Chassis Vibration Control for Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles

Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles are becoming popular due to their high fuel efficiency and lower emission. While this technology has proven effective for passenger cars and light SUVs, it is not as effective for heavier vehicles. Hydraulic hybrid vehicles offer an alternative hybridization technology for heavier vehicles. This alternative technology is especially effective for frequent-stop vehicles including city buses, delivery vehicles, and refuse trucks. This paper, using simulations, investigates the noise and vibration problem of hydraulic hybrid vehicles. The noise and vibration is mainly caused by the moving parts of the pump/motor, which is the main component of hydraulic hybrid systems. The variable speed motion of the pump/motor inner parts takes place under time-varying levels of hydraulic high pressure. The proposed solution consists of magnetorheological (MR) mounts isolating the hybrid system from the vehicle chassis. Control simulations prove the superiority of the MR mounts over passive isolators.