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The development and use of a simulation of an Integrated Starter Alternator (ISA) for a High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) is presented here. While the primary purpose of an ISA is to provide electric power for additional accessories, it can also be utilized for mild hybridization of the powertrain. In order to explore ISA's potential for improving HMMWV's fuel economy, an ISA model capable of both producing and absorbing mechanical power has been developed in Simulink. Based on the driver's power request and the State of Charge of the battery (SOC), the power management algorithm determines whether the ISA should contribute power to, or absorb power from the crankshaft. The system is also capable of capturing some of the braking energy and using it to charge the battery. The ISA model and the power management algorithm have been integrated in the Vehicle-Engine SIMulation (VESIM), a SIMULINK-based vehicle model previously developed at the University of Michigan.

Typically, engines with relatively few cylinders have required higher cranking speed to start in low temperature ambients. Of the several factors that contribute to cold startability, this study has focused on the instantaneous speed variation of the engine during cranking. This theoretical computer study revealed that engines slow substantially during compression and that the lengthening of compression time is exaggerated as the number of cylinders is reduced. It is hypothesized that long compression time creates excessive heat and blowby losses. In turn these produce low compression temperatures and pressures, hence greater difficulty in igniting the charge especially under cold cranking conditions were average engine speed is low, By matching the compression times of various engines designs, the relative average speeds required to start can be predicted with reasonable accuracy.