Multi-power source locomotive selection

• US 8,220,572 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Railpower, LLC
• Original Assignee: Railpower, LLC
• Inventors: Donnelly, Frank Wegner
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/304,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20100051368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.25, 180/65.265, 180/65.28, 180/65.285, 903/930, 290/1.R, 290/40.C, 290/40.R, 318/105, 318/106, 318/108, 318/109, 318/140, 318/149
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/38 with automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/18 Reluctance machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/165 of converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/167 of motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 7/04 Locomotives or motor railcars with two or more different kinds or types of engines, e.g. steam and IC engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Various control options are applied for selecting the number of operating power sources for a multi-power source vehicle having a number of prime power sources and, optionally including energy storage systems. This system and method are applicable to large vehicles such as locomotives, mining trucks, tugboats and large cranes. Selectable operating modes are provided for different locomotive speed ranges and work loads. The system and method are based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized. Multiple-engine locomotives are included in which the engine systems may be electrically connected in parallel or in series or in combinations of parallel and series to a DC bus.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of power sources outputting DC electrical power to a common DC bus, and a variable power control having a plurality of power settings, in order to obtain a desired selection of values of operating parameters, said method comprising:

(a) determining for each said power setting a number of power sources to be used and at least one of i) power level, ii) engine speed setting, iii) output voltage, and iv) output current for each of said number of power sources in order to obtain a desired set of values of operating parameters for each said power setting;

(b) selecting the power setting desired for the vehicle at each operating time and thereby obtaining the desired selection of values of operating parameters associated with that power setting; and

(c) setting at said operating time each of the power sources to the corresponding at least one of i) power level, ii) engine speed setting, iii) output voltage, and iv) output current determined under step a) for said selected power setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameters are selected from the group consisting of (i) fuel efficiency;

(ii) low emissions;

(iii) a combination of fuel efficiency and low emissions;

(iv) power;

(v) tractive effort; and

(vi) engine lifetime.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said number of power sources to be used and the power and engine speed setting for each power source in order to obtain the desired fuel efficiency for that power setting are determined using a controller programmed to use fuel consumption maps for each power source.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said number of power sources to be used and the power and engine speed setting for each power source in order to obtain the desired emissions for that power setting are determined using a controller programmed to use an emissions map for each power source.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said emissions are selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and particulate material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein additional power sources are added at higher power settings and a last power source selected is operated at a different power level and engine speed than a previously engaged power source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each power setting corresponds to a power level which is obtained by adding another power source as soon as currently operating power sources reach a selected percentage of rated power.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein for each power setting a selected number of power sources are operated in a most fuel efficient mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the power and engine speed setting for each selected power source in order to obtain the desired fuel efficiency for that power setting are determined using a controller programmed to use a fuel consumption map for each selected power source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein for each power setting a selected number of power sources are operated in a lowest emissions mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said emissions are selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and particulate material.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the power and engine speed setting for each selected power source in order to obtain the desired emissions for that power setting is determined using a controller programmed to use an emissions map for each selected power source.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said emissions are selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and particulate material.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a power source is kept in low- or high-idle for a selected period of time after it has been deselected.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of particular power sources is based upon at least one of an operating history of each power source, a random number generator output value, a pseudo-random number generator output value, and a round robin scheduler value.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection or deselection of particular power sources is based upon contingencies which affect a power rating of said power source.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein one unused power source is always idling at high-idle so that when additional power is requested, said unused power source at high-idle can add power quickly.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein said emissions comprise types of emissions selected from the group consisting of substances and energy.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of power sources comprise a plurality of engines.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of power sources comprise a plurality of engines and one or more energy storage systems.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein power from an energy storage system is added if a momentary power surge is required and to otherwise add power from an engine would be inefficient.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein an energy storage system is used to add or provide all power when the vehicle is idling.

23. The method Of claim 20, wherein, when power is added from said plurality of engines for higher power settings, an energy storage system is used in place of an additional engine when said one or more energy storage system can supplement the power required.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein one of said engines is used to continually charge said energy storage system.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of engines comprise a plurality of engine configurations.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of engines comprise one or more engines connected in parallel to a common DC bus.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of engines comprise one or more engines connected in series to a common DC bus.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of engines comprise one or more engines connected in parallel to a common DC bus and one or more engines connected in series to a common DC bus.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is of a type selected from the group consisting of locomotive, truck, tugboat and crane.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said variable power control having a plurality of power settings comprises one or more idle settings and a plurality of power notch settings.

31. A propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of power sources outputting DC electrical power to a common DC bus, and a variable power control having a plurality of power settings and means for selecting the power setting desired for the vehicle at each operating time in order to obtain a desired selection of values of operating parameters, wherein each of said power settings is determined by:

(a) determining for each said power setting a number of power sources to be used and at least one of i) power level, ii) engine speed setting, iii) output voltage, and iv) output current for each of said number of power sources in order to obtain a desired set of values of operating parameters for each said power setting.

32. The propulsion system of claim 31, wherein said operating parameters are selected from the group consisting of (i) fuel efficiency;

(ii) low emissions;

combination of fuel efficiency and low emissions;

(iv) power;

(v) tractive effort; and

(vi) engine lifetime.

33. The propulsion system of claim 31, further comprising a controller programmed to use fuel consumption maps for each power source to determine the number of power sources to be used and the power and engine speed setting for each power source in order to obtain the desired fuel efficiency for that power setting.

34. The propulsion system of claim 31, further comprising a controller programmed to use emission maps for each power source to determine the number of power sources to be used and the power and engine speed setting for each power source in order to obtain the desired emissions for that power setting.

35. The propulsion system of claim 31, wherein said plurality of power sources comprise a plurality of engines.

36. The propulsion system of claim 31, wherein said plurality of power sources comprise a plurality of engines and one or more energy storage systems.

37. The propulsion system of claim 35, wherein said plurality of engines comprise a plurality of engine configurations.

38. The propulsion system of claim 35, wherein said plurality of engines comprise one or more engines connected in parallel to a common DC bus.

39. The propulsion system of claim 35, wherein said plurality of engines comprise one or more engines connected in series to a common DC bus.

40. The propulsion system of claim 35, wherein said plurality of engines comprise one or more engines connected in parallel to a common DC bus and one or more engines connected in series to a common DC bus.

41. The propulsion system of claim 31, wherein said vehicle is of a type selected from the group consisting of locomotive, truck, tugboat and crane.

42. The propulsion system of claim 31, wherein said variable power control having a plurality of power settings comprises one or more idle settings and a plurality of power notch settings.