Model predictive control of an electro-hydraulic powertrain with energy storage

This paper presents a model predictive control approach to solving the energy management problem within a series hydraulic hybrid powertrain. The hydraulic hybrid utilizes a high pressure accumulator for energy storage which has superior power density than conventional battery technology. This makes fluid power attractive for urban driving applications in which there are frequent starts and stops and large startup power demands. Model predictive control was chosen for control design because this technique requires no information about the future drive cycle, which can be highly uncertain in urban settings. The proposed control strategy was validated experimentally using an electro-hydraulic powertrain testbed which includes energy storage. The experimental study demonstrates the controller's ability to track a reference trajectory while achieving efficient engine operation.