Turbine power generation control device

Abstract

To provide a turbine power generation control device capable of improving the stability of an output current from a generator driven by a turbine engine without using a rectifier.SOLUTION: A turbine power generation control device is equipped with a generator that generates power to be supplied to an electric load, a turbine engine that drives the generator, and a control device that controls the driving of the turbine engine. The control device is equipped with an obtaining portion that obtains information with which changes in the power consumption of the electric load can be estimated, a fuel injection amount setting portion that sets the fuel injection amount of the turbine engine on the basis of a difference value obtained by subtracting an actual rotation speed from a target rotation speed of the turbine engine, and the estimated changes in the power consumption of the electric load, and an engine control portion that controls the driving of the turbine engine on the basis of the set fuel injection amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a turbine power generation control device that is applied to a series hybrid power generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, electric vehicles have come into practical use. In electric vehicles, the vehicle runs on the driving torque output by rotating a drive motor using electric power charged in a battery. Among such electric vehicles, electric vehicles using a generator driven by a turbine engine as a generator for generating electric power to charge the battery are known. A turbine engine is smaller and lighter than a so-called reciprocating engine, and is advantageous in terms of mountability and fuel economy.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a range extender that operates a generator by driving a turbine engine and supplies the generator output to a vehicle drive system, and that is equipped with a control device that determines the fuel flow rate to be supplied to the turbine engine based on a map that shows the relationship between a preset target generator output, turbine rotation speed, atmospheric temperature, atmospheric pressure, and fuel flow rate in order to control the generator output without using a power control device such as a converter or chopper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-149628 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a series hybrid electric vehicle, in which a generator is driven by a turbine engine and the generated power is used to drive a drive motor or charge a battery, the load on the generator increases as a result of generating power using the generator, resulting in a decrease in the rotation speed of the turbine engine. At this time, since the moment of inertia of the turbine engine is relatively small, the rotation speed of the turbine engine may decrease significantly. Therefore, if the range extender does not have a function for rectifying the current output from the generator, the current supplied to the drive motor or the battery may become unstable. The range extender described in Patent Document 1 has a rectifier that rectifies the output of the generator, but providing such a rectifier increases weight and cost, and requires space for installation.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a turbine power generation control device that can improve the stability of the output current from a generator driven by a turbine engine without using a rectifier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a turbine power generation control device including a generator that generates power to be supplied to an electrical load, a turbine engine that drives the generator, and a control device that controls the operation of the turbine engine, wherein the control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires information that enables estimation of a change in power consumption of the electrical load, a fuel injection amount setting unit that sets a fuel injection amount for the turbine engine based on a difference value obtained by subtracting the actual rotation speed from the target rotation speed of the turbine engine and the estimated change in power consumption of the electrical load, and an engine control unit that controls the operation of the turbine engine based on the set fuel injection amount. Effect of the Invention

[0008] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the stability of the output current from a generator driven by a turbine engine without using a rectifier. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle system including a turbine power generation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a turbine generator according to the embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the turbine control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a calculation process related to the control of the turbine engine by the turbine power generation control device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for setting a target power generation amount according to the embodiment; [Figure 6] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the turbine power generation control device according to the embodiment; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0011] <1. Example of overall vehicle system configuration> First, an example of a system configuration of a series hybrid electric vehicle equipped with a turbine power generation control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle system 1 including a turbine power generation control device 10, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a turbine generator 40. As shown in FIG.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle system 1 includes a turbine power generation control device 10. The turbine power generation control device 10 includes a turbine generator 40 and a turbine control device 30 that controls the operation of the turbine generator 40. The vehicle system 1 also includes a battery 15, a power converter 17, and a drive motor 19. The vehicle system 1 is mounted on an electric vehicle that can run using the drive motor 19 as an electric load as a power source, and is configured to be able to extend the cruising distance by charging the battery 15 with electric power generated by the turbine generator 40.

[0014] The vehicle system 1 also includes a vehicle drive control device 23, a motor control device 25, and a power generation control device 27. The vehicle drive control device 23, the motor control device 25, the power generation control device 27, and the turbine control device 30 are connected to a communication bus 21 represented by a controller area network (CAN) or the like, and are configured to be able to transmit and receive messages between them. Note that the communication bus 21 may also be connected to other control devices, such as a brake control device, an airbag control device, and a power steering control device.

[0015] The turbine generator 40 includes a converter 39, a generator 41, and a turbine engine 42. The turbine engine 42 converts the energy of high-temperature gas generated by heating compressed air into mechanical power and outputs it. The generator 41 is driven by the power output from the turbine engine 42 to generate electricity. The converter 39 boosts the voltage of the generated power of the generator 41 to the charging voltage (charge setting voltage) of the battery 15, and converts the generated AC current into DC current and supplies it to the battery 15. The converter 39 is provided with a current sensor that detects the current value (generated current value) of the generated power output from the generator 41 and a voltage sensor that detects the voltage value (generated output voltage) of the generated power.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the turbine engine 42 includes a compressor 43, a turbine 45, a combustor 51, and a heat exchanger 49. The compressor 43 takes in air, compresses it to a predetermined pressure, and supplies it to the combustor 51. The combustor 51 burns fuel therein, heats the compressed air supplied from the compressor 43, generates high-temperature gas, and supplies it to the turbine 45. The turbine 45 converts the energy of the high-temperature gas supplied from the combustor 51 into mechanical rotational energy, and outputs it as rotational torque of the turbine shaft 47. The heat exchanger 49 heats the compressed air supplied from the compressor 43 to the combustor 51 by using the heat of the exhaust gas discharged from the turbine 45.

