Freewheeling Engine Control for Fuel and Support Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle operation systems fail to optimize CO2 balance and fuel efficiency by not effectively anticipating and preparing for upcoming vehicle operations, leading to inefficient engine shutdown and restart processes.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a vehicle's engine that switches it into a freewheeling mode based on anticipated operating conditions, such as steering and braking requirements, allowing for proactive gear selection in the transmission to ensure quick restart and support functionality, while maintaining fuel interruption for extended periods when safe to do so.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine is switched off to save fuel, then fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced, but the availability of support functions (steering, braking) is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission proactively selects a gear that enables quick engine restart and immediate provision of support functions. By anticipating upcoming operating conditions (steering, braking requirements), the system prepares the transmission in advance so that when the engine needs to be restarted, the correct gear is already selected, minimizing the delay in restoring support functions.
2Reliability
If the engine is kept running to ensure immediate availability of support functions, then reliability is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between engine off and engine on states based on anticipated operating conditions. The transmission control unit continuously monitors upcoming requirements (steering, braking) and adjusts the engine state accordingly, keeping the engine off during periods when support functions are not needed and restarting it proactively when support functions will be required within a predefined time limit.
3Reliability
If the transmission is prepared for quick restart by selecting appropriate gear, then the availability of support functions is improved, but the complexity of control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from monitoring upcoming operating conditions (steering actions, braking requirements) to determine when to restart the engine. By continuously assessing whether support functions will be needed within a predefined time limit and adjusting the engine state accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between fuel savings and support function availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system and a method for operating an engine (20) of a vehicle (10), particularly a commercial vehicle, wherein a transmission (22) coupled to the engine (20) has a freewheeling mode. The engine is switched off by setting the transmission (22) into the freewheeling mode and interrupting fuel supply to the engine (20) in the freewheeling mode depending on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle (10). A gear in the transmission (22) is selected proactively depending on one or more operating actions of the vehicle (10) anticipated to be required on or within a predefined time limit after restart of the engine (20).