Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan

Russell P Durrett

Suresh Gopalakrishnan

Paul M Najt

Chandra S Namuduri

Neeraj S Shidore

Norman K Bucknor

Chunhao J Lee

Dongxu Li

Alok Warey

Madhusudan Raghavan

Lei Hao

Derek F Lahr

Hanho Yun

Venkata Prasad Atluri

James R Salvador

Yongjie Zhu

Michael A Potter

Anil Bika

Mark Tadrous

A system in a vehicle includes a plurality of contactors to open or close a connection from two or more battery packs that power one or more motors of the vehicle to move the vehicle. The system also includes a controller to control the plurality of contactors to connect the two or more battery packs in series according to one of a plurality of modes of operation or to connect the two or more battery packs in parallel according to another of the plurality of modes of operation, and to control the plurality of contactors to test an operation of one or more of the plurality of contactors.

Contactor operation monitoring for multi-voltage vehicle operation

An apparatus for charging an electric vehicle includes a plug command center having data identifying an availability of an amount of energy which is available for transfer from a first battery system of a first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to a second BEV. A charging adapter provides for energy transfer between a first plug of the first BEV and a second plug of the second BEV. A V2V charging controller communicates data identifying a battery system charge state of the first BEV and a battery system charge state of the second BEV and selects between multiple available charging options.

Apparatus and method of quick charging an electric vehicle

An apparatus for heating a DC battery in a vehicle including an electric motor. The apparatus comprises an AC generating module coupled to the battery and the electric motor that generates three AC phases. The first, second, and third AC phases are applied to first, second, and third windings of the electric motor, respectively. The first, second, and third AC phases create zero torque in the electric motor because the first AC phase amplitude is equal to the sum of the second and third AC phase amplitudes and the second and third AC phases are 180 degrees out of phase with the first AC phase. The AC generating module creates a heating alternating current in the DC battery.

System and method for generating heating AC current

A powertrain system configured to transfer torque to a driveline is described, and includes an internal combustion engine, a torque converter, a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine is configured to operate in one of an all-cylinder mode and a dynamic deactivation mode to generate an engine torque. The electric machine is configured to generate a motor torque. The motor torque and the engine torque combine to generate an output torque that is transferable to the driveline and is responsive to an output torque request. The controller is in communication with the engine, the torque converter, the transmission, and the electric machine. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to operate the engine in the dynamic deactivation mode to generate engine torque, and operate the electric machine to generate motor torque to supplement the engine torque to generate the output torque.

Method and apparatus for controlling a powertrain system

An energy storage system (ESS) for a vehicle propulsion system includes a first battery electrically coupled to a first voltage bus, a second battery electrically coupled to a second voltage bus, and a bidirectional DC/DC power converter electrically coupled to the voltage buses. A starter for cranking an engine is electrically coupled to the first voltage bus. A controller executes computer code stored in memory. The computer code is configured to operate the converter in a boost mode to transfer power from the second voltage bus to the first voltage bus, in response to the controller determining that: a power capability of the first battery is below a power demand on the first voltage bus; a state of charge of the first battery is below a state of charge threshold; or a temperature of the first battery is below a temperature threshold.

Energy storage system with multiple battery modules for a vehicle propulsion system

An engine includes a cylinder liner. The cylinder liner includes an interior wall, an exterior wall, and a thermoelectric element disposed therebetween. The interior wall forms a cylinder bore forming part of a combustion chamber. The exterior wall is positioned adjacent a coolant jacket. The thermoelectric element is operable to generate an electric current in response to a temperature gradient between the interior wall, which is exposed to the high temperatures of the combustion chamber, and the exterior wall, which is exposed to the cooler temperatures of a coolant in the coolant jacket. An electric current in a circuit of the thermoelectric element may be controlled to affect a cylinder wall temperature. The circuit of the thermoelectric element may be opened, and the voltage of the thermoelectric element may be measured and used to calculate the cylinder wall temperature.

