System and method for reinjection of retard energy in a trolley-based electric mining haul truck
View Patent ↗Retard energy regenerated from an electrical motor during braking action is reinjected into a power system via trolley lines. The retard energy may be transmitted to a bidirectional electric substation and returned to a utility grid. The retard energy may also be transmitted to an auxiliary energy storage system, such as an ultracapacitor system or a battery system. Installing trolley lines for mining haul trucks on a downhill slope may be used to capture and re-use substantial quantities of retard energy.
1. An electrical power system for reinjecting retard energy regenerated from an electrical motor on a mining haul truck, the electrical power system comprising an inverter that:
receives at least a portion of the retard energy regenerated during at least one retard interval, wherein the at least one retard interval occurs while the mining truck is travelling downhill; and
transmits via trolley lines at least a portion of the retard energy to a bidirectional substation while the mining truck is travelling downhill.
2. The electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein the inverter receives electrical power via the trolley lines from the bidirectional substation.
3. The electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein the inverter supplies at least a portion of the retard energy to an on-board electrical energy storage system.
4. The electrical power system of claim 3 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system comprises at least one ultracapacitor.
5. The electrical power system of claim 3 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system comprises at least one battery.
6. The electrical power system of claim 3 , wherein the inverter receives electrical power from the on-board electrical energy storage system.
7. The electrical power system of claim 3 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system transmits electrical power to the trolley lines.
8. An electrical power system for storing retard energy regenerated from an electrical motor on a vehicle, the electrical power system comprising:
an inverter that
receives at least a portion of the retard energy
an on-board electrical energy storage system operably coupled to the inverter;
an auxiliary electrical energy storage system operably coupled to the inverter via trolley lines; and
a computational system operably coupled to the inverter that:
determines whether the on-board electrical energy storage system is fully charged;
upon determining that the on-board electrical energy storage system is not fully charged:
directs the inverter to transmit at least a portion of the retard energy to the on-board electrical energy storage system and to charge the on-board electrical energy storage system with at least a portion of the retard energy; and
upon determining that the on-board electrical energy storage system is fully charged:
directs the inverter to transmit via the trolley lines at least a portion of the retard energy to the auxiliary electrical energy storage system and to charge the auxiliary electrical energy storage system with at least a portion of the retard energy.
9. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the auxiliary electrical energy storage system comprises at least one ultracapacitor.
10. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the auxiliary electrical energy storage system comprises at least one battery.
11. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary electrical energy storage system supplies electrical power to the trolley lines.
12. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein the inverter transmits via the trolley lines at least a portion of the retard energy to a unidirectional electrical substation.
13. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary electrical energy storage system transmits at least a portion of the retard energy to a unidirectional electrical substation.
14. The electrical power system of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary electrical energy storage system receives electrical power from the unidirectional electrical substation.
15. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein the inverter transmits via the trolley lines at least a portion of the retard energy to a bidirectional electrical substation.
16. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary electrical energy storage system transmits at least a portion of the retard energy to a bidirectional electrical substation.
17. The electrical power system of claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary electrical energy storage system receives electrical power from the bidirectional electrical substation.
18. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system comprises at least one ultracapacitor.
19. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system comprises at least one battery.
20. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system supplies electrical power to the electrical motor.
21. The electrical power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the on-board electrical energy storage system transmits electrical power to the trolley lines.