Multi-Battery Drive Control for Synchronized Energy Depletion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rail vehicle drive systems that rely on energy storage face inefficiencies due to uneven energy distribution across multiple energy storage subsystems, leading to reduced operational range and increased costs from oversized storage devices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a drive system with multiple subsystems, where during periods of lower power output, specific subsystems are temporarily shut down to equalize energy content across all subsystems, ensuring they reach a minimum energy state simultaneously, thereby optimizing energy use and extending operational range without the need for large, expensive storage devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If multiple energy storage subsystems are used in parallel, then the operational range and energy capacity are increased, but the energy distribution becomes uneven and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is divided into multiple independent drive subsystems, each with its own energy storage subsystem. This segmentation allows the system to achieve greater total energy capacity and operational range while managing complexity through modular architecture, where each subsystem can be controlled and monitored independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary assessment of the energy states of all subsystems before initiating partial shutdowns. By predicting which subsystems will reach minimum energy levels first and planning shutdown sequences in advance, the system prevents uneven energy distribution before it occurs, maintaining balance without continuous active intervention.
2Power
If all drive subsystems operate continuously, then maximum power output is maintained, but energy storage efficiency decreases due to uneven discharge rates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of shutting down entire drive subsystems completely, the system implements partial shutdowns where only certain drive subsystems are temporarily deactivated based on their current energy state. This partial action allows the system to maintain overall power output while reducing discharge rates of specific subsystems, thereby improving energy storage efficiency and preventing premature exhaustion of any single subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system periodically monitors the energy states of all subsystems and dynamically adjusts which subsystems are active or shut down. This periodic assessment and adjustment creates a rhythm of operation where subsystems are cycled in and out of service, ensuring that no single subsystem is over-discharged while maintaining the required power output levels.
3Duration of action of moving object
If energy storage capacity is increased to extend operational range, then vehicle autonomy is improved, but system cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using one large energy storage subsystem, the system divides the total energy capacity into multiple smaller distributed subsystems. This segmentation achieves the same total operational range but with reduced weight per subsystem, allowing for more flexible mounting and potentially using lighter individual battery packs while maintaining the required total energy capacity.
4Loss of energy
If partial shutdowns are implemented to balance energy levels, then energy storage efficiency is improved, but power output capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial shutdowns rather than complete shutdowns of drive subsystems. This means that even when a subsystem is in shutdown mode, it may still provide limited power output or be quickly reactivated, ensuring that the overall power output capability is maintained while still achieving the energy balancing effect. The partial nature of the shutdown minimizes the impact on power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutdown configuration is dynamic rather than static. The control system continuously monitors energy levels and dynamically adjusts which subsystems are shut down and for how long, based on real-time conditions. This dynamic approach ensures that power output requirements are met while achieving energy balance, as the system can adapt the shutdown strategy to current power demands rather than applying fixed shutdown rules.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a drive system, in which the drive system comprises at least two drive subsystems, and each drive subsystem has an energy storage subsystem (BAT 1, BAT 2). At high power output (FULL) of the drive system, each of the at least two drive subsystems participates in the drive. During at least one period of lower power output (PART) of the drive system, at least one of the at least two drive subsystems is switched off, at least temporarily, so that the energy storage subsystems (BAT 1, BAT 2) of the at least two drive subsystems simultaneously reach a minimum energy content (E-min). The invention further relates, correspondingly, to a drive system, a device or a data processing system, a computer program, a computer-readable data carrier, and a data carrier signal.