Method, apparatus, signals and media, for selecting operating conditions of a genset
View Patent ↗A vehicle comprising an engine, a generator driven by the engine and configured to produce an output, a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter configured to derive a first DC voltage from the output, and a convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage, a wheel, an electric motor configured to receive the second DC voltage, and for driving a wheel of said vehicle drive the wheel based on the second DC voltage, and a processor configured to control the engine to run at an engine speed corresponding to a first operating point in a set of operating points, wherein the first operating point corresponds to a demanded power.
1. A vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a generator driven by the engine and configured to produce an electrical power output;
a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter configured to:
derive a first DC voltage from the electrical power output, and
convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage;
a wheel;
an electric motor configured to:
respond to the second DC voltage, and
drive the wheel based on the second DC voltage; and
a processor configured to control the engine to run at rotational speeds corresponding to operating points in a set of operating points, wherein the operating points correspond to a demanded electrical power output and the rotational speed increases or decreases substantially monotonically as a function of the demanded electrical power output.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select from among the operating points according to an operating condition associated with an emission.
3. The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the processor and configured to sense the emission.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select from among the operating points according to an operating condition associated with cost.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the operating points are changeable according to changing operation conditions.
6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store the operating points in a table.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.
8. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a serial hybrid configuration.
9. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a parallel hybrid configuration.
10. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
an energy storage element coupled to the generator; and
a controller coupled to the energy storage element and configured to control the energy storage element.
11. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a gearing mechanism mechanically coupling the electric motor to the wheel.
12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the gearing mechanism is a gear box.
13. A genset comprising:
an engine;
a generator driven by the engine, the generator configured to produce a demanded electrical power output; and
a processor configured to control the genset at rotational speeds corresponding to operating points in a set of operating points, wherein the operating points correspond to the demanded electrical power output and the genset speed increases or decreases substantially monotonically as a function of the demanded electrical power output.
14. The genset of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to select from among the operating points according to an operating condition associated with an emission.
15. The genset of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to select from among the operating points according to an operating condition associated with cost.
16. The genset of claim 13 , wherein the operating points are changeable according to changing operation conditions.
17. The genset of claim 13 , further comprising a memory configured to store the operating points in a table.
18. A method of assembling a genset for a vehicle, the method comprising:
coupling an engine to a generator, the generator being configured to produce a demanded electrical power output; and
configuring a processor to control the genset at rotational speeds corresponding to operating points in a set of operating points, wherein the operating points correspond to the demanded electrical power output and the genset speed increases or decreases substantially monotonically as a function of the demanded electrical power output.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising configuring the processor to select from among the operating points according to an operating condition associated with an emission.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising configuring the processor to select from among the operating points according to an operating condition associated with cost.