Vehicle Range Extension via Dynamic Power Plant Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles often face insufficient fuel reserves to reach target destinations due to varying fuel availability along routes and at fueling stations, leading to a need for extending vehicle range beyond estimated capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a processor and controller communicating with a vehicle's power plant to adjust performance parameters such as torque, power, and speed based on estimated energy usage and available fuel levels, using data like historical usage, traffic conditions, and weather, to extend the vehicle's range when the estimated range is less than the distance to the target destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the vehicle operates with standard power plant performance parameters, then the power plant operates efficiently under normal conditions, but the vehicle cannot reach the target destination when the estimated range is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power plant performance parameters (torque, power, speed) in real-time based on monitored energy consumption rates and remaining energy levels. The controller continuously modifies operating parameters to extend vehicle range while ensuring the vehicle can reach the target destination, transitioning from static to dynamic operation to resolve the range insufficiency problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes the operational parameters of the power plant by adjusting torque, power output, and speed based on calculated energy consumption patterns. This parameter modification allows the vehicle to operate in an extended range mode when energy reserves are low, directly addressing the contradiction between normal operation and reaching the destination.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the vehicle adjusts performance parameters to extend range, then the vehicle can reach farther distances, but energy consumption efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial adjustments to performance parameters only when necessary to extend range to the target destination. Rather than continuously operating in extended range mode, the controller monitors energy levels and applies parameter adjustments selectively when the estimated range becomes insufficient, thereby extending range only to the extent needed while minimizing excessive energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual energy consumption rates and compares them against expected consumption patterns. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts performance parameters to extend range while optimizing energy usage. The feedback loop ensures that parameter adjustments are made only when necessary and at the appropriate magnitude to reach the destination without excessive energy waste.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for extending a range of a vehicle are disclosed and include receiving a first data, the first data being indicative of a distance of the vehicle from a target destination, receiving a second data, the second data being indicative of a level of potential energy of an energy source for a power plant of the vehicle, receiving an operating parameter indicative of estimated future energy usage of the power plant, estimating, by a processor, an expected range of the vehicle based on the second data and the estimated future energy usage of the power plant, and adjusting a performance parameter of the power plant to extend an actual range of the vehicle when the estimated expected range is less than the distance of the vehicle from the target destination are disclosed. Systems for extending the range of the vehicle are also disclosed.