METHOD AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR UNCOUPLING POWER CONTROL OF A DISTRIBUTED POWERED SYSTEM FROM COUPLED POWER SETTINGS

• US 20080201028A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Brooks, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/20
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation

Abstract

A method for powering a powered system having a first power generating unit where power settings for the first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for a second power generating unit, the method including developing a power operating plan which is independent of a coupled power setting, and determining a power setting responsive to the power operating plan. A computer software code operable within a processor and configured to reside on a computer readable media for powering a powered system having at least a first power generating unit where power settings for the at least first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for at least a second power generating unit is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for powering a powered system having at least a first power generating unit where power settings for at least the first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for at least a second power generating unit, the method comprising:

developing a power operating plan which is independent of a coupled power setting; and

determining a power setting responsive to the power operating plan.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprises identifying at least one of a characteristic, a parameter, and a constraint for the power operating plan.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein developing the power operating plan further comprises developing the power operating plan responsive to at least one of the characteristic, the parameter, and the constraint.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of a maximum power setting, a minimum power setting, a fuel burn rate, a maximum change in power setting, a minimum time to change between a first and a second power setting, and a desired transient response.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprises including at least one power setting restriction when developing the power operating plan.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the at least one power setting restriction is at least of a current operating parameter, a future power demand, a past power command history, minimized fuel use for a desired power setting, an emission output for a desired power setting, a change in power between at least two power settings, a maximum power setting deviation between at least the first power generating unit and at least the second power generating unit, a maximum power setting excursion, a minimum time to change a power setting, and a desire transient response.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the power setting further comprises establishing a power setting for at least the first power generating unit and establishing a power setting for at least the second power generating unit which is responsive to the power setting for at least the first power generating unit and the power operating plan.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the power setting further comprises determining the power setting of the at least second power generating unit independent of the power command of at least the first power generating unit.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprises utilizing at least one constraint to at least one of balance a load of the powered system and at least one powered system handling characteristic.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power operating plan is static wherein the power setting varies in response to a varied desired power system setting.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a railway transportation system having a power generating unit that comprises at least one locomotive.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprises operating the powered system in a distributed power mode wherein at least one of developing the power operating plan and determining the power setting are established for the distributed power mode.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a marine vessel having at least one power generating unit.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises an off-highway vehicle having at least one power generating unit.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a stationary power generating station having at least one power generating unit.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powered system comprises a network of stationary power generating stations having at least one power generating unit.

17. A computer software code operable within a processor and configured to reside on a computer readable media for powering a powered system having at least a first power generating unit where power settings for at least the first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for at least a second power generating unit, the computer software code comprising:

computer software module for developing a power operating plan which is independent of a coupled power setting; and

computer software module for determining a power setting responsive to the power operating plan.

18. The computer software code according to claim 17, further comprises a computer software module for identifying at least one of a characteristic, a parameter, and a constraint for the power operating plan.

19. The computer software according to claim 17, further comprises a computer software module for including at least one power setting restriction when developing the power operating plan.

20. The computer software code according to claim 17, further comprises a computer software module for utilizing at least one constraint to at least one of balance a load of the powered system and at least one power system handling characteristic.

21. The computer software code according to claim 17, wherein the powered system comprises a railway transportation system having a power generating unit that comprises at least one locomotive.

22. The computer software code according to claim 21, further comprises a computer software module for operating the powered system in a distributed power mode.