Transcript Series Design

Toyota Prius
Honda Insight
Different Hybrid Designs
Series Design
Parallel Design
Combustion Reaction
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A combustion reaction is one in which an element or
compound burns in the presence of oxygen and releases
energy as heat and light
Gasoline is made of hydrocarbons (hydrogen and carbon)
Air is composed of primarily nitrogen (~ 80%) and
oxygen (~20%)
Example: C8H16 + 12 O2 → 8 CO2 + 8 H2O + Energy
Most cars use a four-stroke combustion cycle: intake,
compression, combustion, & exhaust
1st Stroke: Intake
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Intake valve opens
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Piston moves down
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Air and Gas enter
cylinder
2nd Stroke: Compression
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Piston moves up
Air/Gas mixture is
compressed
3rd Stroke: Combustion
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Spark plug emits
spark to ignite gas
Explosion drives
piston down
4th Stroke: Exhaust
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Exhaust valve
opens
Exhaust exits the
cylinder
Electromagnet
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Magnets exhibit a “North” and
“South” end
 Opposites attract (N – S, S – N)
 Like repel (N – N, S – S)
They can be utilized to drive motion
An electric current, originating from the battery, runs through the green
wire on the armature creating a magnetic field (an electromagnet)
Electric Motor
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This new magnetic field
interacts with the field
magnet causing the
armature to align in a
particular orientation (N – S
attract, N – N & S – S repel)
The brushes remain
stationary and interact with
the commutators as they
rotate alternating the
direction of the electric field,
which in turn alternates the
direction of the magnetic
field
Rotational Motion
Source: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor6.htm
Gears
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Transmissions are used to transmit mechanical
power from one location to another
Power = Torque x Rotational Speed
Connects the engine to the drive wheels
The gear ratio can change with the speed of the
engine
Gear Selection
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Different sized gears
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Different gear ratios
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Engine can run at its
optimal performance
(max horsepower and
torque without exceeding
max rpm value)
Series Design
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The ICE with a generator produces the electricity
for the battery & electric motor
Chemical energy (gasoline) is converted into
mechanical energy (generator) then into
electrical energy (electric motor) and then into
mechanical energy (wheels)
Parallel Design
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ICE and electric motor can directly power the
transmission
Car’s computer determines how much power to
draw and where to draw it from to optimize
efficiency
Braking
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In conventional automobiles, brake pads rub
against the wheels converting the car’s kinetic
energy into heat
Typically, about 30% of the car’s produced
energy is lost during braking
While hybrids still use conventional brakes, they
also use
Regenerative Braking
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Electric motor is converted to an electric
generator by reversing its direction
Uses the opposing torque produced to slow the
momentum of the car
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This torque is also used to create electricity
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The electricity is then stored in the battery