System and method for controlling the speed of a gas turbine engine
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the speed of a turbine engine powering a rail vehicle, the turbine engine being operative to provide power to a traction motor driving at least one wheel of the rail vehicle, said system comprising:
- a sensor unit for monitoring the operation of the traction motor;
a controller unit coupled to said sensor unit, said controller unit operative for detecting a sudden decrease in the power requirement of the traction motor on the basis of signals received from said sensor unit, said controller unit being responsive to said sudden decrease in the power requirement of the traction motor to generate a control signal for causing at least a portion of the power generated by the turbine engine to be redirected to a secondary load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling the speed of a turbine engine, the turbine engine being operative to provide power to a primary load. When a decrease in the power requirement of the primary load is detected, at least a portion of the power generated by the turbine engine is redirected to a secondary load, thereby maintaining the speed of the turbine engine below a rated maximum speed. In the example of a turbine-powered train in which the turbine engine provides power to electric traction motors driving the wheels of the train, when a wheel spin is detected, at least a portion of the power generated by the turbine engine is diverted from the respective electric traction motor to rheostats for conversion to heat.
43 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A system for controlling the speed of a turbine engine powering a rail vehicle, the turbine engine being operative to provide power to a traction motor driving at least one wheel of the rail vehicle, said system comprising:
- a sensor unit for monitoring the operation of the traction motor;
a controller unit coupled to said sensor unit, said controller unit operative for detecting a sudden decrease in the power requirement of the traction motor on the basis of signals received from said sensor unit, said controller unit being responsive to said sudden decrease in the power requirement of the traction motor to generate a control signal for causing at least a portion of the power generated by the turbine engine to be redirected to a secondary load. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- a sensor unit for monitoring the operation of the traction motor;
-
3. A system for controlling the speed of a turbine engine on a rail vehicle, the turbine engine providing power to a primary electric load of the rail vehicle, said system comprising:
- a sensor for monitoring the speed of the turbine engine;
a controller unit coupled to said sensor, said controller unit operative to compute the acceleration rate of the turbine engine;
if the acceleration rate of the turbine engine is above a predetermined threshold, said controller unit being further operative to generate a control signal for causing a secondary load to be applied to the turbine engine such as to maintain the speed of the turbine engine below a rated maximum speed. - View Dependent Claims (4)
- a sensor for monitoring the speed of the turbine engine;
-
5. A system for controlling the speed of a turbine engine of a rail vehicle, the turbine engine providing power to a primary electric load of the rail vehicle, said system comprising:
- a controller unit capable to detect a decrease in load demand on the turbine engine by the primary load;
a secondary electric load selectively connectable to the turbine engine, said controller unit being responsive to said decrease in load demand on the turbine engine by the primary load to cause said secondary electric load to apply a respective load demand on the turbine engine proportional to said decrease in load demand by the primary electric load. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
- a controller unit capable to detect a decrease in load demand on the turbine engine by the primary load;
-
8. A system for controlling the speed of a turbine engine of a rail vehicle, the turbine engine providing power to a primary load of the rail vehicle, said system being operative to maintain the speed of the turbine engine below a rated maximum speed by applying a secondary load to the turbine engine when a decrease in a power requirement of the primary load is detected.
-
9. A system for controlling the speed of a turbine engine of a rail vehicle, turbine engine being operative to provide power to a primary load of the rail vehicle, said system comprising:
- a controller unit capable to detect a decrease in load demand on the turbine engine by the primary load, said controller unit being responsive to said decrease in load demand on the turbine engine by the primary load to cause a secondary load to apply a respective load demand on the turbine engine.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification