A three-dimensional (3-D) numerical modeling technique for solving problems involving superconducting materials is presented. The model is implemented in finite-element method software and is based on a recently developed 3-D formulation for general electromagnetic problems with solid conductors. It has been adapted for modeling of superconductors with nonlinear resistivity in 3-D, characterized by a power-law relation. It has first been compared with an existing and verified two-dimensional (2-D) model: Compared are the current density distribution inside the conductors and the self-field ac losses for different applied transport currents. Second, the model has been tested for computing the current distribution with typical 3-D geometries, such as corner-shaped and twisted superconductors. Finally, it has been used with two superconducting filaments in the presence of external magnetic field for verifying the existence of coupling currents. This effect deals with the finite length of the conductors and cannot be taken into account by 2-D models.

Different finite-element method (FEM) formulations have been developed in order to model the electromagnetic behavior of type-II superconductors. This paper presents a comparison between simulations with A-formulation models implemented in two FEM software packages (FLUX2D and FLUX3D) and a numerical method based on analytical model for superconductors in applied magnetic field. These models can be used for superconductors with complex geometry and power-law current-voltage characteristics. Simulated is a 37-filamentary tape with applied transport current in self-field and alternating current (ac) magnetic field parallel to the wide side of the tape. A good agreement is found between the ac-loss and current distributions obtained with the different models.

Energy storage systems are a key point in the design and development of electric and hybrid vehicles. In order to reduce the battery size and its current stress, a hybrid storage system, where a battery is coupled with an electrical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) is considered in this paper. The energy management of such a configuration is not obvious and the optimal operation concerning the energy consumption and battery RMS current has to be identified. Most of the past work on the optimal energy management of HEVs only considered one additional power source. In this paper, the control of a hybrid vehicle with a hybrid storage system (HSS), where two additional power sources are used, is presented. Applying the Pontryagin's minimum principle, an optimal energy management strategy is found and compared to a rule-based parameterized control strategy. Simulation results are shown and discussed. Applied on a small compact car, optimal and ruled-based methods show that gains of fuel consumption and/or a battery RMS current higher than 15% may be obtained. The paper also proves that a well tuned rule-based algorithm presents rather good performances when compared to the optimal strategy and remains relevant for different driving cycles. This rule-based algorithm may easily be implemented in a vehicle prototype or in an HIL test bench.

For hybrid vehicles, it is difficult to obtain realistic component models and actual interaction between subsystems without carrying out experiments. INRETS has performed a coupled approach associating simulation using its in house VEHLIB software together with experimental validation. Such an approach makes it possible to obtain validated component models as well as a realistic functioning of the overall vehicle model, which is a necessary step before studying energy optimisation, component resizing and architecture comparison. This paper highlights the evaluation and modelling of the main components of the Toyota Hybrid Systems (THS) used in the 2004 Prius Vehicle. It focuses especially on the new or improved components compared to the first THS systems. First, the ICE, battery, boost converter, and strategy evaluation and validation process to obtain a useful model of the vehicle and components are examined. Then examples of application are presented concerning energy flow in the vehicle and engine operation compared to a conventional car.

Automotive engineers and researchers have proposed different Series-Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle SP-HEV topologies. The Toyota Hybrid System (THS) is the most known SP-HEV based vehicle, but alternative solutions such as Electric Variable Transmission (EVT) have been also proposed. Efficient comparison between these different solutions is a key point in order to estimate the added value of each topology. This paper presents the application of optimal control to two seriesparallel hybrid architectures for efficiency assessment purpose. The dynamic programming method is applied to the THS as well as to a virtual hybrid vehicle with an EVT. The way to take into account the supplementary degree of freedom provided by the decoupling of wheels and engine in both topologies is presented. The optimal fuel consumptions are then compared on different driving cycles and bring out an over consumption of the EVT topology. Then, a parametric study shows that inserting an appropriate gear ratio on the ICE shaft can improve the EVT efficiency that becomes close to the THS efficiency.