[0017] The combustor 51 is provided with an on-off valve 57 that injects fuel into the combustor 51, a fuel control valve 55 that adjusts the amount of fuel supplied to the on-off valve 57, and an ignition plug 59 that ignites the fuel injected into the combustor 51. The turbine control device 30 controls the amount of fuel injected into the combustor 51 by driving the fuel control valve 55. The turbine control device 30 also combusts the fuel by driving the ignition plug 59.

[0018] The generator 41 is a three-phase AC generator equipped with a stator and a rotor, and using permanent magnets. A turbine shaft 47 of the turbine engine 42 is connected to the rotor of the generator 41. The turbine shaft 47 and the rotor may be directly connected, or may be connected via a power transmission mechanism such as gears. The generator 41 generates electricity as the turbine shaft 47 rotates. The amount of electricity generated by the generator 41 increases as the output of the turbine engine 42, i.e., the rotation speed of the turbine shaft 47, increases. The power output from the three-phase winding wound around the stator of the generator 41 is boosted to a battery charging set voltage by the converter 39, and is also converted from AC to DC and supplied to the battery 15.

[0019] Returning to Fig. 1, the motor control device 25 drives the drive motor 19 by controlling the power converter 17. The drive motor 19 is, for example, a three-phase AC radial motor, which outputs drive torque when an AC current is supplied during acceleration of the vehicle, and generates power by being driven regeneratively during deceleration. The drive motor 19 may be an axial gap motor.

[0020] The power converter 17 includes an inverter and a converter. When the vehicle accelerates, the power converter 17 converts DC current supplied from the turbine generator 40 or the battery 15 into AC current and supplies the AC current to the drive motor 19, thereby causing the drive motor 19 to output drive torque. In this case, the supply voltage is controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the turbine generator 41. When the vehicle decelerates, the power converter 17 regeneratively drives the drive motor 19, converts the generated AC current into DC current, and supplies the DC current to the battery 15. The power converter 17 may further include a step-up / step-down circuit.

[0021] The vehicle drive control device 23 performs integrated control of the vehicle system 1 based on acceleration / deceleration requests. For example, when the vehicle runs in an automatic driving mode, the vehicle drive control device 23 sets a required acceleration based on the current vehicle speed and the target vehicle speed, or based on the current inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle and the target inter-vehicle distance, and calculates the target drive torque or target braking torque of the vehicle. When the vehicle runs in a manual driving mode by the driver, the vehicle drive control device 23 sets a required acceleration based on the accelerator operation amount (accelerator opening) and brake operation amount of the driver, and calculates the target drive torque or target braking torque of the vehicle. Furthermore, in either the automatic driving mode or the manual driving mode, the vehicle drive control device 23 sets a required deceleration and calculates the target braking torque of the vehicle in order to avoid a collision with other vehicles or obstacles around the vehicle, or to reduce the impact at the time of a collision.

[0022] The vehicle drive control device 23 transmits information on the calculated target drive torque and target braking torque to the motor control device 25. The motor control device 25 controls the power converter 17 so that a drive torque corresponding to the received target drive torque is output from the drive motor 19, and drives the drive motor 19. The motor control device 25 also controls the power converter 17 so that a braking torque corresponding to the received target braking torque is generated, and regeneratively drives the drive motor 19. When the braking torque generated by regeneratively driving the drive motor 19 is insufficient for the target braking torque, the vehicle drive control device 23 transmits information on the target braking torque to, for example, a brake control device (not shown) that controls a hydraulic brake device.

[0023] In the vehicle system 1 according to this embodiment, the vehicle drive control device 23 transmits at least information on the accelerator opening, the required acceleration, and the vehicle speed used in calculating the target drive torque to the turbine control device 30. The information on the accelerator opening, the required acceleration, and the vehicle speed is information that can be used to estimate a change in the power consumption of the drive motor 19 as an electric load, and is used to control the turbine engine 42. For example, as the accelerator opening or the required acceleration increases, the target drive torque increases and the power consumption of the drive motor 19 increases. Furthermore, as the vehicle speed increases, the target drive torque increases even if the accelerator opening remains the same, and the power consumption of the drive motor 19 increases. The information that can be used to estimate a change in the power consumption of the drive motor 19 may include other information.

