Seminar: Frontiers in Hydraulic Hybrid Propulsion Research: Modeling, Optimization, and Powertrain In-the-Loop Integration

Professor Zoran Filipi will be presenting as part of the mechanical engineering seminar series.

Speaker: Dr. Zoran Filipi, Professor and Timken Chair in Vehicle System Design, Department of Automotive Engineering, Clemson University

Abstract:
The global energy supply outlook, the dependence of the transportation sector on fossil fuels, and a need for a rapid response to the climate change, provide a strong impetus for development of fuel efficient vehicle propulsion. The task is particularly challenging in the case of heavy trucks due to severe weight/size constraints. Hybridization offers significant breakthroughs in near and mid-term. In particular, the series Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle (HHV) configuration decouples the engine from the wheels and allows full flexibility in controlling the engine operation, while the hydraulic energy conversion and storage provides exceptional power density and efficiency. The challenge stems from a relatively low energy density of the hydraulic accumulator. This places particular emphasis on development of the supervisory controller. The conventional wisdom is to operate the engine at the “sweet spot”, but the aggressive pursuit of engine efficiency as the sole objective can lead to frequent and rapid diesel engine transients, thus causing an adverse effect on the exhaust emissions and driver feel. Therefore, a comprehensive methodology for considering a combined hybrid system fuel-economy and emissions objective is proposed. The supervisory control optimization relies on novel approach to dynamic programming, and a predictive HHV system simulation. Real-time models of transient emissions are developed based on the insight generated using the engine-in-the-loop (EIL) capability. The subsequent Powertrain-In-the-Loop integration demonstrates the ability of the Series Hydraulic Hybrid to improve the fuel economy of the medium-duty truck by 72%, while reducing the particulate emission by 74% compared to the conventional baseline over the city driving schedule.

Bio:
Dr. Zoran Filipi is the Professor and Timken Endowed Chair in Vehicle System Design at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) since January 2012. He was with the University of Michigan between 1994 and 2011, where he rose to the rank of Research Professor, and served as the director of the Center for Engineering Excellence through Hybrid Technology and the deputy director of the Automotive Research Center, a U.S. Army Center of Excellence for modeling and simulation of ground vehicles. Prof. Filipi received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Belgrade in 1992. His main research interests are advanced IC engine concepts, alternative fuels, hybrid powertrain systems, and energy for transportation. He published over 150 papers in international journals and refereed conference proceedings, and holds three patents. Dr. Filipi is the recipient of the SAE Forest R. McFarland Award (2009), the IMechE Donald Julius Groen Award (2010), IMechE Journal of Automobile Engineering Best Paper Award (2011), Springer Award (2012) for the most cited article in the International Journal of Automotive Technology, and the U of M Research Faculty Achievement Award (2010). He is an SAE Fellow, a member of the SAE Executive Committee for Powertrains, and the Editor-In-Chief of the International Journal for Alternative Powertrains.

Hosted by Professor Junmin Wang.