System and method for providing auxiliary power by regeneration power management in mobile mining equipment

• US 9,272,677 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Large Drives LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mazumdar, Joy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US14/210,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 318430-434, 318440-442, 318478-479, 318/490
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/304 with the dipper-arm slidably mounted on the boom E02F3/305 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/207 of the type electric propulsion units, e.g. electric motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2091 Control of energy storage means for electrical energy, e.g. battery or capacitors energy recovery arrangements in hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2217
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 5/74 controlling two or more ac dynamo-electric motors H02P5/46, H02P5/60 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by an power source. The method includes detecting whether a power from the power source is present. Next, a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system is measured if the power is not present. The measured voltage level is then compared with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system. If the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, auxiliary power is supplied from the ultracapacitor system to operate mining excavator systems. The auxiliary power may be used to power electronic systems and components such as computers, displays, control systems, gas insulated switchgear and lighting systems.

Claims

1. A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by a power source, comprising:

detecting whether a power from the power source is present; and

based on detecting that the power is not present;

measuring a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system;

comparing a measured voltage level with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system; and

based on comparing that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate mining excavator systems.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including stopping operation of the mining excavator if the measured voltage is less than the minimum voltage level.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the ultracapacitor system is configured to provide approximately 8 hours of normal operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the minimum voltage level is 1500V.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein a nominal voltage for the ultracapacitor system is approximately 1800V.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the ultracapacitor system with power drawn from the power source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one of a connection to an electrical power grid and a diesel engine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source outputs three-phase alternating current with a minimum voltage of at least one kilovolt.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the minimum voltage is at least three kilovolts.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring a power draw of the mining excavator; and

based on monitoring that the power draw is above a maximum power level and that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying power from the power source and auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate the mining excavator.

11. A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by a power source, comprising:

operating the mining excavator to provide a cyclic load;

charging the ultracapacitor system with power generated by the cyclic load during a regeneration interval;

detecting whether a power from the power source is interrupted; and

based on detecting that the power is interrupted;

measuring a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system;

comparing a measured voltage level with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system; and

based on comparing that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate mining excavator systems.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising charging the ultracapacitor system with power drawn from the power source.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises at least one of a connection to an electrical power grid and a diesel engine.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the power source outputs three-phase alternating current with a minimum voltage of at least one kilovolt.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the minimum voltage is at least three kilovolts.

16. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

monitoring a power draw of the mining excavator; and

based on monitoring that the power draw is above a maximum power level and that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying power from the power source and auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate the mining excavator.

17. The method according to claim 11 further including stopping operation of the mining excavator if the measured voltage is less than the minimum voltage level.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the ultracapacitor system is configured to provide approximately 8 hours of normal operation.

19. The method according to claim 11 wherein the minimum voltage level is 1500V.

20. A method for operating an ultracapacitor system used in a mining excavator powered by a power source, comprising:

monitoring a power draw from the power source of the mining excavator; and

based on monitoring that the power draw is above a maximum power level;

measuring a voltage level of the ultracapacitor system;

comparing a measured voltage level with a minimum voltage level for the ultracapacitor system; and

based on comparing that the measured voltage level is more than the minimum voltage level, supplying power from the power source and auxiliary power from the ultracapacitor system to operate the mining excavator.