Peak demand reduction in mining haul trucks utilizing an on-board energy storage system
First Claim
1. A method for supplying electrical power to an electrical motor on a vehicle, wherein the electrical motor operates in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the method comprising the steps of:
- charging an on-board electrical energy storage system with electrical power from the electrical motor during the at least one retard interval;
supplying electrical power to the electrical motor during the at least one propel interval with electrical power from a trolley power system;
monitoring the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system to the electrical motor;
determining whether the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system is greater than a user-defined power limit; and
supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board electrical energy storage system when the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system is greater than the user-defined power limit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mining haul truck driven by electrical wheel motors is powered by a trolley power system during an uphill climb. Retard energy captured during braking action on either the uphill climb or downhill descent is stored by an on-board electrical energy storage system. Electrical power is supplied from the on-board electrical energy storage system to reduce the peak power demand on the trolley power system during the uphill climb. One implementation of the on-board electrical energy storage system uses an ultracapacitor system.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for supplying electrical power to an electrical motor on a vehicle, wherein the electrical motor operates in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the method comprising the steps of:
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charging an on-board electrical energy storage system with electrical power from the electrical motor during the at least one retard interval; supplying electrical power to the electrical motor during the at least one propel interval with electrical power from a trolley power system; monitoring the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system to the electrical motor; determining whether the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system is greater than a user-defined power limit; and supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board electrical energy storage system when the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system is greater than the user-defined power limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electrical power system for supplying electrical power to an electrical motor on a vehicle, wherein the electrical motor is configured to draw electrical power during at least one propel interval and to generate electrical power during at least one retard interval, the electrical power system comprising:
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an on-board electrical energy storage system configured to receive the electrical power generated by the electrical motor during the at least one retard interval; and an inverter configured to; receive electrical power from the on-board electrical energy storage system; receive electrical power from a trolley power system; and supply electrical power to the electrical motor; and a controller configured to; supply electrical power to the electrical motor from only the trolley power system when the electrical power drawn by the electrical motor during the at least one propel interval is less than or equal to a power limit; and supply first electrical power to the electrical motor from the trolley power system and second electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board electrical energy storage system when the electrical power drawn by the electrical motor is greater than the power limit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for increasing the service life of a trolley power system, the trolley power system comprising a trolley cable, a contact strip, and a feeder cable conducting electrical current from the trolley cable to an electrical motor on a vehicle, wherein the electrical motor operates in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the method comprising the steps of:
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charging an on-board electrical energy storage system with electrical power from the electrical motor during the at least one retard interval; monitoring a current flowing through the trolley cable; determining whether the current is greater than a current limit; supplying electrical power to the electrical motor only from the trolley cable when the current is less than or equal to the current limit; and supplying first electrical power to the electrical motor from the trolley cable and second electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board electrical energy storage system when the current is greater than the current limit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for supplying electrical power to an electrical motor on a vehicle, wherein the electrical motor operates in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the apparatus comprising:
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means for charging an on-board electrical energy storage system with electrical power from the electrical motor during the at least one retard interval; means for supplying electrical power to the electrical motor during the at least one propel interval with electrical power from a trolley power system; means for monitoring the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system to the electrical motor; means for determining whether the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system is greater than a user-defined power limit; and means for supplying electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board electrical energy storage system when the electrical power supplied from the trolley power system is greater than the user-defined power limit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for increasing the service life of a trolley power system, the trolley power system comprising a trolley cable, a contact strip, and a feeder cable conducting electrical current from the trolley cable to an electrical motor on a vehicle, wherein the electrical motor operates in at least one propel interval and in at least one retard interval, the apparatus comprising:
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means for charging an on-board electrical energy storage system with electrical power from the electrical motor during the at least one retard interval; means for monitoring a current flowing through the trolley cable; means for determining whether the current is greater than a current limit; means for supplying electrical power to the electrical motor only from the trolley cable when the current is less than or equal to the current limit; and means for supplying first electrical power to the electrical motor from the trolley cable and second electrical power to the electrical motor from the on-board electrical energy storage system when the current is greater than the current limit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification