Powertrain Test Stand Torque Control via Virtual Tire Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive train test bench systems face challenges in effectively damping resonance frequencies, leading to vibrations that can impact test results or cause damage, due to delayed and noisy measurement values, and existing methods are either inefficient or unstable at higher frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A method using a tire model to control the torque of the input machine, where a virtual tire is used to determine the command variable for damping, avoiding the need for precise measurement of multiple speeds and reducing the influence of dynamic variables, with a static relationship between slip and torque setpoint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If softer, more strongly damped connecting shafts are used to lower and dampen resonance frequencies, then the resonance frequencies are dampened more strongly, but the low-pass effect adversely affects operation and power is converted to heat due to friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresonance vibrationsVSAvoidpower conversion to heat
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical damping approach (soft connecting shafts with friction) with an electrical control system. The control device applies electromagnetic torque to the input machine to counteract resonance vibrations, eliminating the need for friction-based mechanical damping and the associated energy loss to heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control device as an intermediary between the measurement systems and the input machine. This control device processes speed measurements and applies corrective torque to dampen resonances, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for direct mechanical damping through soft shafts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional torque corresponding to shaft damping is applied to the driven machine using differential angular velocity, then resonance frequencies are dampened, but measurement noise and delay make the powertrain test stand more unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresonance vibrationsVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously measures the speeds of the input and output machines, calculates the differential angular velocity, and applies corrective torque to dampen resonances. This closed-loop feedback approach maintains system stability by continuously adjusting the damping torque based on actual system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic control by adjusting the damping torque in real-time based on the measured differential angular velocity. The control device modifies the torque applied to the input machine dynamically to counteract resonance vibrations, rather than using fixed mechanical damping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If measured shaft torque is differentiated to estimate differential angular velocity, then damping accuracy is improved, but measurement noise is significantly amplified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential angular velocity estimationVSAvoidmeasurement noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mathematical differentiation operation (which amplifies noise) with direct measurement and processing of speed signals. The control device uses measured speeds of the input and output machines to calculate differential angular velocity, avoiding the noise amplification inherent in differentiation of torque signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces speed measurements as an intermediary variable to estimate differential angular velocity. Instead of differentiating torque (which amplifies noise), the system uses speed measurements as a mediator to achieve accurate differential velocity estimation without noise amplification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If low-pass filtering is applied to differentiated torque to reduce noise, then measurement noise is reduced, but the method becomes unstable at higher resonance frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement noiseVSAvoidstability at high frequencies
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control using directly measured speed signals rather than filtered and differentiated torque signals. This approach maintains stability across all frequency ranges by using clean, direct measurements and real-time feedback to adjust damping torque, avoiding the frequency-dependent stability issues of filtered differentiation methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the signal processing chain of differentiation followed by low-pass filtering with direct speed measurement and processing. This substitution eliminates the fundamental conflict between noise reduction and high-frequency stability by using a different measurement approach from the start.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach effectively dampens low-frequency vibrations, is insensitive to measurement noise, and maintains stability during transient tests, improving the accuracy and safety of drive train testing by utilizing the damping effect of the tire model at the input machine.

Implementation Method 1

measures to dampen these resonance frequencies on the test bench are necessary

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a not inconsiderable amount of power can be converted in the shaft due to friction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3092471B1Method and device for controlling a powertrain test stand
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 KRISTL SEIBT
  • EP3092471B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3092471B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3092471B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed are a method and a control device for controlling a powertrain test stand comprising a driving machine and a driven machine. According to the invention, a torque supplied by the driving machine is controlled, a reference variable (Mx) for controlling the torque of the driving machine in order to dampen vibrations between the driving machine and the driven machine being modified depending on a current speed (nist) of the driving machine in relation to a predefined value (Mist), the reference variable (Mx) being determined from a model of a virtual tire.