Hybrid Powertrain Torque Control for Minimizing Electric Machine Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid powertrains in vehicles experience significant power losses when electric machines propel the vehicle, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling a hybrid powertrain that determines the optimal operating torques for electric machines to minimize system power losses by calculating and commanding specific torque settings for the first and second electric machines, based on a plurality of possible motor torques, to achieve the requested torque while reducing overall powertrain losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electric machines are used to propel the vehicle in a hybrid powertrain, then the vehicle can achieve flexible propulsion and improved fuel economy, but significant power losses occur in the electric machines leading to reduced overall efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts operating parameters (torque distribution between first and second electric machines) to minimize power losses. By calculating system power losses for multiple possible motor torque combinations and selecting the optimal operating point, the system changes operational parameters in real-time to reduce energy losses while maintaining propulsion flexibility.
2Loss of energy
If the controller calculates and optimizes torque distribution between multiple electric machines, then system efficiency is maximized by minimizing power losses, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs self-optimization by automatically calculating system power losses for multiple torque scenarios and selecting the optimal operating point without external intervention. The system serves itself by embedding the optimization logic within the controller, which continuously monitors and adjusts torque distribution to minimize losses while managing its own operational complexity.
3Loss of energy
If multiple possible motor torques are evaluated to determine optimal operating point, then the lowest power loss is achieved, but the calculation time and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-calculates and stores power loss characteristics for multiple motor torque combinations before actual operation. By preparing optimization data in advance and maintaining lookup tables or pre-computed maps of optimal torque distributions, the system reduces real-time calculation requirements and can quickly retrieve optimal operating points during vehicle operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain includes the following steps: receiving a torque request; determining a plurality of possible motor torques for the first and second electric machines capable of achieving the torque requested; determining system power losses of the powertrain for all the possible motor torques for the first and second electric machines capable of achieving the torque requested; determining a lowest power loss of the system power losses determined for the plurality of possible motor torques for the first and second electric machines; determining a first operating torque for the first electric machine and a second operating torque for the second electric machine that correspond with the lowest power loss; and commanding the first electric machine to generate the first operating torque and the second electric machine to generate the second operating torque in order to achieve the torque requested while minimizing the system power losses.