed power.