[0024] The power generation control device 27 sets the required power generation amount to be generated by the turbine generator 40, and transmits a power generation request signal together with information on the required power generation amount to the turbine control device 30. In the vehicle system 1 according to this embodiment, the power generation control device 27 sets the required power generation amount at a predetermined period (for example, every 100 milliseconds), and transmits a power generation request signal together with information on the required power generation amount to the turbine control device 30. Although the method of setting the required power generation amount is not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the power generation control device 27 calculates the required power generation amount based on the sum of the required power of the drive motor 19 based on the acceleration request command value and the required charging power based on the remaining capacity SOC of the battery 15. Furthermore, the required power generation amount may be set to any one of the multiple stages of required power generation amounts set in advance, taking into consideration the cooling efficiency of the turbine generator 40, etc. For example, the power generation control device 27 sets the required power generation amount corresponding to the temperature of the cooling water from the multiple stages of required power generation amounts set based on the temperature of the cooling water so that the required power generation amount becomes smaller as the temperature of the cooling water is higher. Furthermore, the value of the required power generation amount set in the multiple stages may be set according to the cooling capacity of the turbine generator 40.

[0025] Furthermore, the power generation control device 27 acquires information indicating the state of the battery 15 from a battery controller (BMS: Battery Management System) 16 provided in the battery 15. The information indicating the state of the battery 15 includes, for example, information such as the open circuit voltage, output voltage, output current value, and temperature of the battery 15. When the turbine control device 30 corrects the fuel injection amount of the turbine engine 42 based on the output current value of the battery 15, the power generation control device 27 may transmit information on the output current value of the battery 15 acquired from the battery controller 16 to the turbine control device 30.

[0026] The turbine control device 30 controls the power generation of the turbine generator 40 while controlling the fuel injection amount so that the rotation speed of the turbine engine 42 becomes the target rotation speed. In the vehicle system 1 according to this embodiment, the turbine control device 30 sets the target rotation speed of the generator 41 based on information on the required power generation amount transmitted from the power generation control device 27. Furthermore, the turbine control device 30 sets the fuel injection amount of the turbine engine 42 based not only on the difference value obtained by subtracting the actual rotation speed from the target rotation speed of the turbine engine 42, but also on an estimated change in power consumption of the drive motor 19, and controls the driving of the turbine engine 42.

[0027] <2. Turbine control device configuration> Next, the configuration of the turbine control device 30 will be described.

[0028] 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the turbine control device 30. The turbine control device 30 functions as a control device that controls the operation of the turbine engine 42. The turbine control device 30 is configured to include at least an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a drive circuit that drives the turbine engine 42 and the converter 39. Note that a part or all of the turbine control device 30 may be configured with updatable firmware or the like, or may be a program module or the like that is executed by commands from the CPU or the like.

[0029] The turbine control device 30 includes an acquisition unit 31, a target power generation amount setting unit 32, a fuel injection amount setting unit 33, an engine control unit 34, a converter control unit 35, and a storage unit 36. Of these, the storage unit 36 ​​is configured with a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a Solid State Drive (SSD), or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash. The storage unit 36 ​​stores software programs executed by the arithmetic processing device, various parameters used in arithmetic processing, arithmetic processing results, acquired data, etc.

[0030] The acquisition unit 31 acquires various data or information. The acquisition unit 31 acquires information indicating at least the rotation speed (turbine rotation speed) Nt of the turbine shaft 47 of the turbine engine 42 and the required power generation amount IV_req. The information on the turbine rotation speed Nt is acquired based on a sensor signal output from a rotation sensor (not shown) provided in the turbine engine 42. The information on the required power generation amount IV_req is acquired together with a power generation request signal transmitted from the power generation control device 27.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the acquisition unit 31 acquires information on the power generation output voltage Vt and information that allows for estimating a change in power consumption of the drive motor 19. The information that allows for estimating a change in power consumption of the drive motor 19 includes information on the accelerator opening Acc, the required acceleration Acc_tgt, and the vehicle speed Ve of the vehicle. The information on the power generation output voltage Vt is acquired based on a sensor signal output from a voltage sensor (not shown) provided in the converter 39, for example. The information on the accelerator opening Acc, the required acceleration Acc_tgt, and the vehicle speed Ve are acquired together with a message transmitted from the vehicle drive control device 23.

[0032] The transmission period (e.g., every 100 milliseconds) of information on the required power generation amount IV_req and information on status values ​​related to the target output of the drive motor 19 transmitted from the power generation control device 27 and the vehicle drive control device 23 via the communication bus 21 is longer than the reading period (e.g., every 10 milliseconds) of the sensor signal of, for example, a rotation sensor or a voltage sensor.

[0033] The target power generation amount setting unit 32 sets a target power generation amount IV_tgt of the generator 41 based on the required power generation amount IV_req. The target power generation amount setting unit 32 sets the target power generation amount IV_tgt at a period (e.g., every 10 milliseconds) shorter than the period at which the required power generation amount IV_req is transmitted from the power generation control device 27. As described above, in this embodiment, the required power generation amount IV_req set by the power generation control device 27 is set to one of a plurality of preset stages. The target power generation amount setting unit 32 corrects the required power generation amount IV_req based on information that enables estimating changes in the power generation output voltage Vt and the power consumption of the drive motor 19, and sets the target power generation amount IV_tgt.

