General Electric Company

Other

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Irene Michelle Berry

Robert Dean King

Paul Robert Gemin

Lembit Salasoo

Herman Wiegman

Zhi Zhou

Timothy Gerard Richter

Matthew Christian Nielsen

Glen David Merfeld

Rogier Sebastiaan Blom

Santosh Sambamoorthy Veda

Patrick Shane Riley

Patrick Lee Jansen

Rajni Kant Burra

Enno Ubben

Patrick Hammel Hart

Fernando Javier D'Amato

Deepak Raj Sagi

Hullas Sehgal

Ruijie Shi

Charles Joseph Kosuth

Alina Fatima Moosvi

Vaidhya Nath Venkitanarayanan

Megan Ann DeWitt

Dann Gwyn

Augusto Espinel Porras

A method for controlling an energy generation and storage system using a multi-layer architecture is provided. The method includes determining, by one or more control devices, a power or energy generation for the energy generation and storage system at a first layer of the multi-layer architecture. The method includes determining, by the one or more control devices, a power or energy set point for the system at a second layer of the multi-layer architecture. The method includes controlling, by the one or more control devices, the energy generation and storage system based, at least in part, on the power or energy setpoint.

System and method for controlling operation of an energy generation and storage system

A system includes a control unit having one or more processors and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The one or more processors are configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.

System and method of power control for an energy storage charging station

A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.

System for selectively coupling an energy source to a load and method of making same

A system includes a control unit having a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The processor is configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.

An energy generation and storage system includes one or more energy generation assets, one or more energy storage assets, and a system controller. The system controller identifies a plurality of candidate responses to a grid service request. Each candidate response includes a split value that describes a power split between the energy generation assets and the energy storage assets. The system controller determines a plurality of response scores respectively for the plurality of candidate responses based at least in part on a plurality of asset life impact values that describe an impact that the plurality of candidate responses would have on an asset life of at least one of the one or more power generation assets and the one or more energy storage assets. The system controller selects one of the plurality of candidate responses based at least in part on the plurality of response scores.

Systems and methods to control a power split between energy generation and energy storage assets

A vehicle battery exchange system includes a base, a gripper, a retrieval actuator that retractably and extensibly connects the gripper to the base, and a vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus that is operatively connected at least with the retrieval actuator and is configured to cause extension of the retrieval actuator to a battery-engaging position of the gripper in response to registration of a vehicle alignment feature to the vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus, and to cause retraction of the retrieval actuator to a battery-removing position of the gripper in response to latching engagement of the gripper with a battery that is mounted in a vehicle at a pre-defined location relative to the vehicle alignment feature that is in registration to the alignment feature sensing apparatus.

Systems and methods for recharging vehicle-mounted energy storage devices

A propulsion system includes an electric drive, a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the electric drive through a DC link, and a second energy storage system electrically coupled to the first energy storage system in a series connection. The first energy storage system comprises a high specific-energy storage device and the second energy storage system comprises a low specific-power storage device. The propulsion system also includes a third energy storage system comprising a high specific-energy storage device electrically coupled to the second energy storage system. A bi-directional boost converter is electrically coupled to the second and third energy storage systems such that a terminal of the third energy storage system is electrically coupled to a low voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter and a terminal of the second energy storage system is coupled to a high voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter.

System for multiple energy storage and management and method of making same

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a system. The system includes a first vehicle, a second vehicle, and an interface between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The interface is configured to enable the transfer of mechanical power from the second vehicle to the first vehicle when the first vehicle and the second vehicle are stationary.

System and method for material transfer and transport

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vehicle. The vehicle includes an energy storage device and a traction motor electrically connected to the energy storage device. The traction motor is configured to convert electrical energy supplied by the energy storage device into a mechanical output to propel the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a vehicle connecting mechanism electrically coupled to the energy storage device and being configured for electrical coupling with a second vehicle connecting mechanism of a second vehicle to establish an electrical interface between the vehicle and the second vehicle. The electrical interface enables the transfer of electric power between the vehicle and the second vehicle.

System and method for transferring energy between vehicles

A vehicular energy management system (EMS) determines a net total power from a traction drive load, an auxiliary device load, and a regenerative power. If the net total power is a net supply power, the EMS causes regenerative power to be provided to a power source and energy source in a controlled manner to initially charge the power source to a desired state-of-charge (SOC) and then subsequently charge the energy source. If the net total power comprises a net power load, the EMS causes power to be drawn from the power source and the energy source, with a split of the power being drawn from the power source and the energy source being based on a magnitude of the net power load. The EMS adjusts/maintains the SOC set-point of the power source and the DC link voltage based on vehicle speed and relative altitude of travel of the vehicle.

System and method for energy management in an electric vehicle

A system for multiple energy storage and management includes a propulsion system includes an electric drive and a direct current (DC) link electrically and a first energy storage system coupled to the electric drive. The first energy storage system includes a low specific-power energy storage device (ESD). A coupling device is coupled to a first terminal of the low specific-power ESD and a second energy storage system, wherein a first terminal of the second energy storage system is electrically coupled to the electric drive through the DC link and a second terminal of the second energy storage system is coupled to the coupling device. A boost converter assembly is coupled to the first and second energy storage systems. The coupling device couples the second terminal of the second energy storage system to the first terminal of the low specific-power ESD in a series connection that bypasses the boost converter assembly.

A multi-energy storage device system is provided that includes a first energy storage device (ESD) coupled to a direct current (DC) link. A bi-directional buck/boost converter includes an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A second ESD coupled to the input channel has a usable energy storage range defining an entire amount of usable energy storable therein. A database includes stored information related to a known acceleration event. A system controller is configured to acquire the stored information related to the known acceleration event and, during the known acceleration event, cause the buck/boost converter to boost the voltage of the second ESD and to supply the boosted voltage to the DC link such that after the known acceleration event, the state of charge of the second ESD is less than or substantially equal to a minimum usable energy storage state of charge.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Irene Michelle Berry