Energy Tender Coupling for Cargo Vehicle Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies for managing electric energy storage in electrified vehicles within transportation networks are inefficient due to the challenges of accurately calculating and managing energy storage, leading to limitations in travel distances and planning complexities, especially when compared to fuel-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines energy demand for cargo trips, locates energy tenders, and manages their state of charge to schedule cargo vehicles for efficient delivery, directing them to couple with appropriate energy sources for recharging within designated time slots, optimizing energy usage and route planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If vehicles are electrified with onboard energy storage devices, then emission efficiency is improved, but travel distance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
An energy tender vehicle serves as an intermediary between the power grid and cargo vehicles. The energy tender carries energy storage devices that can be coupled to cargo vehicles to transfer electric energy, enabling extended travel distance without requiring the cargo vehicles to have large onboard energy storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cargo vehicle and energy tender into a coupled vehicle system. By merging the cargo vehicle's propulsion system with the energy tender's energy storage device, the system achieves extended operational range while maintaining emission efficiency through electric propulsion.
2Productivity
If refueling time is reduced, then productivity is improved, but recharging time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Energy tenders are pre-charged at charging stations before coupling with cargo vehicles. This preliminary action allows the energy transfer during coupling to be completed quickly, as the energy tender already contains stored energy ready for immediate transfer, reducing the recharging time impact on productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy tender acts as an energy buffer between the charging infrastructure and the cargo vehicle. By pre-storing energy in the tender, the system decouples the charging process from the cargo vehicle's operational schedule, allowing rapid energy transfer without requiring the cargo vehicle to be connected to charging infrastructure for extended periods.
3Ease of operation
If vehicle yard operation is simplified, then ease of operation is improved, but energy management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically performs energy demand calculations, energy tender assignments, and schedule optimizations without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex energy allocation decisions by processing trip data, calculating energy requirements, and directing energy tenders to appropriate cargo vehicles based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors energy consumption patterns, vehicle locations, and tender states to dynamically adjust energy allocation decisions. By incorporating feedback from actual energy usage and system state, the control system optimizes energy management efficiency while maintaining simple operational interfaces for users.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system and method determine an energy demand associated with delivery of cargo in a trip. The energy demand represents how much electric energy is needed to move cargo vehicles that carry the cargo through the trip. Locations of energy tenders and states of charge of the energy tenders are determined. A schedule for the cargo vehicles to deliver the cargo to a delivery location within a delivery time slot is determined. This schedule is determined based on the energy demand, the locations of the energy tenders, and the states of charge of the energy tenders. The system and method direct which of the energy tenders that the cargo vehicles are to couple with, be powered by, and move with for powering the cargo along routes to the delivery location of the trip within the designated time slot.