Locomotive energy tender

• US 6,612,245 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Carl Rowold, General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Mesalic, Admir
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US10/032,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20020174796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 105/26.05, 105/27, 105/35, 105/49, 105/50, 105/231, 105/3, 105/1.4, 318/375, 318/376, 318/377, 318/378, 180/65.2, 180/297, 180/65.7
• US Class Current: 105/26.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/20 DC electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/02 using dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/16 using ac induction motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An energy tender vehicle for use in connection with a hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. In one form, the energy storage and regeneration system is located in the energy tender vehicle. The energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. In one form, the energy tender is configured to operate without any power connections to the locomotive. 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.

Claims

1. A hybrid energy locomotive system for use in connection with a train, the system comprising:

a locomotive having a plurality of locomotive wheels;

a locomotive traction motor associated with one of the plurality of locomotive wheels, said locomotive traction motor having a first rotatable shaft mechanically coupled to the one of the plurality of locomotive wheels;

an electric power source selectively supplying primary electric power to the locomotive traction motor, said locomotive traction motor being operable in response to the primary electric power to rotate the first rotatable shaft and to drive the one of the plurality of locomotive wheels, said locomotive traction motor further having a dynamic braking mode of operation wherein the locomotive traction motor generates electrical energy;

an electrical energy capture system in electrical communication with the locomotive traction motor, said electrical energy capture system selectively storing the electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode of the locomotive traction motor and selectively providing to the locomotive secondary electric power from said stored electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy capture system selectively supplements the primary electric power supplied to the locomotive traction motor with the secondary electric power; and

an energy tender vehicle coupled to the locomotive, said energy tender vehicle comprising;

a plurality of energy tender wheels; and

an energy tender traction motor associated with one of the plurality of energy tender wheels, said energy tender traction motor having a second rotatable shaft mechanically coupled to the one of the plurality of energy tender wheels wherein the electrical energy capture system selectively provides the secondary electric power to the energy tender traction motor, said energy tender traction motor being operable in response to the provided secondary electric power to rotate the second rotatable shaft and to drive the one of the plurality of energy tender wheels, and wherein the electrical energy capture system selectively provides the secondary electric power to both the locomotive traction motor and the energy tender traction motor.

2. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 1 wherein the energy tender traction motor has an energy tender dynamic braking mode of operation in which the energy tender traction motor generates electrical energy, the electrical energy capture system being in electrical communication with the energy tender traction motor and selectively storing electrical energy generated by the energy tender traction motor during the energy tender dynamic braking mode of operation.

3. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 2 further comprising:

a resistive braking grid;

a control circuit electrically connected to the resistive braking grid, the electrical energy capture system operating said control circuit such that the control circuit selectively allows the electrical energy generated in the energy tender dynamic braking mode to be dissipated by the resistive braking grid.

4. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy capture system is carried on the energy tender vehicle and wherein the electrical capture system is electrically coupled to the electric power source, said electric power source selectively supplying the primary electric power to the electrical energy capture system and said electrical energy capture system selectively storing the supplied primary electric power.

5. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 1 wherein the energy tender vehicle is electrically coupled to the electric power source, said electric power generator selectively supplying primary electric power to the locomotive traction motor and selectively supplying primary electric power to the energy tender traction motor, wherein the energy tender traction motor is operable in response to the supplied primary electric power to rotate the second rotatable shaft and to drive the one of the plurality of energy tender wheels.

6. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 1 further comprising a train operator compartment for use by an operator of the train, said train operator compartment being carried on the energy tender vehicle.

16. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 2 further comprising an operator compartment for use by an operator of the locomotive, said operator compartment being carried on the energy tender vehicle.

7. An energy tender for use in connection with a hybrid energy locomotive system propelling a train, said train including a locomotive, an engine, a power converter driven by the engine for providing primary electric power, a traction bus coupled to the power converter, and carrying the primary electric power, and a locomotive traction system coupled to the traction bus, said locomotive traction system having a motoring mode and a dynamic braking mode, said locomotive traction system propelling the train in response to the primary electric power in the motoring mode and said locomotive traction system generating electrical energy in the dynamic braking mode, the energy tender comprising:

an energy tender vehicle coupled to the locomotive;

an electrical energy storage system selectively capturing the electrical energy generated by the locomotive traction system in the dynamic braking mode, said electrical energy storage system selectively transferring the captured electrical energy as secondary electric power to the locomotive traction system to supplement the primary electric power in the motoring mode;

an energy tender converter electrically coupled to the energy storage system wherein the energy storage system selectively transfers secondary electric power to the energy tender converter said energy tender converter being responsive to the transferred secondary electric power to provide energy tender drive power; and

an energy tender traction system associated with the energy tender vehicle, said energy tender traction system being electrically coupled to the energy tender converter and propelling the energy tender vehicle in response to the energy tender drive power.

8. The energy tender of claim 7 wherein the energy tender traction system has an energy tender dynamic braking mode of operation in which the energy tender traction system generates electrical energy, the electrical energy storage system being in electrical communication with the energy tender traction system and selectively storing the electrical energy generated by the energy tender traction system during the energy tender dynamic braking mode of operation.

