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

[0011]Exemplary embodiments of the invention disclose a system, method and computer software code for minimizing emission output from a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generating unit. Towards this end, a method for minimizing emission output from a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generating unit is disclosed. The method has a step for determining at least one power level required from the diesel powered system in order to accomplish a specified mission. Another step involves determining an emission output based on the power level required. Yet another step provides for using at least one other power level that results in a lower emission output wherein the overall resulting power is proximate the power required.

[0012]In another exemplary embodiment, a computer software code for minimizing emission output from a diesel powered system having a computer and at least one diesel-fueled power generating unit is disclosed. The computer software code includes a computer software module for determining at least one power level required from the diesel powered system in order to accomplish a specified mission. A computer software module for determining an emission output based on the at least one power level required is further disclosed Another computer software module is for using at least one other power level that results in a lower emission output wherein the overall resulting power is proximate the power required.

[0013]In yet another exemplary embodiment, a system for minimizing emission output from a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generating unit is disclosed. The system has a device configured to determine an emission output based on a power level required. A power level controller configured to use at least one other power level so that the resulting power level is nearly equivalent to the power level required while emission output from the at least one other power level is less than the emission output from the desired power level is further disclosed. Also disclosed is a processor configured to at least one of determine the minimum power level required from the diesel powered system in order to accomplish a specified mission and determine when to use the at least one other power level.

[0014]A system for minimizing emission output from a diesel powered system having at least one diesel-fueled power generating unit is disclosed in another embodiment. The system includes a processor configured to determine a power level required from the diesel powered system in order to accomplish a specified mission. A first device configured to determine an emission output based on the power level required is provided. Another element provides for is an emission comparison device that is configured to compare emission outputs for other power levels with the emission output based on the power level required. A second device is also included that is configured to use at least one other power level so that a resulting power level is proximate the required power level so that an emission level resulting when using the at least one other power level is less than the power level required.

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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