Engine control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016114652-A1
Application number	US-201514921469-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2015
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A control apparatus is applied to a system including an engine and a compressor for air-conditioning, and adjusts an operating point of the engine when the engine is operated. The control apparatus determines whether or not to allow increase in engine output to drive a compressor based on an air-conditioning request, based on the operating point of the engine before driving of the compressor in relation to a predetermined high-efficiency region including a maximum efficiency point in an efficiency characteristics of the engine, when the compressor is driven in response to the air-conditioning request. The control apparatus controls the engine output such that the operating point of the engine is in the high-efficiency region, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A control apparatus that is applied to a system including an engine and a compressor for air-conditioning, and adjusts an operating point of the engine when the engine is operated, the control apparatus comprising:
an allowed/not-allowed determiner means that determines whether or not to allow increase in engine output to drive a compressor based on an air-conditioning request, based on the operating point of the engine before driving of the compressor in relation to a predetermined high-efficiency region including a maximum efficiency point in efficiency characteristics of the engine, when the compressor is driven in response to the air-conditioning request; and a controller means that controls the engine output such that the operating point of the engine is in the high-efficiency region, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed.

2 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the allowed/not-allowed determiner means is configured to determine to allow the increase in engine output if the operating point of the engine before driving of the compressor becomes closer to the high-efficiency region by surplus output of the engine when the compressor is driven in response to the air conditioning request; and the controller means is configured to increase the engine output such that the operating point of the engine becomes in the high-efficiency region, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed for the surplus output.

3 . The control apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an increasable output calculator means that calculates an increasable output by which the engine output can be increased without exceeding the high-efficiency region in in the efficiency characteristics of the engine, based on the operating point of the engine before driving of the compressor; and a determiner means that determines whether or not a requested driving output for the compressor upon driving of the compressor is greater than the increasable output calculated by the increasable output calculator means, wherein the controller means is configured to add, to a current engine output, an amount of increase corresponding to the increasable output, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed for the surplus output and if the requested driving output for the compressor is greater than the increasable output.

4 . The control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the controller means is configured to add, to a current engine output, an amount of increase corresponding to the requested driving output for the compressor, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed for the surplus output and if the requested driving output for the compressor is less than the increasable output.

5 . The control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the requested driving output for the compressor is a power for enabling the compressor to be driven in a predetermined high efficiency state.

6 . The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the control apparatus is applied to a system including a battery capable of being charged by the engine; and the control apparatus further comprises:
an increasable output calculator means that calculates an increasable output capable of increasing the engine output without exceeding the high-efficiency region in in the efficiency characteristics of the engine, based on the operating point of the engine before driving of the compressor; and
a determiner means that determines whether or not a total requested driving output is greater than the increasable output calculated by the increasable output calculator means, the total requested driving output being a sum of a requested driving output for the compressor upon driving of the compressor and a requested charging power for the battery upon charging of the battery,
wherein the controller means is configured to add, to a current engine output, an amount of increase corresponding to the increasable output, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed for the surplus output and if the total requested driving output is greater than the increasable output.

7 . The control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the controller means is configured to add, to a current engine output, an amount of increase corresponding to the total requested driving output, if the increase in engine output is determined to be allowed for the surplus output and if the total requested driving output is less than the increasable output.

8 . The control apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an output controller means that performs control to supply surplus power generated by the surplus output, wherein when the surplus power can be supplied to both the compressor and the battery as loads to which the surplus power is supplied, the output controller means is configured to supply the surplus power to one of the loads that has a higher priority level for power supply.

9 . The control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
when an amount of the surplus power supplied to one of the loads having a high priority level for power supply exceeds an allowable amount, the output controller means supplies a remaining surplus power to the other of the loads.

10 . The control apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an output controller means that performs control to supply surplus power generated by the surplus output, wherein the output controller means is configured to supply the surplus power to the compressor when the surplus power can be supplied to both the compressor and the battery.

11 . The control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
the output controller means is configured to determine a high priority level for power supply of the surplus power generated by the surplus output, based on a vehicle cabin temperature and a battery characteristics of the battery.

12 . The control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
the determiner means is configured to determine whether or not the requested charging power for the battery is greater than the increasable output when there is an abnormality in the compressor.

13 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the controller means is configured to alternatively perform an increase in engine output and a pause of the increase during which the air-conditioning request is generated.

14 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the compressor is provided in an air-conditioning system including a cold storage means that stores heat from a refrigerant circulated by driving of the compressor; and the controller means is configured to perform control of the engine output such that the operating point of the engine is in the high-efficiency region within a cold storage period during which cold storage is performed by the cold storage means, and to stop the control of the engine output within a cold release period following the cold storage period.

15 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a compressor drive determiner means that determines whether or not the operating point of the engine becomes closer to the high-efficiency region by decreasing an amount of increase in engine output for driving the compressor, under a condition that control of the engine output is performed by the controller means and the compressor is driven, wherein the controller means is configured to decrease the engine output if determined that the operating point of the engine becomes closer to the high-effic

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Izumi Kazunari
• Kuwayama Kazutoshi
• Gotou Takuya

Classifications

• B60K6/445

  Differential gearing distribution type · CPC title

• B60H2001/3273

  related to the operation of the vehicle, e.g. the compressor driving torque · CPC title

• B60W2710/0677

  Engine power · CPC title

• Y10S903/93

  Conjoint control of different elements · CPC title

• B60W20/10

  Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand · CPC title