Flow battery control system for a locomotive

A method of controlling the electrical output of a flow battery system, the flow battery system comprising a plurality of reaction cells, each reaction cell having an output current, and a plurality of pumps, each pump having a flow rate, the method comprising:

• monitoring the flow rates associated with the plurality of pumps;
• monitoring the output currents associated with the reaction cells;
• and
• controlling the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps based on the output current of the reaction cell associated with the at least one of the plurality of pumps.

A locomotive, comprising:

• a plurality of axles;
• a plurality of pairs of wheels, each pair of wheels connected to one of the plurality of axles;
• a plurality of traction motors, each traction motor rotatably coupled to one of the axles;
• and
• a flow battery system configured to at least partially power the plurality of traction motors, the flow battery system comprising:
• at least one electrolyte tank for storing electrolytes;
• a plurality of reaction cells, each having an output current;
• a plurality of pumps, each associated with one of the plurality of reaction cells, configured to pump the electrolytes into the one of the plurality of reaction cells at a flow rate;
• a pump sensor configured to monitor the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps;
• an output sensor configured to monitor an output current of at least one of the plurality of reaction cells;
• and
• a controller configured to control the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps based on the output current of the at least one of the plurality of reaction cells associated with the at least one of the plurality of pumps.