Method and system for wind-harnessed battery charging in a locomotive

1. A method of generating electrical energy in a vehicle having at least one airflow device coupled to an electric machine, the method comprising:

during a first condition, generating electrical energy at the electric machine, said electric machine being driven by an ambient airflow interacting with the airflow device; and

during a second condition, receiving electrical input at the electric machine and converting the electrical input into motion of the airflow device to generate a cooling airflow for at least a vehicle component; and

delivering at least some of the generated energy to at least an electrical component of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises generating electrical energy at the electric machine during at least a stationary condition of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating electrical energy at the electric machine further comprises operating the electric machine to harness kinetic energy from a motion of the airflow device, the motion generated by the ambient airflow interacting with the airflow device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said vehicle is a locomotive, and where the stationary conditions include a stand-by mode of the locomotive where an engine of the locomotive is shut-down.

5. The method of claim 1 where said airflow device is a blower.

6. The method of claim 4 where said airflow device is a radiator fan, and where the harnessed energy is delivered to operate an electrical load of the locomotive during the stationary conditions.

7. The method of claim 3 where said harnessed energy is an electric current generated by the electric machine, and where the harnessed energy charges a battery.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

during the first condition, a controller starting the engine responsive to a system battery charge indication; and

shutting down the engine when the system battery charge has reached a desired level.

9. A method of charging a system electrical energy storage device in a vehicle having at least one airflow device coupled to an electric machine, the method comprising:

during at least stationary conditions of the vehicle:

operating the electric machine to harness kinetic energy from motion of the airflow device, the motion generated by an ambient airflow; and

charging the system electrical energy storage device with at least some of the harnessed energy;

wherein said vehicle is a locomotive, and where the stationary conditions include a stand-by mode of the locomotive where an engine of the locomotive is shut-down;

wherein said system electrical energy storage device is a battery; and

wherein said airflow device is a blower or a radiator fan.

10. The method of claim 9 where said harnessed energy is an electric current generated by the electric machine.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

starting the engine responsive to a system battery charge indication; and

shutting down the engine when the system battery charge has reached a desired level.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively charging the battery when the engine is shutdown.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising supplying an electrical power to a controller during the stationary conditions.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising adjusting an air flow control device responsive to the harnessed energy generated by the electric machine.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising operating the electric machine responsive to a monitored rotation of the airflow device.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising adjusting a setting of the air flow device to adjust an amount of energy harnessed.

17. A system for a locomotive, comprising:

a battery;

an electrical load;

an airflow device coupled to an electric machine;

louvers;

an engine; and

a controller configured to, during at least stationary conditions of the locomotive where the engine is shut down,

operate the electric machine to harness kinetic energy from motion of the airflow device, the motion generated by an ambient airflow;

charge the battery with at least some of the harnessed energy, where the battery supplies energy to operate the electrical load during the stationary conditions; and

adjust the louvers responsive to the motion of the airflow device.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first condition includes a stationary condition of the vehicle, and wherein the second condition includes a moving condition of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle is a locomotive, and wherein the motion of the airflow device includes a rotational motion of the airflow device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second condition further includes temperature control of a locomotive component.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a locomotive, and the first condition includes a stand-by mode of engine operation with the locomotive either stationary or moving.