[0034] Specifically, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 obtains difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe between the power generation output voltage Vt, accelerator opening Acc, required acceleration Acc_tgt, and vehicle speed Ve acquired at a predetermined cycle and the values ​​acquired at the previous cycle, and if the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe of at least any of the values ​​exceed a preset threshold, corrects the required power generation amount IV_req based on the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe to set the target power generation amount IV_tgt. If the difference value ΔVt of the power generation output voltage Vt is large (if the power generation output voltage Vt is lower than the previous value), it is predicted that the load of the generator 41 will increase in order to set the power generation output voltage Vt to the battery charging set voltage Vc. In addition, when the difference values ​​ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe between the accelerator opening Acc, the required acceleration Acc_tgt, and the vehicle speed Ve are large, it is estimated that the target drive torque of the vehicle will increase and the power consumption of the drive motor 19 will increase, and therefore it is predicted that the load on the generator 41 will increase.

[0035] The thresholds of the respective difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe are appropriately set for the power generation output voltage Vt, the accelerator opening Acc, the required acceleration Acc_tgt, and the vehicle speed Ve as values ​​at which the load on the generator 41 increases and the rotation speed of the turbine engine 42 may decrease by a predetermined amount or more. The target power generation amount setting unit 32 corrects the required power generation amount IV_req so that the target power generation amount IV_tgt increases as the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔVe increase. The correction method may be a method of adding a predetermined correction amount to the required power generation amount IV_req, or a method of multiplying the required power generation amount IV_req by a predetermined coefficient. Note that the information for correcting the required power generation amount IV_req is not limited to the power generation output voltage Vt, the accelerator opening Acc, the required acceleration Acc_tgt, and the vehicle speed Ve, and may include other information that may be related to an increase in the power generation power of the turbine generator 40.

[0036] The fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt of the turbine engine 42 based on a difference value ΔNt obtained by subtracting the actual rotation speed Nt_act from the target rotation speed Nt_tgt of the turbine engine 42 and a difference value ΔI obtained by subtracting the target generation current value I_tgt of the generator 41, which is set based on the required generation amount IV_req, from the generation current value I_act. Specifically, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt of the turbine engine 42 by adding a second injection amount Vf2 calculated based on the difference value ΔI of the target generation current value I_tgt to a first injection amount Vf1 calculated based on the difference value ΔNt of the turbine rotation speed Nt. In other words, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 adds the second injection amount Vf2 equivalent to an increase correction amount based on the required generation amount IV_req to the first injection amount Vf1 by feedback control for making the actual rotation speed Nt_act of the turbine engine 42 the target rotation speed Nt_tgt. As a result, the fuel injection amount Vf is increased before the rotation speed of the turbine engine 42 decreases as the load on the generator 41 increases, thereby suppressing the decrease in the rotation speed of the turbine engine 42.

[0037] In this embodiment, a target power generation amount IV_tgt that is set based on the requested power generation amount IV_req is used. The fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt for each predetermined period in which the requested power generation amount IV_req is transmitted from the power generation control device 27.

[0038] The target rotation speed Nt_tgt may be a constant value set in advance, or may be a variable value. When the target rotation speed Nt_tgt is a variable value, for example, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the target rotation speed Nt_tgt of the turbine engine 42 according to the target power generation amount IV_tgt set based on the required power generation amount IV_req. The target rotation speed Nt_tgt is set in advance as a value corresponding to the target power generation amount IV_tgt, and the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the target rotation speed Nt_tgt according to the target power generation amount IV_tgt, for example, by referring to map data showing the relationship between the target rotation speed Nt_tgt and the target power generation amount IV_tgt. Alternatively, the settable target rotation speeds may be set in advance in a plurality of stages, and the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 may select one of the corresponding target rotation speeds Nt_tgt according to the target power generation amount IV_tgt.

[0039] The fuel injection amount setting unit 33 obtains a difference value ΔNt by subtracting the actual rotation speed Nt_act detected by the rotation sensor from the set target rotation speed Nt_tgt, and performs a feedback calculation based on the difference value ΔNt to calculate the first injection amount Vf1. The feedback calculation may be a PID calculation or a PI calculation. The first injection amount Vf1 becomes larger as the difference value ΔNt by subtracting the actual rotation speed Nt_act from the target rotation speed Nt_tgt becomes larger.

[0040] The fuel injection amount setting unit 33 obtains the target power generation current value I_tgt by dividing the target power generation amount IV_tgt set by the target power generation amount setting unit 32 by the charging set voltage Vc of the battery 15. The charging set voltage Vc of the battery 15 is set to a constant value according to the rated voltage of the battery 15, for example, but may be a variable value set based on the output voltage of the battery 15. The fuel injection amount setting unit 33 obtains a difference value ΔI by subtracting the generated current value I_act(n-1) detected in the previous cycle from the obtained target power generation current value I_tgt(n), and calculates a second injection amount Vf2 set in advance according to the difference value ΔI. Instead of the generated current value I_act(n-1) detected in the previous cycle, the actual generated current value I_act(n) detected by the sensor signal of the current sensor may be used. The second injection amount Vf2 is set in advance so that it becomes larger as the difference value ΔI of the target generated current value I_tgt becomes larger.

[0041] Then, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the sum of the set first injection amount Vf1 and second injection amount Vf2 as the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt.

[0042] The fuel injection amount setting unit 33 may correct the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt using further information. For example, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 may correct the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt according to a difference value ΔVt obtained by subtracting the power generation output voltage Vt output from the generator 41 from the charging set voltage Vc of the battery 15. In this case, the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt is corrected so as to increase as the difference value ΔVt increases. Furthermore, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 may correct the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt based on the output current value supplied from the battery 15 to the power converter 17. In this case, the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt is corrected so as to increase as the output current value of the battery 15 increases. The output current value of the battery 15 can be acquired together with the power generation request signal from the power generation control device 27.

[0043] The engine control unit 34 controls the driving of the fuel control valve 55 and the spark plug 59 of the turbine engine 42. Specifically, the engine control unit 34 sets the opening time of the fuel control valve 55 based on the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt set by the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 and the fuel supply pressure at every predetermined cycle, and drives the fuel control valve 55 to open and close. The fuel supply pressure may be controlled to a constant value in advance, or may be detected by a pressure sensor. As a result, fuel is supplied to the on-off valve 57, the on-off valve 57 is opened, and the fuel is injected into the combustor 51. In addition, the engine control unit 34 drives the spark plug 59 in accordance with the fuel injection timing to combust the fuel. As a result, the compressed air supplied into the combustor 51 by the compressor 43 is heated and supplied to the turbine 45, and is converted into the rotational torque of the turbine shaft 47 and output. The rotation of the turbine shaft 47 rotates the rotor of the generator 41, and an AC current is output from the three-phase winding of the generator 41.

[0044] The converter control unit 35 controls the operation of the converter 39, boosts the voltage of the power generated by the generator 41 to a battery charging set voltage, and converts the three-phase AC current output from the three-phase windings of the generator 41 into DC current and supplies it to the battery 15.

[0045] <3. Operation of Turbine Power Generation Control Device> The operation of the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, the operation of the turbine power generation control device 10 will be described.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a calculation process related to the control of the turbine engine 42 that is executed by the turbine control device 30 at predetermined intervals.

[0047] First, the acquisition unit 31 of the turbine control device 30 receives a power generation request signal together with information on the required power generation amount IV_req from the power generation control device 27 via the communication bus 21 (step S11). Next, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 sets a target power generation amount IV_tgt of the generator 41 based on the required power generation amount IV_req (step S13). In this embodiment, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 corrects the required power generation amount IV_req based on information on the power generation output voltage Vt detected by the voltage sensor and information that enables estimation of changes in power consumption of the drive motor 19, transmitted from the vehicle drive control device 23, to set the target power generation amount IV_tgt.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for setting the target power generation amount IV_tgt in step S13. The target power generation amount setting unit 32 reads out information on the power generation output voltage Vt acquired based on a sensor signal transmitted from a voltage sensor provided in the converter 39 (step S31). Next, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 reads out information that allows for estimating a change in power consumption of the drive motor 19 acquired from the vehicle drive control device 23 via the communication bus 21 (step S33). In this embodiment, the information that allows for estimating the power consumption of the drive motor 19 includes information on the accelerator opening Acc, the required acceleration Acc_tgt, and the vehicle speed Ve.

[0049] Next, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 compares the read power generation output voltage Vt(n), accelerator opening Acc(n), required acceleration Acc_tgt(n) and vehicle speed Ve(n) with the power generation output voltage Vt(n-1), accelerator opening Acc(n-1), required acceleration Acc_tgt(n-1) and vehicle speed Ve(n-1) acquired in the previous cycle, and calculates difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe by subtracting the values ​​acquired in the previous cycle from the values ​​acquired in the current cycle (step S35).

[0050] Next, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 compares each of the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe with a preset threshold value and determines whether at least any of the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔVe exceeds the threshold value (step S37). The threshold value is appropriately set for each of the power generation output voltage Vt, accelerator opening Acc, required acceleration ΔAcc_tgt, and vehicle speed Ve as a value at which the load on the generator 41 increases and the rotation speed of the turbine engine 42 may decrease by a predetermined amount or more. It is determined whether the accelerator opening Acc, required acceleration Acc_tgt, and vehicle speed Ve have increased by a predetermined amount or more from their previous values, while it is determined whether the power generation output voltage Vt has decreased by a predetermined amount or more from their previous value.

[0051] If all the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe do not exceed the threshold (S37 / No), the target power generation setting unit 32 sets the required power generation amount IV_req as the target power generation amount IV_tgt (step S41). On the other hand, if at least one of the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe exceeds the threshold (S37 / Yes), the target power generation setting unit 32 corrects the required power generation amount IV_req based on the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe that exceed the threshold (step S39). The target power generation setting unit 32 corrects the required power generation amount IV_req so that the target power generation amount IV_tgt increases as the difference values ​​ΔVt, ΔAcc, ΔAcc_tgt, ΔVe increase. In this case, the target power generation amount setting unit 32 sets the target power generation amount IV_tgt to a value obtained by correcting the requested power generation amount IV_req (step S41).

