Patent attributes
A locomotive, a first chopper circuit, and a second chopper circuit integrating a traction motor with an energy storage device are disclosed. The locomotive includes a prime mover, an energy management device, a DC power bus, a traction motor, an energy storage device, a resistor grid, and a chopper circuit. Each chopper circuit is controlled by the energy management device and includes a plurality of power semiconductors with variable switching frequency. The traction motor may be capable of operating in a motoring mode, where power is controllably supplied by either the prime mover and/or the energy storage device; and a dynamic braking mode, where generated power is controllably allocated to the energy storage device and/or the resistor grid.