Hybrid energy locomotive system and method
First Claim
1. A diesel-electric locomotive system comprising:
- a locomotive having an engine;
a power converter driven by the engine providing primary electric power;
a traction bus coupled to the power converter and carrying the primary electric power;
a first inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power;
a first traction motor coupled to the first inverter drive, said first traction motor having a dynamic braking mode of operation and a motoring mode of operation, said first traction motor generating dynamic braking electrical power which is returned to the traction bus when operating in the dynamic braking mode, said first traction motor propelling the locomotive in response to the primary electric power when operating in the motoring mode;
a second inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power;
a second traction motor coupled to the second inverter drive; and
a hybrid energy system, said hybrid energy system comprising;
an energy storage device providing secondary electric power;
a transfer switch having first and second connection states, said first connection state connecting the second inverter drive to the second traction motor and said second connection state connecting the energy storage device to the second inverter drive; and
a switch controller controlling the connection state of the transfer switch, wherein when the first traction motor is in the dynamic braking mode of operation and the switch controller places the transfer switch in the second connection state, the second inverter drive transfers a portion of the dynamic braking electrical power to the energy storage device for storage, such that the secondary electric power is derived from the portion of the dynamic braking electrical power stored in the energy storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. In one form, the system can be retrofitted into existing locomotives or installed as original equipment. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy, and stores the energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. The energy storage and regeneration system can be located in a separate energy tender vehicle. The separate energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. An energy management system is responsive to power storage and power transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information, to determine present and future electrical energy storage and supply requirements. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of energy accordingly.
20 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A diesel-electric locomotive system comprising:
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a locomotive having an engine;
a power converter driven by the engine providing primary electric power;
a traction bus coupled to the power converter and carrying the primary electric power;
a first inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power;
a first traction motor coupled to the first inverter drive, said first traction motor having a dynamic braking mode of operation and a motoring mode of operation, said first traction motor generating dynamic braking electrical power which is returned to the traction bus when operating in the dynamic braking mode, said first traction motor propelling the locomotive in response to the primary electric power when operating in the motoring mode;
a second inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power;
a second traction motor coupled to the second inverter drive; and
a hybrid energy system, said hybrid energy system comprising;
an energy storage device providing secondary electric power;
a transfer switch having first and second connection states, said first connection state connecting the second inverter drive to the second traction motor and said second connection state connecting the energy storage device to the second inverter drive; and
a switch controller controlling the connection state of the transfer switch, wherein when the first traction motor is in the dynamic braking mode of operation and the switch controller places the transfer switch in the second connection state, the second inverter drive transfers a portion of the dynamic braking electrical power to the energy storage device for storage, such that the secondary electric power is derived from the portion of the dynamic braking electrical power stored in the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27, 28)
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- 7. The system of 1 wherein the transfer switch comprises a three phase transfer switch and wherein the energy storage device includes three output phases, said transfer switch being constructed and arranged to selectively connect at least one of the three output phases of the energy storage device to the second inverter drive.
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15. A retrofit system for modifying a diesel-electric locomotive system to operate as a hybrid energy locomotive system, said diesel-electric locomotive system including a locomotive having an engine, a power converter driven by the engine providing primary electric power, a traction bus coupled to the power converter and carrying the primary electric power, a first inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power, a first traction motor coupled to the first inverter drive, said first traction motor having a dynamic braking mode of operation and a motoring mode of operation, said first traction motor generating dynamic braking electrical power which is returned to the traction bus when operating in the dynamic braking mode, said first traction motor propelling the locomotive in response to the primary electric power when operating in the motoring mode, the diesel-electric locomotive system also including a second inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power, and a second traction motor coupled to the second inverter drive, the retrofit system comprising:
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an energy storage device providing secondary electric power;
a transfer switch having first and second connection states, said first connection state connecting the second inverter drive to the second traction motor and said second connection state connecting the energy storage device to the second inverter drive; and
a switch controller controlling the connection state of the transfer switch, wherein when the first traction motor is in the dynamic braking mode of operation and the switch controller places the transfer switch in the second connection state, the second inverter drive transfers a portion of the dynamic braking electrical power to the energy storage device for storage such that the secondary electric power is derived from the portion of the dynamic braking electrical power stored in the energy storage device.
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- 21. The retrofit system of 15 wherein the transfer switch comprises a three phase transfer switch and wherein the energy storage device includes three output phases, said transfer switch being constructed and arranged to selectively connect at least one of the three output phases of the energy storage device to the second inverter drive.
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29. A method of retrofitting a diesel-electric locomotive system to operate as a hybrid energy system, said diesel-electric locomotive system including a locomotive having an engine, a power converter driven by the engine providing primary electric power, a traction bus coupled to the power converter and carrying the primary electric power, a first inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power, a first traction motor coupled to the first inverter drive, said first traction motor having a dynamic braking mode of operation and a motoring mode of operation, said first traction motor generating electrical power which is returned to the traction bus when operating in the dynamic braking mode, said first traction motor propelling the locomotive in response to the primary electric power when operating in the motoring mode, the diesel-electric locomotive system also including a second inverter drive coupled to the traction bus and receiving the primary electric power, and a second traction motor coupled to the second inverter drive, the method comprising:
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installing an energy storage device on the locomotive, said energy storage device being constructed and arranged to store electrical power and to provide secondary electric power from the electrical power stored therein;
installing a transfer switch on the locomotive, said transfer switch having first and second connection states, said first connection state connecting the second inverter drive to the second traction motor and said second connection state connecting the second inverter drive to the energy storage device;
controlling the state of the transfer switch wherein the transfer switch is selectively placed in the second connection state when the first traction motor is in the dynamic braking mode of operation such that the second inverter drive transfers a portion of the electrical power returned to the traction bus to the energy storage device; and
storing the transferred portion of electrical power in the energy storage device.
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Specification