[0052] Returning to FIG. 4, after the target power generation amount IV_tgt is set in step S13, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the target rotation speed Nt_tgt of the turbine engine 42 according to the target power generation amount IV_tgt (step S15). For example, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 refers to map data indicating the relationship between the target rotation speed Nt_tgt and the target power generation amount IV_tgt stored in advance in the storage unit 36, and sets the target rotation speed Nt_tgt according to the target power generation amount IV_tgt. Alternatively, the settable target rotation speed may be set in advance in a plurality of stages, and the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 may select one of the corresponding target rotation speeds Nt_tgt according to the target power generation amount IV_tgt. When the target rotation speed Nt_tgt is controlled to a constant value, the process of step S13 is omitted.

[0053] Next, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 obtains a difference value ΔNt by subtracting the actual rotation speed Nt_act detected by the rotation sensor from the set target rotation speed Nt_tgt, and performs a feedback calculation based on the difference value ΔNt to calculate the first injection amount Vf1 (step S17). The first injection amount Vf1 increases as the difference value ΔNt by subtracting the actual rotation speed Nt_act from the target rotation speed Nt_tgt increases.

[0054] Next, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 obtains the target power generation current value I_tgt by dividing the target power generation amount IV_tgt set by the target power generation amount setting unit 32 by the charging set voltage Vc of the battery 15 (step S19). The charging set voltage Vc of the battery 15 is set to a constant value according to, for example, the rated voltage of the battery 15, but may be a variable value set based on the output voltage of the battery 15.

[0055] Next, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 subtracts the generated current value (previous value) I_act(n-1) detected in the previous cycle from the determined target generated current value I_tgt(n) to determine a difference value ΔI, and calculates a second injection amount Vf2 that is set in advance according to the difference value ΔI (step S21). The generated current value I_act(n-1) is set in advance so that the second injection amount Vf2 increases as the difference value ΔI increases, and is stored in the storage unit 36. Next, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 stores the generated current value I_act(n) detected in the current cycle as the previous value I_act(n-1) in the storage unit 36 ​​(step S23).

[0056] Next, the fuel injection amount setting unit 33 sets the sum of the first injection amount Vf1 and the second injection amount Vf2 to the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt (step S25). Next, the engine control unit 34 controls the driving of the turbine engine 42 based on the set fuel injection amount Vf_tgt to rotate the turbine shaft 47 (step S27). Specifically, the engine control unit 34 sets the opening time of the fuel control valve 55 based on the set fuel injection amount Vf_tgt and the fuel supply pressure, and drives the fuel control valve 55 to open and close. As a result, fuel is supplied to the on-off valve 57, the on-off valve 57 is opened, and the fuel is injected into the combustor 51. In addition, the engine control unit 34 drives the ignition plug 59 in accordance with the fuel injection timing to combust the fuel. As a result, the compressed air supplied into the combustor 51 by the compressor 43 is heated and supplied to the turbine 45, and the energy of the high-pressure gas is converted into rotational energy and output as the rotational torque of the turbine shaft 47. The rotation of the turbine shaft 47 rotates the rotor of the generator 41, and an alternating current is output from the three-phase windings of the generator 41.

[0057] Although not shown, the converter control unit 35 of the turbine control device 30 controls the drive of the converter 39 while the turbine generator 40 is in operation, boosts the power generation output voltage of the generator 41 to a battery charging set voltage, and converts the three-phase AC current output from the generator 41 into a DC current and supplies it to the battery 15. In this way, the battery 15 is charged.

[0058] <4. Function of Turbine Power Generation Control Device> Next, the operation of the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0059] 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the turbine power generation control device 10. In the following explanation, for ease of understanding, an example will be explained in which the turbine speed Nt is controlled to a constant target speed Nt_tgt. Also, an example will be explained in which the required power generation amount IV_req is set in three stages by the power generation control device 27, and the required power generation amount IV_req is corrected based on information on the accelerator opening Acc to set the target power generation amount IV_tgt.

[0060] 6 shows the changes in the actual fuel injection amount Vf_act and the turbine speed Nt_act when the required power generation amount IV_req changes in three stages while the fuel injection amount Vf is controlled so that the turbine speed Nt is maintained at the target speed Nt_tgt. The fuel injection amount Vf_act and the turbine speed Nt_act shown by the solid lines show an example of this embodiment in which the turbine control device 30 acquires information on the required power generation amount IV_req, corrects the required power generation amount IV_req based on the accelerator opening Acc to set the target power generation amount IV_tgt, and adds the second injection amount Vf2 set based on the target power generation amount IV_tgt to the first injection amount Vf1 to set the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt. On the other hand, the fuel injection amount Vf_act and the turbine speed Nt_act shown by the dashed lines show a reference example in which the first injection amount Vf1 is set to the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt without adding the second injection amount Vf2 set based on the target power generation amount IV_tgt.

