Hybrid Engine Air Motor Energy Recoupment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hybrid vehicles face inefficiencies in quickly charging batteries during braking, limiting the recoupment of energy due to slow battery recharge times.
Innovation Solution
An engine system incorporating a Wankel internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and an air motor, where compressed air tanks store energy quickly and efficiently, complemented by a computer-controlled system to optimize energy usage across all motors, allowing for rapid recharging and efficient power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If electric batteries are used to store energy during braking, then energy recoupment is achieved, but the charging speed is slow and cannot recoup all available energy in short time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces compressed air tanks as an intermediary energy storage medium between the regenerative braking system and the electric batteries. The air tanks can rapidly absorb braking energy through compression, bypassing the slow charging limitation of batteries, and then release this energy to power the motor or recharge batteries when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the energy storage function into two distinct components: air tanks for rapid energy absorption during braking, and batteries for sustained energy storage and delivery. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal performance range, with air tanks handling high-power short-duration energy capture and batteries providing steady-state energy management.
2Productivity
If air tanks are used to store energy, then charging speed increases and energy recoupment efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the air motor to serve multiple functions: it can directly power the vehicle during cruising, assist during acceleration, and act as a generator to recharge air tanks during braking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each operation mode, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity despite adding air tank capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates regenerative braking that automatically recharges the air tanks during deceleration events without requiring active intervention. The compressed air is generated passively through the braking process itself, and the system intelligently manages energy flow between air tanks, batteries, and motors, reducing the burden on control systems and operators.
3Productivity
If three different types of motors are used with complementary characteristics, then performance and efficiency increase, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the internal combustion engine, electric motor, and air motor into a unified powertrain system with a single control unit that coordinates all three motors. The control system intelligently determines optimal combinations of motors based on driving conditions, merging their capabilities to achieve high performance while managing complexity through centralized coordination rather than separate control systems for each motor.
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 system enhances performance and efficiency by enabling rapid energy recoupment during braking, optimizing power usage across different speed ranges, and extending vehicle range through efficient energy storage and distribution, while reducing weight and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressor coupled to the internal combustion engine and electric motor. The air compressor is connected to pressurize the air tanks
Implementation Method 2
The air motor is connected to power the vehicle. The air motor is powered by compressed air stored in air tanks
Implementation Method 3
The batteries are recharged by recouping some of the energy that would otherwise be lost during braking, i.e. regenerative braking
Data Source
AI summary
An engine system includes three different types of motors with complementary characteristics, which together provide increased performance and efficiency. The engine system generally includes a fuel-consuming engine (such as an internal combustion engine), an electric motor and an air motor. The air motor is powered by compressed air stored in air tanks. The air tanks can store energy much more quickly and efficiently than electric batteries. Therefore, the air tanks are a more efficient way of recouping the energy of braking the vehicle. The air tanks can be used to power the vehicle, especially at cruising speed, and can recharge the batteries over time. The three motors are complementary to one another in several ways which provide improved performance and efficiency.