METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF A VEHICLE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20100019726A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/125
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for controlling a power transfer rate in to and/or out of an energy storage device on-board a vehicle, such as a locomotive, during a power transfer opportunity. In one example, the method includes adjusting the power transfer rate based on a predetermination of a duration of the power transfer opportunity to match a duration of power transfer to the duration of the opportunity and achieve a specified state of charge.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a power transfer rate in to and/or out of a vehicle energy storage device, during a power transfer opportunity, the method comprising:

adjusting the power transfer rate based on a predetermination of a duration of the power transfer opportunity to match a duration of power transfer to the duration of the opportunity and achieve a specified state of charge.

2. The method of claim 1 where the vehicle is a locomotive, and where the vehicle includes a plurality of energy storage devices of different performance characteristics, where power transfer rates of each energy storage device are adjusted based on the duration of the power transfer opportunity and respective differences in the performance characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1 where the energy storage device includes a battery.

4. The method of claim 1 where the energy storage device is an energy storage system comprising a plurality of energy storage banks.

5. The method of claim 4 where the plurality of energy storage banks includes batteries.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the power transfer rate includes, as the duration of the power transfer opportunity increases, reducing the power transfer rate while increasing the duration of power transfer to substantially fill the predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the power transfer rate includes, as the duration of the power transfer opportunity decreases, increasing the power transfer rate while decreasing the duration of power transfer to substantially fill the predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the power transfer rate of the energy storage device responsive to an operating condition of the energy storage device.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

adjusting the power transfer rate of at least one of the plurality of energy storage banks responsive to an operating condition of the energy storage bank.

10. The method of claim 9 where the operating condition is an age of the device.

11. The method of claim 9 where the operating condition is a temperature of the device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein adjusting the power transfer rate of the energy storage device responsive to a temperature of the device includes, for the duration of power transfer, as the temperature of the device increases, reducing the power transfer rate of the device.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adjusting an upper and a lower threshold for a desired state of charge responsive to a temperature and age of the energy storage device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein adjusting an upper and a lower threshold includes, as a temperature or age of the device increases, reducing the upper threshold and increasing the lower threshold for the specified state of charge.

15. A system for a locomotive, comprising:

an energy storage device; and

a control system configured to, during a power transfer opportunity, predetermine a duration of the power transfer opportunity based on information of the power transfer opportunity, and adjust the power transfer rate of the device based on the predetermined duration to thereby adjust an actual duration of power transfer for achieving a specified state of charge.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the control system further adjusts the power transfer rate of the energy storage device responsive to an operating condition of the energy storage device.

17. A system for a locomotive, comprising:

an energy storage device; and

a control system configured to,

during a first power transfer opportunity with a first predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity, where the energy storage device is at a first age and a first temperature, transfer power in to and/or out of the energy storage device with a first power transfer rate for a first duration of power transfer, said first power transfer rate having a first upper and a first lower threshold for a desired state of charge, to substantially fill the first predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity;

during a second power transfer opportunity with a second predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity, said second predetermined duration being larger than said first predetermined duration, where the energy storage device is at the first age and the first temperature, transfer power in to and/or out of the energy storage device with a second power transfer rate for a second duration of power transfer, said second power transfer rate being smaller than said first power transfer rate, said second duration of power transfer being larger than said first duration of power transfer, to substantially fill the second predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity; and

during a third power transfer opportunity, with a third predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity, said third predetermined duration being smaller than said first predetermined duration, where the energy storage device is at the first age and the first temperature, transfer power in to and/or out of the energy storage device with a third power transfer rate for a third duration of power transfer, said third power transfer rate being larger than said first power transfer rate, said third duration of power transfer being smaller than said first duration of power transfer, to substantially fill the third predetermined duration of the power transfer opportunity.

18. The system of claim 17 where the control system is further configured to,

during the first power transfer opportunity where the energy storage device is at a second age and/or a second temperature, said second age being larger than said first age and said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, for a given duration of power transfer, transfer power in to and/or out of the energy storage device with a fourth power transfer rate, said fourth power transfer rate lower than said first power transfer rate, said fourth power transfer rate having a second upper and a second lower threshold for a desired state of charge, said second upper threshold being set lower than said first upper threshold and said second lower threshold being set higher than said first lower threshold.

19. A method of controlling a power transfer rate in to and/or out of an energy storage device in a powered system, during a power transfer opportunity, the method comprising:

operating the powered system according to a schedule, wherein the schedule includes data about a duration of the opportunity to generate electrical power in the powered system; and

adjusting a power transfer rate of electrical energy in to or out of the energy storage device, based on the data to match a duration of power transfer to the duration of the opportunity and achieve a specified state of charge.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the power transfer rate is further adjusted based on an age of the energy storage device relative to an age of another energy storage device coupled in the powered system.