9. The energy tender of claim 7 further comprising an operator compartment for use by an operator of the train.

10. A hybrid energy locomotive system for propelling a train on a track, said system comprising:

an engine;

a power converter driven by the engine for providing primary electric power;

a traction bus coupled to the power converter and carrying the primary electric power;

a locomotive traction system coupled to the traction bus, said locomotive traction system having a motoring mode and a dynamic braking mode, said locomotive traction system propelling the train in response to the primary electric power in the motoring mode and said locomotive traction system generating electrical energy in the dynamic braking mode;

an electrical energy storage system coupled to the traction bus selectively captures the electrical energy generated by the locomotive traction system in the dynamic braking mode and selectively transferring the captured electrical energy as secondary electric power to the traction bus to supplement the primary electric power, and wherein the locomotive traction system propels the train in response to the secondary electric power;

an energy tender vehicle coupled to the locomotive and housing the energy storage system;

an energy tender converter electrically coupled to the energy storage system wherein the energy storage system selectively transfers secondary electric power to the energy tender converter, said energy tender converter being responsive to the transferred secondary electric power to provide energy tender drive power; and

an energy tender traction system associated with the energy tender vehicle, said energy tender traction system being electrically coupled to the energy tender converter and propelling the energy tender vehicle in response to the energy tender drive power.

11. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 10 further comprising a train operator compartment for use by an operator of the train, said train operator compartment being carried on the energy tender vehicle.

12. A hybrid energy locomotive system comprising:

a locomotive;

an electric power source supplying primary electric power;

a locomotive traction motor propelling the locomotive in response to the primary electric power, said locomotive traction motor having a dynamic braking mode of operation wherein the locomotive traction motor generates electrical energy;

an energy capture system in electrical communication with the locomotive traction motor, said energy capture system selectively storing electrical energy generated by the locomotive traction motor in the dynamic braking mode and selectively providing secondary electric power from said stored electrical energy; and

an energy tender vehicle mechanically coupled to the locomotive, said energy tender vehicle having an energy tender traction motor receiving the secondary electric power provided by the energy capture system and propelling the energy tender vehicle in response to the secondary electric power wherein the energy tender traction motor and the locomotive traction motor cooperate to propel a consist comprising the locomotive and the energy tender vehicle.

13. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 12 wherein the energy tender vehicle houses the energy capture system, said energy capture system being electrically coupled to the electric power source, said energy capture system selectively receiving the primary electric power and selectively storing the received primary electric power therein.

14. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 12 wherein the energy tender vehicle is electrically coupled to the electric power source, said electric power source selectively providing the primary electric power to the locomotive traction motor and to the energy tender traction motor, wherein the energy tender traction motor is operable in response to the primary electric power and the secondary electric power to propel the energy tender vehicle.

15. The hybrid energy locomotive system of claim 12 wherein the energy capture system provides the secondary electric power to the locomotive traction motor and to the energy tender traction motor, wherein the locomotive traction motor propels the locomotive in response to the primary electric power and the secondary electric power.

17. A method of operating a hybrid energy locomotive system, said hybrid energy locomotive system including a locomotive and an energy tender vehicle mechanically coupled to the locomotive, said locomotive having an electric power source supplying primary electric power to a locomotive traction motor system, said locomotive traction motor system operating in a locomotive motoring mode of operation in response to the supplied primary electric power to propel the locomotive, said energy tender vehicle including an energy tender traction motor system having an energy tender motoring mode of operation and an energy tender dynamic braking mode of operation, said energy tender vehicle also including an energy storage system electrically coupled to the energy tender traction motor system, the method comprising:

supplying the primary electric power to the locomotive traction motor system;

operating the locomotive traction motor system in the locomotive motoring mode in response to the supplied primary electric power;

operating the energy tender traction motor system in the energy tender dynamic braking mode when the locomotive traction motor system is operating in the locomotive motoring mode;

generating dynamic braking electrical energy when the energy tender traction motor system operates in the energy tender dynamic braking mode;

storing in the energy storage system the dynamic braking electrical energy generated when the energy tender traction motor system operates in the energy tender dynamic braking mode; and

supplying secondary electric power from the energy storage system to the energy tender traction motor system when said energy tender traction motor system operates in the energy tender motoring mode, said secondary electric power being derived from the dynamic braking electrical energy stored in the energy storage system, whereby the energy storage system is charged by operating the energy tender traction motor system in the dynamic braking mode and discharged by operating the energy tender traction motor in the motoring mode.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

supplying secondary electric power from the energy storage system to the locomotive traction motor system; and

operating the locomotive traction motor system in the locomotive motoring mode in response to the supplied secondary electric power.

19. An energy tender, other than a locomotive, for use with a train consist, said consist including a-diesel-electric locomotive having a locomotive engine driving a locomotive power converter for supplying a prime mover electric power, said energy tender comprising:

an energy tender vehicle having a plurality of energy tender wheels;

a traction motor system for driving one of the plurality of energy tender wheels in response to electric input power, said traction motor system having a dynamic braking mode of operation generating electrical energy;

an energy capture system on the energy tender vehicle and in electrical communication with the traction motor system, said energy capture system selectively storing electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode; and

an energy converter system selectively providing tender electric power from the electrical energy stored by the energy capture system, said tender electric power being supplied to the traction motor system to selectively provide at least part of the electric input power for driving the plurality of energy tender wheels.

20. The energy tender of claim 19 wherein the energy capture system is electrically coupled to the locomotive power converter, said energy capture system receiving the prime mover electric power and selectively storing the received prime mover electric power.

21. The energy tender of claim 19 wherein the energy capture system only stores electrical energy generated in the dynamic braking mode whereby the tender vehicle can be located at any position in the train consist and store electrical energy.

22. The energy tender of claim 19 wherein the train consist is operated by a train operator and the energy tender vehicle further comprises an operator compartment for use by the train operator.

23. The energy tender of claim 19 wherein the traction motor system is electrically coupled to the locomotive power converter, said traction motor system selectively providing at least a part of the electric input power for driving the plurality of energy tender wheels.