Hybrid energy off highway vehicle electric power storage system and method

• US 6,973,880 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US10/378,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 104/289, 104/288, 104/287, 105/35, 105/26.05, 105/49, 105/50, 105/61, 320/101, 320/125, 320/126, 320/137, 320/140, 320/166, 320/167, 307/150, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 105/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/20 DC electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/02 using dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/16 using ac induction motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical energy capture system for use in connection with a hybrid energy off highway vehicle system of a off highway vehicle. The hybrid energy off highway vehicle system includes an off highway vehicle, a primary power source, and an off highway vehicle traction motor propelling the off highway vehicle in response to the primary electric power. The off highway vehicle traction motor has a dynamic braking mode of operation generating electrical energy. The electrical energy capture system includes an energy management processor carried on the off highway vehicle. The capture system also includes an off highway vehicle electric generator connected to and driven by the primary power source for selectively supplying primary electric power, wherein the generator is responsive to said processor. An electrical energy storage device is carried on a off highway vehicle and is in electrical communication with the off highway vehicle traction motor. The storage device is responsive to the processor, selectively stores electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode, and selectively provides secondary electric power from said stored electricity electrical energy to the off highway vehicle traction motor. The off highway vehicle traction motor is responsive to the secondary electric power. The processor provides a first control signal to the electrical energy storage device to control the selective storing of the electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode, and to control the selective providing of secondary electric power to the off highway vehicle traction motor. The processor also provides a second control signal to the generator for controlling the selective supplying of primary electric power to the off highway vehicle traction motor.

Claims

1. A hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered railroad train comprising:

at least one railway vehicle supported on a plurality of wheels for engaging railroad rail;

a vehicle propulsion system mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels of the railway vehicle;

a primary electric power generator carried on the railroad train for generating primary electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle propulsion system, said vehicle propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to electric power supplied to the propulsion source for generating mechanical energy that is applied to said wheel for propelling the railroad train, and said vehicle propulsion system further having a dynamic braking mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to mechanical energy from said wheel during dynamic braking operations of the railroad train for generating dynamic braking electrical power;

an electrical energy capture system carried on the railroad train for storing electrical power generated on the train and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the train, including selectively using the stored electrical power to propel the railroad train;

a DC bus for electrically connecting the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system and the electrical energy capture system;

a plurality of dynamic braking resistance grid circuits electrically connected to the vehicle propulsion system for dissipating excess electrical power on the railroad train, with each grid circuit including at least one dynamic braking resistance grid and being electrically connected to the DC bus;

a plurality of grid switching devices in the dynamic braking grid circuits, with at least one grid switching device for each dynamic braking grid circuit for controlling the flow of electrical power to the respective resistance grid; and

an energy management system connected to and controlling operation of each of the grid switching devices, with the energy management system comprising a processor on the train for controlling transmission of electrical power among the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system, the electric energy capture system, and each of the plurality of dynamic braking grid circuits during motoring, operating and braking the travel of the railroad train.

2. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein the vehicle propulsion system comprises a traction motor connected to a vehicle wheel and operable as a motor in the motoring mode of the vehicle propulsion system and as a generator in the dynamic braking mode of the vehicle propulsion system.

3. The railroad train of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of traction motors, with a pair of vehicle wheels associated with each traction motor.

4. The railroad train of claim 3 further comprising an electrical switching device in a circuit with at least one of the traction motors and controlled by the energy management system for controlling the transmission of power to and from the traction motor.

5. The railroad train of claim 1 further comprising an energy storage switching device in a circuit with the DC bus and the electrical energy capture system for controlling the flow of electrical power to and from the electrical energy capture system, wherein the energy storage switching device comprises a contactor switch.

6. The railroad train of claim 5 wherein the energy storage switching device comprises an electronic power management chopper switch.

7. The railroad train of claim 6 wherein the energy capture system operates at a higher voltage than that of the DC bus and the energy storage switching device provides a voltage transition between the electrical energy capture system and the DC bus.

8. The railroad train of claim 1 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter in a circuit connecting the electrical energy capture system to the DC bus.

9. The railroad train of claim 8 wherein the energy capture system operates at a higher voltage than that of the DC bus and the DC-to-DC converter provides a voltage transition between the electrical energy capture system and the DC bus.

10. The railroad train of claim 1 further comprising electrical connections for selectively connecting the DC bus to an external source of electrical power, with the energy management system controlling transmission of power from the external source of electrical power to the bus.

11. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy capture system comprised at least two energy storage devices, at least one of which comprises an electric storage battery.

12. The railroad train of claim 11 wherein the other storage device is selected from the group comprising ultra-capacitors, flywheel-generators, and fuel cells.

13. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of grid switching devices comprises a contactor switch.

14. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of grid switching devices comprises an electronic power management chopper switch.

15. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein said one railway vehicle is a locomotive carrying the vehicle propulsion system and at least one of the primary electric power generator, the electric energy capture system, the dynamic braking resistance grids, and the energy management system.

