Framework for simulation-based simultaneous system optimization for a series hydraulic hybrid vehicle

Hybridisation of hydraulic drivetrains offers the potential of efficiency improvement for on – and off-road applications. To realise the advantages, a carefully designed system and corresponding control strategy are required, which are commonly obtained through a sequential design process. Addressing component selection and control parameterisation simultaneously through simulation-based optimisation allows for exploration of a large design space as well as design relations and trade-offs, and their evaluation in dynamic conditions which exist in real driving scenarios. In this paper, the optimisation framework for a hydraulic hybrid vehicle is introduced, including the simulation model for a series hybrid architecture and component scaling considerations impacting the system’s performance. A number of optimisation experiments for an on-road light-duty vehicle, focused on standard-drive-cycle-performance, illustrate the impact of the problem formulation on the final design and thus the complexity of the design problem. The designs found demonstrate both the potential of energy storage in series hybrids, via an energy balance diagram, as well as some challenges. The framework presented here provides a base for systematic evaluation of design alternatives and problem formulation aspects