System and method for controlling a vehicle system

摘要

A method for controlling a vehicle system includes determining when the vehicle system approaches an airflow restricted area and distributing a total power output of the vehicle system among first and second vehicles of the vehicle system. The total power output is distributed by directing the first vehicle to decrease power output relative to a power output generated by the second vehicle and/or by directing the second vehicle to increase power output relative to the power output generated by the first vehicle. The method includes monitoring the power output of the second vehicle during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area to determine when the second vehicle derates and redistributing the total power output of the vehicle system among the at vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the second vehicle derating.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
determining when a vehicle system traveling along a route is approaching an entrance to an airflow restricted area, the vehicle system including at least first and second propulsion-generating vehicles that are interconnected with each other; distributing a total power output of the vehicle system among at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system approaches the entrance of the airflow restricted area, the total power output distributed by at least one of directing the first propulsion-generating vehicle to decrease power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle relative to a power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle or directing the second propulsion-generating vehicle to increase the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle relative to the power output generated by the first propulsion-generating vehicle; monitoring the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area to determine when the second propulsion-generating vehicle derates; redistributing the total power output of the vehicle system among the at least the first and second propulsion-generating vehicles as the vehicle system travels in the airflow restricted area and responsive to the second propulsion-generating vehicle derating; and controlling a derating speed at which the power output generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle is derated during travel of the vehicle system in the airflow restricted area by limiting the power output that is generated by the second propulsion-generating vehicle, wherein the derating speed is a rate at which the power output generated by the second-propulsion-generating vehicle decreases due to derating, and wherein the derating speed is based on one or more of:
a distance that the route extends through the airflow restricted area, the derating speed increased for shorter distances that the route extends through the airflow restricted area and decreased for longer distances that the route extends through the airflow restricted area;a separation distance between an exit of the airflow restricted area and an entrance of one or more additional airflow restricted areas through which the route extends, the derating speed decreased for smaller separation distances and increased for larger separation distances; or a grade of the route that exits from the airflow restricted area along a direction of travel of the vehicle system, the derating speed decreased for smaller grades and increased for larger grades.