System and method for optimized fuel efficiency and emission output of a diesel powered system

Abstract

A method for minimizing emission output from a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generating unit, the method including determining at least one power level required from the diesel powered system in order to accomplish a specified mission, determining an emission output based on the power level required, and using at least one other power level that results in a lower emission output wherein the overall resulting power is proximate the power required.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 669,364 filed Jan. 31, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 849,100 filed Oct. 2, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 850,885 filed Oct. 10, 2006. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 894,039 filed Mar. 9, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 939,852.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to a diesel powered system, such as a train, off highway vehicle, marine and / or stationary diesel powered system and, more particularly to a system, method, and computer software code for optimized fuel efficiency and emission output of the diesel powered system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Diesel powered systems such as, but not limited to, off-highway vehicles, marine diesel powered propulsion plants, stationary diesel powered system and rail vehicle systems, or trains, usual...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a system, method, and computer software code for reducing emissions from a diesel powered system. The system determines the power needed to achieve a specific mission and calculates the emissions output based on that power. It then suggests using an alternative power level that results in less emissions output. This results in a more efficient and effective system with reduced emissions output."

Problems solved by technology

However, even with knowledge to assure safe operation, the operator cannot usually operate the locomotive so that the fuel consumption and emissions is minimized for each trip.

This is difficult to do since, as an example, the size and loading of trains vary, locomotives and their fuel / emissions characteristics are different, and weather and traffic conditions vary.

However, typically, there is no further determination made regarding the actual emission output while the train is in idle.

When operating a train, train operators typically call for the same notch settings when operating the train, which in turn may lead to a large variation in fuel consumption and / or emission output, such as, but not limited to, Nox, CO2, etc., depending on a number of locomotives powering the train.

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