Hybrid Vehicle Control Apparatus for Steep Ascent Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles face insufficient electrical energy storage in capacitors when traveling on ascending roads for long periods or with high gradients, leading to concerns about maintaining desired ascending performance.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus for hybrid vehicles that includes a switching unit to select a charging priority range, a threshold value increasing unit to adjust the determination threshold, and a generated power increasing unit to enhance power generation by the generator motor, ensuring adequate energy storage and assist the internal combustion engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the generator motor operates to assist the internal combustion engine on ascending roads, then the driving force is improved, but the electrical energy in the capacitor becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary charging of the capacitor before the vehicle ascends a steep slope. The switching unit determines upcoming steep sections using gradient information, and the generator motor is operated in advance to charge the capacitor, ensuring sufficient electrical energy is available when needed for assisted driving on steep sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus dynamically adjusts the threshold value for determining when to assist based on the vehicle's traveling state and upcoming road gradient. The switching unit modifies the determination threshold dynamically, allowing the generator motor to assist at different acceleration levels depending on whether the vehicle is entering a steep section, thereby optimizing energy usage while maintaining driving force.
2Speed
If the determination threshold value is kept low to enable frequent assisting, then the driving responsiveness is improved, but the capacitor discharges excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus charges the capacitor in advance during periods when the vehicle is not on steep sections, preparing energy reserves before they are needed. This preliminary charging action allows the system to maintain a higher threshold during actual ascending sections, reducing frequent switching while ensuring energy availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit changes the determination threshold parameter dynamically based on the vehicle's traveling state, capacitor charge level, and upcoming road gradient. By adjusting this parameter, the system optimizes the balance between response speed and energy conservation, enabling assistance only when truly necessary.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the generator motor assists continuously on long ascending roads, then the ascending performance is maintained, but the capacitor cannot store sufficient energy
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus identifies upcoming steep sections using gradient information and performs preliminary charging operations before the vehicle enters these sections. This advance preparation ensures that the capacitor is sufficiently charged to support the generator motor's assisting operation throughout the entire duration of the steep ascent.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit continuously monitors the vehicle's traveling state, capacitor charge level, and road gradient information. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts the determination threshold and controls the generator motor's operation to ensure sustained ascending performance while managing capacitor energy levels appropriately.
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 solution effectively suppresses power consumption, prevents excessive capacitor discharge, and ensures desired driving force and ascending performance even on long or steep inclines by optimizing energy storage and usage.
Implementation Method 1
a generator motor 12 that functions as a power source of the vehicle and functions as a generator to generate electric power
Implementation Method 2
a capacitor 15 that supplies and receives electrical energy to and from the generator motor 12
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator motor, a capacitor, and a driving force assisting unit. Further, the control device includes a switching unit that selects an appropriate traveling range from a plurality of traveling ranges including at least a normal traveling range and a charging priority range for preferentially charging the capacitor and switches the range, and a threshold value increasing unit that increases, when the charging priority range is selected by the switching unit, the predetermined determination threshold value as compared to when the normal traveling range is selected by the switching unit.