Energy transport train, energy transport system, and energy transport method

Abstract

To efficiently transport and supply an energy source such as electricity by a train.SOLUTION: A train 100 comprises: a locomotive 10 having power; and one or a plurality of traction vehicles towed by the locomotive 10. The traction vehicles include a vehicle 20 having holding means of an energy source, and are configured to be able to supply electricity based on the energy source to a power system or another power facility while the holding means is loaded on the vehicle 20. Specifically, the traction vehicles include a battery vehicle 20 having a battery as the holding means, and a transformer vehicle 30 having a transformer that transforms electricity stored in the battery.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a train for transporting an energy source by land. The present invention also relates to a system and method for transporting an energy source by this train.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a method of transporting an energy storage by a train running on a railway has been known (Patent Document 1). Specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses that a storage battery is charged at a power plant, the storage battery is transported to another place with high power demand by a transportation means such as a train, and electricity is discharged from the storage battery at that place to deliver electricity to consumers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional method, it is considered that after transporting a storage battery (energy storage) by train, the storage battery is unloaded from the train at the transport destination and the electricity in the storage battery is used. However, in this case, there is a problem that the burden of the work of unloading the storage battery from the train is large.

[0005] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a train capable of efficiently transporting and supplying an energy source such as electricity.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a train for transporting energy sources such as electricity. A train is a train consisting of multiple vehicles coupled together that run on pre-laid tracks. The train according to the present invention comprises a locomotive with power and one or more towing vehicles pulled by this locomotive. The locomotive can be one of known power sources, such as an electric locomotive, an internal combustion locomotive, a hybrid locomotive thereof, or a steam locomotive. Here, the towing vehicles include vehicles that have means for holding energy sources. In the present invention, "energy source" includes not only electricity but also energy sources that are compatible with electricity. For example, in addition to electricity, energy sources include hydrogen, heat, potential energy, kinetic energy, etc., that are compatible with electricity and can be held for a certain period of time with practically operational efficiency. The train according to the present invention is configured to supply electricity based on the energy source to a power grid or other power equipment while the holding means is loaded onto the vehicle. This eliminates the need to unload the energy source from the vehicle, so that the electricity generated from the energy source can be supplied efficiently. Note that the coupling between the locomotive and the towing vehicles may be released when supplying electricity. Furthermore, the train according to the present invention must have a configuration that allows it to supply electricity to the power grid, etc., while at least the means for holding the energy source is mounted on the vehicle, but the means for holding the energy source may be detachable from the vehicle. In this sense, the present invention does not exclude configurations that allow the means for holding the energy source to be unloaded from the vehicle.

[0007] In the train according to the present invention, the towing vehicles preferably include a battery vehicle having a battery (means for holding an energy source) and a transformer vehicle having a transformer for transforming the electricity stored in the battery. The electricity stored in the battery is transformed by the transformer and then supplied to the power system or other power equipment. By providing the train itself with a transformer vehicle in this way, electricity can be supplied even if there is no transformer equipment at the destination of the energy source. Furthermore, by mounting the transformer on a vehicle separate from the battery vehicle, rather than mounting it on the battery vehicle, the structure of the battery vehicle itself can be simplified. In this way, by providing the locomotive, battery vehicle, and transformer vehicle separately and modularizing each vehicle according to its function, these vehicles can be easily combined as needed according to their respective uses.

[0008] In the train according to the present invention, it is preferable that the towing vehicle includes a plurality of battery vehicles. In this case, it is preferable that the transformer of the transformer vehicle is connected to the batteries of the plurality of battery vehicles, that is, connected in a single unit. This allows a single transformer vehicle to supply electricity from multiple battery vehicles all at once. Furthermore, a single transformer vehicle can also charge the batteries of multiple battery vehicles.

[0009] In the train according to the present invention, the battery vehicle may further have a power conditioner for independently supplying electricity stored in the battery to the power grid or other power equipment without going through a transformer. This makes it possible to supply electricity independently from the battery vehicle even when the battery vehicle is disconnected from the transformer vehicle.

[0010] In the train according to the present invention, the towing vehicles may include a hydrogen vehicle having a hydrogen tank (means for holding an energy source) and a fuel cell vehicle having a fuel cell that generates electricity using the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen tank. This makes it possible to supply electricity using hydrogen gas as an energy source. The towing vehicles may include all of the above-mentioned transformer vehicles, battery vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles.

