Abstract: An HVAC system for a mobile machine having a frame and a cabin supported by the frame. The HVAC system includes a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between coolant and the frame of the mobile machine and a first pump configured to circulate coolant through the first heat exchanger. The HVAC system also includes a second heat exchanger configured to receive coolant from the first heat exchanger and a fan configured to generate a flow of air through the second heat exchanger and into the cabin.

Abstract: A flow battery system may include at least one electrolyte tank for storing electrolytes. The system may also include a plurality of reaction cells, each having an output current. The system may further include a plurality of pumps, each associated with one of the plurality of reaction cells, for pumping the electrolytes into the reaction cell at a flow rate. The system may also include a pump sensor configured to monitor the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps. The system may also include an output sensor configured to monitor an output current of at least one of the plurality of reaction cells. The system may further include a controller configured to control the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps based on the output current of the reaction cell associated with the at least one of the plurality of pumps.

Abstract: A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.

Abstract: A power converter may include an uncharged tank for storing fluid including uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may include a plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells configured to receive the fluid from the uncharged tank and an input voltage, and charge the uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may also include a charged tank configured to receive fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells. The power converter may also include a first pump configured to pump the fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells to the charged tank. The power converter may include a plurality of series-connected reaction cells configured to receive fluid from the charged tank and provide electric power at an output voltage.

Abstract: A power converter may include an uncharged tank for storing fluid including uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may include a plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells configured to receive the fluid from the uncharged tank and an input voltage, and charge the uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may also include a charged tank configured to receive fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells. The power converter may also include a first pump configured to pump the fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells to the charged tank. The power converter may include a plurality of series-connected reaction cells configured to receive fluid from the charged tank and provide electric power at an output voltage.

Abstract: A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.

Abstract: A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.

Abstract: A flow battery system may include at least one electrolyte tank for storing electrolytes. The system may also include a plurality of reaction cells, each having an output current. The system may further include a plurality of pumps, each associated with one of the plurality of reaction cells, for pumping the electrolytes into the reaction cell at a flow rate. The system may also include a pump sensor configured to monitor the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps. The system may also include an output sensor configured to monitor an output current of at least one of the plurality of reaction cells. The system may further include a controller configured to control the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps based on the output current of the reaction cell associated with the at least one of the plurality of pumps.

Abstract: A flow battery system may include at least one electrolyte tank for storing electrolytes. The system may also include a plurality of reaction cells, each having an output current. The system may further include a plurality of pumps, each associated with one of the plurality of reaction cells, for pumping the electrolytes into the reaction cell at a flow rate. The system may also include a pump sensor configured to monitor the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps. The system may also include an output sensor configured to monitor an output current of at least one of the plurality of reaction cells. The system may further include a controller configured to control the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps based on the output current of the reaction cell associated with the at least one of the plurality of pumps.

Abstract: A power converter may include an uncharged tank for storing fluid including uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may include a plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells configured to receive the fluid from the uncharged tank and an input voltage, and charge the uncharged electrolytes. The power converter may also include a charged tank configured to receive fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells. The power converter may also include a first pump configured to pump the fluid from the plurality of parallel-connected reaction cells to the charged tank. The power converter may include a plurality of series-connected reaction cells configured to receive fluid from the charged tank and provide electric power at an output voltage.

Abstract: An HVAC system for a mobile machine having a frame and a cabin supported by the frame is provided. The HVAC system may include a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between coolant and the frame of the mobile machine and a first pump configured to circulate coolant through the first heat exchanger. The HVAC system may also include a second heat exchanger configured to receive coolant from the first heat exchanger and a fan configured to generate a flow of air through the second heat exchanger and into the cabin.

Abstract: A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.

Abstract: A flow battery system may include at least one electrolyte tank for storing electrolytes. The system may also include a plurality of reaction cells, each having an output current. The system may further include a plurality of pumps, each associated with one of the plurality of reaction cells, for pumping the electrolytes into the reaction cell at a flow rate. The system may also include a pump sensor configured to monitor the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps. The system may also include an output sensor configured to monitor an output current of at least one of the plurality of reaction cells. The system may further include a controller configured to control the flow rate of at least one of the plurality of pumps based on the output current of the reaction cell associated with the at least one of the plurality of pumps.