[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 6, at time t1, the accelerator opening Acc increases beyond the difference value ΔAcc and the required power generation amount IV_req increases from the first set value IV_req1 to the third set value IV_req3, at time t2 the required power generation amount IV_req decreases to the second set value IV_req2, at time t3 the accelerator opening Acc again increases beyond the difference value ΔAcc and the required power generation amount IV_req increases to the third set value IV_req3, and then at time t4 the required power generation amount IV_req decreases to the first set value IV_req1.

[0062] As shown by the broken line, in the reference example in which the second injection amount Vf2 is not added, the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt is set only by feedback calculation based on the difference value ΔNt between the turbine speed Nt_act and the target speed Nt_tgt. Therefore, at time t1 and time t3, the power generation amount IV_act actually increases with an increase in the required power generation amount IV_req, the load of the generator 41 increases, and the fuel injection amount Vf_act increases after the turbine speed Nt_act starts to decrease from the target speed Nt_tgt. Therefore, it is not possible to prevent a decrease in the turbine speed Nt_act. Note that, in the reference example, at time t2 and time t4, the power generation amount IV_act actually decreases with a decrease in the required power generation amount IV_req, the load of the generator 41 decreases, and the fuel injection amount Vf_act decreases after the turbine speed Nt_act starts to increase from the target speed Nt_tgt. Therefore, it is not possible to prevent an increase in the turbine speed Nt_act.

[0063] On the other hand, as shown by the solid line, in the example of this embodiment in which the second injection amount Vf2 is added, the second injection amount Vf2 calculated based on the target power generation amount IV_tgt is added in advance to the first injection amount Vf1 calculated by feedback calculation based on the difference value ΔNt between the turbine speed Nt_act and the target speed Nt_tgt. Therefore, at time t1 and time t3, the fuel injection amount Vf_act increases before the load on the generator 41 increases. At that time, in this embodiment, when the accelerator opening Acc exceeds the difference value ΔAcc, the target power generation amount IV_tgt is also increased and corrected, and therefore the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt that can compensate for the increase in the load on the generator 41 is set and fuel is injected. Therefore, the decrease in the turbine speed Nt_act is suppressed. Furthermore, at times t2 and t4, the second injection amount Vf2 calculated based on the required power generation amount IV_req decreases as the required power generation amount IV_req decreases, so the fuel injection amount Vf_act decreases before the load on the generator 41 decreases, thereby suppressing an increase in the turbine speed Nt_act.

[0064] In this way, the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment can stabilize the turbine speed Nt_act near the target speed Nt_tgt without causing the turbine speed Nt_act to drop significantly from the target speed Nt_tgt. This allows the converter 39 to stably control the power generation output voltage Vt and the power generation current value I, improving the stability of the output current from the turbine generator 40 without using a rectifier.

[0065] 5. Effects of the vehicle control device according to the present embodiment As described above, the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment does not set the first injection amount Vf1 calculated by feedback calculation based on the difference value ΔNt obtained by subtracting the actual rotation speed Nt_act from the target rotation speed Nt_tgt of the turbine engine 42 as the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt, but sets the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt by adding the second injection amount Vf2 set based on at least the change in power consumption of the drive motor 19 as an electric load to the first injection amount Vf1. Therefore, when it is predicted that the power consumption of the drive motor 19 will increase significantly, the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt can be increased and corrected in advance before the power generation amount IV_act of the generator 41 actually increases and the load of the generator 41 increases. Therefore, the decrease in the turbine rotation speed Nt_act is suppressed, and the stability of the output current from the generator 41 can be improved without using a rectifier.

[0066] Furthermore, the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment acquires information on the required power generation amount IV_req in advance, and when it is predicted that the degree of increase in the power consumption of the drive motor 19 will be large, sets the second injection amount Vf2 based on the target power generation amount IV_tgt obtained by increasing the required power generation amount IV_req. Therefore, before the power generation amount IV_act of the generator 41 increases, the fuel injection amount Vf can be increased based on the required power generation amount IV_req and taking into consideration the increase in the power consumption of the drive motor 19. This can enhance the effect of suppressing the decrease in the turbine rotation speed Nt.

[0067] Moreover, the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment further sets the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt based on a change in the power generation output voltage Vt. Therefore, when an increase in the power generation amount IV_act of the generator 41 is estimated, the fuel injection amount Vf is increased before the power generation amount IV_act of the generator 41 actually increases and the load of the generator 41 increases. This can further enhance the effect of suppressing a decrease in the turbine rotation speed Nt.

[0068] Furthermore, since the turbine power generation control device 10 according to this embodiment can improve the stability of the output current from the generator 41 without using a rectifier, it is only necessary to provide the converter 39 having the function of converting AC current to DC current, making it possible to eliminate the need for an inverter or chopper. This makes it possible to reduce the installation space and reduce costs.

[0069] <6. Variations> The turbine power generation control device 10 according to the above embodiment determines the second injection amount Vf2 based on the difference value ΔI obtained by subtracting the power generation current value I_act from the target power generation current value I_tgt of the generator 41, which is set based on the required power generation amount IV_req transmitted from the power generation control device 27. However, the turbine control device 30 may calculate the required power generation amount IV_req.