[0011] In the train according to the present invention, the towing vehicle includes a battery vehicle having a battery, and this battery vehicle may further have a pantograph capable of discharging the electricity stored in the battery. The pantograph is mounted on the roof of the battery vehicle and is a device for contact collection or contact discharge of electricity from the overhead catenary (trolley wire). In this way, the battery vehicle may be equipped with a pantograph so that electricity can be directly supplied to the power system or other power equipment. In this case, the transformer vehicle can be omitted.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention relates to an energy transport system. The system according to the present invention comprises a train relating to the first aspect described above, and receiving equipment located outside the train that receives an energy source from a holding means. "Receiving equipment" is equipment capable of receiving an energy source from a train, and includes not only land-based facilities but also ships, vehicles, aircraft, etc., that are powered by the energy source supplied from the train. For example, if the energy source is electricity, a substation or power transmission device that transmits the electricity supplied from the train to the public power grid falls under the category of receiving equipment.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention relates to an energy transport method. The method according to the present invention includes the steps of: filling a train holding means relating to the first aspect described above with an energy source; transporting the energy source by train; and supplying electricity based on the energy source to a power grid or other power equipment while the holding means is loaded onto the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, energy sources such as electricity can be efficiently transported and supplied. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Figure 1 schematically shows the exterior of the train according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a train according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a train according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 schematically shows the exterior of the train according to the third embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a train according to the third embodiment.

[0016] The following describes embodiments for carrying out the present invention with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but also includes modifications made to the embodiments described below within the scope that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0017] A train 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the train 100 is composed of a locomotive 10 coupled with a plurality of towing vehicles 20, 30. In this embodiment, the towing vehicles also include a battery vehicle 20 and a transformer vehicle 30. This train 100 can travel on existing tracks by having the locomotive 10 tow the plurality of towing vehicles 20, 30.

[0018] As the locomotive 10, known types such as electric locomotives and internal combustion locomotives can be used. Electric locomotives are equipped with a battery and a motor inside, and obtain power by driving the motor with electricity stored in the battery. Internal combustion locomotives are equipped with a fuel tank and an engine inside, and obtain power by burning fuel (diesel oil or gasoline) inside the engine. As will be described later, the train 100 according to the present invention includes a battery vehicle 20, but the battery mounted on this battery vehicle 20 is intended to store electricity for the transported object. For this reason, the present invention does not assume that electricity will be supplied as power from the battery of this battery vehicle 20 to the locomotive 10 (specifically, an electric locomotive). In other words, if the locomotive 10 is an electric locomotive, it is preferable to have its own battery separate from the battery vehicle 20.

[0019] The towing vehicle includes a plurality of battery vehicles 20. The battery vehicles 20 can be connected in any number within the range that can be towed by the locomotive 10. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the battery vehicle 20 has a battery cell 21, a transformer device 22, a thermal management device 23, and a PCS (Power Conditioning Subsystem) 24.

[0020] The battery cell 21 is a storage battery (secondary battery) mounted on the battery vehicle 20 and can be charged and discharged. A plurality of battery cells 21 can also be mounted on each battery vehicle 20. Therefore, according to the number of battery cells 21 mounted, the electric capacity that can be stored in each battery vehicle 20 can be adjusted. Also, the battery cell 21 is preferably configured to be able to store high-voltage direct current (HVDC) of about 200 kV to 500 kV. Thereby, the power loss during transportation can be suppressed.

[0021] The transformer device 22 is connected to the battery cell 21 and the transformer 31 of the transformer vehicle 30, and is a device for performing the power conversion and its control necessary when discharging from the battery cell 21 and when charging the battery cell 21. For example, the transformer device 22 performs power conversion and adjustment operations such as voltage adjustment, frequency conversion, mutual conversion between alternating current and direct current, and direct current voltage conversion. Specifically, since the electricity of the power system is alternating current, while direct current electricity is stored in the battery cell 21, the transformer device 22 converts this alternating current electricity into direct current to charge the battery cell 21. Conversely, when discharging from the battery cell 21, the transformer device 22 converts the electricity in the battery cell 21 from direct current to alternating current.

