What is the principle of a dual-clutch transmission in cars?
2 Answers
Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) works by using "dual" clutches to control the connection and disconnection of engine power, which is electronically controlled and hydraulically actuated, enabling simultaneous operation of two sets of clutches. The advantages of a dual-clutch transmission include: 1. Fast gear shifting. The gear shift time of a DCT is extremely short, even faster than a manual transmission, taking only 0.2 seconds. 2. Fuel efficiency. By eliminating torque interruption, the DCT ensures that the engine's power is continuously utilized and always operates at its optimal level, resulting in significant fuel savings. 3. Comfort. Due to the rapid gear shifting, each shift in a DCT is very smooth, with the jerkiness reduced to a level barely noticeable to the human body.
As someone who has been driving for decades, let me explain the principle of dual-clutch transmissions. Simply put, it has two independent clutches - one controls odd-numbered gears (like 1st, 3rd, 5th) while the other handles even-numbered gears (2nd, 4th, 6th). When driving, while you're using one gear, the other clutch has already secretly prepared the next gear in advance. The moment the signal comes, it switches instantly without any power interruption like traditional transmissions. The advantage is lightning-fast gear shifts with responsive performance, making it particularly suitable for urban driving or hill climbs. It saves considerable fuel consumption - my family car with this transmission has saved about 15% in fuel costs compared to old-style automatic transmissions over two years of use. The principle is similar to manual transmissions but completely computer-controlled, making it worry-free and effortless. The downside? Occasionally there might be some jerkiness in low-speed traffic jams, but it's generally very smooth for daily use.
