System for controlling a hybrid energy system

• US 8,360,180 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoff, Brian D., Akasam, Sivaprasad
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US12/003,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.265, 180/65.27, 180/65.275, 180/65.28, 180/65.29, 180/65.31, 180/305, 903/903, 903/907, 701/22, 701/50
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/20 Energy regeneration from auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/64 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• 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: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method includes identifying a first operating sequence of a repeated operation of at least one non-traction load. The method also includes determining first and second parameters respectively indicative of a requested energy and output energy of the at least one non-traction load and comparing the determined first and second parameters at a plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence. The method also includes determining a third parameter of the hybrid energy system indicative of energy regenerated from the at least one non-traction load and monitoring the third parameter at the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence. The method also includes determining at least one of an energy deficiency or an energy surplus associated with the non-traction load of the hybrid energy system and selectively adjusting energy stored within the storage device during at least a portion of a second operating sequence.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a hybrid energy system including an energy source and a storage device operatively connected to a machine including at least one non-traction load, comprising:

identifying, by a processor associated with a controller, a first operating sequence indicative of a repeated operation of the at least one non-traction load, the first operating sequence including a plurality of time increments;

determining, by the processor, first and second parameters of the hybrid energy system respectively indicative of a requested energy of the at least one non-traction load and an output energy of the at least one non-traction load;

comparing, by the processor, the determined first and second parameters at the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence;

determining, by the processor, a third parameter of the hybrid energy system indicative of energy regenerated from the at least one non-traction load;

monitoring, by the processor, the third parameter at the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence;

determining, by the processor, at least one of an energy deficiency or an energy surplus associated with the non-traction load of the hybrid energy system, the energy deficiency being a function of the first and second determined parameters and the energy surplus being a function of the third determined parameter; and

selectively adjusting, by the processor, energy stored within the storage device during at least a portion of a second operating sequence as a function of the determined energy deficiency or the determined energy surplus, the second operating sequence including a plurality of time increments.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining an energy deficiency at a first time increment during the first operating sequence if the first determined parameter is greater than the second determined parameter, the first time increment being one of the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence; and

selectively increasing the amount of energy stored within the storage device at a second time increment during the second operating sequence, the second time increment being one of the plurality of time increments of the second operating sequence and before a time increment during the second operating sequence corresponding to the first time increment of the first operating sequence.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining an energy surplus at a first time increment during the first operating sequence if the monitored third parameter is indicative of regenerated energy being dissipated toward the environment, the first time increment being one of the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence; and

selectively decreasing the amount of energy stored within the storage device at a second time increment during the second operating sequence, the second time increment being one of the plurality of time increments of the second operating sequence and before a time increment during the second operating sequence corresponding to the first time increment of the first operating sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining a plurality of energy variations during the first operating sequence, each energy variation being one of an energy deficiency or an energy surplus; and

selectively adjusting the amount of energy stored within the storage device as a function of each of the determined plurality of energy variations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-traction load includes an implement, the method further including:

substantially repeating a manipulation cycle of the implement; and

identifying the first and second operating sequences as two sequences of the cycle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the first sequence includes receiving an operator input indicative of the start of the first sequence and receiving an operator input indicative of the end of the first sequence.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further includes at least one traction load, the method further comprising:

determining fourth and fifth parameters of the hybrid energy system respectively indicative of a requested traction energy of the at least one traction device and an output from the at least one traction load;

comparing the determined fourth and fifth parameters at the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence;

determining a sixth parameter of the hybrid energy system indicative of energy regenerated from the at least one traction load;

monitoring the sixth parameter at the plurality of time increments of the first operating sequence;

determining at least one of an energy deficiency or an energy surplus associated with the non-traction load of the hybrid energy system, the energy deficiency being a function of the fourth and fifth determined parameters and the energy surplus being a function of the sixth determined parameter; and

selectively adjusting the amount of energy stored within the storage device during at least a portion of a second operating sequence as a function of a determined energy deficiency or a determined energy surplus associated with the traction load of the hybrid energy system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the sixth parameter includes sensing displacement of an operator interface device configured to retard operation of the at least one traction device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the third parameter includes sensing displacement of an operator interface device configured to retard operation of the at least one non-traction device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second parameter includes:

determining energy input to the at least one non-traction load; and

determining energy output from the at least one non-traction load as a function of the determined energy input and energy efficiency associated the at least one non-traction load.

