Hybrid Engine Clutch Control for Torque Demand Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current engine stop-start systems in hybrid vehicles face inefficiencies in managing torque demand, leading to suboptimal fuel efficiency and energy regeneration, particularly when the engine torque demand falls below a certain threshold, as they struggle to effectively decouple the engine and motor-generator, resulting in delayed clutch engagement and disengagement.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a torque circuit and clutch circuit system that monitors torque demand levels and selectively disengages engine and motor-generator clutches when demand falls below a threshold, allowing the motor-generator to generate energy while decoupled from the engine, and engages them when demand increases, optimizing energy storage and usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine and motor-generator are decoupled when torque demand falls below threshold, then fuel efficiency is improved through energy regeneration, but clutch engagement and disengagement delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control system preemptively engages the engine and motor-generator before torque demand increases, rather than waiting for delay to occur. This preliminary action ensures immediate responsiveness when load conditions change, eliminating the time loss associated with clutch engagement delays while maintaining fuel efficiency during low-torque periods
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is turned off during low torque demand, then fuel consumption is reduced, but torque demand response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The engine is preemptively engaged before torque demand increases occur, ensuring that when the vehicle requires power, the engine is already running and can respond immediately. This eliminates the startup delay that would otherwise occur when the engine is turned off during low-torque periods, while still allowing fuel consumption to be reduced during extended low-demand intervals
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 enhances fuel efficiency by allowing the motor-generator to generate energy during engine braking and reduces fuel consumption by preemptively engaging the engine and motor-generator when torque demand increases, improving overall energy management in hybrid vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The motor-generator is coupled to the transmission such that the motor-generator utilizes a negative torque level to generate energy for storage in an energy storage device while the engine is decoupled from the transmission
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a torque circuit and a clutch circuit. The torque circuit is structured to monitor a torque demand level of an engine. The clutch circuit is structured to (i) disengage an engine clutch of a transmission to decouple the engine from the transmission in response to the torque demand level of the engine falling below a threshold torque level and (ii) disengage a motor-generator clutch of the transmission to decouple a motor-generator from the engine in response to the torque demand level of the engine falling below the threshold torque level. The motor-generator is directly coupled to the transmission.