The Effect of Driving Strategy on Hybrid Regional Diesel Trains

Abstract

Vehicle braking in non-electrified rail systems wastes energy. This article considers two approaches to reducing braking losses in regional diesel trains: efficient driving strategies and regenerative braking. The interaction of these two approaches is critical in specifying the requirements of a hybrid train and assessing the relative fuel saving. Computational models of conventional and hybrid diesel-hydrodynamic regional trains have been developed using real route data to generate a simple control algorithm and investigate the effect of driving strategy on fuel consumption and journey time. The current modelling predicts fuel savings of up to 40 per cent for the hybrid train when an aggressive control strategy is used. This fuel saving is halved when an efficient driving strategy is employed, which also reduces the required energy storage capacity. The model provides a tool for identifying effective control strategies which should be implemented to reduce fuel consumption for both conventional and hybrid trains.

Benchmarking Transportation Safety Performance via Shift-Share Approaches

“…In the areas of transit safety research, most authors have focused their attention on particular programs (Hau, 2012), certain types of equipment (Read et al, 2011), and particular groups of riders (Marin-Lamellet, 2011). There is very limited comparison among system metrics, such as operating environments, risk exposures, types of operations, or technologies, not to mention various submodes under the general category of public transportation.…”

Background of recent developments of passenger railways in China, the UK and other European countries

“…The widely held view is that railways are one of the most energy efficient modes of transport (Smith, 2003a;2003b), but there are several caveats to this simple view (not the least of which is the load factor of passengers). Issues such as driving style (Read et al, 2011) and alternative energy sources (Read et al, 2009) have been studied.…”

Investigating an all-hydraulic hybrid system for diesel-hydraulic rail cars

“…al. [6], who stated that flywheel storages could be a suitable alternative to electric double layer capacitors. This paper covers a sub-topic of a comprehensive research project on the hybridisation of diesel railcars with hydrodynamic power transmission operating on non-electrified branch and main lines.…”

“…In addition to the investigations mentioned above, there have been some more detailed studies on hybrid diesel railcars with electric power transmission [4,5] using electric energy storage devices. Detailed investigations into diesel railcars with hydraulic or hydromechanical power transmission have been provided by Read et al [6], and Dittus et al [7], respectively. The former included energy efficient driving strategies in their analysis, but remained rather vague with respect to a realistic dimension of the hybrid drivetrain.…”

“…A multitude of research on the hybridisation of railcars has been carried out [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] and continues. Fundamental investigations into the suitability of diesel railcars for hybridisation have been published by Hillmansen and Roberts [1], Nick [2], and Lu et al [3].…”