Rail Vehicle Power Unit Control for Standby Engine Preheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for supplying electrical energy to rail vehicles face challenges in maintaining availability and reducing energy consumption, particularly during partial load operations, where internal combustion engines may cool down below the minimum temperature required for starting, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy use.
Innovation Solution
A control system prioritizes the operation and startup of internal combustion engines based on their cooling status, connecting cooling circuits to allow preheating and using ventilation units only when necessary, thereby minimizing energy consumption and extending engine availability by delaying engine startups and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If internal combustion engines are operated during partial load operations, then electrical energy can be supplied to the rail vehicle, but the engines may cool down below the minimum temperature required for starting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent connects cooling circuits of multiple internal combustion engines to a common cooling system. This allows engines that are not currently operating to be preheated by the cooling circuit of operating engines, ensuring they remain above the minimum starting temperature and can be quickly restarted when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary preheating of engines that are not currently operating by utilizing the cooling circuit of operating engines. This ensures that when partial load operations require fewer engines, the standby engines are already warmed up and ready for immediate startup, preventing cooling below minimum temperature.
2Reliability
If internal combustion engines are started frequently to maintain availability, then engine availability is improved, but energy consumption and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system preheats standby engines during operation of other engines by utilizing the cooling circuit. This preliminary action ensures engines remain above minimum starting temperature, eliminating the need for frequent cold starts and reducing energy consumption and wear associated with repeated cold startups.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating engines provide thermal energy to the standby engines through the connected cooling circuit. This self-service mechanism allows the system to maintain engine availability without external energy input, as the operating engines themselves provide the heat needed to keep standby engines ready.
3Temperature
If ventilation units are operated continuously to cool engines, then engine temperature control is improved, but energy consumption and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation units are operated periodically rather than continuously. They are activated only when the temperature of engine components exceeds predetermined limit values, and deactivated when temperatures are within acceptable ranges. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption and noise while maintaining adequate temperature control.
4Power
If multiple internal combustion engines are operated simultaneously, then electrical power supply is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of operating engines based on the actual power requirements of the rail vehicle. The control system monitors power demand and activates or deactivates engines accordingly, ensuring that only the necessary number of engines operate at any given time, thus optimizing fuel consumption while meeting power supply requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances engine availability and reduces energy consumption by optimizing engine operation and reducing unnecessary startups, while minimizing noise and wear, especially during partial load operations.
Implementation Method 1
connecting cooling circuits to allow preheating
Implementation Method 2
ventilation units only when necessary, thereby minimizing energy consumption and extending engine availability
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for supplying a rail vehicle with electrical energy, wherein the arrangement comprises: - at least two internal combustion engines (1), - for each of the at least two internal combustion engines (1) an associated electric machine (3) for generating the electrical energy, wherein the electric machine (3) is mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine (1) so that it is driven by the internal combustion engine (1) when the electric machine (3) is operating as a generator, thus forming at least a first and a second internal combustion engine-machine combination, - a common control unit (17) for the internal combustion engine-machine combinations, wherein the control unit (17) is configured to start the internal combustion engines (1) individually as required, - at least one preheating device (KUL) configured to preheat the internal combustion engines (1) before starting, - a temperature detection device (19),which is thermally coupled to the internal combustion engines (1) and which is connected to the control unit (17) via a signal link to transmit information about the temperatures of the internal combustion engines (1) to the control unit (17), wherein the control unit (17) is configured to start another of the internal combustion engines (1) during the operation of one of the internal combustion engines (1) if, due to cooling of the other internal combustion engine, a temperature of the other internal combustion engine, as determined by the temperature detection device, reaches or falls below a first predetermined temperature limit. The control unit determines how many of the internal combustion engines (1) are to be operated simultaneously during an operating period of the rail vehicle, taking into account, when selecting the internal combustion engines (1) to be operated, whether one or more of the internal combustion engines are at risk of cooling down.