Method and computer software code for uncoupling power control of a distributed powered system from coupled power settings

• US 8,249,763 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Brooks, James D., Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US12/061,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 701/20, 701/19, 701/10, 701/123, 246/187.C, 246/182.R, 246/187.R, 246/182.B, 246/182.C, 246/186, 246/167.R, 477/2, 700/291, 700/297, 105/61
• US Class Current: 701/20
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation

Abstract

A method for powering a powered system having a first power generating unit where power settings for the first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for a second power generating unit, the method including developing a power operating plan which is independent of a coupled power setting, and determining a power setting responsive to the power operating plan. A computer software code operable within a processor and configured to reside on a computer readable media for powering a powered system having at least a first power generating unit where power settings for the at least first power generating unit are decoupled from power settings for at least a second power generating unit is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller operable to provide a first power setting to a first power generating unit of a powered system and to provide a second power setting to a second power generating unit of the powered system, the first power generating unit and the second power generating unit having at least a decoupled operating mode in which the first power setting and the second power setting differ from each other;

wherein the first power setting and the second power setting conform to a power operating plan of the powered system, the power operating plan dictating power requirements of the powered system during a designated mission of the powered system; and

wherein the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting based on the power operating plan of the system in order to control a characteristic of the powered system while operation of the powered system is limited by one or more constraints.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to respond to input indicative of one or more characteristics of the operation of the powered system by changing at least one of the first power setting or the second power setting based on the input.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the designated mission of the powered system is associated with a trip plan having a plurality of designated operations of the powered system for segments of an upcoming trip of the powered system, and the controller is operable to monitor the input and to change at least one of the first power setting or the second power setting based on the input such that actual operations of the powered system correspond to the designated operations of the trip plan.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting in order to reduce emissions generated by the powered system during operation of the powered system in the designated mission.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the designated mission is associated with a trip plan having a plurality of designated speeds at which the powered system is to travel during an upcoming trip, and the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting in order to match an actual speed of travel of the powered system to the designated speeds of the trip plan.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the designated mission is associated with a trip plan having at least one of a plurality of designated power outputs or designated tractive efforts at which the powered system is to use to travel during an upcoming trip, and the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting in order to match at least one of an actual total power output or an actual total tractive effort of the powered system with the at least one of the plurality of designated power outputs or designated tractive efforts.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the designated mission is associated with a trip plan having an arrival time at which the powered system is to arrive at a destination of the trip plan, and the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting in order to control the powered system to arrive at the destination at the arrival time.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting based on an amount of energy stored in the powered system for use in operating the powered system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered system is configured to travel along a surface and the controller is operable to provide the first power setting and the second power setting based on at least one of a friction modifier technique available to the powered system that changes a friction of the surface or a condition of the surface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more constraints on the powered system include an amount of time that the powered system has to travel to a destination.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more constraints on the powered system include an amount of fuel available to power the powered system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more constraints on the powered system include an upper limit on an amount of emissions generated by the powered system.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to change the first power setting of the first power generating unit and the second power setting of the second power generating unit in an alternating order, the alternating order including changing the second power setting between successive changes in the first power setting.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to change the first power setting of the first power generating unit and the second power setting of the second power generating unit such that the first power setting and the second power setting differ by less than a designated amount.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered system includes a marine vessel having at least one of the first power generating unit or the second power generating unit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered system includes a stationary power generating station having at least one of the first power generating unit or the second power generating unit.

17. A method comprising:

obtaining a power operating plan of a powered system having a first power generating unit and a second power generating unit, the power operating plan dictating power requirements of the powered system during a designated mission of the powered system;

providing, with a controller, a first power setting to a first power generating unit of a powered system and a second power setting to a second power generating unit of the powered system, the first power generating unit and the second power generating unit having at least a decoupled operating mode in which the first power setting and the second power setting differ from each other;

wherein the first power setting and the second power setting conform to the power operating plan and

the first power setting and the second power setting are based on the power operating plan of the system in order to control a characteristic of the powered system while operation of the powered system is limited by one or more constraints.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving input indicative of one or more characteristics of the operation of the powered system and changing at least one of the first power setting or the second power setting based on the input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the designated mission of the powered system is associated with a trip plan having a plurality of designated operations of the powered system for segments of an upcoming trip of the powered system, and further comprising monitoring the input and changing at least one of the first power setting or the second power setting based on the input such that actual operations of the powered system correspond to the designated operations of the trip plan.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining the first power setting and the second power setting in order to reduce emissions generated by the powered system during operation of the powered system in the designated mission.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated mission is associated with a trip plan having a plurality of designated speeds at which the powered system is to travel during an upcoming trip, and further comprising determining the first power setting and the second power setting in order to match an actual speed of travel of the powered system to the designated speeds of the trip plan.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated mission is associated with a trip plan having at least one of a plurality of designated power outputs or designated tractive efforts at which the powered system is to use to travel during an upcoming trip, and further comprising determining the first power setting and the second power setting in order to match at least one of an actual total power output or an actual total tractive effort of the powered system with the at least one of the plurality of designated power outputs or designated tractive efforts.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated mission is associated with a trip plan having an arrival time at which the powered system is to arrive at a destination of the trip plan, and further comprising determining the first power setting and the second power setting in order to control the powered system to arrive at the destination at the arrival time.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining the first power setting and the second power setting based on an amount of energy stored in the powered system for use in operating the powered system.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the powered system is configured to travel along a surface, and further comprising determining the first power setting and the second power setting based on at least one of a friction modifier technique available to the powered system that changes a friction of the surface or a condition of the surface.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more constraints on the powered system include an amount of time that the powered system has to travel to a destination.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more constraints on the powered system include an amount of fuel available to power the powered system.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more constraints on the powered system include an upper limit on an amount of emissions generated by the powered system.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising changing the first power setting of the first power generating unit and the second power setting of the second power generating unit in an alternating order that includes changing the second power setting between successive changes in the first power setting.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the first power setting and the second power setting includes selecting the first power setting and the second power setting such that the first power setting and the second power setting differ by less than a designated amount.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the first power generating unit and the second power generating unit include powered vehicles.