Hybrid EV Clutch Failure Control for Extended Safe Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid electric vehicles face reduced driving distance and increased risk of accidents due to engine clutch failures, particularly when the clutch becomes stuck in an arbitrary state, leading to rapid battery consumption and inability to reach a safe zone.
Innovation Solution
A control method that determines the state of the engine clutch just prior to failure and adjusts the powertrain operation to maximize driving distance by utilizing engine power and battery charging, including HEV mode driving, HSG charging, and EV mode driving based on the clutch's state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is controlled to be driven using only the electric motor in all cases when clutch failure occurs, then the vehicle can operate safely without mechanical failure risks, but the battery consumes power rapidly and the driving distance is insufficient to reach a safe zone
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the driving mode based on the actual clutch state (stuck open or stuck closed) rather than using a fixed EV-only mode. When the clutch is stuck open, EV mode is used; when stuck closed, HEV mode is activated to utilize engine power, optimizing energy usage under different failure conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the operating parameters by switching between EV mode and HEV mode based on clutch state detection. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different failure scenarios, preventing rapid battery depletion by engaging the engine when the clutch is stuck closed
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle is controlled to be driven using only the electric motor in all cases when clutch failure occurs, then the vehicle operates in a simplified control mode, but the driving distance is reduced and the risk of accident increases due to inability to reach safe zone
Solution Approach 1:
The control system transitions from a static EV-only mode to a dynamic mode selection system that adapts to the detected clutch state. This allows the vehicle to extend driving distance by utilizing engine power when appropriate, while maintaining relatively simple control logic through automated state detection and mode switching
3Reliability
If engine clutch stuck occurs due to mechanical failure or control error, then the clutch state cannot be determined accurately, but the vehicle can still maximize driving distance by detecting the stuck state and adjusting powertrain operation accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from motor torque requirements and clutch state detection to determine the actual clutch condition. By monitoring whether the motor needs to provide full torque and comparing this with expected clutch behavior, the system can infer clutch stuck states and adjust driving mode to maximize driving distance
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically detects clutch abnormalities and self-adjusts the driving mode without requiring external intervention. The system monitors its own operational parameters (motor torque, clutch engagement state) and makes autonomous decisions to switch between EV and HEV modes, maximizing driving distance under failure conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
A hybrid electric vehicle which may maximize a driving distance in an engine clutch (130) failure situation and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The method of controlling the hybrid electric vehicle provided with an engine clutch (130) installed between a first motor (140) and an engine (110) includes, in response to a determination (S510) that failure of the engine clutch (130) occurs, determining (S520) a state of the engine clutch just prior to the failure, in response to a determination that the state of the engine clutch just prior to the failure is an open state, driving (S550A) the first motor alone, and in response to a determination that the state of the engine clutch just prior to the failure is not the open state, starting (S530, S540, S550A, S550B, S550C) the engine.