[0022] The thermal management device 23 is connected to each battery cell 21 and is a device for managing the temperature of each battery cell 21. The thermal management device 23 includes a sensor device for measuring the temperature of the battery cell 21, a fan for cooling the battery cell 21, and the like. The thermal management device 23 controls the temperature of the battery cell 21 by, for example, rotating the fan when the temperature of the battery cell 21 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0023] The PCS 24 is a system for supplying the electricity stored in the battery cell 21 to the power grid or other power facilities without passing through the transformer vehicle 30, or for charging the battery cell 21 from the power grid, a generator, or another battery without passing through the transformer vehicle 30. Therefore, the battery vehicle 20 equipped with the PCS 24 can be charged and discharged individually. A known PCS 24 may be used. For example, the PCS 24 includes an interface, a charge / discharge controller, and a converter. The interface includes a display for displaying predetermined information to the user and an operating device (touch panel or keyboard) for receiving operations from the user. The charge / discharge controller controls the discharge operation with respect to the power facilities or the power grid connected to the PCS 24, or controls the charge operation from another battery, a generator, or the power grid. Specifically, the charge / discharge speed and the charge / discharge amount can be controlled by the charge / discharge controller. The converter 17 converts the alternating current from the power grid or the like into direct current power according to the specifications of the battery cell 21 during charging of the battery cell 21, and converts the direct current power from the battery cell 21 into alternating current power according to the specifications of the power grid or the like during discharge of the battery cell 21. By mounting the PCS 24 on the battery vehicle 20 in this way, even when this battery vehicle 20 is separated individually as a single vehicle, the battery cell 21 of this battery vehicle 20 can be charged and discharged.

[0024] The towing vehicle further includes a transformer vehicle 30. In this embodiment, it is sufficient for the train 100 to have at least one transformer vehicle 30. It is also possible to have multiple transformer vehicles 30 in the train 100. As shown in Figure 1, multiple battery vehicles 20 are electrically connected to one transformer vehicle 30 by cables, etc. The transformer vehicle 30 is configured to be connected to receiving equipment 110 installed near the power system 200 via a power transmission cable 40. This power transmission cable 40 is detachable. Therefore, the transformer vehicle 30 is responsible for discharging from the battery cells 21 of the multiple battery vehicles 20 to the power system 200 and charging the battery cells 21 of the multiple battery vehicles 20 from the power system 200.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the transformer vehicle 30 has a transformer 31. When discharging electricity from the battery vehicles 20, the transformer 31 mainly transforms (mainly boosts) the electricity received from multiple battery vehicles 20. The transformer 31 may also boost the electricity to a standard required by the power system 200 (e.g., 100-250V). In this case, electricity can be directly discharged from the transformer 31 of the transformer vehicle 30 to the power system 200. On the other hand, if the voltage standard required by the power system 200 exceeds the limit that the transformer 31 of the transformer vehicle 30 can boost, a receiving facility 110 with a substation 111 may be provided near the power system 200, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this case, when the train 100 reaches the location where the receiving facility 110 is installed, electricity is supplied from the transformer 31 of the transformer vehicle 30 to the substation 111 of the receiving facility 110. In this case, the substation 111 of the receiving equipment 110 performs the necessary transformation processing (such as voltage transformation and AC / DC conversion) on the electricity received from the transformer vehicle 30, and then the electricity is discharged from the substation 111 to the power system 200.

[0026] Furthermore, when charging the battery vehicles 20, the transformer 31 of the transformer vehicle 30 transforms (mainly reduces the voltage) the electricity received from the power system 200 and distributes it to each of the multiple battery vehicles 20. In this sense, the transformer 31 also functions as a switchboard. As a result, by supplying power from the power system 200 to the transformer vehicle 30, it becomes possible to charge the battery cells 21 installed in multiple battery vehicles 20 all at once. For this reason, the transformer vehicle 30 functions as a hub for charging and discharging multiple battery vehicles 20. Thus, according to the train 100 of this embodiment, after charging multiple battery vehicles 20 at a first location, electricity can be transported by running the train 100, and the electricity can be discharged at a second location.

[0027] In the examples shown in Figures 1 and 2, the receiving equipment 110, which has a substation 111, is installed near the power system 200. However, as mentioned above, if electricity is discharged directly from the transformer vehicle 30 to the power system 200, the substation 111 of the receiving equipment 110 can be omitted. In this case, the receiving equipment 110 only needs to have a simple power transmission device that transmits electricity received from the transformer vehicle 30 to the power system 200, or transmits electricity received from the power system 200 to the transformer vehicle 30.

[0028] Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the train 100 according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, a hydrogen vehicle 50 is provided in place of the battery vehicle 20 of the first embodiment described above, and a fuel cell vehicle 60 is provided in place of the transformer vehicle 30. While the train 100 according to the first embodiment transports electricity as an energy source, the train 100 according to the second embodiment transports hydrogen gas as an energy source.

