A dynamic model for automotive torque converters

An automotive torque converter is a hydrodynamic device used in automatic t ransmission to transmit engine power to the vehicle. Since this critical el ement affects fuel economy, vehicle performance and drive quality, an accur ate converter model is essential for vehicle development tasks such as powe rtrain dynamics simulation, energy management and system optimization. Base d on first principles, a dynamic torque converter model has been developed in this work. This model satisfies the energy conservation law and dynamic torque balance for all converter elements. Example results show that conver ter dynamics has a significant effect on vehicle launch performance and thu s city fuel economy. The torque converter model presented here accounts for these dynamic effects better than some previous models.