Hybrid Vehicle Battery Control for Abnormality Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles face challenges in maintaining safe operation when abnormalities occur in the travel-purpose power storage mechanisms, such as batteries, which can lead to overheating and critical failures, and existing systems do not effectively implement limp home mode and system shutoff to prevent these issues.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus and method that disconnects the abnormal power storage mechanism from electrical loads, switches to internal combustion engine power, and maximizes cooling to prevent further damage, while inhibiting travel if a serious abnormality is detected, ensuring safe shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hybrid vehicle continues to operate with the abnormal power storage mechanism connected, then the vehicle can maintain electrical power supply, but the abnormality may worsen and cause critical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus electrically disconnects the abnormal power storage mechanism from the electrical load by opening the switch apparatus, extracting the problematic component from the operational system. This allows the vehicle to continue traveling using the internal combustion engine while isolating the abnormal battery from causing further damage or critical failure.
2Reliability
If the power storage mechanism is electrically disconnected when abnormality occurs, then critical failure is prevented, but the vehicle loses electrical power supply capability
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus acts as an intermediary by detecting abnormalities and automatically managing the electrical disconnection and reconnection processes. It monitors the power storage mechanism, determines when to disconnect based on abnormality detection, and controls the switch apparatus to maintain vehicle operability while protecting against critical failure.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the vehicle switches to internal combustion engine only mode, then travel time can be extended, but fuel consumption increases and emission rises
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus dynamically adjusts the vehicle's powertrain configuration based on the abnormality state. When a power storage mechanism abnormality is detected, it transitions the vehicle to engine-only mode by disconnecting the electrical motor, allowing continued travel while adapting to the degraded system state. This dynamic reconfiguration extends travel capability despite the increased emission from engine-only operation.
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
Enables reliable limp home mode and system shutoff in hybrid vehicles, preventing critical failures and extending travel time using the internal combustion engine, while effectively managing battery temperature to prevent overheating.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan generating a cooling air for cooling the electrical devices is provided
Implementation Method 2
The secondary battery is discharged and charged through a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction is accompanied by heat generation, and therefore, the secondary battery has to be cooled.
Implementation Method 3
In the inverter and the DC/DC converter as well, heat is generated from power elements. Therefore, the inverter and the DC/DC converter also have to be cooled.
Data Source
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AI summary
When an abnormality except for a temperature abnormality of a travel-purpose battery 220 is detected (YES in S1100), a battery ECU 260 of the present invention renders a system main relay 640 OFF to make a change to a battery-less travel mode while using a battery cooling fan 220D to cool the travel-purpose battery 220 (S1200-S 1400). When a temperature abnormality of the travel-purpose battery 220 is still detected (YES in S1600), a system-off command signal is output (S 1700) to cause the hybrid vehicle to become unable to travel. In this way, limp home mode and system shutoff of the hybrid vehicle can be surely implemented even in the case where an abnormality occurs to the travel-purpose battery 220.