11. A machine comprising:

a hybrid energy system including an energy source, an energy storage device, at least one non-traction load and a controller configured to;

monitor one or more parameters of the machine during a first manipulation sequence of the non-traction load;

determine a first energy indicative of an amount of energy requested by an operator to be directed toward the at least one non-traction load during the first manipulation sequence;

determine a second energy indicative of an amount of energy output from the at least one non-traction load during the first manipulation sequence;

determine a third energy indicative of an amount of energy regenerated from the at least one non-traction load during the first manipulation sequence;

automatically control the energy stored within the storage device during a second manipulation sequence as a function of the determined first, second, and third energies, the second manipulation sequence being substantially similar to the first manipulation sequence;

determine an energy deficiency during the first manipulation sequence as a function of the determined first and second energies; and

selectively decrease the energy stored within the storage device during the second manipulation sequence as a function of the determined energy deficiency.

12. The system of claim 11, further including:

an operator interface device configured to direct energy toward the at least one non-traction load; and

a sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of an amount of displacement of the at least one operator interface device;

wherein the controller is configured to determine the first energy as a function of the first signal.

13. The system of claim 11, further including a sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of an amount of energy output from the at least one non-traction load, wherein the controller is configured to determine the second energy as a function of the first signal.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine an energy surplus during the first manipulation as a function of the determined third energy; and

selectively increase the energy stored within the storage device during the second manipulation sequence as a function of the determined energy surplus.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the non-traction load is an implement operatively connected to the machine.

16. A method of controlling a hybrid energy system configured to affect manipulation of at least one implement of a machine, comprising:

establishing, by a processor associated with a controller, a start of a first sequence of a substantially repeated manipulation of the implement;

performing, by the processor, the first sequence;

sensing, by the processor, a first parameter indicative of a displacement of an operator interface device configured to affect energy output from the implement during at least a portion of the first sequence;

sensing, by the processor, a second parameter indicative of energy output from the implement during the at least a portion of the first sequence;

comparing, by the processor, the first sensed parameter with the second sensed parameter for the at least a portion of the first sequence;

determining, by the processor, an energy deficiency associated with the hybrid energy system if the first sensed parameter is greater than the second sensed parameter;

establishing, by the processor, an end of the first sequence;

performing, by the processor, a second sequence of the substantially repeated manipulation of the implement; and

automatically controlling, by the processor, the amount of energy stored within the storage device during the second sequence as a function of a determined energy deficiency.

17. The method of claim 16, further including:

determining when an energy deficiency starts as a function of a first time increment wherein the sensed first parameter is less than the sensed second parameter;

determining when an energy deficiency ends as a function of a second time increment wherein the sensed first parameter is no longer less than the sensed second parameter; and

determining an amount of energy as a function of the energy difference between the sensed first and second parameters and the time lapse between the first and second time increments.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second sequence includes third and fourth time increments respectively corresponding to the first and second time increments of the first sequence, the method further including:

storing an amount of energy within the storage device during the second sequence before the third time increment; and

directing the stored amount of energy from the storage device toward the at least one implement during the second sequence between the third and fourth time increments.

19. The method of claim 16, further including:

sensing a third parameter indicative of a mechanical or hydraulic retarding of the implement;

determining an energy surplus when the implement is mechanically or hydraulically retarded; and

automatically controlling the amount of energy stored within the storage device during the second sequence as a function of a determined energy surplus.

20. A machine comprising:

a hybrid energy system including an energy source, an energy storage device, at least one non-traction load and a controller configured to;

monitor one or more parameters of the machine during a first manipulation sequence of the non-traction load;

determine a first energy indicative of an amount of energy requested by an operator to be directed toward the at least one non-traction load during the first manipulation sequence;

determine a second energy indicative of an amount of energy output from the at least one non-traction load during the first manipulation sequence;

determine a third energy indicative of an amount of energy regenerated from the at least one non-traction load during the first manipulation sequence;

automatically control the energy stored within the storage device during a second manipulation sequence as a function of the determined first, second, and third energies, the second manipulation sequence being substantially similar to the first manipulation sequence;

determine an energy surplus during the first manipulation as a function of the determined third energy; and

selectively increase the energy stored within the storage device during the second manipulation sequence as a function of the determined energy surplus.

21. The system of claim 20, further including:

an operator interface device configured to direct energy toward the at least one non-traction load; and

a sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of an amount of displacement of the at least one operator interface device;

wherein the controller is configured to determine the first energy as a function of the first signal.

22. The system of claim 20, further including a sensor configured to produce a first signal indicative of an amount of energy output from the at least one non-traction load, wherein the controller is configured to determine the second energy as a function of the first signal.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the non-traction load is an implement operatively connected to the machine.