Control Development for an Engine-Disconnect Clutch in a Pre-Transmission Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle

This paper details the development of the control algorithms to characterize the behavior of an electrohydraulic actuated dry clutch used in the powertrain of the Wayne State University EcoCAR 3 Pre-Transmission Parallel hybrid vehicle. The paper describes the methodology and processes behind the development of the clutch physical model and electronic control unit to support the calibration of the vehicle’s hybrid supervisory controller.

The EcoCAR 3 competition challenges sixteen North American universities to re-engineer the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to reduce its environmental impact without compromising its performance and consumer acceptability. The team is in final stages of Year Two competition, which focuses on the powertrain components integration into the selected hybrid architecture. The dry clutch used by the team to enable the coupling between the engine and the electric motor is a key component of the Pre-Transmission Parallel configuration. It is therefore of utter importance to fully characterize the component’s behavior prior to integration in the vehicle.

The paper introduces the algorithms developed for the supervisory controller for the engagement of the dry clutch. Clutch engagement and comprehensive simulations for the system are conducted in MathWorks MATLAB 2015b. The configurations developed within the bench testing stage are detailed along with the variables monitored and the expected results.