Engine with cylinder liner having a thermoelectric module, and method of operating the engine

A two-stroke engine includes a crankcase defining a cylinder bore, a piston moveably disposed within the cylinder bore, and a cylinder head that covers the cylinder bore. A wall surface of the cylinder bore, a piston combustion surface of the piston, and a head combustion surface of the cylinder head, cooperate to define a combustion chamber for combusting a fuel therein. A thermal conductivity reducing mechanism is disposed in thermal connectivity with at least one of the crankcase, the piston, and the cylinder head for reducing heat transfer from combusted fuel within the combustion chamber to at least one of the crankcase, the piston, and the cylinder head. The thermal conductivity reducing mechanism may include a layer of low conductivity material coating one of the surfaces defining the combustion chamber, or a void in the cylinder head and/or the crankcase adjacent the combustion chamber.

High efficiency two-stroke engine

A free piston linear alternator including a pair of pistons, each piston axially opposed from the other and generating electric current when linearly translating within the cylinder, a combustion chamber disposed between the pistons, a return mechanism configured to return the pistons to respective first positions from respective second positions after combustion; and an exhaust system fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber and including a power turbine transforming exhaust gas feedstream pressure into a mechanical output.

Turbocompound free piston linear alternator

A free piston linear alternator includes a cylinder having a pair of outer chambers, a pair of opposed pistons and a combustion chamber disposed between the opposed pistons. Each outer chamber is disposed between respective ones of the pistons and a respective outer end of the cylinder. The pistons are axially opposed from each other and independently generate electric current when each of the pistons linearly translate. Each of a pair of return members is disposed within a respective one of the outer chambers, and each of the return members is configured to return respective ones of the pistons to a respective first position from a respective second position after combustion.

Free piston linear alternator utilizing opposed pistons with spring return

An internal combustion engine has four cylinders, each having a respective piston positioned therein and connected with a crankshaft for movement in the respective cylinder. Each cylinder has a plurality of ports with a plurality of valves openable and closable to control fluid flow into and out of the cylinder through the ports. Combustion occurs in a first two of the four cylinders (power cylinders) that are each interconnected between a second two of the four cylinders (inductor cylinders) via passages connecting ports of the respective cylinders. Opening and closing of the valves is timed to accomplish internal exhaust gas recirculation, i.e., such that fluid directed from the power cylinders to the inductor cylinders via the passages after combustion is redirected via the passages from the inductor cylinders to the power cylinders. A method of internal exhaust gas recirculation for an engine as described above is also provided.

Engine with internal exhaust gas recirculation and method thereof

A free piston linear alternator includes a cylinder having a pair of bounce chambers, a pair of scavenging chambers, a pair of opposed pistons and a combustion chamber disposed between the opposed pistons. The pistons are axially opposed from each other and generate electric current when each of the pistons linearly translate. Each of the bounce chambers is disposed between respective ones of the pistons and a respective outer end of the cylinder and includes substantially constrained air configured to return respective ones of the pistons to a respective first position from a respective second position after combustion.

Opposed free piston linear alternator

An internal combustion engine has a first work extraction station for extracting work from combustion and expansion of working gases. An emission treatment station treats the working gases after leaving the first extraction work station for reducing emissions. A second work extraction station receives the working gases from the emission treatment station for a second extraction of work from the working gases.

Internal combustion engine with emission treatment interposed between two expansion phases

Engines and processes for their operation include a compressor cylinder, at least one power cylinder, and an expander cylinder. The outlet of the compressor cylinder is fed to the inlet of a power cylinder, and the outlet of the power cylinder is fed to the expander cylinder. The compressor cylinder and the expander cylinder are operated in two-stroke fashion, and the power cylinder is operated in four-stroke fashion, all of which cylinders share a common crankshaft. Heat may be recuperated from the exhaust gas and directed to the inlet gas of the power cylinder, increasing overall efficiency.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan