Hybrid battery/gas turbine locomotive
First Claim
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1. A locomotive comprising:
- i) a plurality of traction motors for driving a plurality of axles;
ii) a traction power controller for controlling said traction motors;
iii) battery storage means for storing electric energy and supplying said electric energy to said traction motors, having an energy storage capacity;
iv) a generator having a charging power and electrically connected to said battery storage means for maintaining said battery storage means in a charged state;
v) means for controlling the operation of said generator by monitoring the state of charge of said battery, initiating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is below a certain limit and terminating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is above a certain limit;
wherein the ratio of the total charging power of said generator to said energy storage capacity is between 4 and 40 hours.
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Abstract
Prior battery-powered electric locomotives have used multiple diesel engines to charge the batteries and have not been commercially accepted. The present invention provides a yard switcher which combines battery storage with a gas microturbine generator to provide an effective fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly locomotive. locomotive.
126 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A locomotive comprising:
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i) a plurality of traction motors for driving a plurality of axles;
ii) a traction power controller for controlling said traction motors;
iii) battery storage means for storing electric energy and supplying said electric energy to said traction motors, having an energy storage capacity;
iv) a generator having a charging power and electrically connected to said battery storage means for maintaining said battery storage means in a charged state;
v) means for controlling the operation of said generator by monitoring the state of charge of said battery, initiating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is below a certain limit and terminating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is above a certain limit;
wherein the ratio of the total charging power of said generator to said energy storage capacity is between 4 and 40 hours. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a locomotive which comprises:
- i) a plurality of traction motors for driving a plurality of axles;
ii) a traction power controller for controlling said traction motors;
iii) battery storage means for storing electric energy and supplying said electric energy to said traction motors, having an energy capacity;
iv) a generator electrically connected to said battery storage means for maintaining said battery storage means in a charged state; and
v) means for controlling the operation of said generator by monitoring the state of charge of said battery, initiating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is below a certain limit and terminating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is above a certain limit; and
wherein the ratio of the charging power of said generator to said energy storage capacity is between 4 and 40 hours, said method comprising;
running said generator under a constant load at its maximum power output for a sustained period of time. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
- i) a plurality of traction motors for driving a plurality of axles;
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18. A locomotive comprising:
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i) a plurality of traction motors for driving a plurality of axles;
ii) a traction power controller for controlling said traction motors;
iii) battery storage means for storing electric energy and supplying said electric energy to said traction motors, having an energy storage capacity;
iv) a generator comprising a microturbine and having a charging power and being electrically connected to said battery storage means for maintaining said battery storage means in a charged state;
v) means for controlling the operation of said generator by monitoring the state of charge of said battery, initiating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is below a certain limit and terminating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is above a certain limit;
wherein the ratio of the total charging power of said generator to said energy storage capacity is between 4 and 40 hours. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification