System, method, and computer readable media for controlling cooling in a diesel fueled power generation unit

• US 7,533,636 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Marsh, Gregory A., Aggarwal, Mahesh C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali; Hyder
• Application Number:
  US11/742,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.33, 123/41.31, 123/196.AB, 605/99, 165/297
• US Class Current: 123/41.33
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/002 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/005 Controlling temperature of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/08 Arrangements of lubricant coolers in lubrication apparatus F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/182 with multiple heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0443 Layout of the coolant or refrigerant circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system, method, and computer readable media for controlling cooling in a diesel fueled power generation unit. The system includes a first cooling circuit configurable in a first mode for directing an oil coolant portion into main oil cooler and an intercooler coolant portion into an intercooler and configurable in a second mode for limiting the oil coolant portion provided to the main oil cooler. The system also includes a supplementary oil cooler for cooling a portion of the lubrication oil and a supplementary coolant source for providing a second coolant flow to the supplementary oil cooler. The system also includes a second cooling circuit in communication with the supplementary oil cooler configurable in the first mode for limiting the portion of the lubrication oil provided to the supplementary oil cooler and configurable in the second mode for directing the portion of the lubrication oil to the supplementary air oil cooler.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generation unit, an intercooler for cooling power generation unit intake air, and main oil cooler for cooling power generation unit lubrication oil, each having respective cooling passages formed therein, and a main coolant source for providing a first coolant flow to the cooling passages, the cooling system comprising:

a first cooling circuit in communication with the intercooler and the main oil cooler configurable in a first mode for directing an oil coolant portion of the first coolant flow into the main oil cooler and a intercooler coolant portion of the first coolant flow into the intercooler when a cooling capability of the first coolant flow in the first cooling circuit is sufficient for cooling the lubrication oil to achieve a desired oil temperature and for cooling the intake air to achieve a desired emission level produced by the power generation unit, and configurable in a second mode for limiting the oil coolant portion provided to the main oil cooler;

a supplementary oil cooler for cooling a portion of the lubrication oil connected in parallel with the main oil cooler;

a supplementary coolant source for providing a second coolant flow to the supplementary oil cooler; and

a second cooling circuit in communication with the supplementary oil cooler configurable in the first mode for limiting the portion of the lubrication oil provided to the supplementary oil cooler and configurable in the second mode for directing the portion of the lubrication oil to the supplementary oil cooler.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a first valve for selectively controlling the oil coolant portion being provided to the main oil cooler.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, further comprising a second valve for selectively controlling the portion of the lubrication oil being provided to the supplementary oil cooler.

4. The cooling system of claim 3, further comprising a controller for controlling respective positions of the first valve and the second valve to selectively configure the cooling system in the first mode and second mode according to an input received by the controller.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the input comprises a signal provided by environmental sensor sensing an environmental condition proximate the diesel powered system.

6. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the input comprises a signal provided by diesel powered system operation sensor sensing an operational condition of the diesel powered system.

7. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the diesel powered system operation sensor comprises a coolant temperature sensor, an oil temperature sensor, or an emission sensor.

8. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the input comprises a control signal provided by an operator of the diesel powered system.

9. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a railway transportation system, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one locomotive powered by at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

10. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a marine vessel, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

11. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the diesel powered system comprises an off-road vehicle, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

12. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a stationary power generating station, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

13. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a network of stationary power generating stations, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

14. The cooling method of claim 1, wherein the second coolant flow comprises forced air.

15. A cooling method for a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generation unit, an intercooler for cooling power generation unit intake air and a main oil cooler for cooling diesel-fueled power generation unit lubrication oil, each having respective cooling passages formed therein, a first coolant source for providing a first coolant flow to the cooling passages, a supplementary oil cooler connected in parallel to the main oil cooler for cooling a portion of the engine lubrication oil, and a supplementary coolant source for providing a second coolant flow to the supplementary oil cooler, the method comprising:

directing, in a first mode, an oil coolant portion of the first coolant flow to the main oil cooler and a intercooler coolant portion of the first coolant flow to the intercooler when a cooling capability of the first coolant flow is sufficient for cooling the lubrication oil to achieve a desired oil temperature and for cooling the intake air to achieve a desired emission level produced by the power generation unit;

limiting, in the first mode, the portion of the engine lubrication oil provided to the supplementary oil cooler connected in parallel to the main oil cooler;

limiting, in a second mode, the oil coolant portion of the coolant flow to the main oil cooler when a cooling capability of the first coolant is insufficient for cooling the lubrication oil and maintaining a desired emission level produced by the engine; and

directing, in the second mode, the portion of the engine lubrication oil to the supplementary oil cooler.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively implementing the first and second modes responsive to an input from an environmental sensor sensing an environmental condition proximate the diesel powered system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively implementing the first and second modes responsive to an input from a diesel powered system operation sensor sensing an operational condition of the diesel powered system.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively implementing the first and second modes responsive to a control signal provided by an operator of the diesel powered system.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising implementing the second mode when the ambient temperature proximate the diesel powered system is above a predetermined value at a predetermined operating altitude.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising implementing the second mode when the diesel powered system is operating in a condition wherein an emissions requirement is waived.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising implementing the first mode when the ambient temperature proximate the diesel powered system is within a predetermined range at a predetermined operating altitude.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a railway transportation system, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one locomotive powered by at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a marine vessel, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the diesel powered system comprises an off-road vehicle, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a stationary power generating station, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the diesel powered system comprises a network of stationary power generating stations, and wherein the diesel-fueled power generating unit comprises at least one diesel internal combustion engine.

27. In a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generation unit, an intercooler for cooling power generation unit intake air and a main oil cooler for cooling diesel-fueled power generation unit lubrication oil, each having respective cooling passages formed therein, a first coolant source for providing a first coolant flow to the cooling passages, a supplementary oil cooler connected in parallel to the main oil cooler for cooling a portion of the engine lubrication oil, and a supplementary coolant source for providing a second coolant flow to the supplementary oil cooler, computer readable media containing program instructions for controlling cooling of the diesel powered system, the computer readable media comprising:

a computer program code for directing, in a first mode, an oil coolant portion of the first coolant flow to the main oil cooler and a intercooler coolant portion of the first coolant flow to the intercooler when a cooling capability of the first coolant flow is sufficient for cooling the lubrication oil to achieve a desired oil temperature and for cooling the intake air to achieve a desired emission level produced by the power generation unit;

a computer program code for limiting, in the first mode, the portion of the engine lubrication oil provided to the supplementary oil cooler connected in parallel to the main oil cooler;

a computer program code for limiting, in a second mode, the oil coolant portion of the coolant flow to the main oil cooler when a cooling capability of the first coolant is insufficient for cooling the lubrication oil and maintaining a desired emission level produced by the engine; and

a computer program code for directing, in the second mode, the portion of the engine lubrication oil to the supplementary oil cooler.