An energy transportation and grid support system utilizes at least one transportable containment module capable of storing thermal or chemical energy typically produced from renewable or geothermal sources and providing connectivity with energy conversion equipment typically located in a land or sea-based operating facility. The system includes circuitry to hookup to an adjacent electricity grid for the provision of grid support and/or piping to move thermal energy typically used to drive steam turbines generating electricity. The operating facility also includes a communication arrangement to link with and exchange operations control data with a grid or heating operator and the energy transportation operator. The invention is directed to both apparatus and method for the energy transportation and grid support system.

A system and method for the supplemental generation of energy from operation of a vehicle, and specifically to the generation of energy from a vehicle's disc brakes in combination with generators. The system may include a generator, a rotational coupler such as a sprocket, a shaft connecting the rotational coupler to the generator, a rotational conveyor engaging the disc brake rotor and coupler to transmit rotational energy of a vehicle wheel to the rotational coupler and generator. In an alternate embodiment, the system may be used in connection with a disc brake caliper. A coupler bracket may be used to facilitate placement of the sprocket and rotational conveyor.

Provided is a brake control system that can reduce use of a mechanical braking in a railway vehicle using an automatic train control (ATC). The present disclosure is a brake control system for a railway vehicle using an ATC. The brake control system includes: a main electric motor, a main conversion device, a brake controller, and an ATC device. The main electric motor generates a braking force by converting kinetic energy of a wheel of the railway vehicle to electrical energy. The main conversion device actuates the main electric motor. The brake controller outputs a braking signal to the main conversion device. The ATC device outputs a braking command to the brake controller based on the ATC. In addition, the ATC device outputs a preliminary braking signal for energizing the main electric motor prior to output of the braking command.

A vehicle has a brake device with a friction brake unit, an electrical brake unit and a brake control device. In order to provide a vehicle having a reliable and structurally simple brake device, the friction brake unit has brake components made of a composite material and the brake control device includes a monitoring device for monitoring a brake operation performed by the electrical brake unit.

A vehicle has a brake device with a friction brake unit, an electrical brake unit and a brake control device. In order to provide a vehicle having a reliable and structurally simple brake device, the friction brake unit has brake components made of a composite material and the brake control device includes a monitoring device for monitoring a brake operation performed by the electrical brake unit.

A device for recovering energy from a rotating vehicle wheel, comprising: a hub assembly coupled to the wheel and having spaced apart and interlocked outer and inner discs between which a static magnetic field is created; and a stator coil disposed coaxial to the hub assembly and extending within the air gap between the outer and inner discs, the stator coil being fixed relative to the hub, wherein rotation of the hub generates an electrical current in the coil.

A vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, has an electrodynamic braking apparatus with at least one brake resistor. The at least one brake resistor forms a portion of the vehicle body shell that is permanently closed and over which air flows on the exterior, in particular, during travel of the vehicle. In the alternative, the brake resistor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the permanently closed portion. The brake resistor conducts away heat outwardly to the environment via the permanently closed portion. There is also described a brake resistor for a vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, which is configured accordingly.

A vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, has an electrodynamic braking apparatus with at least one brake resistor. The at least one brake resistor forms a portion of the vehicle body shell that is permanently closed and over which air flows on the exterior, in particular, during travel of the vehicle. In the alternative, the brake resistor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the permanently closed portion. The brake resistor conducts away heat outwardly to the environment via the permanently closed portion. There is also described a brake resistor for a vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, which is configured accordingly.

A pneumatic regenerative system for a railway vehicle equipped with a plurality of axles includes a plurality of pneumatic drive mechanisms coupled to each of the plurality of axles. Each pneumatic drive mechanism includes an accumulator and a pneumatic device. The pneumatic device may in some examples be a reversible air motor device. The accumulator is operable to receive and store pressurized air. The reversible air motor device is coupled to the accumulator and one of the plurality of axles of the vehicle. The reversible air motor device is operable in a first configuration and a second configuration. During a braking operation of the railway vehicle, the reversible air motor device in the first configuration is driven by rotation of the one of the plurality of axles to generate and store pressurized air in the accumulator. During an acceleration operation, of the railway vehicle the reversible air motor device receives pressurized air from the accumulator to drive rotation of the one of the plurality of axles.

An improved control arrangement is used in a high power rectifier and comprises two or more power controllers ganged together in parallel. Each power controller rectifies an AC voltage signal using zero voltage crossing switching to produce a binary switched signal and each power controller is connected to an independent connectable load. Each power controller includes a fast acting binary power switch that selectively connects the respective independent connectable load to the rectified AC voltage signal. The control arrangement selectively activates the power controllers to define a desired connected load. This high power rectifier and control arrangement is advantageously used to provide fast up down power regulation to a grid by selective storage of thermal energy and deriving power from the thermal energy storage system to add fill in power to the grid.