System, method , and apparatus for power regulation

• US 20020093201A1
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Inventors: Soucy, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,476,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/40.00B
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

By controlling a power source in response to a load power demand, more efficient operation is obtained. Faster response is also realized by incorporating a compensation for inertia in the path between the power source and the load. In one exemplary embodiment, a further-driven system for electric power generation is controlled according to increased values of a load power demand and a turbine output shaft speed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a power supply requirement value;

producing an inertia compensation value; and

modifying a power demand value with said inertia compensation value to produce a modified power demand value,

wherein said power supply requirement value is expressible in units of watts, and

wherein said power demand value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said modifying comprises adding a value based at least in part on said inertia compensation value to a value based at least in part on said power demand value.

2. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising mapping said power supply requirement value to a rate target value, said inertia compensation value being based at least in part on said rate target value.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a temperature.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a density.

5. The method according to claim 2, said method further comprising constraining said rate target value to be not less than a predetermined minimum rate target value.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein producing an inertia compensation value comprises stabilizing a compensating value, wherein said compensating value is based at least in part on said rate target value and an observed rate value.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said stabilizing said compensating value comprises applying at least one among a proportional gain and an integral gain to a value based at least in part on said compensating value.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one among said rate target value and said observed rate value is expressible as a velocity.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one among said rate target value and said observed rate value is expressible as an angular velocity.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said observed rate value relates to a rotational speed of an output shaft of a turbine.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said modified power demand value is expressible as a velocity.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said modified power demand value is expressible as an angular velocity.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said modified power demand value relates to a rotational speed of a compressor of a turbine.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said power supply requirement value is based at least in part on an observed power consumption value,

wherein said observed power consumption value relates to power consumed by at least one load.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said power supply requirement value relates to power produced by at least one generator.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said observed power consumption value relates to electrical power.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein obtaining a power supply requirement value comprises applying an efficiency reciprocal function to said observed power consumption value.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said applying an efficiency reciprocal function comprises mapping said observed power consumption value to said power supply requirement value according to said efficiency reciprocal function.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said mapping said power supply requirement value to said observed power consumption value according to said efficiency reciprocal function comprises multiplying said observed power consumption value by an efficiency reciprocal factor.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said power demand value is substantially the same value as said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said modified power demand value is based at least in part on a compensated power demand value,

wherein said compensated power demand value is a sum of a value based at least in part on said inertia compensation value and a value based at least in part on said power demand value.

21. The method according to claim 20, said method further comprising mapping said compensated power demand value to said modified power demand value,

wherein said compensated power demand value is expressible in units of watts.

22. The method according to claim 6, wherein said compensating value is based at least in part on a square of said rate target value and a square of said observed rate value.

23. The method according to claim 6, wherein said compensating value is based at least in part on a difference of a square of said rate target value and a square of said observed rate value.

24. The method according to claim 2, said method further comprising combining said rate target value and an observed rate value to produce a compensating value, said inertia compensation value being based at least in part on said compensating value.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said compensating value comprises a difference of a value based at least in part on said observed rate value and a value based at least in part on said rate target value.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said producing an inertia compensation value comprises stabilizing said compensating value.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein said stabilizing said compensating value comprises applying at least one among a proportional gain and an integral gain to a value based at least in part on said compensating value.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said at least one among a proportional gain and an integral gain varies in response to at least a magnitude of said compensating value.

29. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one among said power demand value and said modified power demand value is expressible as a velocity.

30. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one among said power demand value and said modified power demand value is expressible as an angular velocity.

31. The method according to claim 2, said method further comprising mapping said power supply requirement value to said power demand value,

wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a temperature.

32. The method according to claim 2, said method further comprising mapping said power supply requirement value to said power demand value,

wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a density.

33. An apparatus comprising:

an inertia compensation value producer configured and arranged to receive a power supply requirement value and to produce an inertia compensation value; and

a power demand value modifier configured and arranged to receive a power demand value and said inertia compensation value and to produce a modified power demand value,

wherein said power supply requirement value is expressible in units of watts, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said power demand value modifier produces said modified power demand value at least in part by adding a value based at least in part on said inertia compensation value to a value based at least in part on said power demand value.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said power demand value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said inertia compensation value producer comprises a lookup table configured and arranged to map said power supply requirement value to a rate target value, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said rate target value.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a temperature.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a density.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said inertia compensation value producer further comprises a maximum function block configured and arranged to constrain said rate target value to be not less than a predetermined minimum rate target value.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said inertia compensation value producer further comprises a stabilizer configured and arranged to stabilize a compensating value,

wherein said compensating value is based at least in part on said rate target value and an observed rate value.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said stabilizer comprises a proportional-integral controller.

41. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein at least one among said rate target value and said observed rate value is expressible as a velocity.

42. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein at least one among said rate target value and said observed rate value is expressible as an angular velocity.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said observed rate value relates to a rotational speed of an output shaft of a turbine.

44. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said modified power demand value is expressible as a velocity.

45. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said modified power demand value is expressible as an angular velocity.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said modified power demand value relates to a rotational speed of a compressor of a turbine.

47. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said apparatus further comprises a value converter configured and arranged to receive an observed power consumption value and to produce said power supply requirement value,

wherein said power supply requirement value is based at least in part on said observed power consumption value, and

wherein said observed power consumption value relates to power consumed by at least one load.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said power supply requirement value relates to power produced by at least one generator.

49. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said observed power consumption value relates to electrical power.

50. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said value converter is further configured and arranged to apply an efficiency reciprocal function to said observed power consumption value.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said value converter is further configured and arranged to map said observed power consumption value to said power supply requirement value according to said efficiency reciprocal function.

52. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said value converter is further configured and arranged to multiply said observed power consumption value by an efficiency reciprocal factor.

53. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said power demand value modifier comprises an adder configured and arranged to receive a value based at least in part on said inertia compensation value and a value based at least in part on said power demand value and to produce a compensated power demand value, and

wherein said power demand value is substantially the same value as said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said compensated power demand value is a sum of at least the value based at least in part on said inertia compensation value and the value based at least in part on said power demand value, and

wherein said modified power demand value is based at least in part on said compensated power demand value.

54. The apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said power demand value modifier further comprises a second lookup table configured and arranged to map said compensated power demand value to said modified power demand value, and

wherein said compensated power demand value is expressible in units of watts.

55. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said inertia compensation value producer further comprises a squaring function block configured and arranged to square at least one among said rate target value and said observed rate value, and

wherein compensating value is based at least in part on a square of said rate target value and a square of said observed rate value.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said compensating value is based at least in part on a difference of a square of said rate target value and a square of said observed rate value.

57. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said inertia compensation value producer further comprises a combiner configured and arranged to receive and combine at least a value based at least in part on said rate target value and a value based at least in part on an observed rate value and to produce a compensating value, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said compensating value.

58. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said combiner comprises an adder, and

wherein said adder produces said compensating value as a difference of the value based at least in part on said observed rate value and the value based at least in part on said rate target value.

59. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said inertia compensation value producer further comprises a stabilizer configured and arranged to receive said compensating value and to produce said inertia compensation value.

60. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said stabilizer comprises a proportional-integral controller.

61. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein an operation of said stabilizer is characterized by a proportional gain and an integral gain, and

wherein at least one among said proportional gain and said integral gain varies in response to at least a magnitude of said compensating value.

62. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein at least one among said power demand value and said modified power demand value is expressible as a velocity.

63. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein at least one among said power demand value and said modified power demand value is expressible as an angular velocity.

64. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said apparatus further comprises a second lookup table configured and arranged to map said power supply requirement value to said power demand value,

wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a temperature.

65. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said apparatus further comprises a second lookup table configured and arranged to map said power supply requirement value to said power demand value,

wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a density.

66. An apparatus comprising:

a lookup table configured and arranged to receive a power supply requirement value and to produce a rate target value; and

an adder configured and arranged to receive a power demand value and to produce a modified power demand value,

wherein said power demand value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said modified power demand value is based at least in part on a sum of a value based at least in part on said power demand value and a value based at least in part on an inertia compensation value, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said rate target value.

67. The apparatus according to claim 66, said apparatus further comprising a stabilizer configured and arranged to receive a compensating value and to produce said inertia compensation value,

wherein said compensating value is based at least in part on said rate target value.

69. The system according to claim 68, wherein said load consumes electrical power.

70. The system according to claim 69, wherein said load comprises at least one motor.

71. The system according to claim 69, wherein said power converter comprises at least one generator.

72. The system according to claim 69, wherein said power converter further comprises at least one gearbox configured and arranged to couple said power source to said at least one generator.

