Dynamic Weighting Control for Engine Test Stand Anti-Windup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dynamic engine test rigs face limitations in controlling speed and torque curves due to limited actuating power, leading to potential 'wind-up' effects and loss of controller performance, which existing anti-wind-up structures struggle to fully mitigate.

Innovation Solution

A control device that adapts by changing the weighting from speed-controlled to torque-controlled control, allowing stepless adjustment of power distribution between the internal combustion engine and drive/load units, with an anti-wind-up structure that adjusts actuating power based on predefinable weighting to prevent power limits from being exceeded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the actuating capacity of the drive motors is increased to improve speed and torque curve tracking, then the controller performance is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontroller performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control system adaptable through stepless adjustment of weighting between speed-controlled and torque-controlled modes. This allows the system to dynamically optimize controller performance for different test profiles without requiring additional hardware, resolving the contradiction between performance and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the actuating capacity of the drive motors is increased to improve speed and torque curve tracking, then the controller performance is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontroller performanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes parameters by allowing stepless adjustment of the weighting between speed and torque control modes. This enables optimization of power consumption while maintaining controller performance by selecting appropriate control modes for different operating conditions and test profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the weighting adjustment range is extended to improve adaptability, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a control system that can perform both speed-controlled and torque-controlled operations within a single device. The stepless weighting adjustment enables the system to handle diverse test profiles and operating conditions without requiring separate specialized equipment, achieving high versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2522978B1Test stand for dynamic tests for combustion engines and method for operating such a test stand
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 AVL LIST GMBH
  • EP2522978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2522978B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The test stand has an electric drive- or loading device that is coupled with a control device for the adjustment and controlling of set values for a rotational speed and a torque curve. The control device is adjusted in the sense of an adjustment of the weighting of speed-dependent control on torque-dependent control. The control device is connected with a control element for adjusting the weight. An independent claim is included for a method for operating a test stand.