[0070] Specifically, the processing capabilities (processing speeds) of the vehicle drive control device 23, the motor control device 25, and the power generation control device 27 used to control the drive system of the vehicle may be slower than the processing capabilities (processing speeds) of the turbine control device 30. For example, in the example described in the above embodiment, the vehicle drive control device 23, the motor control device 25, and the power generation control device 27 transmit messages via the communication bus 21 in a period of 100 milliseconds, and the turbine control device 30 has a processing cycle of 10 milliseconds. Alternatively, the transmission period of signals between the respective control devices may differ depending on the processing speed required for the contents of the messages. For example, the period for transmitting messages (flags) for checking the status of other control devices, instruction signals, etc. may be set to 100 milliseconds to 1000 seconds, while the period for transmitting sensor information may be set to 1 millisecond to 20 milliseconds. In this case, the turbine control device 30 acquires the necessary sensor information and sets the required power generation amount IV_req, thereby increasing the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt at an earlier timing.

[0071] For example, the turbine control device 30 is configured to be able to directly receive a sensor signal from a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooling water, thereby enabling the turbine control device 30 to calculate the required power generation amount IV_req at a period shorter than the message transmission period of the power generation control device 27. This can increase the certainty that the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt is increased in advance before the turbine rotation speed Nt decreases.

[0072] The sensor that detects information for calculating the required power generation amount IV_req is not limited to the above temperature sensor, and the turbine control device 30 may be configured to directly receive sensor signals (detection information) from a group of necessary sensors. For example, the turbine control device 30 may directly receive a sensor signal from at least one of a vehicle speed sensor, an outside air temperature sensor, and a battery current sensor. Any of the information detected by these sensors is information that may affect the calculation of the required power generation amount IV_req by the turbine generator 40, which is set by the power generation control device 27. Therefore, similar to the cooling water temperature sensor, it is possible to increase the certainty that the fuel injection amount Vf_tgt is increased in advance before the turbine rotation speed Nt decreases.

[0073] Although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs can conceive of various modified or amended examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0074] For example, in the turbine power generation control device 10 according to the above embodiment, a capacitor may be provided at any position in the electric circuit from the generator 41 to the battery 15, such as the converter 39 or the battery 15. By providing such a capacitor, when a power generation ripple of a very short frequency occurs, the power generation ripple can be smoothed. Therefore, the output current from the generator 41 can be further stabilized by the control of the turbine power generation control device 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...turbine power generation control device, 15...battery, 17...power converter, 19...driving motor, 25...vehicle drive control device, 27...power generation control device, 30...turbine control device, 31...acquisition unit, 32...target power generation amount setting unit, 33...fuel injection amount setting unit, 34...engine control unit, 35...converter control unit, 39...converter, 41...generator, 42...turbine engine, 55...fuel control valve, 57...opening / closing valve, 59...spark plug

Claims

1. A turbine power generation control device including a generator that generates electric power to be supplied to an electric load, a turbine engine that drives the generator, and a control device that controls the operation of the turbine engine, The control device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information that allows a change in power consumption of the electric load to be estimated and information on a required amount of power generation; a fuel injection amount setting unit that sets a target power generation current value by correcting the required power generation amount based on the estimated change in power consumption of the electric load, and sets a fuel injection amount of the turbine engine based on a difference value obtained by subtracting an actual rotation speed of the turbine engine from a target rotation speed of the turbine engine and a difference value obtained by subtracting a power generation current value from the target generation current value; an engine control unit that controls operation of the turbine engine based on the set fuel injection amount; A turbine power generation control device comprising:

2. A turbine power generation control device including a generator that generates electric power to be supplied to a drive motor that outputs drive torque for a vehicle, a turbine engine that drives the generator, and a control device that controls the drive of the turbine engine, The control device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires at least one of information on an accelerator opening, a required acceleration, or a vehicle speed, which allows a change in power consumption of the drive motor to be estimated; a fuel injection amount setting unit that sets a fuel injection amount of the turbine engine based on a difference value obtained by subtracting an actual rotation speed of the turbine engine from a target rotation speed of the turbine engine and an estimated change in power consumption of the drive motor; an engine control unit that controls operation of the turbine engine based on the set fuel injection amount; A turbine power generation control device comprising:

3. A turbine power generation control device including a generator that generates power to be supplied to an electrical load, a turbine engine that drives the generator, and a control device that controls the drive of the turbine engine, The control device includes: An acquisition unit that acquires information that enables a change in power consumption of the electric load to be estimated; a fuel injection amount setting unit that sets a fuel injection amount of the turbine engine based on a difference value obtained by subtracting an actual rotation speed of the turbine engine from a target rotation speed of the turbine engine, an estimated change in power consumption of the electric load, and a change in a generated output voltage of the generator; an engine control unit that controls operation of the turbine engine based on the set fuel injection amount; A turbine power generation control device comprising:

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