Speed profile optimization of catenary-free electric trains with lithium-ion batteries.

Ghaviha, Nima; Bohlin, Markus; Holmberg, Christer; Dahlquist, Erik

Catenary-free operated electric trains, as one of the recent technologies in railway transportation, has opened a new field of research: speed profile optimization and energy optimal operation of catenary-free operated electric trains. A well-formulated solution for this problem should consider the characteristics of the energy storage device using validated models and methods. This paper discusses the consideration of the lithium-ion battery behavior in the problem of speed profile optimization of catenary-free operated electric trains. We combine the single mass point train model with an electrical battery model and apply a dynamic programming approach to minimize the charge taken from the battery during the catenary-free operation. The models and the method are validated and evaluated against experimental data gathered from the test runs of an actual battery-driven train tested in Essex, UK. The results show a significant potential in energy saving. Moreover, we show that the optimum speed profiles generated using our approach consume less charge from the battery compared to the previous approaches.

ESSEX (England); ELECTRIC batteries; SPEED; DYNAMIC programming; ENERGY storage; MODEL railroads; TRAIN schedules

Journal of Modern Transportation, 2019, Vol 27, Issue 3, p153

2095-087X

Academic Journal

10.1007/s40534-018-0181-y