eCAT Energy Diversion for Hybrid Battery Charge Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid vehicle systems face challenges in managing battery state of charge during regeneration events, leading to reduced deceleration performance and drivability issues, as the regeneration rate needs to be clipped to prevent battery overload, which can negatively impact customer experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electrically heated catalyst (eCAT) that consumes electrical energy from the battery or electric machine during regeneration events to maintain or decrease the battery's state of charge, thereby preventing the need to reduce regeneration and deceleration rates, and protecting the battery from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery's state of charge approaches the upper threshold, then the battery is protected from damage, but the regeneration rate must be clipped which negatively impacts drivability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the excess electrical energy from the battery system by routing it to heat the catalyst in the aftertreatment system. This removes the harmful effect of battery overcharge while maintaining regeneration performance, as the energy is diverted to a useful function (catalyst heating) rather than being clipped.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful excess electrical energy that would otherwise force regeneration clipping into a beneficial use by heating the catalyst. This transforms the problem of battery charge management into an opportunity to improve aftertreatment efficiency and maintain optimal catalyst temperature.
2Reliability
If torque substitution is used to reduce battery state of charge, then future regeneration can capture energy, but it does not decrease state of charge sufficiently and may not be desirable when engine is already efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous energy absorption during regeneration events by heating the catalyst, rather than relying on intermittent torque substitution. This provides a continuous pathway to manage battery state of charge without interrupting the regeneration process or requiring engine torque adjustments.
3Reliability
If the regeneration rate is reduced to protect the battery, then battery damage is prevented, but the deceleration rate changes which impacts customer experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts excess electrical energy from the regeneration process and redirects it to heat the catalyst. This prevents battery overcharge while maintaining the full regeneration rate and deceleration performance, as the energy is removed from the battery charging path and used for catalyst heating instead.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach maintains consistent deceleration rates and improves drivability by effectively managing the battery's state of charge, preventing battery damage, and ensuring efficient energy use, even when the battery is near its upper limit, thus enhancing the overall vehicle performance and customer experience.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically heated catalyst (eCAT) that consumes electrical energy from the battery or electric machine during regeneration events
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery using an eCAT. Electrical energy is provided to a hybrid system for storage at the battery of the hybrid system. A first state of charge of the battery of the hybrid system is determined. Upon determining that the first state of charge is within a predetermined upper range, a determination is made as to whether to increase energy supplied to one or more hybrid vehicle components, the one or more hybrid vehicle components comprising at least the eCAT. At least a portion of the electrical energy is consumed at the eCAT.