Vehicle temperature regulation system and method

1. A temperature regulation system for a vehicle, comprising:

a drive system configured to be coupled to an engine of the vehicle, the drive system being configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and

a control unit for controlling the engine and drive system, the control unit being configured to automatically regulate a temperature of a vehicle component in dependence upon a detected reference temperature;

wherein the vehicle component comprises a plurality of power semiconductor switches of one or more power converters of the drive system of the vehicle, the one or more power converters electrically connected to provide the electrical power for use by the at least one traction motor of the vehicle; and

the control unit is configured to automatically regulate the temperature of the power semiconductor switches, responsive to the detected reference temperature being below a predetermined value, by firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that does not cause the at least one traction motor to move the vehicle to maintain the temperature of the power semiconductor switches within a desired operating range.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component is the engine, and the control unit is configured to automatically control the drive system to apply additional load to the engine, the additional load being a load upon the engine above an idle level of the engine, when the detected reference temperature is below a predetermined value.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor associated with the engine and electrically coupled to the control unit, the temperature sensor being configured to sense the detected reference temperature.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the control unit is configured to monitor engine parameters while applying the additional load to the engine, so as to avoid burning more fuel than is needed while applying the additional load for the temperature of the engine to be above a designated level.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one power converter being configured to provide the electrical power for use by the at least one traction motor of the vehicle, said electrical power comprising AC power produced by firing of the power semiconductor switches in an AC sequence; and

the control unit is configured, for regulating the temperature of the power semiconductor switches when the power converter is not being used to provide the electrical power to the at least one traction motor, to automatically fire the plurality power semiconductor switches in a DC sequence.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the power semiconductor switches are insulated gate bipolar transistors.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the control unit is configured to automatically control the drive system to apply additional load to the engine, the additional load being a load upon the engine above an idle level of the engine, when the detected reference temperature is below a predetermined value;

the vehicle includes a power converter configured to provide the electrical power for use by the at least one traction motor of the vehicle, said electrical power comprising AC power produced by firing of the power semiconductor switches in an AC sequence; and

the control unit is configured, for regulating the temperature of the power semiconductor switches when the power converter is not being used to provide the electrical power to the at least one traction motor, to automatically fire the plurality power semiconductor switches in a DC sequence.

8. A method for temperature regulation of a vehicle, comprising:

determining a reference temperature associated with an engine of the vehicle;

comparing, by a control unit of the vehicle, the reference temperature with a predetermined minimum operating temperature of the engine;

automatically applying, by the control unit, additional load to the engine, above an idle level of the engine, if the reference temperature is below the minimum operating temperature; and

regulating the temperature of insulated gate bipolar transistors of a power converter of the vehicle, when the power converter is not being used to provide electrical power to any traction motors of the vehicle, by firing the insulated gate bipolar transistors in a DC sequence;

wherein the step of regulating the temperature of the insulated gate bipolar transistors is carried out when a sensed temperature is below a predetermined value, the sensed temperature being different than the reference temperature.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the reference temperature is ambient temperature.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the reference temperature is a temperature within the engine.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of:

monitoring engine parameters while applying the additional load to the engine, so as to avoid burning more fuel than is needed while applying the additional load for the temperature of the engine to be above a designated level.

12. A method for regulating the temperature of a power generating device, comprising:

determining a reference temperature associated with a drive system component of the device;

comparing, by a control unit of the device, the reference temperature with a predetermined minimum operating temperature associated with the drive system component; and

automatically actuating, by the control unit, the drive system component to increase an operating temperature of the component if the reference temperature is below the minimum operating temperature;

wherein the drive system component comprises a plurality of power semiconductor switches of one or more power converters of the device, the one or more power converters electrically connected to drive a load; and

wherein the step of actuating the drive system component includes firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that heats the power semiconductor switches without driving the load.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the reference temperature is ambient temperature.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the power semiconductor switches are fired to an extent sufficient to maintain the power semiconductor switches above a lower temperature threshold.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the device is a vehicle, and the load comprises one or more traction motors of the vehicle; and

the step of actuating the drive system component includes firing the power semiconductor switches in a manner that does not cause the one or more traction motors to move the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the drive system component is a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors; and

the step of actuating the drive system component includes firing the insulated gate bipolar transistors in a DC sequence if the reference temperature is below the minimum operating temperature.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the insulated gate bipolar transistors are fired to an extent sufficient to maintain the insulated gate bipolar transistors above a lower temperature threshold.