Hybrid energy locomotive electrical power storage system
First Claim
1. A hybrid energy locomotive system for use in connection with a train, the system comprising:
- a locomotive having a plurality of locomotive wheels;
a locomotive traction motor associated with one of the plurality of locomotive wheels, said locomotive traction motor having a first rotatable shaft mechanically coupled to the one of the plurality of locomotive wheels;
an electric power source selectively supplying locomotive electric power to the locomotive traction motor, said locomotive traction motor being operable in response to the locomotive electric power to rotate the first rotatable shaft and to drive the one of the plurality of locomotive wheels, said locomotive traction motor further having a dynamic braking mode of operation wherein the locomotive traction motor generates electrical energy in the form of electricity; and
an electrical energy capture system in electrical communication with the locomotive traction motor, said electrical energy capture system selectively storing electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode and selectively providing secondary electric power from said stored electrical energy, whereby the electrical energy capture system selectively supplements the locomotive electric power with the secondary electric power.
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Abstract
A hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. In one form, the system can be retrofitted into existing locomotives, or installed as original equipment. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy and stores the captured energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. The energy storage and regeneration system can be located in a separate energy tender vehicle. The separate energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. An energy management system is responsive to power storage and power transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information, to determine present and future electrical energy storage and supply requirements. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of energy accordingly.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A hybrid energy locomotive system for use in connection with a train, the system comprising:
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a locomotive having a plurality of locomotive wheels;
a locomotive traction motor associated with one of the plurality of locomotive wheels, said locomotive traction motor having a first rotatable shaft mechanically coupled to the one of the plurality of locomotive wheels;
an electric power source selectively supplying locomotive electric power to the locomotive traction motor, said locomotive traction motor being operable in response to the locomotive electric power to rotate the first rotatable shaft and to drive the one of the plurality of locomotive wheels, said locomotive traction motor further having a dynamic braking mode of operation wherein the locomotive traction motor generates electrical energy in the form of electricity; and
an electrical energy capture system in electrical communication with the locomotive traction motor, said electrical energy capture system selectively storing electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode and selectively providing secondary electric power from said stored electrical energy, whereby the electrical energy capture system selectively supplements the locomotive electric power with the secondary electric power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31)
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26. A hybrid energy locomotive system for propelling a consist on a track, said system comprising:
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an engine;
a power converter driven by the engine for providing primary electric power;
a traction bus coupled to the power converter and carrying the primary electric power;
a locomotive traction system coupled to the traction bus, said locomotive traction system having a motoring mode and a dynamic braking mode, said locomotive traction system propelling the consist in response to the primary electric power in the motoring mode and said locomotive traction system generating electricity in the dynamic braking mode; and
an energy storage system selectively capturing the electricity generated by the locomotive traction system in the dynamic braking mode and selectively transferring a first portion of the captured electricity to the locomotive traction system to augment the primary electric power in the motoring mode.
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28. An electrical energy capture system for use in connection with a hybrid energy locomotive system, the hybrid energy locomotive system includes a locomotive, a locomotive electric power source supplying primary electric power, and a locomotive traction motor propelling the locomotive in response to the primary electric power, said locomotive traction motor having a dynamic braking mode of operation generating electricity, the electrical energy capture system comprising:
- an electrical energy storage device in electrical communication with the locomotive traction motor, said electrical energy storage device selectively storing a portion of the electricity generated in the dynamic braking mode, and said electrical energy storage device selectively providing secondary electric power from said stored electricity.
Specification