VR31 3-Stage Charge Auxiliary Generator Regulator
Enerpro’s VR31 3-Stage charge auxiliary generator voltage regulator module is a direct replacement for the VR10 – VR16 EMD auxiliary generator voltage regulator modules used in EMD auxiliary generator equipped locomotives (prior to SD70Ace and SD70M-2). The VR31 provides battery manufacturer recommended three-stage battery charging profile for longer battery life, faster charging, reduced water consumption and compatibility with flooded lead acid (FLA) and valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA). The VR31 is compatible with both ac and dc auxiliary generators.
Key Features
- Direct Replacement for EMD VR10 – VR16
- Three-stage Battery Charging
- Longer Battery Life
- Reduced Failure to Start Events
- Faster Charging
- Reduced Water Consumption
- Simple Installation
- Compatible with FLA and VRLA Batteries
- Compatible with both AC and DC Aux Generators
Technical Details
Overview
The advent of locomotive automatic engine stop and start systems has brought the benefits of decreased fuel consumption and air emissions but also increased the demands on starting batteries. The much more frequent discharge-charge cycles combined with constant voltage VR10- VR16 voltage regulators has resulted in much shorter battery life, battery plate sulfation, and reduced charge capacity. The operational impact is increased failure to start events and more frequent battery replacements. The VR31 solves these problems by providing battery manufacturer recommended 3-stage battery charging.
VR31 module
The VR31 module is a direct replacement for the VR10-16 series auxiliary generator voltage regulators. Locomotives equipped with the DVR300 voltage regulator require an additional mounting cage and wiring harness adapter for installation. The VR31 uses auxiliary generator voltage feedback, like the VR10, but also uses battery current feedback to provide optimum battery charging. The current sensor provides feedback required to limit current at the start of the charge cycle and to determine when the battery is 95% charged for transition to the float stage. VR31 design incorporates several failure mode protection features that ensure high operational reliability.
Shorted PWM Transistor Protection
At high engine speed, the auxiliary generator will produce dangerously high voltage if the PWM transistor or the bootstrap transistor becomes shorted or if either transistor is turned on continuously due to a component failure. In this event, an over-voltage comparator trips the panel mounted circuit breaker if the auxiliary generator voltage exceeds the over-voltage trip threshold.
Loss of Current Feedback Protection
If the current sensor fails or the current signal to the VR31 becomes shorted or open, the VR31 immediately transitions to the 72V float voltage. A current sensor fault LED on the VR31 illuminates and an output signal is sent to the locomotive. This fail-safe feature protects the battery from overcharging while still allowing the locomotive to operate until the next maintenance cycle.
EBCS-3 Current Sensor
The EBCS-3 current sensor is installed on the BTN battery cable directly behind the knife switch. By providing isolated battery current feedback to the VR31, the system is able to provide proper charging regardless of load switching. The EBCS-3 is powered from nominal 74V output of the Auxiliary Generator and has built in failure detection and fail-safe circuitry.
Three-Stage Charge Profile
Air pollution regulations and high fuel costs have made locomotive operators shut down idling locomotives much more frequently than in the past. This change in locomotive operation has resulted in premature loss of battery capacity and more frequent cell failure rate. These problems are caused by the single-stage charge profile provided by conventional chargers. With single-stage charging, the initial current immediately after engine start is limited only by generator output and battery circuit resistance. Most locomotive battery charging circuits incorporate a current limiting resistor to reduce the charge current. Even with this resistor, the initial current can greatly exceed the battery manufacturer’s recommended maximum charging current and shorten battery life. The single-stage charger transitions from the high initial first-stage current when the battery voltage rises to reach the nominal voltage setpoint of 74 V. The single-stage charger then maintains constant nominal 74 V on the battery until the engine is shut down. According to battery experts, 74 V is insufficient to convert all of the battery’s active material during the engine run time if the engine is shut down several times per day. The result is a progressive loss of capacity.
The three-stage charge profile produced by the VR31 regulates the first, or Bulk Stage, current to 90 Amps. In the second, or Absorption Stage, the rectifier voltage is regulated to typically 78 V for an FLA battery and 76V for VRLA. This elevated voltage converts the maximum amount of active battery material while equalizing the charge in each cell, thus minimizing sulfation and capacity loss. In the third, or Float Stage, the VR31 reverts to a constant-voltage regulation mode (nominally 72 V).
Bulk Stage
After engine start, the unit enters the 90 A constant-current Bulk Stage. The battery behaves as a capacitor in that the constant charging current results in battery voltage increasing linearly with time. The Bulk Stage ends when the voltage reaches a converter-imposed limit of 78 V (FLA) or 76 V (VRLA).
Absorption Stage
The constant voltage Absorption Stage begins with the battery charged to about 80% total capacity. The Absorption Stage current decays exponentially with time from the initial 90 A until it reaches one of two Float Stage thresholds. The transition to the Float Stage occurs when one of two conditions are met:
- The Absorption Stage current decays to typically 25 A, or
- The total charge reaches approximately 95% capacity.
Forcing the Absorption/Float transition to occur as a function of charge assures that a shorted cell or other battery defect will not result in continuous operation at elevated voltage.
Float Stage
During the regulated 72V Float Stage, the battery current gradually decays to the steady-state self-discharge current. This maintains a full battery charge as long as the engine is running.
System Block Diagram