Hybrid powertrain control

摘要

Methods and arrangements for controlling hybrid powertrains are described. In one aspect, an engine is alternatingly operated at different effective displacements. One displacement delivers less than a requested powertrain output and the other delivers more. A motor/generator system is used to add and subtract torque to/from the powertrain to cause the net delivery of the requested powertrain output. In some embodiments, energy added and subtracted from the powertrain is primarily drawn from and stored in a capacitor (e.g., a supercapacitor or an ultracapacitor) when alternating between effective displacements. In another aspect a hybrid powertrain arrangement includes an engine a motor/generator and an energy storage system that includes both a battery and a capacitor. The capacitor stores and delivers electrical energy to the motor/generator unit during operation of the engine in a variable displacement or skip fire mode.

主权项

1. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain to deliver a requested powertrain output, the method comprising alternatingly:
operating an internal combustion engine in one or more first effective displacement modes that deliver less torque to the powertrain than the requested powertrain output and controlling at least one motor to add torque to the powertrain to cause the delivery of the requested powertrain output wherein electrical energy used to drive the at least one motor during addition of torque to the powertrain is drawn from an electrical energy storage device; and operating the engine in one or more second effective displacement modes that have a larger effective displacement than the one or more first effective displacement modes and that deliver more than the requested powertrain output and controlling at least one generator to subtract torque from the powertrain to cause the delivery of the requested powertrain output, wherein electrical energy generated by the at least one generator during subtraction of torque from the powertrain is stored in the electrical energy storage device; and wherein active working chambers in the engine are fired under substantially the same operating conditions in the first and second effective displacement modes and the motor and generator take the form of at least one selected from the group consisting of an integrated motor/generator and separate units.