Multi-power source locomotive control method and system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a desired total system output power from a vehicle comprising a plurality of power sources, the plurality of power sources outputting DC electrical power to a common DC bus, and said vehicle also comprising a variable power control having a plurality of power settings, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting a number of power sources to be used according to a schedule to provide power to the DC common bus;
b) activating the power sources according to said schedule;
c) setting a desired range of a parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus;
d) measuring a signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus;
e) for each of the plurality of power sources, measuring a signal indicative of a power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources;
f) determining an output power for each of the plurality of power sources, based on the measurement of the signal indicative of the power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources and the signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; and
g) if the output power of one of the plurality of power sources is different from a target output power, adjusting a power source control parameter of said one of the plurality of power sources to correct the difference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Control modes for operating multiple power sources include energy storage systems and applicable to large systems such as locomotives. Selectable operating modes are provided for different locomotive speed ranges and work loads. A common DC bus electrical architecture is used so that prime power sources need not be synchronized. Multiple-engine locomotives have the engine systems that may be electrically connected in parallel or in series or in combinations of parallel and series to a DC bus.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a desired total system output power from a vehicle comprising a plurality of power sources, the plurality of power sources outputting DC electrical power to a common DC bus, and said vehicle also comprising a variable power control having a plurality of power settings, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a number of power sources to be used according to a schedule to provide power to the DC common bus; b) activating the power sources according to said schedule; c) setting a desired range of a parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; d) measuring a signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; e) for each of the plurality of power sources, measuring a signal indicative of a power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources; f) determining an output power for each of the plurality of power sources, based on the measurement of the signal indicative of the power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources and the signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; and g) if the output power of one of the plurality of power sources is different from a target output power, adjusting a power source control parameter of said one of the plurality of power sources to correct the difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for controlling a desired total system output power from a vehicle comprising a plurality of power sources, the plurality of power sources outputting DC electrical power to a common DC bus, and said vehicle also comprising a variable power control having a plurality of power settings, the control system comprising:
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selecting means for selecting a number of power sources to be used according to a schedule to provide power to the DC common bus; activating means for activating the power sources according to said schedule; setting means for setting a desired range of a parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; first measuring means for measuring a signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of power available on the DC common bus from at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; second measuring means, for each of the plurality of power sources, for measuring a signal indicative of a power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources; determining means for determining an output power for each of the plurality of power sources, based on the measurement of the signal indicative of the power source operational parameter from said each of the plurality of power sources and the signal corresponding to the parameter indicative of at least one of voltage or current on the DC common bus; and adjusting means for adjusting a power source control parameter of said one of the plurality of power sources to correct a difference between the output power of one of the plurality of power sources and a target output power. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification