Combustion engine acceleration support using an integrated starter/alternator

1. A method of increasing an acceleration rate of a combustion engine during combustion engine acceleration, the combustion engine including a crankshaft, the method comprising:

providing an electromagnetic motor/generator in rotating combination with the crankshaft, the electromagnetic motor/generator adapted to rotate the crankshaft upon receiving an electrical current from a battery system;

determining an acceleration demand of the combustion engine, wherein the acceleration demand is an amount of power needed to overcome at least one of a frictional force and a nonlinear hydrodynamic force within the combustion engine;

powering the electromagnetic motor/generator with the electrical current, wherein the electrical current is proportional to the acceleration demand; and

increasing the rotational speed of the crankshaft by the electromagnetic motor/generator;

wherein increasing the rotational speed of the crankshaft by the electromagnetic motor/generator increases the acceleration rate of the combustion engine.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical current has a power of about 5 kilowatts.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the battery system is a 42 volt battery system.

4. The method according to claim 1 , additionally comprising determining the acceleration demand of the combustion engine at the crankshaft.

5. The method according to claim 1 , additionally comprising determining the acceleration demand of the combustion engine from a parameter selected from a group including crankshaft acceleration rate, engine friction, non-linear hydrodynamic forces, combustion engine temperature, electromagnetic motor/generator temperature, battery charge, electrical load demand, and combinations thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5 , additionally comprising determining the parameter using at least one of transducers and estimation techniques.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the acceleration demand is determined mathematically using at least one parameter.

8. The method according to claim 3 , wherein while the combustion engine is operating and not accelerating, the electromagnetic motor/generator generates an electrical current and charges the battery system.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the crankshaft powers the electromagnetic motor/generator to recharge the battery system.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator comprises:

a disc-shaped rotor connected to the crankshaft; and

a stator disposed at least partially around the rotor and fixedly connected to an engine body of the combustion engine;

wherein the rotor rotates within the stator.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator comprises:

a rotor connected to the crankshaft; and

a disc-shaped stator fixedly connected to an engine body of the combustion engine;

wherein the rotor rotates external to the stator.

12. A method of operating a vehicle including a combustion engine, a transmission, an electromagnetic motor/generator, and a control system, the combustion engine having a crankshaft connected to the transmission, the electromagnetic motor/generator in rotational combination with the crankshaft and connected to a battery system, and the control system in controlling combination with the electromagnetic motor/generator, wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator is adapted to function at times as a power source adding torque to rotate the crankshaft and at other times to function as a power generator for subtracting torque from the crankshaft to provide electrical current to the battery system, the method comprising:

determining an acceleration demand of the combustion engine during engine acceleration, wherein the acceleration demand is an amount of power needed to overcome at least one of a frictional force and a nonlinear hydrodynamic force within the combustion engine;

directing with the control system a first electrical current from the battery system to the electromagnetic motor/generator during combustion engine acceleration, wherein the first electrical current is proportional to the acceleration demand;

powering the electromagnetic motor/generator with the first electrical current during acceleration of the combustion engine to add torque to the crankshaft;

determining one of a low electrical charge of the battery system and a high vehicle electrical operating load;

powering the electromagnetic motor/generator with the crankshaft to produce a second electrical current; and

directing with the control system the second electrical current to the battery system, wherein the second electrical current charges the battery system.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the battery system is a 42 volt battery system.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first electrical current has a power of about 5 kilowatts.

15. The method according to claim 12 , additionally comprising determining the acceleration demand of the combustion engine from a parameter selected from a group including crankshaft acceleration rate, engine friction, non-linear hydrodynamic forces, combustion engine temperature, electromagnetic motor/generator temperature, battery charge, electrical load demand of the vehicle, and combinations thereof.

16. The method according to claim 15 , additionally comprising determining the parameter using at least one of transducers and estimation techniques.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the acceleration demand is determined mathematically using at least one parameter.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator produces the second electrical current while the combustion engine is operating and not accelerating.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator comprises:

a disc-shaped rotor connected to the crankshaft; and

a stator disposed at least partially around the rotor and fixedly connected to an engine body of the combustion engine;

wherein the rotor rotates within the stator.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator comprises:

a rotor connected to the crankshaft; and

a disc-shaped stator fixedly connected to an engine body of the combustion engine;

wherein the rotor rotates external to the stator.

21. A method of increasing an acceleration rate of a combustion engine during combustion engine acceleration, the combustion engine including a crankshaft, the method comprising:

providing an electromagnetic motor/generator in rotating combination with the crankshaft, wherein the electromagnetic motor/generator comprises an integrated starter/alternator having a capacity of about 2 kilowatts to about 6 kilowatts and adapted to rotate the crankshaft upon receiving an electrical current from a battery system;

determining an acceleration demand of the combustion engine;

powering the electromagnetic motor/generator with the electrical current, wherein the electrical current is proportional to the acceleration demand; and

increasing the rotational speed of the crankshaft by the electromagnetic motor/generator;

wherein increasing the rotational speed of the crankshaft by the electromagnetic motor/generator increases the acceleration rate of the combustion engine.