Hybrid Vehicle Controller for Clutch Engagement Power Assist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles with a clutch mechanism for disengaging the motor from the power transmission path experience response delays when switching from a disengaged to an engaged state, which can lead to discomfort during high-speed driving due to unintentional regenerative braking and inefficiencies in electric power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A controller that independently manages power transmission from an engine and a rotating electric machine to the drive wheels, using a connecting/disconnecting mechanism to ensure timely engagement and disengagement, with the second rotating electric machine providing power assistance to compensate for response delays and optimize power usage based on requested driving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clutch mechanism is used to disengage the motor from the power transmission path, then unintentional regenerative braking is prevented, but response delay occurs when switching from disengaged to engaged state
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary flux-weakening control before the clutch engagement is completed. This advance action reduces the motor's magnetic flux in anticipation of the upcoming engagement, ensuring that when the clutch connects, the motor is already in a state that prevents immediate regenerative braking, thus eliminating response delay while maintaining reliability
2Reliability
If flux-weakening control is implemented to prevent unintentional regenerative braking, then regenerative brake activation is avoided, but electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Flux-weakening control is applied preliminarily and temporarily before clutch engagement completes, rather than continuously. This limited-duration control achieves the necessary prevention of regenerative braking while minimizing electric power consumption by activating the control only when and where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts the flux-weakening control parameters based on the clutch engagement state and motor operating conditions. By making the control adaptive and variable rather than fixed, the system achieves reliable prevention of regenerative braking while optimizing power consumption through real-time parameter adjustment
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
The controller reduces response delays and improves engagement efficiency by using the second rotating electric machine to transmit power when the clutch engages, ensuring smooth transitions and enhanced electric efficiency by controlling the power states of both electric machines according to driving demands.
Implementation Method 1
a second rotating electric machine that generates power using power of the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle (10) has mounted therein an engine (2), a first rotating electric machine (3), and a second rotating electric machine (4). The power of the engine (2) and the power of the first rotating electric machine (3) are separately transmitted from different power transmission paths (41, 42) to drive wheels (5). The power of the engine (2) is also transmitted to the second rotating electric machine (4) and utilized to generate electrical power. The vehicle (10) is provided with a connecting/disconnecting mechanism (8) on the power transmission path (42) that transmits the power of the first rotating electric machine (3) to the drive wheels (5). A controller (1) of the vehicle (10) calculates a requested driving power of the vehicle (10), and when the connecting/disconnecting mechanism (8) is shifted from a disengaged state to an engaged state to deal with an increase in the requested driving power while the engine (2) is running, makes the second rotating electric machine (4) power run and transmits power of the second rotating electric machine (4) to the drive wheels (5).