Vehicle Power Transition Control for Off-Board Connection Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in maintaining consistent power and preventing sudden deceleration or acceleration due to unintended separation or reconnection of collector devices from conductive pathways.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a controller to manage the transition between onboard and off-board power sources by controlling converter systems to ensure a designated threshold range of electric energy is maintained, thereby stabilizing power delivery to the vehicle's drive system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the collector device is spring-loaded to maintain contact with the conductive pathway, then the reliability of power collection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between the power collection system and the vehicle operation system. The controller monitors contact status and manages power source transitions, preventing direct harmful effects of separation while maintaining system reliability without requiring complex mechanical spring-loading mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary detection of contact status and anticipates potential separation events. By detecting issues before they cause power loss and proactively managing transitions between power sources, the system maintains reliability without needing complex mechanical prevention mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pantograph or conductive shoe separates from the catenary or electrified rail, then the harmful effect of current disruption occurs, but this separation may be caused by mechanical issues such as bouncing or drooping sections
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the contact status between the collector device and conductive pathway, creating a feedback loop. When separation is detected, the controller immediately responds by managing power source transitions, thereby preventing the harmful effects of current disruption while maintaining connection stability through active control rather than passive mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful effect of separation into a manageable transition event. By detecting separation and orchestrating controlled transitions between onboard and off-board power sources, the system transforms what would be a disruptive event into a smooth, controlled power source switch, eliminating sudden deceleration or acceleration.
3Power
If a rush of current occurs upon reconnection, then the power delivery is restored, but this causes undesirable acceleration of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
Before reconnection occurs, the controller prepares the power conversion system by adjusting converter parameters and readiness states. This preliminary action ensures that when power is restored, the transition is controlled and gradual rather than abrupt, preventing sudden acceleration while maintaining continuous power delivery to the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts the operation of power converters during transition events. By continuously adapting converter parameters based on real-time conditions during connection and disconnection, the system smooths out power delivery variations and eliminates abrupt changes that would cause undesirable vehicle acceleration or deceleration.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for connecting a vehicle to an external source includes determining that a vehicle to be propelled by a drive system having one or more motors is to connect to an off-board power source while the one or more motors are powered by an onboard power source. The onboard power source is controlled to provide a determined amount of first electric energy to a first converter system. A second converter system is controlled to output an amount of second electric energy from the off-board power source within a designated threshold range. The second converter system is disposed between the off-board power source and the first converter system. The drive system receives power from the off-board power source responsive to the second converter system outputting the second amount of electric energy within the designated threshold range.