Patent ID: 8718848
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: F04C,H02P

Abstract:
1. An energy management system that facilitates maintaining a hybrid commercial vehicle high-voltage battery within a predetermined state of charge (SOC) range, including: an air compressor that is operably coupled to a motor control unit (MCU) and powered by the vehicle high-voltage battery; and a processor in the MCU that executes computer-executable instructions, which are stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, including instructions for: detecting a state of charge for the vehicle high voltage battery; comparing the detected state of charge to at least a first SOC threshold and a second SOC threshold that is lower than the first SOC threshold; increasing a cut-in pressure threshold and a cut-out pressure threshold for the air compressor and increasing revolutions per minute (RPM) of the motor connected to the air compressor if the detected SOC is greater than or equal to the first SOC threshold, such that the air compressor begins compressing air at a higher-than-nominal pressure level and draws charge from the vehicle high-voltage battery to reduce the detected SOC thereof; and reducing the cut-in pressure threshold and the cut-out pressure threshold for the air compressor, and reducing motor speed, if the detected SOC is less than or equal to the second SOC threshold, such that the air compressor begins compressing air at a lower-than-nominal pressure level thereby conserving the detected SOC of the vehicle high-voltage battery.