Experimental and theoretical studies on energy characteristics of hydraulic hybrids for thermal management

The development of fuel-efficient vehicles has increased along with the needs of consumers and the rise of environmental issues. Hybrid vehicles have become a popular alternative to conventional powertrains in the passenger vehicle market. Hydraulic hybrid vehicles have been applied to certain applications with clear benefits, such as high power density. To increase the base of academic knowledge, the energy characteristics of hydraulic hybrids were experimentally and theoretically studied for thermal man-agement. First, measurement data for a series hydraulic hybrid system were collected by hardware in the loop test rig for different temperature conditions. The experimental results were compared for different thermal management conditions, thus showing the power consumption behaviors at different system temperatures. Also, a theoretical approach with thermodynamic properties was introduced for analyzing the energy characteristics of hydraulic hybrid systems. The theoretical results revealed possible expla-nations for the relationship between energy saving and thermal management for hydraulic hybrid systems. This study was worthy not only in that the experimental data itself worth as reference data for energy characteristics of hydraulic hybrid systems for thermal management, but also in that a novel theoretical approach for energy characteristics analysis was introduced, using energy and exergy analysis for the first time. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The development of fuel-efficient vehicles has increased in response to consumer needs and environmental concerns. Hybrid vehicles, particularly hydraulic hybrids, have gained popularity as alternatives to traditional powertrains. This study focused on experimental and theoretical analysis of the energy characteristics of hydraulic hybrid systems, with a specific emphasis on thermal management.