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US 12,194,889 B2Granted
Energy management for multi-input propulsion
AssigneeTransportation IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsThomas Michael Lavertu, Eric Dillen, Adam Edgar Klingbeil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various methods and systems are provided for energy management at a consist. In one example, a method for the energy management includes coordinating a distribution of a power demand in response to a power output of each of a fuel cell system, a battery system, and an engine system. The power output of each of the fuel cell system, the battery system, and the engine system may be selected based on a respective efficiency of each system.
Claims14
A method for a transportation system, comprising:
- selecting a power output of each of a fuel cell system, a battery system, and an engine system based on a respective efficiency of each system;
- and
- coordinating a distribution of a power demand in response to the selected power output of each of the fuel cell system, the battery system, and the engine system.
A consist, comprising:
- electric traction motors;
- an engine, a battery, and a fuel cell, each electrically coupled to the electric traction motors;
- and
- a controller, configured with executable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
- operate the engine at a first efficiency setting to meet at least a portion of a power demand and supplement a power output of the engine with power from one or more of the fuel cell and the battery when the power demand is at a first level;
- and
- operate the fuel cell at a second efficiency setting to meet at least a portion of the power demand and supplement a power output of the fuel cell with power from one or more of the engine and the battery when the power demand is at a second level, the second level lower than the first level;
- wherein a discharge rate of the battery is maintained below a threshold discharge rate.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.