System, vehicle, and method

• US 8,047,317 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mari Curbelo, A. Jorge, Young, Henry Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/265,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20100108419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 180/165, 180/65.265, 180/65.285, 180/65.1, 180/65.29, 180/65.31, 701/22, 701/36, 363/70, 363/41
• US Class Current: 180/65.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A power system is provided that includes a first voltage bus, a traction motor configured to generate electrical power during a regenerative braking mode and to supply the generated electrical power to the first voltage bus, and an auxiliary system coupled to the first voltage bus. The auxiliary system comprises a second voltage bus and a power interface unit coupling the first voltage bus to the second voltage bus. The auxiliary system also comprises an energy storage device coupled to the second voltage bus and configured to store energy supplied to the second voltage bus and configured to supply stored energy to the second voltage bus and an auxiliary load configured to receive power based on power in the second voltage bus.

Claims

1. A power system, comprising:

a first voltage bus;

a traction motor configured to generate electrical power during a regenerative braking mode and to supply the generated electrical power to the first voltage bus;

an auxiliary system coupled to the first voltage bus, the auxiliary system comprising;

a second voltage bus;

a power interface unit coupling the first voltage bus to the second voltage bus, wherein a power extraction point to the second voltage bus follows a diode connected to an intermediate point of a resistor chain, further wherein the power interface unit is configured to receive the generated electrical power from the first voltage bus and to convert at least ten percent of the generated electrical power into non-electrical energy;

an energy storage device coupled to the second voltage bus and configured to store energy supplied to the second voltage bus and configured to supply stored energy to the second voltage bus; and

an auxiliary load configured to receive power based on power in the second voltage bus.

2. The power system of claim 1, wherein the power interface unit comprises a resistor string coupled to a power supply side of the first voltage bus and coupled to a power return side of the first voltage bus.

3. The power system of claim 2, wherein the power interface unit further comprises a switch configured to control a supply of the generated electrical power from the first voltage bus to the second voltage bus.

4. The power system of claim 3, wherein the switch is an insulated-gate bipolar transistor.

5. The power system of claim 3, wherein the power interface unit further comprises a resistor configured to limit current flowing through the power interface unit to match a current rating of the energy storage device with the current supplied thereto.

6. The power system of claim 3, wherein the power interface unit further comprises a diode configured to impede discharge of the energy storage device through the power interface unit.

7. The power system of claim 1, wherein the first and second voltage busses are DC voltage busses.

8. The power system of claim 7, further comprising an inverter coupled between the second DC voltage bus and the auxiliary load and configured to invert DC power from the second voltage bus into AC power.

9. The power system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary load powers a cooling fan.

10. The power system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises both an energy battery and a power battery.

11. The power system of claim 1, further comprising a main alternator coupled to the first voltage bus and configured to operate in a self-load mode of operation during a self-load test of the auxiliary system.

12. A method, comprising:

coupling an auxiliary power bus of an off-highway vehicle to a main power bus of the off-highway vehicle via a power interface unit configured to deliver less than ninety percent of the power transferred through the power interface unit from the main power bus to the auxiliary power bus;

coupling a battery pack to the auxiliary power bus;

coupling an auxiliary load to the auxiliary power bus;

charging the battery pack during a regenerative braking mode of the off-highway vehicle; and

supplying power from the battery pack to the auxiliary power bus during a non-regenerative braking mode of the off-highway vehicle to power the auxiliary load.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising coupling an inverter between the auxiliary load and the auxiliary power bus, the inverter configured to invert DC power from the second voltage bus into AC power.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing the power interface unit with a voltage divider circuit comprising a plurality of resistors placed in series between a power supply side of the main power bus and a power return side of the main power bus, wherein the plurality of resistors comprises a node positioned therebetween such that more than ten percent of power from the main power bus is converted into non-electrical energy between the main power bus and the node; and

coupling the node to the auxiliary power bus.