73. The system according to claim 68, said system further comprising a demand sensor configured and arranged to produce an observed power consumption value,

wherein said observed power consumption value is based at least in part on a quantity of power consumed by said load, and

wherein said power supply requirement value is based at least in part on said observed power consumption value.

74. The system according to claim 73, said system further comprising a value converter configured and arranged to receive said observed power consumption value,

wherein said value converter is further configured and arranged to apply an efficiency reciprocal function to said observed power consumption value to produce said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said efficiency reciprocal function relates at least in part to an efficiency of power conversion by said power converter.

75. The system according to claim 68, said system further comprising a fuel supply controller configured and arranged to control a supply of fuel to said power source,

wherein said fuel supply controller is further configured and arranged to control said supply of fuel according to at least said modified power demand value.

76. The system according to claim 68, wherein said inertia compensation value producer is further configured and arranged to receive an observed rate value,

wherein said observed rate value is based at least in part on a rate of an output of said power source, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said observed rate value.

77. The system according to claim 76, wherein said rate of an output of said power source is expressible as a velocity.

78. The system according to claim 77, wherein said power source is a turbine having an output shaft, and

wherein said rate of an output of said power source comprises a rotational speed of said output shaft, and

wherein said power converter receives power from said power source at least in part through said output shaft.

79. The system according to claim 78, wherein said turbine has a compressor, and

wherein a rotational speed of said compressor is based at least in part on said modified power demand value.

80. The system according to claim 68, wherein said load is configured and arranged to propel a vehicle.

81. The system according to claim 68, wherein said load is configured and arranged to propel a locomotive.

82. The system according to claim 79, wherein said inertia compensation value producer comprises a lookup table configured and arranged to map said power supply requirement value to a rate target value, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said rate target value, and

wherein said turbine receives air to support combustion, and

wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a temperature of said air.

83. The system according to claim 79, wherein said inertia compensation value producer comprises a lookup table configured and arranged to map said power supply requirement value to a rate target value, and

wherein said turbine receives air to support combustion, and

wherein said mapping varies at least in part according to a density of said air.

68. A system comprising:

a power source configured and arranged to supply power;

a load configured and arranged to consume power;

a power converter configured and arranged to receive power from said power source and to supply power to said load;

an inertia compensation value producer configured and arranged to receive a power supply requirement value and to produce an inertia compensation value; and

a power demand value modifier configured and arranged to receive a power demand value and said inertia compensation value and to produce a modified power demand value,

wherein said power supply requirement value is expressible in watts, and

wherein said power supply requirement value is based at least in part on a quantity of power consumed by said load, and

wherein said power demand value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value, and

wherein said inertia compensation value is based at least in part on said power supply requirement value, and

wherein an operation of said power source is based at least in part on said modified power demand value, and

wherein said power demand value modifier produces said modified power demand value at least in part by adding a value based at least in part on said inertia compensation value to a value based at least in part on said power demand value.

84. An apparatus comprising:

a first lookup table configured and arranged to receive a power supply requirement value and to produce a power supply rate target value;

a first adder configured and arranged to subtract an observed rate value from said rate target value to produce a rate error value;

a stabilizer configured and arranged to receive the rate error value and to output an inertia compensation value;

a second lookup table configured and arranged to receive the power supply requirement value and to produce a power demand value; and

a second adder configured and arranged to receive the inertia compensation value and the power demand value and to produce a modified power demand value.

85. A system comprising:

a power source configured and arranged to produce a first power output;

an energy converter configured and arranged to receive the first power output and to produce a converted power output to drive a load;

a demand sensor configured and arranged to output an observed power consumption value, said observed power consumption value being related to a level of power demanded by the load;

a value converter configured and arranged to receive the observed power consumption value and to output a power supply requirement value;

a first lookup table configured and arranged to receive the power supply requirement value and to produce a rate target value;

a rate sensor configured and arranged to output an observed rate value, said observed rate value being related to a rate of said first power output;

a first adder configured and arranged to subtract said observed rate value from said rate target value to produce a rate error value;

a stabilizer configured and arranged to receive the rate error value and to output an inertia compensation value;

a second lookup table configured and arranged to receive the power supply requirement value and to produce a power demand value;

a second adder configured and arranged to receive the inertia compensation value and the power demand value and to produce a modified power demand value; and

a fuel supply controller configured and arranged to receive the modified power demand value and to control the supply of fuel to said power source according to said modified power demand value.