Control device for hybrid vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469185-B2
Application number	US-201214415915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2012
Priority date	Jul 20, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A power-generation control unit controls the amount of power a generator can generate, when it is connected to an engine, by controlling a converter that converts AC power output by the generator to DC power. The power-generation control unit calculates a rotational-speed command value ωc_ref 1 for the generator on the basis of a differential voltage value ΔVdc between a DC-voltage command value Vdc_ref for a power storage device and a DC voltage Vdc of a DC link portion; and executes a PWM control on an output of the converter on the basis of this rotational-speed command value ωc_ref 1 such that the rotational speed ωc of the generator follows the rotational-speed command value ωc_ref 1 and also such that the DC voltage Vdc follows the DC-voltage command value Vdc_ref so as to prevent overvoltage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control device for use in a hybrid vehicle that is applied to a hybrid vehicle that includes
a generator that is driven by an engine,
a converter that converts AC power output by the generator to DC power,
a power storage device that is electrically connected to the converter, and
a load device that is driven by using at least one of electric power output by the converter and electric power from the power storage device and that performs a regenerative operation,
the control device for use in a hybrid vehicle comprising:
a power-generation control unit that controls, by controlling the converter, an amount of power generated by the generator;
an upper-level control unit that controls at least an operation of the power-generation control unit, wherein
the power-generation control unit includes an overvoltage prevention unit that
calculates a rotational-speed command value for the generator by using information on a differential voltage value between a DC-voltage command value that is set within a range, where it does not exceed an overvoltage threshold value that is equal to or lower than a fully-charged voltage value, for an electrical connection end of the power storage device and a DC voltage of the electrical connection end, and that
executes a PWM control on an output of the converter, by setting the differential voltage value as the rotational-speed command value when the DC voltage becomes equal to or higher than the overvoltage threshold value, such that a rotational speed of the generator follows the rotational-speed command value and therefore the DC voltage follows the DC-voltage command value, and

when the DC voltage becomes equal to or higher than the overvoltage threshold value during a regenerative operation in the load device and when a rotational speed of the generator becomes equal to or higher than an idling rotating speed, the upper-level control unit outputs an engine torque command that is equal to zero in order to prompt the engine to operate an engine brake.

2. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the overvoltage prevention unit includes
a rotational-speed command-value calculation unit that calculates the rotational-speed command value by using the DC-voltage command value and the DC voltage,
a speed control unit that generates a torque command value for the generator on the basis of a differential value between the rotational-speed command value and a rotational speed of the generator, and
a voltage control unit that executes a PWM control on the converter on the basis of the torque command value.

3. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
the rotational-speed command-value calculation unit includes
a DC-voltage command generator that generates the DC-voltage command value, and
a voltage PI controller that calculates the rotational-speed command value on the basis of the differential voltage value.

4. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein
an overvoltage threshold value, at which the DC-voltage command value starts being limited, is set in the DC-voltage command generator.

5. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein
the overvoltage threshold value is set in consideration of a voltage fluctuation range that is estimated in advance on the basis of an internal resistance of the power storage device and a maximum absorbed current of the power storage device.

6. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
the speed control unit includes
a speed limiter that limits at least one of a lower-limit value and an upper-limit value of the rotational-speed command value, and
a speed PI controller that calculates the torque command value on the basis of a rotational-speed command value that is input via the speed limiter.

7. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein
the lower-limit value of the rotational-speed command value in the speed limiter is set equal to or higher than an idling rotating speed of the engine.

8. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein
the upper-limit value of the rotational-speed command value in the speed limiter is set equal to or lower than an allowable rotating speed when an engine brake operates.

9. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein
limit processing information in the speed limiter is transmitted to the upper-level control unit.

10. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein
the upper-level control unit adjusts regenerated power to be generated by a load device on the basis of the limit processing information.

11. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein
the upper-level control unit outputs a signal that makes an electrical connection end open between the power storage device and the converter on the basis of the limit processing information in the speed limiter.

12. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein
the power-generation control unit further includes an exhaust-valve operation control unit that outputs an exhaust-valve operation command for the engine on the basis of the DC voltage, a rotational speed of the generator, and the overvoltage threshold value.

13. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising
a torque corrector that
includes a torque command characteristic of the engine, and
outputs a torque correction value on the basis of a rotational speed of the generator, wherein

the voltage control unit executes a PWM control on an output of the converter on the basis of the rotational-speed command value that is input via the speed limiter and on the basis of the torque correction value that is output from the torque corrector.

14. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising
a torque corrector that
includes a plurality of torque command characteristics, each according to the presence or absence of the exhaust-valve operation command,
selects one of the torque command characteristics on the basis of an exhaust valve operation in the engine, and
outputs a torque correction value on the basis of this selected torque command characteristic, wherein

the voltage control unit executes a PWM control on an output of the converter on the basis of the rotational-speed command value that is input via the speed limiter and on the basis of the torque correction value that is output from the torque corrector.

15. The control device for use in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein
a torque correction value to be output from the torque corrector is set to zero in a speed area that is equal to or higher than an allowable maximum rotating speed of the engine.

Assignees

• Okada Yuruki
• Wada Yasuhiko
• Yamasaki Hisanori
• Hatanaka Keita
• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Okada Yuruki
• Wada Yasuhiko
• Yamasaki Hisanori
• Hatanaka Keita

Classifications

• B60L2240/427

  Voltage · CPC title

• B60L2240/547

  Voltage · CPC title

• B60L15/025

  using field orientation; Vector control; Direct Torque Control [DTC] · CPC title

• B60K6/46 Primary

  Series type · CPC title

• B60L7/26

  Controlling the braking effect · CPC title