Tender Car Fuel Management via State Machine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques lack effective methods for managing gaseous fuel supplies on tender cars during various operational modes of locomotives, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns due to start-up delays, fuel venting, and safety issues with LNG delivery.
Innovation Solution
A tender controller system that interfaces with a pumping and vaporizing apparatus and communicates with a locomotive controller to manage operational modes, enabling seamless transitions between standby, start-up, delivery, refill, disabled, and drain states, ensuring safe and efficient gaseous fuel delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cryogenic pump is used to deliver liquefied gaseous fuel, then fuel delivery is enabled, but start-up delays occur due to cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-cools the cryogenic pump and associated fuel lines before fuel delivery is required. The state machine transitions to a 'cooling' state that activates the cryogenic pump cooling system in advance, so that when fuel delivery is commanded, the pump is already at operating temperature and ready to deliver fuel immediately, eliminating start-up delays.
2Productivity
If gaseous fuel is delivered over long distances between tender car and locomotive, then fuel supply capability is achieved, but fuel venting increases after shut-down
Solution Approach 1:
The control system rapidly isolates the fuel delivery system upon shut-down command by quickly closing valves and transitioning to a 'shut-down' state. This rapid action minimizes the time window during which fuel could vent from the long delivery lines, effectively skipping the hazardous period and preventing fuel loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tender car is detachable from locomotive, then operational flexibility is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential fuel escape
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the connection status between tender car and locomotive through sensors and communication links. When separation is detected, the state machine receives feedback and automatically transitions to a 'disconnected' state that closes all fuel valves and isolates the fuel system, preventing fuel escape while allowing the detachable design for operational flexibility.
4Manufacturing precision
If fuel pressure and temperature are regulated for engine injection, then fuel injection metering is controlled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cryogenic pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it cools the fuel lines, regulates fuel pressure, and controls fuel flow rate. By making the pump multi-functional, the system achieves precise fuel injection metering control without adding separate cooling and pressure regulation systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
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
The system ensures timely, efficient, and safe delivery of gaseous fuel by coordinating operational modes, reducing start-up delays and fuel venting, while maintaining safety and efficiency in refueling and draining processes.
Implementation Method 1
the liquefied gaseous fuel is converted from the liquid state to the gas or supercritical state before it is introduced to either the intake system or combustion chambers of the locomotive engine
Implementation Method 2
controlling the cryogenic pump to maintain the pressure of the fuel within predetermined ranges
Data Source
AI summary
A supply of gaseous fuel on a tender car for fuelling a locomotive engine requires the coordination of a variety of operational modes to improve the safety and efficiency 10 when operating components for delivering, refueling, draining, capturing and storing gaseous fuel. A method and apparatus for managing a supply of gaseous on a tender car comprises receiving on the tender car a command signal from the locomotive commanding delivery of gaseous fuel from the tender car to the locomotive; transferring from the tender car at least one status signal to the locomotive indicating 1 status of the tender car; representing a plurality of operational modes of the tender car as a plurality of states; and transitioning between the plurality of states in response to the command signal and the at least one status signal.