Engine Automatic Stop Start Mechanism for Fuel Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles consume excessive fuel during periods of low system power demand, as the engine often remains idle, leading to inefficient fuel usage and increased emissions.
Innovation Solution
The Vehicle Power Management System (VPMS) automatically shuts down the engine when power is not needed and restarts it when required, using conditions such as battery state of charge, vehicle speed, and generator power demand to optimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the engine remains running during low power demand periods, then the vehicle is ready to provide power immediately, but fuel consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is charged in advance during engine operation, storing energy that can be used immediately when the engine shuts down. This preliminary energy storage allows the vehicle to maintain power availability while reducing fuel consumption during low-demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine operates periodically rather than continuously - running during high power demand and shutting down during low power demand. This periodic operation pattern reduces overall fuel consumption while maintaining the ability to meet power needs when required.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is shut down automatically to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to multiple monitoring conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system performs multiple functions: monitoring battery state of charge, determining power demand levels, controlling engine shutdown/startup, and managing overall vehicle power distribution. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, complexity is managed more efficiently than if separate systems were used for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors battery state of charge and power demand conditions, using this feedback information to make real-time decisions about engine operation. This closed-loop feedback control allows the system to automatically adjust engine status based on current vehicle needs, reducing fuel consumption without requiring complex manual intervention.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the engine shuts down during high idle conditions, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle speed may fall below minimum moving speed limits
Solution Approach 1:
The engine shutdown decision is made dynamic rather than static - the system continuously evaluates current vehicle speed, acceleration rate, and power demand to determine whether shutdown is appropriate. This dynamic assessment allows the system to maintain shutdown benefits while avoiding situations where speed constraints would be violated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temporary, condition-specific shutdowns rather than sustained operation. The engine shuts down only for brief periods when conditions are favorable (low power demand, adequate battery charge, appropriate vehicle speed), providing fuel savings during these short intervals without compromising overall vehicle performance or speed requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An inventive system and method for managing vehicle power is presented. The novel technology provides a means to automatically shutdown a vehicle's engine when conditions are such that engine power is not needed, reducing fuel consumption as well as lowering noise and emissions. A series of conditions are examined to determine whether engine power is needed and hence whether shutdown can be safely performed. The inventive system and method can also determine when power is again needed by the engine and can re-start the engine automatically at such times.