Anticipated Torque Reserve for Vehicle Electrical Voltage Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of electrical consumers in motor vehicles, such as electric power steering, poses high power demands on the vehicle electrical system, leading to instability and potential voltage drops during high-load situations, which can be uncomfortable for drivers, especially during parking or maneuvering operations.

Innovation Solution

A method that dynamically adjusts the internal combustion engine's injection quantity and ignition point to create a torque reserve, allowing the engine to quickly supply additional power to the electrical system when high loads are anticipated, thereby stabilizing the electrical voltage without delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the injection quantity is increased to provide more torque to the electrical generator, then the electrical voltage stability is improved, but the engine speed increases unexpectedly which causes driver discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical voltage stabilityVSAvoidengine speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The ignition point is adjusted in advance before the high-load situation occurs to create a torque reserve. By pre-adjusting the ignition timing, the engine prepares additional torque capacity that can be immediately deployed when electrical consumers are activated, preventing voltage drops without causing unexpected engine speed increases during the actual high-load event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the ignition point is adjusted to reduce engine torque, then the engine speed remains constant, but the electrical system voltage becomes unstable during high-load situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine speed stabilityVSAvoidelectrical system voltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ignition point is adjusted in advance to create a torque reserve before high-load situations occur. This preliminary adjustment ensures that when electrical consumers are activated, the engine can immediately deliver additional torque without changing engine speed, thereby maintaining both engine speed stability and electrical voltage stability during the actual high-load event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the electrical load is passed on to the generator without delay, then the electrical voltage stability is improved, but the engine speed fluctuates which causes driver discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical voltage stabilityVSAvoidengine speed stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The ignition point is adjusted in advance to create a torque reserve that can be immediately deployed when electrical loads are applied. This preliminary preparation allows the engine to meet sudden electrical power demands without causing engine speed fluctuations, as the additional torque is already prepared through the ignition timing adjustment rather than being generated by sudden engine response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures stable electrical voltage during high-load situations, such as parking or maneuvering, by quickly providing the necessary torque to the electrical generator, preventing voltage drops and maintaining comfortable driving conditions while reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Implementation Method 1

An internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is operated with a first injection quantity and with a first ignition point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

the vehicle's electric generator and the vehicle's battery jointly supply the vehicle electrical system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2181261B1Method and vehicle electric system with anticipated temporary lead torque for the internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2181261B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2181261B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2181261B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for reducing the energy consumption of a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and at least one vehicle electric system, to which at least one first electric consumer is connected. The aim of the invention is to provide a high-performance vehicle electric system with a reduced energy consumption. To achieve this, the combustion engine is operated in a first operating mode with a first injection quantity and a first ignition point. In a second operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity, greater than the first, and a second ignition point. The second ignition point is less favourable than the first ignition point for the second injection quantity in terms of the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. In a third operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with the second injection quantity and predominantly the first ignition point, such that the efficiency of the internal combustion engine in the third operating mode is greater than that in the second operating mode. A driving situation detection device (103, 104, and 105), which is provided in the vehicle, identifies an imminent specific driving situation as a result of the previous behaviour of the driver when steering the vehicle and/or of the vehicle in advance and initiates the switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.