Abstract: An accurate method of determining the power developed by selected cylinders of a multiple cylinder engine is based on the concept of controlling engine rpm for test purposes by adjusting the load on the engine instead of controlling speed by adjusting the fuel rate as is commonly done in normal engine operation. The method may be utilized for evaluating cylinder performance and for accurately balancing the output of the individual cylinders. It is particularly useful in railroad applications where the engine operates a generator that produces electric power and the system is provided with dynamic braking grids, which can be utilized as resistor grids for load testing the engine. However, the method is also applicable to other engines and other engine arrangements where engine power may be absorbed by a generator or dynamometer for controlling the load for test purposes.

Abstract: A measurement technique that generates a number value identifying the width of a noisy pulse in an analog signal that has particular application for determining whether a defect exists in a cylinder valve of a locomotive diesel engine. The algorithm samples the analog signal, and then the samples are bunched into successive groups where each group includes a predetermined number of samples. A root mean square is taken of the samples in each group to generate a representative amplitude value for that group. Successive amplitude values are multiplied together to generate product values. The product values are averaged over a predetermined number of product values to generate the number value that can be analyzed to determine if a defect in a valve exists.

Abstract: Ignition delay in a diesel engine is reduced or eliminated by a fuel injector or igniter nozzle which includes energy supplying fuel conditioning means at the point of fuel injection into a cylinder. A preferred embodiment includes an electrically-conductive injection valve reciprocable in a conductive nozzle body and seatable on a valve seat to stop fuel flow through nozzle orifices. The injection valve is electrically insulated from the body except at its contact with the valve seat and is connected to an electrical charge, at least during opening of the valve. An electrical spark discharge is thus generated between the injection valve and the valve seat upon opening of the valve. Initially injected fuel passes through the arc and is conditioned by the spark energy to ignite almost immediately by compression ignition upon entering the engine cylinder and thus essentially eliminate diesel ignition delay.

Abstract: An accurate method of determining the power developed by selected cylinders of a multiple cylinder engine is based on the concept of controlling engine rpm for test purposes by adjusting the load on the engine instead of controlling speed by adjusting the fuel rate as is commonly done in normal engine operation. The method may be utilized for evaluating cylinder performance and for accurately balancing the output of the individual cylinders. It is particularly useful in railroad applications where the engine operates a generator that produces electric power and the system is provided with dynamic braking grids, which can be utilized as resistor grids for load testing the engine. However, the method is also applicable to other engines and other engine arrangements where engine power may be absorbed by a generator or dynamometer for controlling the load for test purposes.

Abstract: Ignition delay in a diesel engine is reduced or eliminated by a fuel injector or igniter nozzle which includes energy supplying fuel conditioning means at the point of fuel injection into a cylinder. A preferred embodiment includes an electrically-conductive injection valve reciprocable in a conductive nozzle body and seatable on a valve seat to stop fuel flow through nozzle orifices. The injection valve is electrically insulated from the body except at its contact with the valve seat and is connected to an electrical charge, at least during opening of the valve. An electrical spark discharge is thus generated between the injection valve and the valve seat upon opening of the valve. Initially injected fuel passes through the arc and is conditioned by the spark energy to ignite almost immediately by compression ignition upon entering the engine cylinder and thus essentially eliminate diesel ignition delay.

Abstract: A measurement technique that generates a number value identifying the width of a noisy pulse in an analog signal that has particular application for determining whether a defect exists in a cylinder valve of a locomotive diesel engine. The algorithm samples the analog signal, and then the samples are bunched into successive groups where each group includes a predetermined number of samples. A root mean square is taken of the samples in each group to generate a representative amplitude value for that group. Successive amplitude values are multiplied together to generate product values. The product values are averaged over a predetermined number of product values to generate the number value that can be analyzed to determine if a defect in a valve exists.