Hybrid Powertrain Torque Compensation for Engine Response Shortfall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid electric vehicles face challenges in maintaining consistent acceleration due to the shortfall in engine torque, particularly when suddenly requested to provide a large amount of torque.
Innovation Solution
A control system that receives a torque request for an internal combustion engine, determines any shortfall, and provides an output to control an electric machine to compensate for the shortfall by delivering additional torque to a different axle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the internal combustion engine is suddenly requested to provide a large amount of torque, then the initial torque increase can be rapidly provided by adjusting spark timing and fueling, but the rate of torque increase will slow down due to the inertia of the slowly-changing air flow through the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the internal combustion engine and electric machine into a hybrid powertrain system where both power sources work together. The electric machine compensates for the engine's slow torque response by providing rapid torque supplementation, merging the advantages of both power sources to achieve both high power and fast response.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric machine acts as an intermediary between the driver's torque request and the engine output. When the engine cannot respond quickly enough to torque requests, the electric machine steps in to bridge the gap, smoothing out the response and maintaining acceleration consistency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle operates in parallel hybrid electric vehicle mode with the engine mechanically coupled to the wheels, then the engine can provide torque directly, but the vehicle becomes less responsive compared to electric vehicle mode due to the greater inertia of the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically switches between different operating modes (parallel hybrid mode and electric vehicle mode) based on real-time conditions such as torque requests, vehicle speed, and battery state of charge. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both energy efficiency and acceleration responsiveness by selecting the appropriate power source combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system anticipates torque requests and prepares the electric machine to provide supplemental torque before the engine can fully respond. By detecting when torque requests exceed what the engine can provide, the system proactively engages the electric machine to maintain responsiveness.
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 improves acceleration consistency by ensuring the vehicle responds equally well in hybrid electric vehicle mode as in electric vehicle mode, despite the greater inertia of the engine.
Implementation Method 1
provide an output to control an electric machine to provide a compensation torque configured to compensate for the shortfall
Implementation Method 2
internal combustion engine configured to mechanically couple to a first axle of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a torque request for an internal combustion engine configured to mechanically couple to a first axle of the vehicle; determining a shortfall relative to the torque request, dependent on torque providable by the engine; and providing an output to control an electric machine to provide a compensation torque configured to compensate for the shortfall, wherein the electric machine is mechanically coupled to a second axle of the vehicle.