Search Results

This paper focuses on embedded control of a hybrid powertrain concepts for mobile vehicle applications. Optimal robust control approach is used to develop a real time energy management strategy. The main idea is to store the normally wasted mechanical regenerative energy in energy storage devices for later usage. The regenerative energy recovery opportunity exists in any condition where the speed of motion is in the opposite direction to the applied force or torque. This is the case when the vehicle is braking, decelerating, the motion is driven by gravitational force, or load driven. A rule based control algorithm is developed and is tuned for different work cycles and might be linked to a gain scheduling algorithm. A gain scheduling algorithm identifies the cycle being performed by the work-machine and its position via GPS, and maps both of them to the gains.

This paper focuses on comparing the performance of the embedded control of a hybrid powertrain with the original and downsized engine. Optimal robust control approach is used to develop a real time energy management strategy. The main idea is to store the normally wasted mechanical regenerative energy in energy storage devices for later usage. The regenerative energy recovery opportunity exists in any condition where the speed of motion is in the opposite direction to the applied force or torque. This is the case when the vehicle is braking, decelerating, the motion is driven by gravitational force, or load driven. The real time control challenge is to balance the system power demands from the engine and the hybrid storage device, without depleting the energy storage device or stalling the engine in any work cycle. In the worst case scenario, only engine is used and hybrid system is completely disabled.

This paper uses a one-dimensional (1-D) simulation based approach to compare the steady state and transient performance of a Split Cycle Clean Combustion (SCCC) diesel engine to a similarly sized conventional diesel engine. Caterpillar Inc's one-dimensional modeling tool “Dynasty” is used to convert the simulation model of Caterpillar's current production turbocharged diesel engine Cat® C4.4 (used in their Hydraulic Excavator 316) to operate on the SCCC cycle. Steady state and transient engine performance is compared between the two engine variants. This study is focused only on the performance aspects of engine and relies on the other independently published papers for emissions prediction. This paper also demonstrates the use of Caterpillar's proprietary modeling software Dynasty to replicate the two cylinder SCCC engine model presented by University of Pisa in their paper [2].