[0029] In the example shown in Figure 3, the train 100 includes a locomotive 10 (not shown in Figure 3), a plurality of hydrogen vehicles 50 each having a hydrogen tank 51, and at least one fuel cell vehicle 60 having a fuel cell 61. The hydrogen tank 51 of each hydrogen vehicle 50 is filled with hydrogen gas as an energy source. The hydrogen gas in each hydrogen tank 51 is supplied to the fuel cell 61 of the fuel cell vehicle 60. The fuel cell 61 generates electricity by chemically reacting the hydrogen gas supplied from each hydrogen vehicle 50 with oxygen in the air. The electricity obtained by the fuel cell 61 is supplied to the substation 111 of the receiving equipment 110, where it is transformed as needed and then transmitted to the power grid 200. In this way, the hydrogen gas (energy source) transported by the train 100 can be converted into electricity and discharged to the power grid 200. Thus, according to the train 100 of this embodiment, after filling the plurality of hydrogen vehicles 40 with hydrogen gas at a first location, the hydrogen gas can be transported by running the train 100, and the electricity converted from the hydrogen gas can be discharged at a second location.

[0030] Figures 4 and 5 show a third embodiment of the train 100 according to the present invention. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the train 100 according to the third embodiment includes a locomotive 10 and a plurality of battery vehicles 20, but does not include the transformer vehicle 30 described in the first embodiment. Instead, each battery vehicle 20 is equipped with a pantograph 70 for individual charging and discharging. The pantograph 70 is mounted on the roof of the battery vehicle 20 and is a device for contact-collecting or contact-discharging electricity from the overhead catenary 120 (trolley wire).

[0031] As shown in Figure 5, in the third embodiment as well, the battery vehicle 20 is equipped with battery cells 21, a substation 22, a thermal management device 23, and a PCS 24, similar to the first embodiment (see Figure 2). When discharging from the battery cells 21, the electricity stored in the battery cells 21 is transformed (mainly converted from DC to AC) by the substation 22 and then transmitted to the overhead catenary line 120 via individual pantographs 70. Subsequently, the substation 111 of the receiving equipment 110 receives electricity from each of the battery vehicles 20 via the overhead catenary line 120. The substation 111 transforms the electricity received from each battery vehicle 20, such as by boosting the voltage, and then discharges it to the power system 200. On the other hand, when charging the battery cells 21, the substation 111 of the receiving equipment 110 transforms the electricity from the power system 200, such as by reducing the voltage, and then transmits it to the overhead catenary line 120. Each battery vehicle 20 collects electricity flowing through the overhead catenary line 120 using a pantograph 70, transforms it using a substation 22 (mainly converting AC to DC), and stores it in the battery cells 21.

[0032] Compared to the first embodiment, the train 100 according to the third embodiment does not require a transformer vehicle 30, thus allowing for a larger amount of electricity to be transported at once. On the other hand, the train 100 according to the third embodiment always requires receiving equipment 110 at the destination. Therefore, the first and third embodiments should be used interchangeably depending on their intended purpose.

[0033] In this specification, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings in order to express the content of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in this specification. [Industrial applicability]

[0034] This invention relates to energy transport technology using trains. For example, this invention can be suitably used in power transmission businesses. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10...Locomotive 20...Battery-powered vehicle 21...Battery cell 22...Substation 23…Thermal management device 24…PCS 30... Transformer vehicle 31... Transformer 40...Power transmission cables 50...Hydrogen vehicles 51…Hydrogen tank 60…Fuel cell vehicle 61…Fuel cell 70…Pantograph 100...Train 110...Receiving equipment 111... Substation 120... Overhead catenary 200…Power system

Claims

1. A train comprising a locomotive with power and one or more non-powered towing vehicles pulled by the locomotive, The towing vehicle includes a plurality of battery vehicles having batteries and a transformer vehicle having a transformer for transforming the electricity stored in the batteries. The transformer of the transformer vehicle is connected to the plurality of battery vehicles and is capable of transforming the electricity received from the plurality of battery vehicles all at once. The aforementioned battery is configured to supply electricity from the battery to the power grid or other power equipment while remaining mounted on the battery vehicle. train.

2. The transformer of the transformer vehicle is further capable of transforming the electricity received from the power grid and distributing it to each of the plurality of battery vehicles. The train according to claim 1.

3. The battery vehicle does not have a transformer. The train according to claim 1.

4. The battery vehicle further includes a power conditioner for independently supplying the electricity stored in the battery to a power grid or other power equipment without going through the transformer of the transformer vehicle. The train according to claim 1.

5. The train described in claim 1, The aforementioned train is located outside the train and is equipped with receiving equipment that receives electricity from the battery. Energy transport system.

6. A step of charging the battery of the train described in claim 1, The process of transporting the battery by the aforementioned train, This includes a step of supplying electricity from the battery to a power grid or other power equipment while the battery remains mounted in the battery vehicle. Methods of energy transport.

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