Vehicle Energy Management via Predictive Buffer Pricing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems in vehicles face challenges in optimizing fuel efficiency due to the complex interdependence of various energy consumers and the need for continuous tuning, making it difficult to determine the optimal power distribution and consumption without significant cost additions.
Innovation Solution
A control method utilizing a control unit that collects vehicle travel route information to estimate energy consumption, calculate predictive energy buffer prices, and set unitary energy prices for energy subsystems, allowing for efficient energy distribution and use across the vehicle's energy system, including the use of energy buffers for optimized charging and discharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If continuous tuning of control method is performed to optimize energy management, then fuel efficiency is improved, but control complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control method performs preliminary actions by collecting vehicle travel route information and estimating energy consumption before making control decisions. The control unit calculates predictive energy buffer prices based on upcoming route characteristics, allowing the system to proactively optimize energy management rather than continuously reacting to changing conditions, thereby reducing control complexity while maintaining fuel efficiency improvements
2Productivity
If detailed energy consumption estimation is performed for each energy subsystem, then energy distribution optimization is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control method segments the energy system into multiple energy subsystems, each with its own energy buffer and consumption characteristics. The control unit collects route information and estimates energy consumption for each subsystem separately, then calculates predictive energy buffer prices for each segment. This segmentation allows for targeted optimization of energy distribution without requiring complex system-wide calculations, reducing overall computational complexity while improving energy distribution efficiency
3Speed
If frequent recalculation of energy prices is performed, then energy management responsiveness is improved, but energy buffer durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control method implements periodic action by calculating predictive energy buffer prices based on collected vehicle travel route information rather than continuously or frequently recalculating. The system updates energy prices at intervals when new route information is available, reducing the frequency of recalculation operations. This periodic approach maintains energy management responsiveness to route changes while significantly reducing the wear and tear on energy buffers caused by frequent charging/discharging cycles, thereby extending energy buffer durability
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a control unit for managing energy flows within an energy system of a vehicle is provided. The energy system includes a plurality of energy subsystems connected by converters. The converter can convert energy of one energy form from one energy subsystem to energy of another energy form of another energy subsystem. At least one energy subsystem includes an energy buffer. According to the method performed by a control unit vehicle travel route information is collected for a predefined travel route whereby the travel route can be divided in part routes. By estimating an energy consumption over respective part route for each energy buffer an estimated energy buffer price for respective part route can be calculated by the control unit. The estimated energy buffer price can subsequently be used such that energy can be provided between energy subsystems such that the available energy for a part route can be distributed within the energy system of the vehicle in the most efficient way by the control unit and the usage of respective energy buffer can be optimized.