Fuel control strategy for locomotive consist

Abstract

A method of controlling the relative amounts of two or more types of fuel provided to an engine on a locomotive in a train consist includes receiving a signal at a controller on the locomotive, with the signal indicative of a current load imposed on the train consist by a rail car attached to the train consist, and a current location of the load. The relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel to be provided to the engine may be determined based upon the type of engine, the energy density of each type of fuel, the cost of each type of fuel, the availability of each type of fuel, the emissions produced by each type of fuel, the location of the engine in the train consist, and the future predicted loads imposed at different locations in the train consist as a result of a rail car attached to the consist and the terrain along the rail line. The method may also include adjusting the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel provided to the engine based upon the determination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling the relative amounts of two or more types of fuel provided to an engine on a locomotive in a train consist traveling along a rail line, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more signals at a controller on one of the locomotives, with the one or more signals indicative of a current load imposed on the train consist by a rail car attached to the train consist, and a current location of the load;   determining the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel to provide to an engine operating as a prime mover on the train consist based upon one or more of factors selected from a group of factors comprising the type of engine, the energy density of each type of fuel, the efficiency of using each type of fuel, the emissions generated when burning each type of fuel, the cost of each type of fuel, the availability of each type of fuel, the location of the engine in the train consist, and future predicted loads imposed at different locations in the train consist as a result of one or more rail cars attached to the consist and the terrain along the rail line; and   adjusting the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel provided to the engine based upon the determination.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is one of a plurality of engines, and determining the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel to provide to an engine further includes determining a different ratio of the two or more types of fuel to provide to a first one of the plurality of engines on a locomotive that is experiencing a larger load than a ratio of the two or more types of fuel to provide to a second one of the plurality of engines on a locomotive that is experiencing a smaller load. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving one or more signals at a controller on one of the locomotives includes receiving the one or more signals from a smart rail car when the smart rail car is attached to the train consist. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the one or more signals from a smart rail car includes receiving a signal indicative of the type of load being carried by the smart rail car. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the one or more signals from a smart rail car includes receiving a signal indicative of the weight and location of the load being carried by the smart rail car. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel includes determining the ratio of diesel fuel to gaseous natural gas fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel further includes using data from a predetermined trip plan. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel further includes using at least one of input from an operator onboard one of the locomotives, and input from a dispatch center. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first one of the plurality of engines is located on a locomotive that is traveling uphill. 
     
     
         10 . A fuel controller configured to control the relative amounts of two or more types of fuel provided to an engine on a locomotive in a train consist traveling along a rail line, the fuel controller being configured to:
 receive one or more signals indicative of a current load imposed on the train consist by a rail car attached to the train consist, and indicative of a current location of the load;   determine an allocation of the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel provided to the engine based at least in part upon the one or more signals;   additionally determine the allocation of the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel based at least in part on one or more factors selected from a group of factors comprising the type of engine, the energy density of each type of fuel, the efficiency of using each type of fuel, the emissions generated when burning each type of fuel, the cost of each type of fuel, the availability of each type of fuel, the location of the engine in the train consist, and the future predicted loads imposed at different locations in the train consist as a result of the rail cars attached to the consist and the terrain along the rail line; and   adjust the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel provided to the engine on the locomotive in the train consist based upon the determined allocation.   
     
     
         11 . The fuel controller of  claim 10 , wherein the engine is one of a plurality of engines, and the fuel controller is further configured to determine an allocation of the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel to provide to an engine by determining a different ratio of the two or more types of fuel to provide to a first one of the plurality of engines on a locomotive that is experiencing a larger load than a ratio of the two or more types of fuel to provide to a second one of the plurality of engines on a locomotive that is experiencing a smaller load. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel controller of  claim 10 , further configured to receive the one or more signals from a smart rail car when the smart rail car is attached to the train consist. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel controller of  claim 12 , further configured to receive a signal from a smart rail car indicative of the type of load being carried by the smart rail car. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel controller of  claim 12 , further configured to receive a signal from a smart rail car indicative of a weight and location of the load being carried by the smart rail car. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel controller of  claim 10 , further configured to determine the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel by determining the ratio of diesel fuel to gaseous natural gas fuel. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel controller of  claim 10 , further configured to determine the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel including using data from a predetermined trip plan. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel controller of  claim 10 , further configured to determine the relative amounts of the two or more types of fuel including using at least one of input from an operator onboard one of the locomotives, and input from a dispatch center. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel controller of  claim 11 , wherein the first one of the plurality of engines is located on a locomotive that is traveling uphill. 
     
     
         19 . A train consist, comprising:
 one or more locomotives with dual fuel control strategies, the one or more locomotives including at least one engine producing a rotational output, an electrical power generator coupled to the rotational output of the engine and configured to generate electrical power when being rotated by the rotational output, and a plurality of electric traction motors driven by electrical power generated by the electrical power generator;   at least one controller configured to receive one or more signals, with the one or more signals indicative of a current load imposed on the train consist by a rail car attached to the train consist when the train consist is traveling along a rail line, and a current location of the load, the at least one controller being further configured to:   determine an allocation of the relative amounts of two or more types of fuel provided to each of the at least one engine based at least in part upon the one or more signals;   additionally determine the allocation based upon one or more factors selected from a group of factors comprising the type of engine, the energy density of each type of fuel, the efficiency of using each type of fuel, the emissions generated when burning each type of fuel, the cost of each type of fuel, the availability of each type of fuel, the location of the at least one engine in the train consist, and the future predicted loads imposed at different locations in the train consist as a result of the rail cars attached to the consist and the terrain along the rail line; and   adjust a ratio of the two or more types of fuel provided to the at least one engine based upon the determined allocation.   
     
     
         20 . The train consist of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the one or more signals from a smart rail car when the smart rail car is attached to the train consist.