16. The railroad train of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary electric power generator for generating auxiliary electrical power and electrically connected to the electrical energy capture system, with the energy management system controlling the transmission of power from the auxiliary electric power generator.

17. The railroad train of claim 16 further comprising auxiliary electric power loads electrically connected to the auxiliary power generator, with the energy management system controlling the transmission of power to the auxiliary electric power loads.

18. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein the energy management system is operatively connected to a data base of track topography, a train locator for locating a current position of the train and a processor for predicting future train electric energy requirements.

19. The railroad train of claim 1 wherein the primary electric power generator is selected from the group comprising an engine and electric generator set, and a fuel cell.

20. A hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered off-highway load vehicle comprising:

a plurality of wheels for supporting and propelling the off-highway (OHV) vehicle;

a vehicle propulsion system mechanically coupled to at least one of the wheels of the OHV vehicle;

a primary electric power generator carried on the OHV vehicle for generating primary electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle propulsion system, said vehicle propulsion system having a motoring mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to electric power supplied to the propulsion system for generating mechanical energy that is applied to said wheel for propelling the vehicle, and said vehicle propulsion system further having a dynamic braking mode in which the propulsion system is responsive to mechanical energy from said wheel during dynamic braking operations of the OHV vehicle for generating dynamic braking electrical power;

an electrical energy capture system carried on the vehicle for storing electrical power generated on the OHV vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle, including selectively using the stored electrical power to propel the vehicle;

a DC bus for electrically connecting the primary electric power generator, vehicle propulsion system and electrical energy capture system;

a plurality of dynamic braking resistance grid circuits electrically connected to the vehicle propulsion system for dissipating excess electrical power on the OHV vehicle, with each grid circuit including at least one dynamic braking resistance grid and being electrically connected to the DC bus;

a plurality of grid switching devices in the dynamic braking grid circuits, with at least one grid switching device for each dynamic braking grid circuit for controlling the flow of electrical power to the respective resistance grid; and

an energy management system connected to and controlling operation of each of the grid switching devices, with the energy management system comprising a processor on the vehicle for controlling transmission of electrical power among the primary electric power generator, the vehicle propulsion system, each of the plurality of dynamic braking grid circuits, and the electric energy capture system during motoring, operating and braking the travel of the vehicle.

21. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein the vehicle propulsion system comprises a traction motor connected to a vehicle wheel and operable as a motor in the motoring mode of the vehicle propulsion system and as a generator in the dynamic braking mode of the vehicle propulsion system.

22. The off-highway vehicle of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of traction motors, with a vehicle wheel associated with each traction motor.

23. The off-highway vehicle of claim 22 further comprising an electrical switching device in a circuit with at least one of the traction motors and controlled by the energy management system for controlling the transmission of power to and from the traction motor.

24. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 further comprising an energy storage switching device in a circuit with the DC bus and the electrical energy capture system for controlling the flow of electrical power to and from the electrical energy capture system, wherein the energy storage switching device comprises a contactor switch.

25. The off-highway vehicle of claim 24 wherein the energy storage switching device comprises an electronic power management chopper switch.

26. The off-highway vehicle of claim 25 wherein the energy capture system operates at a higher voltage than that of the DC bus and the energy storage switching device provides a voltage transition between the electrical energy capture system and the DC bus.

27. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter in a circuit connecting the electrical energy capture system to the DC bus.

28. The off-highway vehicle of claim 27 wherein the energy capture system operates at a higher voltage than that of the DC bus and the DC-to-DC converter provides a voltage transition between the electrical energy capture system and the DC bus.

29. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 further comprising an electrical connection for selectively connecting the DC bus to an external source of electrical power, with the energy management system controlling transmission of power from the external source of electrical power to the bus.

30. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein the electrical energy capture system comprises at least two electrical energy storage devices, at least one of which comprises an electric storage battery.

31. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein the other electrical energy storage device is selected from the group comprising ultra-capacitors, flywheel-generators, and fuel cells.

32. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 further comprising an auxiliary power generator for generating auxiliary electrical power and electrically connected to the electrical energy capture system, with the energy management system controlling the transmission of power from the auxiliary electric power generator.

33. The off-highway vehicle of claim 32 further comprising auxiliary electric power loads electrically connected to the auxiliary power generator, with the energy management system controlling the transmission of power to the auxiliary electric power loads.

34. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein the energy management system is operatively connected to a data base of topography of the ground traveled by the vehicle, a vehicle locator for locating a current position of the vehicle and a processor for predicting future vehicle electric energy requirements.

35. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein the primary electric power generator is selected from the group comprising an engine and electric generator set, and a fuel cell.

36. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein at least one of the plurality of grid switching devices comprises a contactor switch.

37. The off-highway vehicle of claim 20 wherein at least one of the plurality of grid switching device comprises an electronic power management chopper switch.